Track & Time Coach // Lapping at Shannonville

Having thought my motorsports season of 2025 was over, I was pleasantly surprised when I was contacted by a friend, and Ontario Time Attack Director, about being his private coach for a time attack event at Calabogie Motorsports Park hosted by Track & Time. This post would have come out the week after that, if I hadn't also decided to do a last minute lapping half-day at Shannonville Motorsports Park the following weekend.

Being a high performance driving instructor, and trying to make a business out of it, wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I started the journey. I've found that it's rare that people feel the need to hire a coach privately, or even realize it's something they can do. Perhaps that's a marketing failure on my part. But what I've come to realize is that coaching gigs are typically had through club reps and event organizers than private hires. At Shannonville Motorsports Park, for example, many new drivers don't feel the need to hire a coach until they've gone out for their first session and put four wheels on the grass. At which time, they approach the event organizer and ask if there is someone who is willing to hop in with them and show them around. This is how I find most of my work.

That being said, you can imagine my surprise when I received a message from the aforementioned Director, Giuliano, asking me to provide coaching services to get him up to speed for a competition event.

At this point, a couple of thoughts crossed my mind. Giuliano is already a talented driver, which can be easily validated by looking through the Ontario Time Attack results archive. So what could I possibly have to teach him?

On a Calabogie HPDE day, the focus is generally getting new and intermediate drivers up to speed, and aide them through sign off process so that they can lap on their own. During one of these events, a coach would never allow someone like Giuliano to do competition practice in the novice group. At these events, having someone with racing pedigree and a rich performance driving background show up as a novice is actually quite a concern for the team of coaches, and an exercise in control.

However, this wasn't one of those days. So what could I possibly have to teach someone with extensive racing experience? Well, a lot, as it turns out. From simple directions around the track in the first session, to individual reference points, to car handling tips, we had Giuliano up to speed for competition in just one day. (Yes, this is a plug.)

As for the event itself, Track & Time partnered with another club, Club Virages to share the cost of the weekend. I will admit, this did lead to a bit of confusion at the beginning of the day, when the registration tent and tech inspection line were for Club Virages only. It wasn't until the driver's meeting that the representative from Track & Time made himself known and gave us instructions on when we were meant to be on track. In French. I leaned on my elementary school french immersion education and fumbled through the drivers meeting, relaying information I thought was important, assuming I understood what was said.

After the initial confusion, though, the day went very well. The event ran on time, and there were little to no incidents. I want to commend these two Quebec clubs for packing the paddock with more cars than I've ever seen at Calabogie for a lapping day, rivalling the turnout of the Motorsports Club of Ottawa low cost lapping evenings. I only attended for the Saturday lapping day, so I have no feedback to give on the execution of the competition day.

Lastly, I want to draw attention to the facilities at Calabogie Motorsports Park. CMP has, easily, the nicest facility of any race track in Ontario. The scenery is beautiful, the buildings are well kept, we even had someone landed a personal helicopter in the paddock. If you're in the Ottawa area, and you've never been to CMP, send me an email, and let's get you there. If you're not in the Ottawa area, and willing to make the trip, I highly recommend you do.

Driver Journal (?) October 2025

I want to end this post with a little bit about my Shannonville Motorsports Park trip last Saturday. Rolling Start HPDE hosted a four hour lapping afternoon at the track for the modest price of $80. Even given my personal circumstances, I couldn't say no that.

This day was for me to top off a rather rough season of motorsports (or lack there of) with a little bit of what I love. Driving. I still collected the data that I could, but running fast times was not the goal. And I certainly wasn't about to spin any rod bearings that day.

The oil was fresh and correctly overfilled this time so realistically I knew the car would be fine.

A good friend of mine and fellow car enthusiast decided that it would be nice to drive up to the Kingston area early, get breakfast, then head to the track. So that's what we did. I brought along my grumpy photographer (my soon to be wife) who did more sleeping than picture taking, so this part of the post might be a little barren.

At breakfast, my nerves began to get the best of me. For those of you who have been following along, you know that I've struggled with confidence with the car, and with myself. Having not been to the Shannonville track all year, all my insecurities began to compound in to the beginning of a a panic attack. (Supplemented of course by the stress of still not having found a job, and planning a wedding that was a week away.)

All morning I fought my flight response, and we eventually made it to the race track. And I have to say that I don't regret going for a minute. I felt at home, as I have in the past. The car ran great all day, and felt great considering the worn out rubber I had it on.

It was this half day, four twenty minute sessions, that made me feel like making one of those "I almost forgot this was the whole point" TikToks. I didn't though, because @#$% TikTok.

All I can say now that the season is over is that I really want to commit to getting behind the wheel more next season. A lot more. I want to be able to track my progress in my journals, and enjoy my car the way it was meant to.

As for the data, I'm not going to get in to it, only because I had no intention of pushing the car. I did, however, set a new personal best lap, which I will post below. The improvement is largely to do with my old best being set on stock sized indy 500s, and the new lap being set on a much larger, much stickier tire. But I want to document it here none the less. The time is a 2:08.5, down from a 2.10.2.

Also, here is a screenshot of the circuit tools comparison. If I had been practising for a competition, there would be more to unpack here. But with an eight second time difference, it's easy to see that time can be gained pretty much everywhere.

Lastly, Cat Tax.