Tracking a 964. Need insight.

[BRAINIAC]

I'm taking the C2 down to Willow Springs to play Speed Racer with Jack Olsen this weekend. I would appreciate any advice from anyone with experience at the track with a 964. This will be my first time.

My car is totally stock. It will be very hot at the track. I need info like how to keep oil temp down and tips on keeping the brakes cool. Recommended tire pressures. (Bridgestone Potenza RE730's- 215/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear on 7's and 8's)

Doug Zielke already warned me about the suicidal Jack-Rabbit population and the sand blowing onto the track. (Thanks Doug!)

I'd really appreciate any 964 specific info in particular. Thanks in advance!

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

[Superman]

I thought we went over this. Okay, listen carefully. Go fast. Also, don't go so fast around corners that the car slides off the track.

Whew.

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'83 SC

[BRAINIAC]

Uh, can you go over that one more time Superman?

Now, does anyone have any *technical* advice regarding tracking a 964. I don't want to cook my brakes or my engine in the desert heat.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

[Superman]

Wish I could help, Tyson, but you know more about my car than I do, and certainly more about the 964. Heck, you kicked my ass at your first autocross. That's what the cams and exhaust are all about.

Good luck. Wish I could watch.

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'83 SC

[Jack Olsen]

The 964 has a great oil cooling system -- I wish it'd fit in my car. I've never heard about about any 964 having temperature problems at the track.

And Willow Springs isn't that tough on brakes. I don't think there's a single 2nd-gear turn on the track. In fact, I've taken the whole thing in fourth.

Now, as to advice for racing with Olsen. Well, you've got your work cut out for you. The best idea is probably to keep your 964 close to the right side of the straights, with your left hand out the window, making an 'after you, Mr. Olsen' kind of gesture.



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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

[Doug Zielke]

Tyson,
If Mr. Olsen gets a wabbit stuffed into his oil-cooler by accident, you should be able to blow by him, just as his hot-rod motor melts!

Anyway, have fun and bring it all back home in one piece.

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Eric Coffey]

So Tyson & Jack,

Are you guys going to have anyone take pictures for you? I am sure everyone here would get a kick out of some "competition" photos!

-Eric

[This message has been edited by freefly (edited 08-21-2001).]

[andyu911]

Tyson, you really have gut since Big Willow is a FAST track and it's gonna be your first track experience. Be easy first w/ street tires. Change oil and bleed the brake before you go. It seems like it's gonna be nice and cool this weekend. Have fun and please let us know how it goes!
Andy
'87 Carrera

[BRAINIAC]

Thanks guys. Jack, you slay me! I think you're right BTW about the 964 cooling system. My temps never get above 1/4 on the gauge when driving hard at speed. It's in traffic when it creeps up to the half-way point. I've got Mobil 1 synthetic in it so the motor should be fine.

The brake fluid as well as all other maintenance items are all new, as you'd expect from a mechanic's car.

The 2 things that concern me are tire pressures and what grade of synthetic gear lube to put in. Any suggestions?

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

[Planter91C2]

cool collar?

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Daryl 964 Targa

[Mike Feinstein]

Cool collar. . .yeah! But whatever you do. . .DON'T CUT IT IN HALF!!!

[Early_S_Man]

Hey, Jack! You think if he takes out his air filter the engine would gain 30-40 hp? K&N, maybe? Those things make hp out of thin air, you know!

Naw, it wouldn't help much even if it did ... with all those extra 200-300 kg of mass it has to haul around!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[BRAINIAC]

Oh come on Warren. I've got big cojones but they don't weigh *that* much! Oh, you were talking about the car. Sorry.

Well I just bought 4 qts. of Redline MTL 90 75W-90 synthetic gear lube. It's GL4. I hope this is the stuff. Can someone let me know if this is what I need? I know there are lots of track junkies on this board and some of them must run a G50 trans.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Use the brake correct. Thats the trick to speed. Avoid "playing" with the brakes as they will only heat up. Brake all or nothing but be aware that the rear gets light.

Depending on your tires you can run a bit more chamber.

Stay behind Jack as he seems to know the line and you can use his windshadow. Drive a bit with the right fender in the wind if your oil gets hot.

To find out the tire pressure you need a thermometer and have to ask a Bridgestone Tech. If you don´t have a clue drive a spiritet turn and then put your hand on the profil. If you can feel "hot steam" like coming from a oven they are to hot and you have to enlarge the pressure or slow down. if they feel hot you are in a good area. if you can place your hand longer you have to lower pressure or learn how to drive.

Grüsse

[Superman]

Tyson, I see what you mean. I suspect the GL4 is not the right stuff and that the GL5 is, but I am relatively clueless, so don't put much faith in this suspicion of mine. It's just that I have been told that the older types of synchros, like in the 915 take the GL4 stuff, and that the completely different synchro design (like in the G50 I suspect) takes a much more slippery lube, GL5. Again, Tyson, it's just a guess. If a 964 owner or repair manual said GL4, I would quickly agree.

And I have also heard from track guys that Roland is right. Don't play with the brakes. Brake hard at the last minute, then let them rest until you need them. Some track guys have told me this avoids overheating the brakes and wearing them too fast.

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'83 SC

[Early_S_Man]

I guess I just don't understand all of the questions and confusion about GL-4 vs. GL-5 gear oil! More than 20 years ago, March 31, 1981, the publication date of the '78 thru '81 SC and Turbo spec book ... Porsche recommended GL-5 SAE 90 grade gear oil for our 915 transaxles!!!

Now, just who out there doesn't believe that was a valid recommendation?

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[Superman]

I stand corrected. This is a good illustration of the dangers of listening to Superman.

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'83 SC

[BRAINIAC]

Well, I just looked in my owners manual. 75W-90 GL-5. The Redline I bought will not work. If I had read the back completely, I would have seen the line that says "Not for use in rear wheel drive vehicles which specify GL-5"

So. Which Redline do I use?

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

[Early_S_Man]

I guess that Redline is strictly for Ricers!

Porsche had been specifying EP Gear oil a long time ago for use in transaxles with the ZF limited slip differential ... that implies a moly additive which all of the Swepco gear oils have in them, and the 203 and 212 gear oils have more of than the 'regular' 201 and 210 varieties have.

Maybe a visit to a Petroleum distributor is in order?

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[BRAINIAC]

OK, got the gearlube sorted out. Redline makes a GL5+ in 75W90NS. The NS version is what we want for better synchro action.

The GL4 is for non-hypoid final drives like those found in front-drivers.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet