My 911 Has Gone to Heaven

VroomGrrl · 03-08-2009, 09:06 PM

And so have I!

I spent the weekend getting intimately acquainted with my 911 in a PCA DE weekend at Barber. My first big track DE. WOW. The club put on a great event, the weather was perfect, I had a fantastic instructor, and the time on track just flew! Me? Not so much with the flying. But I definitely picked up speed over the weekend, learned a LOT, and had soooo much fun.

My car was a total trooper and I really enjoyed exploring the limits. Speaking of which - I met my rev limiter!

Thanks for all the earlier tire discussion. The new Dunlop Direzzas Sport Z1 Star Specs were mighty fine. They are more like the Michelin Pilot Sports I replaced with these than I'd hoped in terms of sidewall softness - but I was forewarned about that. I'd never driven the car on new tires, so that has been a real treat. They had really good grip and performed very well.

I posted a couple of pics in the AutoX/Racing forum, and there are many more on my flickr page.

Here is a gaggle of 911s (and a few other things) on the grid, me bringing up the rear in my #41:

Here I am leaving for my last session of the weekend:

A few more:

village idiot · village idiot's Garage

Sounds like you had a great time....................................Man I wish we had a track here

HarryD · 03-08-2009, 09:32 PM

Whew!!

For a second there I thought you meant the "Great Porsche Parking Lot in the Sky".

Glad to hear you had fun. It is a great way to spend the day.

gsmith660 · 03-09-2009, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by village idiot

Sounds like you had a great time....................................Man I wish we had a track here

Try Tanalus Dr. Thats where I used to go for some fun since we didn't have a track.

Buckterrier · 03-09-2009, 04:09 AM

Good for you Vrooom. I attended a DE workshop this past weekend in anticipation of my first DE in July. But yeah, you scared me also thinking your car died!!! Be careful on those thread titles!!!!!

MindtrapX · MindtrapX's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Good for you Vrooom. I attended a DE workshop this past weekend in anticipation of my first DE in July. But yeah, you scared me also thinking your car died!!! Be careful on those thread titles!!!!!

+1! My heart dropped when I saw the title. Vroomgrrl without the Vroom?? Noooo...

Good to hear you had a good time! If time permits, I would like to make it to a DE @ one point this season.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

There is nothing like the scream of a 911 engine over the wind noise of triple digit speed. The comforting knowledge that there is no possibility of a ticket and you are in a safe environment is a bonus. Hitting the braking point just right and nailing the apex is just a blast. You know you had a good time when your face hurts from all the grinning.

Congratulations on driving your car on track. The bad news is it can become a very expensive addiction. Just keep the modifications to a minimum and enjoy.

VroomGrrl · 03-09-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

There is nothing like the scream of a 911 engine over the wind noise of triple digit speed. The comforting knowledge that there is no possibility of a ticket and you are in a safe environment is a bonus. Hitting the braking point just right and nailing the apex is just a blast. You know you had a good time when your face hurts from all the grinning.

Congratulations on driving your car on track. The bad news is it can become a very expensive addiction. Just keep the modifications to a minimum and enjoy.

As much as I enjoyed the scream of my own engine, I don't think I hit triple digits - the straights are so short at Barber, and I am definitely not "up to speed" yet. However, I got a ride in my instructor's car, a late model Boxster, and man, he definitely had that thing screaming - soooo thrilling! LOVE that sound.

As for mods, I'll give you my mantra: I'M STARTING WITH THE NUT BEHIND THE WHEEL. That's the ONLY adjusting I am doing for my first year, as I am starting from zero, and it will be a while before my skill is in any way restrained by the limits of my car. My long term plan is to keep my 911 stock. It will not be a "competitive" car, but if I want to compete, I will have to get myself a race car.

Yes, when I start talking mods, you can throw this back in my face

VroomGrrl · 03-09-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Good for you Vrooom. I attended a DE workshop this past weekend in anticipation of my first DE in July. But yeah, you scared me also thinking your car died!!! Be careful on those thread titles!!!!!

