First DE...mini report...uh Wow!

FlaCarrera · 08-17-2002, 05:30 PM

OK, OK I admit the adrenalin is still way up 4 hrs later. For those relunctant to give DE a try, yep do it! I drew a pretty agressive instructor (who went off course in his SC car between his sessions w/me).
Bottom line: golly, gosh gee & holy s**t, I had no idea my car could do THIS! Setting: Moroso Motorsporst Park , Palm Beach, FL 2.2 mile track, hot day. Instructor showered my car & me (shucks)after 4 (yes FOUR) 30 minute sessions with praise. I'm not a green group anymore..Blue...learned a lot with a TON left to go.

Only down side, ran out of gas on the Turnpike on the way home w/gauge showing 1/4. Got outta of the car only to step into a nest of fire ants (Florida types can relate). To be in the fast lane one minute and flashers going amongst fire ants the next is...eh, a bummer. Picture of the black beast in Turn 10 below.
Happy Sat. Night
Ted in So Fla
86 Carrera Blk/Blk

Nader · 08-17-2002, 08:59 PM

Welcome to true high-performance driving. So many people out there who haven't taken their Porsches to the track (and I don't mean autocross) have no idea what their cars can do. The question now is, what will be your next upgrade? It's a slippery slope when you start hitting the track.

Jack Olsen · 08-17-2002, 10:24 PM

Yeah, someone recently wrote a good first-DE-experience post on Rennlist. The guy made the point that if you haven't driven your car, at speed, on a track, then you simply do not know what your car is capable of. And what's more, he felt that you may think you know how to drive your car at the limit, but if you haven't done it on a track, you really don't know how to drive your car at the limit.

I don't agree with the guy 100%, but I tend to think the track is the best place to explore the outer reaches of these cars' capabilities.

J P Stein · 08-17-2002, 10:36 PM

Track snobs may not agree, but the best place to exceed your cars limits is at an autocross.

Gonna' try some track work one of these days, tho.
There's a DE comming up in Oct. I'll run the wuss group.

Jack Olsen · 08-17-2002, 10:44 PM

JP, I'd agree that autocross teaches better car control and technical skills. The two complement each other.

89911 · 08-18-2002, 04:21 AM

Gee, I always thought autocrossing was a great way to show off to people shopping at WalMart. Joking aside, two different entities. Ones skill and memorization, the others speed and cajones??? (Not sure of spelling, Spanish is spoken infrequently in Pittsburgh).

FlaCarrera · 08-18-2002, 05:46 AM

Having only sampled only one of each; AutoX and track session and being a video producer, I would select different background theme music for each - "Jailhouse Rock" for AutoX and "Blue Danube Waltz" for track.

The neat thing about yesterday's DE was the nearly 2 hrs. seat time using all the gears except 5th vs. 6 minutes for a day at an AutoX in 2nd & maybe 3rd gear. If you've never done neither, absolutely do AutoX first IMO.
Cheers
Ted in So. Fla
86 Carrera Blk/Blk

J P Stein · 08-18-2002, 05:58 AM

I've always thought that George Thorogood's "Who do you love"
is prefect AX music

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Fun isn't it!

Now get the check book out and tell the wife/girlfriend you'll see her on her birthday and all major holidays. Here is what happened after my my first DE:
new Bilsteins all a round
stifer anti-sway bars w/ poly bushings
brake cooling kit
Sein System Gate Shift kit
Autopower roll bar
Schroff 6 point harness
enrollment in the next DE event in my area.

And then the diet:
strip off the entire AC
F/G hood
and this weekend was a YB CTR front F/G bumper cap

On order for next week:
YB CTR rear F/G bumper cap
OEM two out sport exhaust

The scarry part is about all that remains to be modified/improved is the drive train and that comes at a cost that makes the above pale in comparison!

Don Wohlfarth · 08-18-2002, 08:49 AM

" Here is what happened after my my first DE:
...list..
The scarry part is about all that remains to be modified/improved is the drive train and that comes at a cost that makes the above pale in comparison!"
Paul, I understand your enthusiasm. Do yourself and favor and stop trying to improve the car. Instead of "investing" in parts, 'invest" in the driver. Seat time, seat time, seat time.
Learn to use the tools you have before you buy a new tool box.

FlaCarrera · 02:46 PM

I agree with Don and besides the check book has done all it can for awhile. My pre-DE list included, K&N cone filter, turbo tie rods,
Autothority chip, Euro pre-muffler, Dansk dual out exhaust, brake cooler kit, Super Blue fluid, strut bar and factory short shift kit. That'll keep me happy for quite awhile. Time to focus on the apexes.

The biggest weight loss will be when I graduate to solo driver some day and right seat is empty. I wondered how our PCA regional Pres. cruised by me in the straights (alone) in his 2.7L.
One reason; we were carying at least 250 lbs. more cargo between my chunky 6'3" and the 6'1" instructor, not to mention HP/chasis ratio. If I go on Atkins, that will be cheaper than a FG hood.

Cheers
Ted in So. Fla

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

I too was amazed the first time I put mine on the track. It is definitely in its element there. After a DE event, you can't help but look at your car differently and it makes it a whole lot easier to just wave off would-be street racers. I let a SCCA champion drive my cars on one event and rode with him. In his hands, my car was even more awesome. He pulled G's I can only dream about. In fact, after a series of laps with him, I was too nauseous to make my final session that day. But by then I had a day and a half under my belt. This guy put my car into some slides that set it up perfectly for each and every turn. I'll probably never get that good but close is something to shoot for. Add looks to the performance and you know why Porsches still demand high prices. Today at the car wash, a gentleman would not believe my car was 23 years old; he kept pointing and muttering "the paint looks better than my 2000".

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Quote:

" Paul, I understand your enthusiasm. Do yourself and favor and stop trying to improve the car. Instead of "investing" in parts, 'invest" in the driver. Seat time, seat time, seat time.
Learn to use the tools you have before you buy a new tool box.

I could not agree more. However, the roll bar is for safety. The harness is to hold me in the seat. The Gate Shifter is to help prevent 5 - 2 downshifts, and the F/G body mods are a result of being rear ended last month. Besides, for some reason I am having avery difficult time finding track time at a track close to OC, CA. After attending one at Fontana, where most all cars and drivers had the rice mentality and rice cars, it's scary putting my car and my life in the hands of just anyones event.

Next season is all about the POC!