Back from Two Weeks of Autocrossing with Trophys

[Randy W]

Just arrived back home from a very busy past two weeks, with three national level autocrossing events to prepare for and compete in. Pardon my long story here - my travels have been packed with adventure, and I hope you find them as interesting as I did.

First up was the long drive from Seattle to SCCA's Pro Solo in Wendover, Utah. This event turned out to be blazing hot and a wake up call for 911s in the ASP class. Gary Thomason in a street prepared new Vette, took class honors and was nearly three seconds faster than the closest 911! I was the fastest 911 in fourth place until Sunday, when Doug Hebenthal got the course figured out and bumped me out of trophy position. I learned later that I would need to lean out my fuel a little and dial in a bit more ignition advance to optimize my Motec controlled 3.2 L for the higher altitude and hotter temperatures.

From Wendover, I drove straight to my home track in Bremerton, Washington for an Evolution Dial-In school in preparation for the next two events. At the school, I ran on slicks for the first time and immediately noticed the improved grip when cornering and braking with these tires over my road race DOT Hoosiers that I had used in ASP class. I also learned more about dialing in shocks from instructor Andy Hollis, information that would have also been helpful in Wendover.

The SCCA Solo 2 National Tour in Bremerton that weekend was very successful, and I won the 1st place trophy in F Prepared class with the new slicks on my 911 race car, coming from .8 seconds behind Greg Fordahl in a race prepared 944 on the same tires to win on Sunday. From Bremerton, I trailered my 911 immediately back to Idaho and the annual Porsche Parade held this year in Boise.

This was my first Porsche Parade, and it was suprisingly good. I missed most of the concours, but arrived in time to see Chris O'Donnell's immaculate black on red 1973 911S. This car was so perfect, that as I watched it being rolled into the trailer, the mirror-like reflection of my legs in the door panel did not change at all! It not only won it's class but one of the overall awards as well. Congratulations, Chris. I also saw concours entrant and fellow R Gruppester/Pelicanhead, Eric Linden, and his lovely wife with their beautiful terra cotta 356A.

My focus at the parade was on winning my class, M3 Men. I came very close, taking the 2nd place trophy in the 10 driver class. I was only .5 second behind past overall winner, Jim Hayes in a larger engined (3.6L) and lighter early 911. I was the 6th fastest entrant out of about 300 and drove my 3.2L well, but it was a horsepower course and Jim drove a good race. Maybe next time the parade is on the west coast, I'll bring a 3.6... . My mentors, Greg and Jodi Fordahl took top honors in their class and overall driving Kim Hiskey's '97 RSR! I took home one more trophy - 6th place in the early 911 technical quiz, out of about twenty entrants in that class. Ed Mayo won the early 911 tech quiz again and had top score overall - Congrats, Ed! The other highlights for me were the rally (which my wife and I started on at least ) and being with all the great Porsche friends I've made over the years. Thanks to all for making my adventure so much fun....

[pwd72s]

Congrats on all Randy! Especially the trophy at Pea-raid! That's where the nation's tall dogs always show up. As folks in these parts say: You done good!

[Dantilla]

Thanks for the update, Randy. Now I know why you were not at the last PCA event.

I'm tempted to drop what I'm doing and go work on my car. The 3.2 and newly Quaifed 915 are still sitting on the garage floor waiting to be installed in the '73. Engine compartment is painted and wired, just need to finish running the new fuel lines, and tie in the new harness at the fuse panels.

[Superman]

Congratulations, Randy. You're one of the big reasons why this little PNWPCA chapter is so respected. You should be proud. We are.

[Jack Olsen]

Wow. Congratulations, Randy. Sounds like a great couple of weeks!

[don911]

Congrats Randy! Sounds like a grea time. Nader and I were wondering why you weren't at the track yesterday.

[Randy W]

Thanks, Paul, Dan, Jim, Jack, and Don. It was a great couple of weeks.
See some of you guys at the swap meet this weekend?

[Carrera Charlie]

Randy,

Way to go!! It's nice to get the results you're getting, but I'm glad you're having fun doing it as well!

Cheers!

[don911]

Randy,
I'll be at the swap meet. Some people are getting together at Pete's Eggnest for breakfast if you're interested. The Eggnest is over by JW's shop.

