Just finished DE - what a blast!

[s_wilwerding]

Well, JonT and I just finished our first DE. What a blast!

I was lucky to get a great instructor this weekend. I started out tentatively on Saturday morning, and unfortunately, it rained all afternoon Saturday. So, we didn't really get to go very fast, as most of the people in the novice run group just concentrated on not running off the track.

Today, I went out once with my instructor, and she signed me off. I went out three more times by myself. Each session, I was able to go just a little faster and push the car just a little harder. I found out this weekend that the car is much more capable than I am!

It was nice to go through everything with JonT, as we were able to discuss our driving with each other and give each other tips that our respective instructors shared. Since most of you on the board will never see JonT's car in person, let me just tell you, it's a mean machine! He's got a 964 engine in a 911SC, and he beat the hell out of me on the straights.

All in all, it was a blast. We have a lot of great people in our club that I enjoyed shooting the breeze with between run sessions. I had a great instructor and my car performed beautifully, so I couldn't ask for anything more. Plus, today is my birthday (the DE was a little present to myself).

Here are some pics:

First, a panoramic picture of the track:



A picture of Jon and I with our cars (that's me on the left):



A picture of me on the track:



Finally, a picture of Jon's badass engine:




EDIT: Oh yeah, if you can't tell from the pictures, it was cold. The temperature was right around 50 degrees with a 30 mph wind.

[slakjaw]

hay

that track looks like "MAM"

[k9handler]

outstanding...still waiting for my first DE!
After yesterdays autox here....I REALLY NEED ONE! My new found tourque makes my little girl a nasty bit$# and some lessons are a must.
I will be posting a video soon and you will see why I say this, just need to lower the filesize before I post it.
Glad to hear your car did well and that the event was fun.

Smitty

[Doug E]

Congrats on a great time! I did my first one just this past March and had an equally awesome time.

It's interesting to see that your instructor signed you off for solo runs with what sounds like only maybe 2 or 3 sessions at speed (the others you said were done in the rain).

[s_wilwerding]

Originally posted by Doug E

It's interesting to see that your instructor signed you off for solo runs with what sounds like only maybe 2 or 3 sessions at speed (the others you said were done in the rain).

Yes, I had only driven a total of 4 times (2 in the rain) before my instructor signed me off. She said that I was very smooth and that I was hitting the lines well. She said my only big problems were that I was braking too soon and not getting on the throttle soon enough in turns. However, she figured that those were good errors (as opposed to braking too late or hitting the throttle too soon), so she signed me off knowing that I was safe, if not fast.

And yes, it is MAM (Midamerica Motorplex). It's a great track for beginners because there are no walls - if you go off track, you end up in a field. There were a few people that went off this weekend (especially in the rain), but their cars were not damaged. In fact, of the 78 people that participated in the DE, no one had any scratched paint.

It really was a great experience.

[jbripps]

Signed off during your first "real" day of your first event!! That's outta control. I've gone to 3 events (6 days total), and I'm still with an instructor. Yes, I'm the fastest guy in my group now (about 25 cars) and I'm pretty sure they'll bump me up to the next run group in my next event, but I must say that there is way too much to learn at one's first event before being signed off. Anyone else agree with me? Yes, a bit of jealousy here, but certainly not too over-eager to be by myself. I really enjoy the instruction and insight. Can NEVER get enough of that. Must be a load of spins in your club.

regards and congrats!!

[ckelly]

Steve, where's your Pelican BBS shirt, I think I was the only one there with one....?

[pbs911]

Looks like alot of fun. And welcome t oyour new addiction!

BTW, it looks like no one told JonT that the heater blower with the 964 motor will never fit in the SC.

[ckelly]

Here's a couple more pics from the today, yesterday was really sh*%%ty as Steve said, but it really did make for a great learning experience. Plus someone blew oil right on the line through 3 corners, followed by some nice Nebraska cold misty rain, made from some interesting driving

[s_wilwerding]

Originally posted by ckelly
Steve, where's your Pelican BBS shirt, I think I was the only one there with one....?

I had a Pelican shirt on both days - however, it was under two sweatshirts!

[Wil Ferch]

I've had a few years of DE experience..a total of a handful of days and also have been signed off. Still....I ask for an instructor ( even if only on an "as available" basis.). Why? Ego be d*mned....I always find useful advice from more senior members. On some track days, I even ask to "rotate" instructors, if possible. That way, I get a different twist as to the advice and comments I receive.

You can never learn too much....

Of course, I go solo too !.......it does allow you to focus a bit more cleanly and the car is lighter and more nimble to boot!

---Wil Ferch

[Lothar]

To add to Jon and Wil's posts:

I was signed off for the last session of my first DE and given the option to go Solo. Call me a wussie boy, but I declined and felt that I could learn a few things from the instructors comments and feedback.

At my second DE, I was bumped up a run group after two sessions on day one. I still spent all of both days with an instructor. During each session, we worked on being smooth and fast overall, but also picked a particular turn or complex to work on. Each time through that section of the track, we evaluated the improvement, or lack there of, and I got immediate feedback. Next lap, we were right back at it.

I don't think some solo time is a bad thing, but I make more progress when someone more experienced tells me what was good, bad or could be even better.

Steve, Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had a great weekend despite the weather. You can learn a lot in the rain since it puts a premium on smoothness. I'm sure this will be the first of many drives. I'll bet you can't imagine not going back for the next installment.

[APKhaos]

There is always something new to learn, no matter what run group.

Many experienced instructors are also experienced racers. The insight they can give in just a few laps is golden. Some drivers figure once they move up the run groups they don't need an instructor. Well, the middle run groups [where this attitude is most prevalent] is where you will see the sketchiest driving! 100 hour pilots are the most likely to have an incident [they have the basics, but are light on experience] and the same applies to track drivers.

I take an instructor out for one session every track weekend, and always pick up a better way to approach some part of the track, and to improve my lap times as a result. Still doing it, even though I'm [recently] in the instructor run group. After a while, you will get to know the instructors that best suit your temprament and driving style. Its pure gold - a great resource, free, and your loss if you choose not to take advantage.

[FlaCarrera]

Glad you has a good time.
I too was surprised to read that you got signed off after just a few sessions. I'm about to do my 7th PCA DE and in this Region it would be unheard of to be signed off as solo on weekend #1 which also must be verified by a check ride with a second instrcutor. Was this a PCA event?

Ted in SoFla