Gosh, sorry guys. I guess "smart ass" does not always translate well does it?

I've never heard of a DE workshop, but it sounds like a great idea! I did lots of prep before attending this Barber event, and I felt like it really paid off. I had lots of the very basic basics down (positioning, steering, basic track etiquette, flags, etc.) and this allowed me to get right to work on some good stuff.

Honestly, folks had me scared about Barber being such a "technical" and tricky track, especially for my first weekend DE. So I spent hours beforehand watching lap videos & "driving" with some sim race programs that have the Barber track. I spent plenty of time getting ride-alongs out there in the past year also. And even with all that, it is a whole different thing from behind the wheel. In a good way!

So where are you doing your first DE in July?

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

There is no doubt the biggest limiting factor of any car is the loose nut behind the steering wheel. That is for sure the biggest limiting factor in my car!

Buckterrier · 03-09-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomGrrl

So where are you doing your first DE in July?

It's going to be at Lime Rock Park. Close by and I've done a few parade laps there and watched quite a few races also, (not that that will help!). It's a short course and am familiar with it.
As far as being a smarta**, I sometimes have that covered in spades

.

crater64 · 03-09-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindtrapX

+1! My heart dropped when I saw the title. Vroomgrrl without the Vroom?? Noooo...

+1 to that. Having read your post, I'm reminded of a quote from one of my favorite TV characters, Blackadder Goes Forth's Squadron Commander Lord Flashheart:

"Always treat your kite like you treat your woman...get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back."

Happy to hear your first DE was a success!

lateapex911 · 03-09-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomGrrl

As for mods, I'll give you my mantra: I'M STARTING WITH THE NUT BEHIND THE WHEEL. That's the ONLY adjusting I am doing for my first year,....

That's maybe the smartest thing I've ever read. LOL. You GET it.

That said, make sure your brakes are up to snuff, (maybe a more aggressive street/track pad is in order) and tire pressures, and fluid levels are things to keep on top of.

Yes, getting into a good instructors car on R compounds can be an enlightening experience.

VroomGrrl · 03-09-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lateapex911

That's maybe the smartest thing I've ever read. LOL. You GET it.

That said, make sure your brakes are up to snuff, (maybe a more aggressive street/track pad is in order) and tire pressures, and fluid levels are things to keep on top of.

Yes, getting into a good instructors car on R compounds can be an enlightening experience.

I wish I'd paid closer attention - I did notice my instructor had Kumhos on but I didn't note exactly what. I don't think he had separate track & street tires so I don't think they would have been Rs. By the way he confirmed what others have said about their reputation for flat-spotting.

Anyway - yeah I don't consider regular "consummables" such as tires and brake pads to be "mods"! I do my best to keep on top of that stuff regularly - paying extra attention at the track. I'm sticking with stock brake pads (they are fresh) and the like for now.

I joked with my husband looking around the paddock at folks who are set up with trailers, extra wheels, hell some of them have EXTRA CARS

I do bring a bunch of crap (tools & spares) but my prep consists of torquing lug nuts, checking tire pressures, checking fluids - and making sure my glass is clean (my pet peeve). Ten minutes prep - then I'm off around the paddock to get a cuppa coffee and look at all the pretty cars and take pictures and yack with old and new friends. Not exactly a "serious racer"

GaryR · GaryR's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by lateapex911

That's maybe the smartest thing I've ever read. LOL. You GET it.

That said, make sure your brakes are up to snuff, (maybe a more aggressive street/track pad is in order) and tire pressures, and fluid levels are things to keep on top of.

Yes, getting into a good instructors car on R compounds can be an enlightening experience.

Excellent advice and I agree, GREAT way to look at your learning future!

Buckterrier, look me up at Limerock. I'll be instructing this year but not until after the Club Race. Look forward to meeting you and seeing the ear-to-ear grin after you get back from your 1st run.

#954 Black 911