Road America Road Worthy?

[Hawks911]

Debating taking our '78 911 SC Targa to Road America this weekend for the races. Its a 5 hour drive from Peoria, IL to the track. Any comments on what to prepare for relative to spares, fluids, good service recommendations (dealers, etc) in case we have trouble along the way?

Longest road trip with it to date has been Peoria to Champaign and back (3 hours). Runs well and I feel I just need to launch out on the adventure to do a little bonding with the project car.

We might also take our son's new purchase of an '80 911 SC Coupe along but it's only made the return trip from Indy to Peoria from his purchase last month.

Could be a real family adventure if the cars hold up.

Thanks.

Mike

[ShakinJoe]

It's what their made for...drive it!!

[SCWDP911]

so where is Road America?

[VroomGrrl]

I am pretty new to this whole Porsche thing myself, but I feel somewhat qualified to respond as I started my adventure in ownership with an 850 mile weekend road trip from Houston to Tuscaloosa (AL) - gosh not even 2 weeks ago. Time flies! My next road trip is shorter, about 225 miles from Tuscaloosa to Road Atlanta, this coming weekend. Yeehaw!

The basics are the same as for any long road trip - you'd want to have fresh oil & filters, all fluids topped up, be sure you have your spare tire & supplies in order, basic tools, some oil for the trip, good wiper blades also, check all your lights to be sure they're in order. In addition, for our older Pcars, a set of spare fuses, spare belts, relays, etc. I always carry a few shop rags & superabsorbent auto towels as well.

It was suggested to me to make a list of flat-bed tow services & Porsche garages along my route. I did get some tow #s but stopped short of Pcar garages - hoped for the best there.

Driving older cars in the heat can be dodgy - you know best how your cars react to the heat, and you'd want to be mindful of that in planning your driving. Keep a close eye on your gauges, etc. as you go. Really mostly common sense kind of stuff.

Mostly I want to give you a great big GO FOR IT! Cars are for driving! So DRIVE ON! Take lots of photos & video & to share with us!

[rgrimm]

Originally Posted by v8_ranch

so where is Road America?

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Wonderful road course, and home to the July Historics (great event that everyone should take in) and some of the best track food you'll find anywhere.

http://www.roadamerica.com/

Oh, and BTW, you'll find that a good long road trip will do wonders for the cars...they really do like to be run...

[74911]

Road America is a great venue and well worth going to at least once in your life. Make sure you get to the back of the track - turns 6,7,8. It's a great place to watch from.

If you get into mechanical trouble near Chicago Midwest Performance Cars (www.midwestperformancecars.com 773-492-0090) specializes in Porsche maintenance.

Once you split off of I43 onto 57 north of Milwaukee watch your speed - there can be a lot of cops on race weekends, especially on Sunday coming home.

-Mark

[strupgolf]

Oh get in the damm cars and drive them up, you will have a great time with no problems. I went from Indy to RA years ago with my "will it make it 911" and it drove like a dream. Enjoy, and have a brat for me.

[ChkbookMechanic]

Prepare for a road trip?! As long as you have a cell phone there is no problem. Hop in and drive!

[cstreit]

Don't forget that there is a Porsche-only parking corral on the outside of the track between the tower and turn 1!

[richde]

Get AAA or a similar service, bring a cell phone and go for it.

[GG Allin]

When I had my 911, I would drive it to Road America pound the hell out of it for several days then drive it home. Never a problem.

[911quest]

Go for it!! Thats why they have wheels. Remember your only a tow truck ride away from home.

[c019740]

DONT DO IT!! stay home all day and dont do anything.

Thats a lot of fun!!!

[ramonesfreak]

tools. spare relays, spare fuses, spare coil, bentley book, 101 book, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, make sure your air pump works and spare tire holds air and jack works ok, make sure your green dizzy wire is in good shape, spare belt and shims, few quarts of oil, empty gas can, duct tape, zip ties, JB weld, epoxy, rags. all of these things are in my trunk

if i knew how to use one, ide have a multimeter and understand how electronics work and how to diagnose such problems.

credit card with enough available balance for a long tow. AAA phone #.

when i get the money, ill also keep a spare starter and fuel pump and fuel line clamps and a fresh alternator installed

so far the only thing thats almost stranded me was a bad, original coil. i have two of em in the trunk now

[acapella8]

I'll be there on Saturday for the ALMS email me on acapella8@aol.com, and I'll come introduce myself. I'll be driving my 78SC as well (with a spare German coil (not Mexico crap) in the trunk)

[Miguel Antonett]

What did you get it for? ============== DRIVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

All you need is a cell phone, our cars don't even need water.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by srandallf

tools. spare relays, spare fuses, spare coil, bentley book, 101 book, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, make sure your air pump works and spare tire holds air and jack works ok, make sure your green dizzy wire is in good shape, spare belt and shims, few quarts of oil, empty gas can, duct tape, zip ties, JB weld, epoxy, rags. all of these things are in my trunk

All that extra weight will make that car no fun through the twisties.