Nice 993. Just watched the video. I guess it is no joke when the back end of a 911 swings around....doesn't seem like there is any possibility of saving it. One of these days I'll do a Chin event.

 

You are going to absolutely love the way the front end feels. I just revamped my front suspension - new Upper Control Arms, low-mileage Lower Control Arms with the Super Pro poly bushings. 130k miles on my original front bushings.

Car is so much more stable under hard braking now and turn-in and steady state cornering is much improved and more accurate. No more clunks either.

 

Hey Pat,
Car looks great! Thanks for posting the video.

The off in HogPen made me chuckle although I bet at the time you weren't laughing!

Beware the instructing gig...sounds tempting but be prepared to spend A LOT of time on the track! On an everage weekend I think I'm sitting in a car on the track
for 20 sessions...yes 20. That's driving your own 8, plus on average 3 per day per student. It does get tiring. Sometimes it's easier to just pony up the $300.

I miss my FD
Crispy

 

You sold your FD crispy or is it just down?

 

Crispy,

I thought you had two FD's ? LS1 and rotary powered . . . .

:-( neil

 

Last I heard Crispy is wrapping up the first motor rebuild on his FD. And his ITS FC also last I checked.

 

For the record:
Crispy has 2 RX-7s - 1FD and 1FC (ITS race car)

ITS race car is up and running and doing just fine. My next race is in August at SPR.

FD is still down (after more than a year) undergoing an engine rebuild and complete fuel system upgrade (all SS lines from the tank to the engine w/dual supra pumps, FPR, fuel filter, and bigger injectors). The engine rebuild is complete (street ported w/a slew of other internal upgrades/mods). Why so long? I do all my own work.

The V8 someone might have clued into is not in an FD but the LS6 in my Caddy (CTS-V)

But like I said...I miss my FD. Someday...someday
Crispy

 

Crispy,

Yeah, I've heard about the demands of instructing, but I think I'll alternate and do every other event. I've been going a ton this year and spending a bunch of cash on entry fees not to mention tires and brakes. Plus, the PCA events you only get one student and you only have to pay half the admission fee.

What is your next event? I better see that FD in action this year

 

How scary is it for you guys to instruct? I did a ride-along with a friend once and it was quite the experience.

 

I'd like to get in on the instructing gig myself, at least as an option... but nobody's asked :-(

... based on some of the driving I've witnessed from the outside though, I've no doubt it can get hairy. The wife's not big on the idea. You've got be careful what stories you tell the ladies... they never forget anything :-)

 

IMO, it's getting scarier. Cars are getting faster in stock form every year yet there are new people still showing up at the track. My last event I had a student who had never been on a track, ever, yet he was there with a 2006 Z06. He was signing up thinking the track was an oval!

It's also pretty tiring as Crispy mentioned. I don't get near the amount of track time for myself if I'm also instructing. IMO, it's not worth it if all you are after is cheap/fee track time. If you really want to invest your time to help new drivers, then it's definitely worth it.

 

Personally the allure of the free track is a strong draw, but I know it will eat up a lot of the weekend time that I would have at the track, plus some people are just scary beyond what I can handle.

 

I wouldn't do an HPDE event if I wasn't instructing for the following reasons.
1) Sharing my love for this sport with a like minded enthusiast
2) Tons more track time whether I'm taking someone for a ride or instructing
3) Open passing and faster cars in the instructor run group
4) I get bored really easy so I enjoy being busy
5) Experiencing the handling characteristics of a wide variety of cars
6) Free track time and sometimes a free lunch
7) Giving back a little bit to something that's gives me so much joy (see #1)

No doubt it can be scarey and overwhelming at times but that's the price you pay for all the positives that in my opinion are worth the privilege of instructing.

 

Fritz, I suspect that you scare more people in your passenger seat compared to the times you get scared in theirs

Speaking of which - who's gonna be at VIR for MazdaDrivers next month?

-bill

 

The fast guys don't worry me too much but the 40 year old dude that's been driving pickups his whole life and then decides to go into midlife crisis mode behind the wheel of Z06 has my attention

I'm hoping to run with NASA in Aug at Summit and then BMW in Sept at VIR.

 

Fritz, we had a guy 2 months ago who was over 90 in a C6 Vette.

 

Try a 55 year old "good ole boy," first time on a track, borrowed open faced helmet that looked to be 25 years old, in a newly completed Factory Five Daytona coupe, with unmuffled side pipes, and lap belts only. We could NOT communicate verbally in any way at all, even with my communicator on full volume. I directed him with hand signals, beating on the dash to slow the eff down, and gentle pressure on his right arm and hand. Leaving the pits for the first time he spun the tires all the way through 2nd gear (I came back to check the rubber marks after the session was over). I thought I was gonna die and that was when I decided instructing wasn't the way to go... for me. I did stick out the whole session and managed to reign him in before he killed us both. He was a nice guy when talking to him afterwards but jeebus he was hell on wheels! It was a ride I will not soon forget. I will say I do continue to instruct in select venues but I'm now much more picky on what cars I get into.

FWIW
Crispy

PS I hope to complete the FD by the end of the year but doubt it will see the track until '08.

 

OOPS not really very funny

My most entertaining ride this year was with a good old boy in a rented mustang race car. 2nd track event in said rental but lots of experience "mudding" he called it hehe. Drove with one hand and liked nothing better than shaking the *** around with his other hand flopping this way and that (picture a rodeo rider). On the front staight he was fooling around with his loose hand and disconnected the steering wheel so needless to say we had a nice drive off through the country on the left side of the track because he couldn't make the right hander with no steering lol. Fortunately I was able to find another instructor (a buddy of his) to fill my seat. I have no qualms at all about stepping away from a dangerous situation and fortunately most chief instructors are perfectly understanding because they've been there a time or two themselves

 

I've been on the track with a guy about that age who frequents Summit Point in a highly modded Audi wagon. He's a former SCCA racer and has skills but he will visit the grass and the sand atleast twice a day but the car doesn't have a mark on it lol The last time I saw him on track probably two years ago he ran out of gas and had to be towed in.

I can only have hopes of doing the exact same thing at that age

 

When is the next event all you guys are going to? I finallly have the time now and I want to start doing some tracking...

 

I'm going to the BMW tarheel club event next weekend at VIR on the full course.

Excellent club to run with

 

How much is it and do you have to sign up ahead of time? I'm a beginner... Any instructors or anything?

 

This is an HPDE event (high performance drivers education school) so plenty of instructors but usually the novice group sells out well in advance.

Try to make it to the Audi event in Novemember at VIR.

This is a great link to sign up for HPDE events: http://www.trackschedule.com/sched.html

 

17th and 18th? Don't I have to be a member of that club or is this talking about something else?

Edit: http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/potomac/

 

Yes

Most driving clubs you need to be a member or an associated member in order to participate.