Since this new section is about experiances, I'll share this one for those that enjoy the performance and speed of their Porsches.
Here's a story that appeared in Esses this year, I just thought it might inspire some of the canyon carvers to seek an organized track event. As most know AX or big track events are great places to tune your suspension with sway bar adjustments, discuss set ups with 911 drivers that are running quicker lap times than you and to tune up your own driving skills with meaningful instuction from 911 racers that are also certified instructors. I think it's the POC slogan that goes, Think you're fast, prove it (at the track).
Here's my story from canyon carver to w2w racer.
Racing the early 911 at the California Festival of Speed March 26-28, 2004,
Fontana California.
http://www.pcasdr.org/club/index.html
Above all else I would like to thank the San Diego Region, Vince Knauf and all of CFoS volunteers that helped orchestrate this exciting event. I too attended several Wednesday evening pre event meetings and assisted at Announcer liaison.
Here’s a hobby racer’s recap of his first wheel to wheel race weekend
It amazes me how long the 911 has been raced. The excitement that we all receive from pushing our limits to meet our Porsche’s potential has been enjoyed by Porsche drivers/racers for half a century. I had the pleasure to do this recently during a 1 hour Enduro race. This 1 hour Enduro was held at the California Speedway Roval. A Roval is a long and fast NASCAR straight and steeply banked turn combined with an infield road course.
First a little background
The artwork on my car is similar to Peter Gregg’s 1973 911 RSR. In 1973 Gregg’s car won both the Daytona 24 hours and the Sebring 12 hour races. The rear wing with the raised element seen in these race shots adds helpful down force on tracks with high speed sweepers. I do prefer to install the period correct ducktail when I drive it on the street.
Over the 4 day California Festival of Speed (CFoS) event I stayed and camped at the track. My 47 car run group (one of 4 separate groups following the same format) participated in 5 mandatory driver’s meetings, 5 hours or 300 miles of wheel to wheel racing, warm up sessions, qualifying sessions, practice starts, ½ hour sprint races, and a 1 hour Enduro race. In addition, a Porsche Owners Club Time Trial and a Porsche Club of America Drivers Education were conducted as well.
Time between races was spent conducting routine car service such as air pressures, fuel, oil, sway bar adjustments, tire changes, reloading the video camera and the cool shirt ice chest. This was also a good time to check/resolve a mysterious rubbing noise on the 135mph NASCAR bank. Racing forces all of your senses to work overtime. Seeing a wisp of smoke in the cabin you quickly attempt to diagnosis its origin. These distractions can act as a disruptive force, compromising your attention on your car, the track and your competitors. I experienced tire smoke from the occasional locked brake, oil smoke from a ruptured oil return line and the unique smokey smell of CV grease splattered onto the hot headers. These mechanical issues require quick and sure judgment before your next 130+mph charge through the NASCAR banking. In my 2 previous years of Auto Cross and Time Trial racing, a bum starter was my only mechanical issue. If you saw me Sunday, I was a little tired having replaced two half shafts at 7am.
Hours in the pits were spent on mostly minor repairs helping others or being helped, solitary moments of boredom/exhaustion. Enjoying the company of all the friendly Porsche guys that dropped by with positive reinforcement and bits of pit gossip keeping us informed of what was happening at the event outside our little universe.
Driving the NASCAR oval was a thrill. My early 911 with a 3.2 and close ratio gears was flat out at 7,000rpm and 130+mph nearing the end of the straight. Now slowly set the car for the left bank and continued through the long left bank flat out, never having lifted the throttle until exiting the bank and braking hard for the 35mph second gear entrance to the infield road course. Drafting at 130mph then slingshot passing flat out in 5th on the bank is the fastest I have every driven.
This race weekend was much like others before and after. The difference being this was going to be my first wheel to wheel race.
Saturday Enduro Race results
There was a large turn out of Kevin Buckler’s “Racers Group” Cup cars. Yes, I shared the track (for a moment) with the same blue Racer’s Group #68 that was at the Sebring 12 hour race just a week before. My 1969 911 qualified in the middle of the pack at #32. Qualified in the top spots were a dozen 996 Cup cars, 996 twin turbos, 996 GT3 Cup and two brand new 996 GT3 RSR Cup cars. These cars were driven by about 10-12 guys who are also in the ALMS series, Grand Am, Speedvision, 24 hr of Lemans. It was going to be a meaningful challenge for my first wheel to wheel race. No pressure!
I had a clean start and after a few laps I got into a comfortable zone, passing and being passed.
See Photo regarding the following paragraph.
My only real moment of the weekend happened at the 10 minute mark. The race leader was reeling me in quickly. It was an entry driven by Cort Wagner, his co-driver was Pat Flanagan. My lap times were in the high 1:50s, Cort’s lap times were in the low 1:40's, he ran 1:41 Fast Time Day, so closing speeds were an issue. He was trying to get a good lead so he could turn it over to a slower driver and still be in the chase for the overall win. Down the back straight flat out in 4th at 100+mph I was not aware of all that. I did know a carbon fiber ground gripping road rocket had me in his sights and I did not want to slow his progress. Exiting turn 11 the second chicane I tracked out right as normal, seeing Cort in my mirrors I stayed right and pointed him past on my left. I had thought he would pass me under power on the straight and I could then tuck in behind. We were over 100mph side by side, I was in the marbles with a Cup car next to me on line. Regretfully Cort did not catch me till the end of the straight as we entered the brake zone. Now I was off line, on the right side of the track slowing for a right hand turn. It is likely I did not properly adjust my brake reference point forward which resulted in my brake lock up. Cort was now on my left side ready to come across my front bumper from left to right. Cort completed his key hole rip hitting his inside apex not leaving me a lane through the turn. More drama under braking as I flicked the car to the left attempting to get behind, this caused the rear to step out. This all makes for a great photo opportunity. I’m locked up, sliding sideways, counter steering at 50mph just a foot or two off the leader’s rear quarter. As serious as it may appear we did not touch and I didn’t go off. As intense as it was for a moment, after Cort past the apex my car slid right back on line. It was a surprise to me just how quick it was over and how well my car recovered. It was an important lesson for me, stay on line.
See next post for the last half of the story.
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