[GIBSON]

Randy, sounds like a great trip. Congrats on some fantastic finishes. 911's are not the easiest cars to autocross well. It takes some real skill to be smooth and quick and the competition is fierce. Every year somebody comes up with a way to make some already fast cars faster so you can never sit still.
Are you thinking about 3.6L in the future?

[Blackdimonds]

Randy,

I too went to Boise and had a great time. My wife and I spent 4 days up there, and saw hundereds of great cars. I didn't do the autocross because they classed me in M4. My car is an 81 SC that is lightened, with larger than stock torsion bars, but otherwise stock. The thing that put me in to M4 was the 9 inch wide rear rims. For that alone I was penalized 10 points. I think Parade standards on autocross are somewhat messed up.

On another note, our region is doing a 2 day event in Wendover on Sept 14 and 15 again this year. Last year Greg and Jodi Fordahl were there (99% sure it was them in that 914/6). They beat everyone by a good 15 sec. We run the SCCA course on Sunday, and try to do something fun on Sat.

As the autocross chair for the region (Intermountain) I would like to invite you and anyone else here on the BBS, to come out and join us. Pass the word on to Greg and Jodi and the rest of the gang up there to try to join us.

We are using a new RaceAmerica AC4 system, and we usually only have 30-40 racers! We usually do 6 runs, and then maybe a few fun runs after that. Normally the cost is $15 per person per day, $25 per couple per day. This year I am doing $25 per person for both days, and $45 per couple for both days!



Email me for any questions,

911man@xmission.com

or go to our web site for info.

www.irpca.org

[widebody911]

So was it just the slicks that bumped you from ASP to FP?

[Superman]

Two comments: While I agree that 991s are challenging to drive well, I'd assert that there are certain kinds of tricks they can do that other cars cannot, because of their weight and traction bias. And finally, when it comes to autocrossing, IT'S ALL ABOUT TRACTION. Jason's 2000 lb 2.4L 914 (excellent driver) has had a hard time keeping up with Tyson's stealth-black '72 911 largely because 205 is the biggest tire that will fit into Jason's wheel wells (and class). If I put 7" and 9" wheels with 225 and 245 tires on my car I would probably be instantly two seconds faster, but it would also throw me into the very competitive "P2" class.

It's all about traction.

[cegerer]

Randy,

I don't suppose there were any good photographers around recording these events????? Congrats and would love to see a few photos! -- Curt

[turbo dave]

Congrats, Randy! Sounds like a blast!

We missed you yesterday at WWSCC, I saw that you were registered... It was a fun event, weird course- much like a race track, all straights & sweepers, really fast. Scott Chytil & I bookended the IA class- he in first, me in sixth (last). Oh well, I have at least a half dozen excuses prepared already.

[Doug E]

Great story and congratulations. Sounds like a great way to spend a couple of weeks.

[adamnitti]

congratulations!

i have a stupid question for ya, though... do you drive your car to these events or do you trailer it?

[Randy W]

Thanks, guys. To answer your questions: Bruce, I'd love to have a 3.6 built to take full advantage of the FP and M3 classes - I'm seriously contemplating it for the future. I agree that 911s take time to master and discipline to drive at the limit - "quick, clean and smooth" are what I tell myself before every run. Interestingly, 911s, although challenging to autocross well, are more communicative about what they are about to do than 914s are. Thom, slicks bump you into prepared, and 911s with 10x16 slicks or smaller can run in AP or FP at SCCA Solo events. Adam, I trailer my 911 to all long distance events - this keeps the car fresh and serves as breakdown insurance. Curt, here are some photos of my car, Kim Hiskey's '97 RSR that Greg set top time in, the M grid (with the '74 RSR that was about 3 seconds behind me in M3), and an early 911 at speed.

[Randy W]

Paul, thanks for your offer of autocrossing at Wendover in September. I will try to make it if I can and will pass the word on to the folks here. Yeah, that was Jodi and Greg in Leeds Gulick's FP 914-6. I heard about that event - lots of fun and a chance to practice on concrete. Sorry to have missed you at Boise, maybe next time....

[makaio]

Way to go Randy!