So you've done at least a couple of DEs...

[Botman]

Question: Do you feel that DEs "use up" your car at an extremely high rate?

I ask because whenever I'm driving home from one I get the feeling that my car has been "rode hard and put up wet". This feeling dissipates right around the time to sign up for the next DE.

Do you think DEs put months worth of wear on your car in a single weekend?

Thanks for your opinion.

[s_wilwerding]

Other than tires, I don't believe DEs put undue strain on the car. You have to remember that 911s (at least 911s older than 4 years) were built to be raced. It really doesn't strain the engine nor the transmisison to do DEs. You can, however, burn up a set of tires in a weekend.

[rcwaldo]

If you shift it carefully and give her proper maintenance, I think its good for these cars. Although the tires dont think so. That is what sports cars are all about. If it was a ricer car, maybe a different story?

Chris

[rs911t]

I've only had my 911 a few months. No DEs but one HPDC that included two track sessions. My car is going on 32-years-old, has 80k miles and driven hard a lot of those. After our first track session at HPDC my instructor said "who know, you have the oldest car out here and nobody passed you".

So, no. Sure, you'll burn up tires, but they're expendable. It's kinda like the folks worried about running the engine above 4000 rpm. I've seen that question on the BMW forums, too. BMW is the first car I've owned where the driver's manual said to drive it above 3000 rpm to keep it healthy.

An Execllence article a while back said Porsche is the only auto mfg that takes its entire product line to a race track and invites the automotive press to come check'em out.

The first "words of wisdom" I received from the first owner of mine were "drive it with impunity".

[Botman]

Thanks for the quick replies fellows but, aside from the typical consumibles like brake pads, tires, oil, etc., I would hate to think that by doing 6-8 DEs in a year I might be facing major rebuilds a year or two sooner- you know, tranny or engine...

Does anyone get that feeling or had that experience?

[jeff parker]

My cars always feel like they run better after speed events. Unless you overrev, downshift too early or shove the shifter around you're not hurting anything.

[LeeH]

I've autocrossed several different cars over the years. It always seemed that the newer the car the more it felt a little more worn after an event. The old ratty cars never felt any different to me even when used for an entire season.

As far as 911s, after a two day DE event at Road Atlanta with so much seat time that I skipped the last session, my 911 felt the same to me on the way home as it did on the way there. I was really amazed.

[targa88]

I have always found that the car works better after an all out DEW. Certainly better than stopping and starting in town/traffic. I compare it to a clean out (spring cleaning) - not to mention the therapeutic value for both the car and driver.

[Zeke]

You could short shift. You don't have to take it to the red line every shift whille learning the proper line. Some people who drive 9/10ths or even a little less, turn in respectable lap times. You've heard, "Slow down to go fast."?

[rhenriksen]

Hang out on Rennlist - Steve Weiner of Rennsport out in Portland has chimed in on this several times. Basically, the motors *like* being run hard up to redline. Keeps the valves clean, keeps the air ports (on the newer smog models), etc nice & clean. Motors that are putted around town have more problems than those that are run hard. He should know, he's torn down way more than his share.

There are certainly ways to hurt your car at a DE -- smack something solid, make the money shift, ignore your oil pressure & temperature gauge, etc. But just flat-out driving is only going to hurt your wallet . Brake pads, tires, basically.

USE your car!