Houston, we do not have a problem!
 

I am not having any technical issues whatsoever with my 88 911! I LOVE MY CAR! :D I bought it from a guy in Houston so the title of this post makes at least a tiny bit of sense, right?

Now how many of you will cringe and/or shake your heads at me when you hear that I paid a shop to do my engine & gear oil change & hydraulics flush? Probably 99% of you would have done this yourselves. And someday I'd like to be just like you! But I'm not there yet, and I have not managed to "buddy up" with anybody local to mentor me, and I have my first DE this weekend to be in tip-top shape for, so off to the Porsche shop we went.

This forum feels like my "home" forum here but I did not want to flaunt the rules by putting a totally off-topic post here. So I put a post about my first "real driving" experiences over in the AutoX-Racing forum, called Novice Notes. I'm finally embarking on my DE adventures. Come along - if you dare!

Which DE are you doing this weekend? Road Atlanta? If so, look for the bright orange 911 (probably the only one there) and stop by and say hey!

No, I'm doing a 1-day with AL SCCA at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway. They also have a Solo event on Sunday at Bham Race Course, might hit that as well. Have fun at RA! I am looking at doing a NASA HPDE there in December. Looking forward to driving there!

Your abundance of enthusiasm makes up for any lack of technical skills. SmileWavy

TGP is a great track for motorcycles and decent for p-cars after their reconfiguration and repaving. Go for it and have a great/safe time keeping in mind that you have to do that one a couple of times before going to Barber - the real stuff.

Please tell me you knocked on something wooden immediately after posting this comment.;)

Thanks for your feedback. Folks have told me the same about Road Atlanta - especially advising not to do my first DE there. I have worked the grid for events at both, and talked to the drivers. Based on what I have learned, I am trying to pick my first couple of events to be ones where novices go out alone. NASA puts novice & intermediate out together and it can be harrowing for new drivers.

I have already gotten in some good lap time at TGPR and I'm looking forward to the DE there this weekend. My debut! Having ridden along for some HOT hot laps at Barber, while I am excited to drive it, I am not eager to get out there before I'm ready for it. Having a little bit of coaching has really helped me feel more ready, seat time will do the rest. We'll see if I'm ready for Road Atlanta in a mixed group in December :)

Key issues until you get the feeling:
Put some air in those tires.
Brake before start turning.
Go into turns slow to go out fast.
Sign and let the "fast guys" go by.
Do your thing - don't race anyone YET
Enjoy it and be safe.

One item on your list reminds me of a niggling DE worry - pointing by! The reason this is a worry is that I have my seat pulled up almost as close as it can go to the wheel. Short arms & legs, so this is a must. I have got everything adjusted so that I am comfortable and "one with the seat."

However in this position, I cannot actually stick my left arm directly out the window. There is the post for the vent window there, directly to my left, and I have to fold up my arm toward me and kind of lean in and back a bit to get around the post and put it out the window.

Because I anticipate spending a lot of my time in my first DE with my left arm pointing out the window, this is a bit of a concern. I wish I could make that vent window & post disappear and have the use of the whole window space to the front pillar!

You don't need (or want ) to throw your arm full length out the window. Most drivers should be able to recognize the signal even if only your fingers are out in the wind. Maybe consider a pair of brightly colored driving gloves.

PICTURES YEOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!

You're killing me Bobby.

S.

I should have, huh? Actually I think I just slightly overstated the situation. Chalk it up to "enthusiasm" :) Currently I AM having some issues with my heater, and I went crosseyed while my PO was trying to describe to me something he had forgotten he had "rigged" that I should get checked out (in the footwell blower box). So I will just not run the heat until I can get it checked out. Otherwise I'm in good shape for the DE this weekend.

Fingers crossed, wood knocked upon, shoulder salted.... ;)

Good idea. There is a geniune concern with folks seeing your hand signals, so even if they couldn't see you pointing, they would probably get this drift with a bright glove.

I recall Earnhart Jr saying that he wore white gloves on some tracks so others could see his hand signals.

How 'bout a "novice" stripe on the back of ones car until the experience level warrants the removal of it? It's worked in other forms of racing.