Who's going to Infineon with GGR Feb 24th and 25th?

[dtfastbear]

While the risk of rain is always there, the chance to drive at Infineon with the Porsche Club is an annual treat.

Who's in?

Laura is instructing and driving. I'm just instructing (not driving).

Look forward to seeing a bunch of pelican-heads there!

Dean

[Ferd]

I am going, see you too their, I joined NASA last Saturday& Sunday at Infineon It rained like H__l all day Saturday alot of car spinning and wadding up, pretty wild stuff. I sat out till Sunday till 10:30 it was nice and dry by then. Ferd

[Don Plumley]

I'm unfortunately out of town. Take a few laps for me!

[trekkor]

I'll pop out to say hey in the afternoons... I may bring the car out.


KT

[dtfastbear]

Ferd - what's your car number? I'll be sure to find you.

I was at the NASA event, but since I was running the enduro I didn't have the choice of sitting out on Saturday. It was pure survival mode!! I had four (!) cars hit the wall between T6 and T7 in front of me during the race. That's the same place the beautiful GT3 went into the wall earlier in the day during HPDE. Oy! Lot's of bent cars.

See you there next weekend.

Cheers,

Dean

[LARRY SHARP]

I cant make it .. I will be at penske racing in Charlotte talking to Roger

[Tom W]

I'll be there! Driving if it does not rain (rain and slicks don't mix) and instructing in either case.

[aigel]

Got rained out couple years ago. That wasn't fun. As a result, my time trial season now starts when rainy season is over. Thunderhill hasn't gotten old yet. I keep my fingers crossed for good weather for you though!

George

[juanbenae]

no soup for me.

[Ferd]

The GT3 had engine, trans, seperation that was a big hit, and costly too, what is that water way called between turn 6 & 7 .... the river Sears !! oooch. Fastbear I'll be in car # 189 or # 18 lookin out for you. Ferd

[Tyson Schmidt]

I don't feel like jumping through the hoops to run with GGR. having to start from scratch to run with them just doesn't sound appealing to me.

[earlyapex]

I'll see you guys at TH in March! February is too rainy for me and I want to finish up the car without rushing things.

[dtfastbear]

Tyson,

With the amount of track experience you have you can get many or all of the prerequisites waived. GGR has become kinder/gentler recently and has reduced the number of hoops.

Get in touch directly with the TT chairman. He can help you get in at the appropriate "level" without having to start over. It's a great group to run with.

Dean

[Mahler9th]

I am not sure I agree with Dean, but he may be right. I am not sure what you mean by "hoops." Even if you have to have an instructor for an event or two, you can probably connect with folks (like Dean and Laura) that will actually help you drive faster, if that is your goal.

I have been doing this stuff since 1987, and I can tell you without hesitation that if you want to go faster, the PCA events will help. I know a lot of folks have come up during the past few years running with other groups and I have instructed many of them.. and I think they are missing out by not runining PCA events and taking advantage of the excellent instruction. Plus it will help you become a better instructor.

Believe me, I have instructed many students who have "learned" from decent instructors, many of the Porsche drivers with other groups. Almost 100% of the time they learn things from me that they have never heard of before. Usually I am passing along things I learned along the way in the PCA events. The difference is "focus." The PCA events, particularly the GGR events have a focus on going faster that is much more concentrated than what you will find with other groups. I'd guess that CDS events are that way as well, knowing the folks involved with that.

Plus since you are in a p-car business it couldn't hurt you to meet more of the folks. Try it, you'll like it!

Hope all is well.

- Mike

[dtfastbear]

Mike,

I believe we have a standard procedure for getting the ground school waived if you have significant track experience and clean recommendations from a verifiable source. Many PCA instructors know Tyson, so this would be easy, I imagine.

Also, that means that they could place him in an appropriate run group for his first event. He wouldn't have to start in yellow.

I imagine these are the sorts of hoops you're talking about, Tyson?

Dean

[Tom W]

You can definitely start runnnig with GGR and not have to start at the very begining. While it was still hard to get ground scholl waived last year, you could start in a group other than yellow and a single session with an instructor was enough to solo after.

John Hua (mooty) went throught this last year. He had always avoided GGR events for the same reasons as Tyson. With a hundred or so track days experience, we didn't want to spend a weekend in yellow. He did do ground school, but an email to Gary got him placed in white or blue to start ( forget which). John did have an instructor or two (anything after the first was at his request). I know he was very happy with the event (and especially the instruction he got - even experienced drivers can learn more). He plans to do more.

Follow Dean's recommendation and see what will be required of you. Even if you need ground school, I think you'll find the events well worth the one-time effort.

Mike: Will you and your lovely wife be there?

[Mahler9th]

As I recall, starting in yellow hads never been a prerequisite at any GGR event. In my first event in '95, they started me in yellow because they had no idea how fast I would be. After a session or two, they moved me to white. There are still a lot of misconceptions about what are rules and what are customs, et cetera. This, in my opinion, is a result of poor marketing by the GGR.

The PCA need participants, and moreover, instructors of Tyson's caliber. Also some of the other Pelican folks that don't do PCA events like Trekkor, Rick C. and others.

You will drive better and faster if you drive in and instruct in GGR events.

[Mahler9th]

We will most likely not be up at Sears. Car is apart, and we have several home improvement projects underway. Hope to intruct and/or drive some events later this year. I will pray for fine weaher for all of those participating.

- MM

[ZOA NOM]

Originally posted by Mahler9th
Also some of the other Pelican folks that don't do PCA events like Trekkor, Rick C. and others.

Mike, I'm just starting the reassembly of my motor, and trying to get the car ready for the Toyo Cup season, but once it's track-ready, there will be very few track day opportunities that you'll see me avoid. I totally agree that track time with an instructor is valuable for even the most seasoned drivers, and I'm leaving the passenger seat mounting intact for that reason. Actually, I'm hoping to get you in that seat ASAP.

Believe me, I'm chomping at the bit to get this thing running.

[trekkor]

I hope to run with PCA-GGR this season.

I ran with CDS last yearr and that was fantastic. I have a CDS-TMR date at Laguna in a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to that as well.

I'll get there. I already have my ground school completed.


KT