3rd Autocross

I attended my 3rd autocross of the season Sunday May 25th. This event was a NORPCA event at Lakeland Community College. John Hulick set up the course, with some help from another person. The course started with a long fast sweeping curve to the left on the tarmac where we usually establish the starting grid. The course then took a little jog across to the area where the course is typically laid out. There was a series of offset gates, followed by a very narrow gate into the optional slalom. At the end of the slalom was a 360 / 720 curve. You entered at 3 o'clock and followed around counter clockwise through 12, 9, 6, 3, 12 and 9 again. Out into a series of very fast straight gates, with a wicked offset gate and a Chicago box at the end of the straight. You then had a short straight and a tight left turn into the exit. 

This made for a 6 tenths of a mile course, with times running from 54 seconds out to 70 seconds, depending on the car and the driver. Fast drivers were John (of course), Doug Bradley, Dan, and Gino. Gino had the fastest time in the 4 cylinder Porsche class and John had the fastest time in the 6 cylinder Porsches and had the fastest time of the day. 

The  fastest time in the X class was a Camero with a new suspension set up. He initially had trouble with the first gate after the 360, but corrected in the afternoon and had some good runs after that. 

As for me, my times were progressively better. NORPCA gives out time slips so I have my times.

1st run 65.6 +1 cone

2nd run 63.0

3rd run 61.4 +1 cone

4th run 62.6

5th run 61.2

My group then worked the course, we took a lunch break, and then had our afternoon runs.

6th run 61.2

7th run 60.4

8th run 59.9

9th run 59.2

So over the day I took 6 seconds off my time. I was progressively faster, driving the car better each run. John gave me a compliment at the end of my last run, saying it looked really good. I was really pleased with the last run, and the run before it. Typically, when I have a good run, I end up over driving the next run and lose the progress I had made. This time I was able to keep my cool and control the car. 

I was watching Les's times as he had brought his 914-6 and his car is one of the ones I know is in my class. We ran fairly close to each other in times, and knowing where he was helped me push harder on my car.

Overall a very fun day.

AutoCross Video

A few people have looked askance when I mentioned autocross to them. This video from the Porsche Parade in 2007 should help explain what an autocross is - Part 1

2nd Autocross

I ended up skipping the first IRAC event. I missed on being in the running for a trophy last year by one event, so I hope I don't regret it. The event was 5 hours away, and a 4 am wake up call on Sunday just did not work for me.

My 2nd event was down in Akron again, this Sunday May 18th. There was on again, off again rain all day. This made the course very interesting. Plus Walt set up a very fast course, with two long straight parts connected by a wide curve. I had a blast with the course. On my fastest run my rear end was wagging back and forth in the fast curve something fierce. My time went from a 68 second to a 60 second time, out of the running for prizes, but higher in the pack than last time.

I think I will never be in the top three, as I am always going to be easier on the car and watching to insure nothing goes awry. Getting pear shaped in the back corner was fun on the last run, but I am not sure it is something I want to do every time. Too much chance of damaging the car.

1st "real" autocross of the season

I went to my first autocross this year on Saturday April 27th. It was out at the Eastern Buckeye Region location, the Hartville Market. This is about an hour from my home. The course was interesting. Walking the course it seemed there was a very long distance between the gates, but when I was driving that distance was very much shorter. The course had a couple of mildly offset gates that were much trickier at speed than I expected, as was the slalom with the kink in it.

On my second set of runs, about half way through, smoke seemed to be coming from the front of my car. This PANICKED me, as there is not much in the front of my car. Once I left the line, I popped the front and rear hatch, leaving the engine running. I checked my brakes (cool), my battery (fine), my front wiring (fine), my engine for leaks (fine) and my front cooler (fine). Not finding anything wrong, and not seeing any more smoke, I got back in line and finished my two runs. I have no idea what I was seeing, and it makes me nervous.

The fast times were in the 55 second range. My fastest time of the day was 61.x seconds. Not really on the pace, compared to my competitors. But each run was faster than the last, so I was improving. I was a bit disappointed in the class numbers. There were three or four other SC's at the event, and I was interested in seeing how I stacked up. Normally I am in the P3 class with all the other SC's and the 914. EBR uses a different set of classes, so I was instead lumped in with all 6 cylinder Porsches and turbo 4 cylinders - Boxsters, 997, 914-6, 944 turbos, and so on. Stiff competition. My best time was good for about 12th place, out of 15. Clearly, I am not the driver I think I am. On the other hand, I was beating a 993 RS fairly consistently, so that was good.

Next event is this Sunday, May 3rd in Xenia Ohio, about 3 hours away. This is the first IRAC event, and I missed out on most of those last year due to various family events. I think I am going to go - but I need to track down that smoke issue.

New plates

I went to the BMV and requested Historical plates for the 911. Since I only ever drive it for pleasure, I think I am okay with them. So now I am legal!

Closing the barn door after the horse escaped? Perhaps. . . perhaps.

1st speeding ticket

On my way to the Autocross school at Lakeland Community College, I received my 1st speeding ticket with the 911. The ticket was for 76 in a 60 zone.

Was it justified? Oh, hell yes!

The autocross school was excellent. They established 4 teaching scenarios - a decreasing radius turn, a skid pad, a slalom and a braking zone. Each of these really opened my eyes on how the car responds in each situation. I learned a lot more about the car, and how to increase my speeds on the course.

It helped that this year the day was fantastic. Warm, with an overcast sky and a light rain. This gave us some real experience with different surface conditions without being in a competitive mode.

I plowed down a large number of cones myself, starting with the 1st scenario, the decreasing radius turn. I had Gino in my car as an instructor. He was urging me to use the brakes to their fullest extent. Go in hot, brake hard, turn and accelerate. I was, and still am, being easy on my brakes. I don't really want to run through a set of pads each session, so I tend to go in a bit slower, brake lightly and then turn and accelerate. Slower track times, but also less $$.

I had a great time and I am looking forward to the EBR event on Sunday April 27th out at the Hartville Market.

Hope to see you there!

Car back from the shop

Just got the car back from the shop. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! It responds faster, moves out better and just feels much better. And that annoying problem with second is gone as well. It was an ugly shift from 1st to 2nd or 3rd to 2nd. I wonder if I will see any difference in my times at the Autocross? Eric said it is unlikely that my driving wore this clutch out. Given that it has been in the car for a while, I hope that is true. I would hate to go through this each year, or even every third year.

I did not like paying the bill. Ah, well - such is life!

It felt so nice, I took the car down into the valley on my way back. I had the windows open, the sunroof open and just cruised for a bit. The PCA is hosting a school on Sunday, maybe I will go.