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.
http://www.owners-gallery.com/uploads/slide1a660.jpg
http://www.owners-gallery.com/uploads/corner1660.jpg
http://www.owners-gallery.com/uploads/corner5660.jpg
http://www.owners-gallery.com/uploads/slide2660.jpg
http://www.owners-gallery.com/uploads/corner4660.jpg

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.

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
<b>PRVC</b>
<b>BOHICA</b>
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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!

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.

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

http://www.owners-gallery.com/upload...missing660.jpg

Nathe.

It looks like a BLAST:D
Great pics....
I hope you saw to the Boxster !!

Go Around
 

"Negative, Speedbird 805, turn left heading one-eight-zero and hold, the Porsches have the right of way!"

Nice. Here in the USA we have thousands of general aviation airfields and comparatively few racetracks. It's an inspiration.

Congrats. I did my first track event back in March and still have the smile on my face!

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?)

Stop eating that fast food and big desserts...:D
-Chris