How'd I get THIS as a part-time job?

[Jack Olsen]

In front of me, there's a sea of brightly-colored Porsches – all the latest 2017 models – about 80 in total. The majority are 911s and Caymans. And I don't think they keep any of the base models here at all -- so the most mild 911 in the group is the 420-hp Carrera S. And it goes up from there, to the Turbo S and GT3RS models. There are Boxsters and Caymans from the S models up to the GT4.

And at this point, I've been driving them for HOURS. And it's not parading around city streets – I've been on the seven ‘modules' of the Porsche Experience Center all day today and for the better part of five days. I came in thinking that learning this stuff would be pretty simple, since I've been driving and racing on road courses for 17 years. But this isn't like any race track. There's a high-speed 'handling circuit,' sure, but then there are also several low-friction modules where the car's tires break away from the pavement at much lower speeds than even on wet asphalt. In fact, they've got the most-slippery friction circle I've ever been on (polished concrete, smooth epoxy, and then a layer of water), there's an 'ice hill' where the same smooth surface is set on a 7-degree incline (with a hairpin turn at the end!), and there's also one of just two 'kick plate modules' in North America, where a hydraulically-activated plate sends you into a spin the instant you drive over it – and it's up to you (again on the wet, epoxy-coated concrete) to countersteer quickly enough to recover as you slide along on the what could also be described as a huge slip-and-slide for cars.

There's a low-friction handling circuit which is like one of those powdered slick-tracks for go-karts – except this one is for cars. As you get more comfortable on it, you can connect the corners with the rear end out and the tires spinning.

Driving as long as I have, I never imagined I had so much to learn. But the first thing I came face to face with here was the fact that I had done all of my driving education in a fairly narrow groove. I'm pretty good on a road course, especially Willow Springs. But I was an absolute neophyte when it came to drifting an all-wheel-drive 911 in a circle (with the wheels pointed right to the center of that circle? What?).

How did I get here? It was an odd series of events that led up to it, but the short answer is that it's a new, part-time job. No, I'm not leaving writing. But one or two days a week you might find me here -- instructing, coaching – guiding people around the handling circuit, through insane, launch-controlled attacks on the 3/4-mile straight, and learning to manage oversteer like Vin Diesel's stunt double.

The training part of it was an incredible amount of fun. Being back at the keyboard now, it kind of feels like a dream. But it's a real place – and the activity there just never stops. It's awesome.

(I may get in trouble for editing together a video to show you the facility, so this might disappear if Porsche or the music's copyright owner tells me to take it down. Lettuce Creative shot many of the cool overhead drone shots.)



https://youtu.be/Svu1oHF-cDw

[fanaudical]

Epic part-time job! Let me know if you need an assistant. Great video, too!

[GH85Carrera]

It must be a rough job to do. I feel for ya. Next you are going to say they only pay you 10 grand per day.

[kevin993]

Awesome. Just awesome. What a great opportunity and experience. Congrats. Great video too. Look forward to hearing your thoughts after 6 months or a year. Let us know if PMNA asks you to run some of the vintage race cars around a bit.

[Don Plumley]

Awesome Jack. Good for you, well earned.

[masraum]

First things first, you suck so much, but only in the best possible way. Hmm, if I got to pick to live Jack's life or be a rock star....

Oh, yeah, I'd be Jack all of the way.

I guess PCNA has a course in Cali and you haven't moved to Atlanta?

Do one of the PDE courses put the drivers in all of these situations?

Thanks for the video.

Very cool, job, BTW. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Enjoy and keep us living vicariously through you.

[Charles Freeborn]

Such a hard life you have.... coming up to campout?

[tabs]

Spoken like a TRUE NARCISSIST with 18 "I's" in the Post....

[Flieger]

Way cool, Jack. Can one request a particular instructor?

How much does it cost?

[pwd72s]

Great song selection.

[pete3799]

Trade jobs with you.

I do all of that on my snow covered driveway, but that course would be WAY more fun.

[Nickshu]

Very cool.

[bkreigsr]

Jack, say hello to my son. (Bill Kreig Jr.)
He also started there last Thursday - also part-time.
Also has extensive karting background, LeMons and ChumpCar class and overall wins, plus DE in my old '73, team management/support at Le Mans, Sebring, and Paul Ricard.
Bill K

[McLovin]

Glad to see something finally went right for Jack Olsen!

[rwest]

Two questions Jack: did you get to try your car on their track and do you have a spare bedroom for us out of towners!?

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing.

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

Originally Posted by masraum

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]I guess PCNA has a course in Cali and you haven't moved to Atlanta?

Do one of the PDE courses put the drivers in all of these situations?

Yes, there are two Porsche Experience Centers in North America now. And yes, you can put in a request for a particular instructor. (For full transparency, instructors get paid a simple rate, there's no specific benefit or commission for drumming up business.)

Originally Posted by Flieger

Way cool, Jack. Can one request a particular instructor?

How much does it cost?

It's either expensive or cheap, depending on how you look at it. I think the least-expensive Boxster/Cayman day is about $300, and it goes up into the thousand-dollar neighborhood for things like comparing a Turbo to a GT3. Now, that's not cheap for 90 minutes of a car rental. But if you consider that someone's letting you speed, spin and slide all over the place in a brand-new $100,000+ Porsche, then it seems like more of a bargain. (And that said, safety is an obvious priority.)

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Jack, say hello to my son. (Bill Kreig Jr.)
He also started there last Thursday - also part-time.
Also has extensive karting background, LeMons and ChumpCar class and overall wins, plus DE in my old '73, team management/support at Le Mans, Sebring, and Paul Ricard.
Bill K

I'll watch for him!

Originally Posted by rwest

Two questions Jack: did you get to try your car on their track and do you have a spare bedroom for us out of towners!?

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing.

I've been driving the old 911 in on nice days, but thus far no one's suggested I roll it through the gates. I suspect their liability insurance is pretty specific. But I'll keep parking it out in the lot -- you never know...

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, all the air cooled guy are pulling for you to get a few hot laps in in that old 911 you drive around. Just as a benchmark on how fast the new cars are compared to a classic. And most of us would rather have your old 911 over a new computer controlled drive by wire car, at least I would.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by gh85carrera

yea, all the air cooled guy are pulling for you to get a few hot laps in in that old 911 you drive around. Just as a benchmark on how fast the new cars are compared to a classic. And most of us would rather have your old 911 over a new computer controlled drive by wire car, at least i would.

+1000!!

[rwest]

Jack,

Was just browsing the Experience website and was wondering about what airport, getting there and nearby accommodations?

Also noticed that the reservation calendar was blocked off after Oct. guessing that they just aren't taking reservations that far out rather than being closed for the winter? Might be a good break from MN this winter!

[john70t]

great stuff.