944 Drivers around NC

[1.2gees]

I wonder if a few of us can get together for an auto-x...

Last year I met up with Keith, who routinely meets with a few other 944 owners around Charlotte. Well, I must've been talking to at least 10-15 people around North Carolina who own (and are enthusiastic about) 944s.

How many of us can we compile? Can anybody finally beat me in a 944 at an auto-x? I'll tape the whole event, and likely have a billion pictures, a few mpegs, etc.

What do you guys think?

There's an auto-x this saturday at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, not suggesting we all aim for that, but at least we can perhaps put SOMETHING together? I'll probably be there (instead of VIR cause my front pads are worn, darn it!).

Reply here.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[Dave's 944]

Ya know ahmet if you wherent on the other side of the country I would love to take you up on that challenge. Unfortunatly, NC is WAY to far to drive for a race. Though i do have a standing bet with a fellow racer in my region over a bottle of Jack. If I could just get my darn car out of the shop.

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If you drive it, Race it
Dave
'87 944

[eimkeith]

would do it, but going to the hillclimb instead...

Another date, perhaps?

[86951]

I am in the Charlotte area also, so anytime that you want to get up is great. PCA auto-x is June 3rd if you want to shoot for that.

[Dave951M]

I think it's a great idea to get together sometime. There's also the autoX in Charlotte in September. My tool box still has the sticker from the 24Heures de le Mall from 81. I'm in the Winston Salem area, but grew up in Charlotte back in the day when it was great to live in.

86951- When and where is the PCA autox? I just joined the PCA a while back and will be participating in the road rally in Clemson this weekend.

From what I'm gleaning from this board, there are a number of us in the area. If we can get the word out to PCA and get some other P car types to show up, it would be almost a Porsche show.

Dave951M

[david944]

I live right outside of charlotte. It's usually hard to try and do something like that, but I'm gonna try.

David

[1.2gees]

You're NOT telling me there's only 4 other people who own a 944, and live in NC from this board???
Ahmet

[86951]

The Carolina Regions Porschefest starts on June 1st(social) June 2nd (concours South Park Mall) June 3rd AUTO-X at the Charlotte Knights Baseball Stadium I think last year it started about 9 in the morning.

[1.2gees]

I'm was talking to a cop two days ago, he said his brother went to michigan (as he had his license suspended in NC too), got a PO box, went to the DMV, and got a license there. He now drives, legally, in North Carolina.

The downside is, there's 5 states left, that aren't linked to each other nationally, and the closest one to here is Michigan. But guess what, I don't care! I'll double check this from other sources, to be positive. If it works out, I should be driving in about 2-3 weeks.

Then I'll come to a meet, even if it's at Neptune, once I can drive
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[eimkeith]

I'm gonna tell on you.

[1.2gees]

Oh yeah? (Bump!)
Ahmet

[eimkeith]

ouch. stop it.

[1.2gees]

OK, so who's coming besides me, THIS weekend?

Details/address are at thscc.com
Ahmet

[asidrave]

i wish i could be there but i live too far away, new jersey. oh well, maybe one day. hey Ahmet, how long have you been drivin? those were some great pics of you car takin on that apex.

[This message has been edited by asidrave (edited 05-17-2001).]

[K Wayne]

I'm 25 miles east of Charlotte in lovely Monroe NC........87 944 NA........ anyone know a good 944 mechanic in this area ? I've found a couple , one bent my car
(rocker panels) , the dealership here in Charlotte seems to cater only to the NBA and
NFL types...........I'm planning on upgrading
my suspension and I need to find someone who
know's how align a 944.....corner-weighting
ride-height...... caster and camber.......
my last alignment I paid $119.00 and all the
guy did was adjust the tow-in.....I can't
find a place that even has the correct tools
for a 944 alignment...........any of you
Charlotte guys know who to call ?

