Nick From ModBargains gets schooled: ST Octane Academy Road Trip Blog

[BlueBomber]

Hey Ford ST enthusiasts, join me and my friend Kevin in my 2014 Ford Fiesta ST as we road trip from Los Angeles to Ford ST Octane Academy at Miller Motorsports Park and relay our experience at Hoonigan Headquarters in SLC. We hope you join us for the fun!
#socalford #fordfiesta #Fiestamovement #fourtankadventure #fiestast #fordst #Hoonigan #aintcare

http://blog.modbargains.com/nick-modbargains-goes-to-ford-st-octane-academy-day-1/

http://blog.modbargains.com/nick-modbargains-goes-to-ford-st-octane-academy-day-2/

http://blog.modbargains.com/nick-modbargains-goes-to-ford-st-octane-academy-day-3/

[video=youtube;_FTTo1hVGcQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FTTo1hVGcQ[/video]

[video=youtube;5Q7FNtJeSUY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q7FNtJeSUY[/video]

[video=youtube;aslO_wye2B4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aslO_wye2B4[/video]

[video=youtube;nuJlnDioHgU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuJlnDioHgU[/video]

[video=youtube;F74wRt2Pg4I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F74wRt2Pg4I[/video]

 

[koozy]

Cool, looking forward to the updates. I hope to be able to make it out to the Academy in the future, schedule permitting.

 

[bobjob]

Good luck and have a fun safe drive out there! Is there gonna be a ST convoy?

 

[Etyrnus]

I wish I could afford to go out there.

 

[Colin1337]

Swoop down to NM on your way back. Photoshoot!!

 

[MKVIIST]

Great idea Nick, looks like its going to be a fun trip. Looking forward to the blog updates.

 

[JP6spd]

Bluebomber, we should set a meet up while your up here! I'll get a few other local FiST's together.

 

[godofbiscuits]

I may do it sometime, if you'd be interested in tagging along.

 

[BlueBomber]

I tried to get in touch with everyone while I was in SLC but didn't end up seeing anyone outside of events.

Would've been fun - Utah was freakin gorgeous. WTF man, it was like playing Forza Horizon in real life. It was just stupid how pretty it was. Kevin, my codriver and I were all "WHAT THE HELL, MAN?" with how impossibly gorgeous everything was.

Getting a wristband at Hoonigan HQ only lent to the Forza Horizon feel.

Here's day 2's Update
http://blog.modbargains.com/nick-modbargains-goes-to-ford-st-octane-academy-day-2/

More photos of Hoonigan HQ coming

You can see my photos on instagram at @modbargainsnick

 

[rcl4668]

Great post. I hope to attend later this year so I'm looking forward to your report.

 

[Etyrnus]

Jealous....

 

[BlueBomber]

http://blog.modbargains.com/nick-modbargains-goes-to-ford-st-octane-academy-day-3/

Day 3 writeup is here, along with full photos and videos from the event. You want to know what goes down at Octane Academy? Everything you want to know in Day 3's writeup.

 

[rooSTer]

Great job..is this what you get after attending the event?

 

[BlueBomber]

Yes, that's some of the swag. You get a pretty decent about of stuff.

 

[rcl4668]

Fantastic write up, thank you! Curious, you mentioned the Focus and Fiesta STs were equipped with four-point harnesses. I assume that there were two belts that went over each shoulder? I was thinking of bringing a HANS device (basically a yoke that goes over your shoulders and under the shoulder belts to protect from neck injuries) along with my own helmet.

 

[BlueBomber]

It's a belt over the shoulder plus lap belts in factory recaros. You can bring your own helmet but IMO a HANS is kinda overkill for this
Plus your headrests are NOT removed meaning clearance for helmets is tight

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks Nick, and sorry for being dense but is it just a single belt over one shoulder or a belt going over each shoulder? If it's the former the HANS won't even work. If it's the latter the HANS may work. After more than one on-track incident where the HANS (literally) saved my neck, my preference has been to wear one whenever I set tire to track if at all possible.

 

[BlueBomber]

Thanks Nick, and sorry for being dense but is it just a single belt over one shoulder or a belt going over each shoulder? If it's the former the HANS won't even work. If it's the latter the HANS may work. After more than one on-track incident where the HANS (literally) saved my neck, my preference has been to wear one whenever I set tire to track if at all possible.

Again, I really think a HANS might be overdoing it but I suppose on the racetrack you can never be too cautious... I guess I'm saying please don't be the guy that bins the car?

Okay, so it is a belt over each shoulder and lap belt coming in from each side joined in the center as is the typical 4-pt harness used in conjunction with our oem recaros.

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks for the clarification. And yes, I am hoping that the HANS turns out to be complete overkill.

 

[BlueBomber]

For perspective, in the exercises you really don't get much higher than 2nd, on urban x you might briefly hit 3, on track you'll use 3rd for most of the track and if you are fast you may be able to get into 4th for a second or two in spots.

[video=youtube;_FTTo1hVGcQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FTTo1hVGcQ[/video]

[video=youtube;5Q7FNtJeSUY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q7FNtJeSUY[/video]

[video=youtube;aslO_wye2B4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aslO_wye2B4[/video]

[video=youtube;nuJlnDioHgU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuJlnDioHgU[/video]

[video=youtube;F74wRt2Pg4I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F74wRt2Pg4I[/video]