# Formula 1 Thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** racing-auto-boat\
**Created:** [July 6, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544 "2020-07-06T22:39:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 403

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/403 "2021-10-01T03:54:45Z")

</div>

I’ve driven Watkins Glen, too.

[![](https://lfexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_3059hr.jpg) ](https://lfexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_3059hr.jpg)

_(That’s me behind the wheel, instructor in the passenger’s seat, coming out of the esses onto the back straight.)_

Two days in July 2003 (pictured) and three days in July 2005, a total of about 185 laps, 620 miles, in my stock 2003 Nissan 350Z. My best lap was 2:25.5, averaging 83.4 mph, with a top speed on the back straight of about 125.

It’s called High Performance Driver’s Education (HPDE) and although I haven’t been involved for ten years, it was my primary hobby for more than 12 years: 135 track days at 20 tracks in eight cars.

[My 2006 AMA thread about HPDE.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-high-performance-driving-instructor/354791)

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544)._