Did my first DE yesterday!

[Vipergrün]

The event, put on by Redline Events at the Streets of Willow was pretty unorganized. It was WAY over booked and we ended up with four run groups, one of which was a group of *drifter doods*. Cool to watch, but ate up valuable track time!

Instruction was fairly light and the beginner group lead/follow session just kind of evaporated....oh well. I did have one of their guys ride along so I could get the proper line. Good thing I read Vic Elfords book before I went

Once I had an idea of where to drive I worked on the technical aspects such as braking, turn in, power out, etc. I really got to know the limits of my car and have a better understanding of what it can do. Even on (over inflated) street tires these cars can be driven hard. I didn't realize my tire pressures were too high until I got home and did a Pelican search. Over inlflation seems to make the tires a bit slippery! I had to catch more than one near spin. I also think I may need a bit more negative camber up front. The front end pushed at times, but that could be driver error.....

I feel the day was a success because I was able to drive much more smooth by the end of the day and put together technically good back to back laps. I cannot wait to get out with some other Porsche guys. There was one other P-car, a POC Cup car with a beginner driver. In the drivers session the doods personal instructor basically said *we have 750 HP, stay out of our way*. That didn't go over well. Geesh, doods with cash..... The car was from Vision Motorsports. Anyone know of them? Blue/Yellow car.

Anyway, here is a pic which was taken during my first session. Note that I was still doing the hand shuffling thing What a difference keeping the hands at 9-3 makes! Much easier to *feel* the car.

Final comments? If you have not done it....DO IT. My name is Brad, and I am a trackaholic Still have a big ol' grin!

[North Coast Cab]

Sounds great. Tell us about your car, what you did to get ready and what you'd like to do to get ready for next time.

JG

[Vipergrün]

Hi JG...

It's an 80SC, SSI-type heat exchangers, dual exhaust.

I have done a couple of suspension mods such as 22/27 T-bars, replaced most bushings, and have Bilstein Sports all the way around. I bought it with the 7x9 Fuchs.

About the best thing I can do for the next event is to have it corner balanced, perhaps a big more negative camber in the front, and learn how to work with tire pressures. Oh, and of course my driving ability I think I could have fun for a long time with this setup.

I'd actually like to have someone with extensive track time drive my car and tell me how it feels. I may just *think* it feels right, or I may be developing bad habits to compensate, dunno.

[KevinP73]

Too cool !! Sounds like you had fun despite the lack of orginization. Next time you try to attend an event orginized by TRE http://www.tremotorsports.com/index.html (TRE Cup on this board). Tons of fun for everyone.
Congrats on your first event.
P.S. Looks like you've decided to tolorate that duck tail for a while.

[DByers]

Brad, I was hoping for a report from you. When I read that you were heading to the track I so wanted to blow off work and go with you, but things just didnt work out. Sounds like you had alot of fun and learned a great deal. I look forward to hearing more about your first trip to the track over a cold one, my treat.
Still waiting for my first track event, hopefully this summer.

[autobonrun]

Mine is a 79SC with SSI's and dual out Dansk. I'm also running Sport Bilsteins's on all corners and upgraded torsion bars at 22/28 with new bushings all around. I haven't had the opportunity to run mine on the track yet although there's a high-speed session next week near me. I'm debating.

I'm curious what tires you're running and how the 22/27 setup performs with respect to oversteer/understeer? I just switched to Bridgestone S03's but haven't really tested them or the new torsion bars. My setup appears to have more oversteer but I haven't tried it at high speeds yet. Also have you had your car lowered and were they able to dial in the camber setting on the rear if it was? We used all the adjustment on mine and couldn't quite get the 1 degree negative I was looking for on my lowered car.

[Vipergrün]

Hey Kevin, yeah, I can tolerate the gaps for a while...until I get the coin to have you do it right I got a BUNCH of comments on my car. Folks were amazed it's 23 years old. The combination of the Sport muffler and the ducktail had people guessing, there is no SC badge anymore.

Dan, I wish you could have made it. It would have been cool to have another phenatic along. Got tired of kicking with the S2000 and Lexus folks

Autobahn, the car handles pretty neutral with my setup until the tires get warm, then it understeers a bit more, which may be the overinflation issue. I am running the Bridgestone RE730's. They are a pretty good tire and held up well. There were a could of turns that I started trail-braking thru and that helped a lot, but those are the turns I almost spun in as well. I know I have a lot to learn. Car is lowered to Euro spec and I have -1.5 rear and -1 degree front of camber. Think I'll go to -1.5 from and -2 rear, which I have heard is okay for the street too. I also have an alighnment issue to resolve from my little accident a while back. The shop failed to explicitly check for a bent strut spindle

Go out and do it, you'll appreciate your car even more and Ferdi will smile upon you

[Jack Olsen]

Open Track Racing runs a pretty good event, and they have a Wednesday event on May 14, at the big track at Willow. For first-timers, no one's as good as the POC or PCA (at least locally). But Open Track Racing is a pretty well-run group.

