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First trackday
Hi all, I did my first Porsche trackday at the weekend. It was an Airfield event and Porsche only so I always thought it would be a good starting point from the point of veiw of large run-offs and comparable machines.
What a fantastic experience. The 911 proved completely reliable (with the exception of boiling the brake fluid towards the end) and endured 27 5.2 mile laps (!) through the course of the day. It handled like a dream and, given it's reputation, I was surprised as to how much you could get away with. I regularly got lairy slides at anything upto 105mph, which really has to be felt to be believed (my Mum even enjoyed it as passenger!) and providing you keep on the gas with a reasonable amount of opposite lock it could be caught. Once I knew the circuit it was easier to keep pushing, as I was determined to find the limits. Speeds through the corners were amazing - 120 through a chicane and maxxing at around 130ish on the back straight before braking down to 40 for the tighest complex. The most spectacular point was an 85mph spin with my Father-in-Law in the car!! By the end of the day I was up with the best of them (even passed a 996 C4S!!) and only a few dedicated track cars were significantly quicker. It's certainly changed my mind about the 3.2. The down side? £50 in fuel (just on the track!) and completely destroying my (new) tyres!! It was a very abrasive surface and the outer edges of the rears are bald and the fronts literally have lumps out of them.     
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3.2 Coupe |
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05-28-2003, 05:55 AM
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Sounds like a BLAST!! I can't wait to get my FT out there
If it's any consolation not last week but a week ago saterday I burned $30(@1.35/gallon) in gas just driving around in 1 day.
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Tim 1973 911T 2005 VW GTI "Dave, hit the brakes, but don't look like your htting the brakes...what? I DON'T KNOW, BRAKE CASUAL!!!" dtw's thoughts after nearly rear ending a SHP officer |
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05-28-2003, 06:02 AM
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Nathan,
I always enjoy reading these first-track-day posts because I now know that these cars are far more capable -- and forgiving -- than we were led to believe. I've done quite a few trackdays now, and my Carrera 2.7 keeps surprising me -- and all the guys with 993s, Boxsters, and 996s! Now tell me, Nathan, what's going on in that first image? Also, what year is your 3.2? Matt Holcomb MFIWDP PRVC BOHICA 1974 911 Carrera 2.7 RoW 1974 Ford Falcon GT coupe Dedicated Homepage Engine Rebuild Homepage Porsche Owners Gallery Profile Pelican Gallery Profile |
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05-28-2003, 06:08 AM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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I scrolled throught hte pictures and thought the car had a broken sway bar or soemthing from the amount of body roll, but then I read the text....wow..you were running at some high speeds!
The first image looked weird then I realize he was in a right turn countering oversteer...your first day out! |
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05-28-2003, 06:18 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dublin,Ireland
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Any of the marshalls black flag the guy in the Cessna for going the wrong way in Pic 3 ?
Abrasive looking concrete. Really nice car.
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71T 94 Ducati 900ss Maserati 50cc (really) - 3sp moped/vintage unknown/in bits |
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05-28-2003, 06:56 AM
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Pic1 is the exit of the right hand corner I'm following the Boxster in, on the lower picture. The car could be nicely steered on the throttle as the corner opened out, but at about 80-85 the rear tyres could take no more!! It broke away slowly and progressively, and could easily be caught with a little opposite lock, hence me repeating it on every lap!!
The plane actually landed on a runway parallel to the track as the cars were going round! The concrete was TOO abrasive - great for grip - bad for my new tyres which are either bald, or have lumps missing..... I'd still recommend this to anyone though. It really was an amazing day. BTW, My car's '89 Matt 
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3.2 Coupe |
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05-28-2003, 03:39 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Bournemouth, UK
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Nathe.
It looks like a BLAST  Great pics.... I hope you saw to the Boxster !!
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Porsche-less but still alive !!! |
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05-28-2003, 04:48 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,569
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Go Around
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Nice. Here in the USA we have thousands of general aviation airfields and comparatively few racetracks. It's an inspiration.
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'66 911 #304065 Irischgruen ‘96 993 Carrera 2 Polarsilber '81 R65 Ex-'71 911 PCA C-Stock Club Racer #806 (Sold 5/15/13) Ex-'88 Carrera (Sold 3/29/02) Ex-'91 Carrera 2 Cabriolet (Sold 8/20/04) Ex-'89 944 Turbo S (Sold 8/21/20) |
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05-28-2003, 07:02 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Mason, OH
Posts: 2,568
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Congrats. I did my first track event back in March and still have the smile on my face!
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Doug '81 SC Coupe |
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05-28-2003, 07:40 PM
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Boxster "S" was suitably disposed of! I was surprised how quick it was though - he took some catching.
For the next event I'd like to lose some weight - where's a good place to start? (lighter bumpers, f/g engine lid?)
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3.2 Coupe |
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05-29-2003, 04:20 AM
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Irrationally exuberant
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Quote:
-Chris |
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05-29-2003, 05:36 AM
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
1973 Porsche 911 2.4 MFI
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 2.7 MFI
The Blue Pheonix