[Dave951M]

K Wayne- Have you tried Carrol Alignment? We used to use them since they would align a sports car to any spec you gave them. They used to be the best in town. Since I moved away about 5 years ago, I don't know if they're even still around. The shop was near Charlotte Pipe and Foundry and Panther Stadium. As for a good wrench, I have heard of Stuttgart Haus in Mooresville, but know nothing of their work quality. As these cars age, it's becoming harder to find good wrenches, the solution is to get a manual and dive in. Wrenching isn't difficult, but it does take some time to get good when working only on your own car. You'll learn much more in a shop but, most of us already have jobs aside from our cars. A BBS like this one or Rennlist can be an invaluble source for info and experience and it never hurts to get to know the professional wrench personally. If you go to the dealer (Hendrick) try to get to know the guys in the back with the practical experience. Join the PCA, a lot of experience and knowledge is available and the Upfixin books have a wealth of info too.

Grew up there but glad I moved out of Charlotte!!!

Dave951M

[redNeckarsulm2]

OH MY GOD!

DON'T EVER, I MEAN EVER, refer someone to Carrols. That is the biggest bunch of lying geriatric *******s I have ever met. They have physically damaged 2 of my 944s and have lied to me about something EVERY time I have been there. (I know, it takes me a while).
THEY CAN NOT do a 4 wheel alignment on a 944.
The last time I took a car there, I could SEE that the camber did NOT match (not even close) from side to side. I was told that "the wheels have to be removed on those cars to line 'em up, so that takes more time and costs more." I can't for the life of me, understand how they got any kind of reputation, aside from surviving so long without litigation sending them under...

STUTGART HAUS in Mooresville... I love Bill to death, but the $175.00 4-wheel alignment I got there took 4 hours and had ridiculous amounts of TOE-OUT on the rear (boy that was tough to autocross with, and I'd requested 0 to 1/32 toe-in), and the negative camber was different from side to side up front afterward (and no, the car has never been bent).

My last experience was with TOURING CAR in Charlotte. They corner balanced for $60.00 and 4 wheel for an additional $60.00 - well, the cross weights weren't really as close as I wanted, but acceptable for the price, and made a difference. What pissed me off was that the alignment shop they sub-out to - NEIGHBORHOOD AUTO (or something like that)- left me with FLOPPING camber on the passenger side front wheel - yes, flopping, as in jack it up and flop it in and out by hand (loose). To their credit, I believe they tightened it up initially - it probably was knocked loose when they TEST DROVE MY CAR AND BENT THE INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL. (how does one manage to curb the inside of a wheel?). They also tried to charge me for the re-alignment. Figures.

Out of all these shops, sadly, the TOURING CAR/NEIGHBORHOOD option is the best I've found in the Charlotte area (even though I WATCHED the NEIGHBORHOOD guy use an impact on the alloy lug nuts and ROUND two of them). At least they have the proper rear toe tool and don't charge you like they have to disassemble the suspension to align it.

ALL the alignment shops will lie to you and blame their bad work on the car, after they assure you thay can handle it and have experience with Porsches, citing frame damage, stripped bolts, whatever. They are covering for poor quality.

Your best bet is to be a pain in the ass, try to get back in the bay while the work is being done, and watch carefully...

A big problem with this situation is that the illustration software for the HUNTER and (what's the other major one?) ALIGNMENT MACHINES incorrectly identifies the ride-height adjustment eccentric on the trailing arms as the toe-adjustment. Boy, try convincing the expert his information is wrong... Especially if you look 10 years younger than your actual age, like I do. I do, however, like that dumfounded-look the guy gets when he is benesth the car, thinking he is adjusting the toe and the chassis drops an inch toward him...

Another issue is that alot of these guys don't seem to get that any adjustment on the trailing arm alters the other adjustments... You will NOT get it by making exactly one camber and one toe adjustment per side only. No matter if the guy has been "doing alignments since before you was a squirt in your daddy's pants" or whatever indicator of experience the technician employs...

Sorry to not have any brighter news, but this is NC we are talking about... And, you would think that CHARLOTTE, NASCAR capitol of the world, would have some decent alternatives...

Good luck. If your experience is better than mine, I'd like the name of the shop!

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[Blackfoot]

feels good to vent, eh?

[Dave951M]

Sorry Keith- my last contact with Carrols was about 15 years ago. It sounds like you really do have a problem on your hands. From your description, Stuttgart Haus may be alright on wrenching but not alignments. Ahmet has a shop he likes near Raliegh.

Dave951M

[eimkeith]

to vent and protect...

Anyhoo, I'd also heard of a shop in Asheville that met the satisfaction of a fellow water-pumper...

Shame to have to drive so far on an un-aligned suspension...