I'm signed up for it.

[pbs911]

Brad, sounds like fun and the car looks great. Play with the tire pressure and I think you will be able to resolve alot of your understeer problems. I did the same thing the first time with the tire pressures.

Open Track Racing is a good group of guys and the event doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Good instructors available too, at least at teh event I attended. I ran once with them and had a great time. I plan on doing more as my schedule permits. They are having a Big Track event in May, I think the 17th.

[Vipergrün]

Damn it you guys, you just made me do another spontaneous purchase I just signed up for the OTR May 14 event at Willow. I can justify it cuz a full day at the local cart track is like 350.00!!

I'll be in the novice group and it looks like some *real* instruction is provided. What group are you in Paul?

I was told that I should be able to take turn 8 at 120 in my car, if my b*lls are big enough! Yeah right....not yet.

Also, FWIW, I mentioned my gripes to the dood at Redline who puts on the event. He was very apologetic and offered a partial refund. He agreed yesterday was overbooked, chaotic, and potentially dangerous.
The beginner group was NOT to be allowed onto the track for the first time without a lead/follow session and they basically blew that one. He indicated that something like this will never happen again. Having said that, I think I'd go back again.

So, unless something unfortunate happens, like getting a real job, I'll see you guys in May.

[cstreit]

Sounds like you had a great time... Hold on to your wallet Gordy, we're goin' in!

Glad you had fun!

[Stuttgart951]

Beautiful car! Im signed up for my first DE event at the end of May - cant wait!! Anything that I should bring that you forgot as a first timer?

[campbellcj]

OTR is a good group - hopefully I can make their 5/14 event. If you really want access to some on-track instruction and prep advice, I would recommend a POC Short Track Series event. You'd be amazed how quickly some of the experienced folks can get around the Streets course...

Congrats on a successful event.

[Silveresrty911S]

On these D.E. events, are they the same as PCA events were you need a minimum of 2 autocrosses before you can run in them? Or can you just sign up and have an instructor with you for a few runs. The autocross I watched seemed to lack driving time for the time spent there.

[Chuck Moreland]

I'll second (or third) the POC recommendation. Next Short Track event is May 24, 25.

I guarantee you will not leave feeling like it was un-organized or lacking instruction.

And you'll get to run with loads of pcars, many similar to your own.

[campbellcj]

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
I'll second (or third) the POC recommendation. Next Short Track event is May 24, 25.

I guarantee you will not leave feeling like it was un-organized or lacking instruction.

And you'll get to run with loads of pcars, many similar to your own.

LOL...many people think the POC is "over-organized" i.e. anal. Perhaps so, but when I'm out on the track doing 100+, I think a bit of structure is a "good thing".

Check out my scrapbook pages for pics of past POC STS events: http://www.nosubstitute.org/events

[lowyder993s]

Streets is great...which way did you run? Clockwise or CCW? For sure hook up w/ POC...they have some great drivers who are all about teaching you great car control and race lines. I've run w/ them since the start of the year and in a high-speed shimmy to get my STS license. Then its off to time trials and hopefully to Laguna in May.
Another option is PCA DE @ Fontana in June. It's a one day shot for I think $210.00. That's another one I'm already signed up for. Another chance to get valuable instruction on So Cal's premier track. Good luck, and I'm sure we'll see you out there.

[Vipergrün]

Thanks guys! I'll check into the POC stuff. I recently applied to become a POC member, but have not received anything yet.

I agree Chris, structure is good I was yearning for some a couple of times.

Also, Chuck, maybe you can answer this. My rear spring plates actually came ouf adjustment a bit and the car is 3/8-1/2 in lower on each side now. I know both bolts were torqued to spec. Is this normal? What can I do to prevent it happening again. Luckily I made refrence marks on the both parts of the plate, so getting it back should be easy.

Thanks!

[pbs911]

Brad, I haven't been able to book a DE event yet. And I'm dying to with the new 3.6. I would love to find events that are run on Sunday. It very difficult to take off during the week.

[Tyson Schmidt]

If I can have my engine put back together in the '72 by then, you can count me in. It will give me a great chance to break in the new rebuild. It'll be nice to have something more than 140 horsepower motivating ol' Scruffy!

BTW, I haven't joined POC yet myself. Is there an online way to join?