924Board.org

RageLtMan · Joined: 05 Mar 2003 Posts: 184 Location: Boston, Ma

I think i'm really starting to get the hang of driving this thing, and i'm wondering what it's like to race cars in the same class. I'm starting to get used to abuse from cars that are actually fast when i'm on the road, even though i have had my moments, but in all honesty the sheer fear of hurting/killing some ass on the road keeps me from enjoying the past time too much.

So i was wondering whether there were any local (i'm near Boston, MA) tracks around here running 924s or 944s. I'm not looking to start out in the major league, i'm 18, and i've been driving stick for 6 months (4 on the 924S), and i'm pretty sure i'll get my ass beat in by people who really know how to drive these things, but i'm looking to learn how to become a better driver (better car response, i think i have the basics down, heh), and i can think of no better place than a track with other 944s.
_________________
1987 924S 2.5L SOHC.

924RACR · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2003 3:51 am Post subject:

Well, you're almost close enough to run some of the 944Cup events. Naturally there's plenty of SCCA and PCA racing going on in your area. But there's something you need to address first.

You need more seat time, and not in a competitive environment. You need to run DE's (Drivers Education events) with Porsche Club or whomever, learn how to control your car at the limit at speed on a track. That is where you will learn how to become a better driver, not racing. Racing will teach you all kinds of bad habits, if you don't already know what you're doing.

Are you a PCA member? If not, it's time to join. Run some DE's, learn how to drive the car fully, and then think about racing. Autoxing isn't bad also, but I'd recommend on-track DE's instead.

Anyone from the Baahstahn area care to bring him into the loop on PCA activities in the area? Failing that, you can always look at PCA.org. I think I actually joined PCA when I was out in the Boston area... used to work in Waltham. They run regularly at NHIS (New Hampshire International Speedway, a roval).
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

Joes924Racer · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2003 6:01 am Post subject:

For more excitement and to experience it more you should post your thoughts in the 924 racing forum for more expert advice if you have any other issues you want to know the answer to such as how to join what driving school is like and what rules you need to know and maybe some car issues also like car preperation.

_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

-nick · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2699 Location: Cambridge, MA

lime rock isn't too far and the NER PCA runs DE's down there all the time.

www.porschenet.com

you should definately come out to an autocross at ft. devens. you'll definatley get schooled but you'll have a great time doing it

there is always at least one 924S that runs those events. the 944/924S class usually is one of the biggest so you'll get to see how cars in all different states of suspension mods within the stock class rules run. keep in mind that the rules are pretty lenient for stock mods up here.

i hope to see you there
-nick

924RACR · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2003 11:16 pm Post subject:

Yeah, Joe's right, post here, we'll be happy to help - always happy to have more 924's representin' out on the track! LOL

I can answer all those questions, but I'm chronically too busy to sit down and write them all up... Maybe I'll bring my laptop on vacation and do some writing...
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

RageLtMan · Joined: 05 Mar 2003 Posts: 184 Location: Boston, Ma

That was another thing i was going to ask, who knows of a good driving school? i wouldn't go so far as to say that i'm a good driver (that's a term i reserve for people like my grandfather, an aeronautical engineer who applies his mathematical prowess to his driving with chilling precision), but i have a good handle of how to drive my car, how to get it to do what i want without straining it or anything, i'm pretty good at figuring out proper turn trajectories, and i keep my head under fire (and around here, with boston drivers around, it's a nuclear furnace).

As such, i wanted to go to a school that would explain more driving theory and allow me to learn to apply it in a place where i wouldn't endanger bystanders and so on. So anyone know a good name in higher education for people who want to really know how to drive?

_________________
1987 924S 2.5L SOHC.

924RACR · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2003 12:24 am Post subject:

First level of training is perhaps the PCA DE - you should get instruction from the instructors there with regards to the whole driving dynamics stuff. However it is of course a mixed bag, depends on how good the instructor you happen to get paired with.

Then you're talking about perhaps a professional driving school, such as Skip Barber, Russell, Bondurant, etc. These groups offer levels of training going from basic driving techniques like threshold braking, cornering at the limit, understeer, oversteer, etc., kinda like drills for a sport, all the way up to lapping on a racetrack. Since the courses build on eachother, you'd need to start with the basic driver training. Skip Barber is run at a number of tracks around the country, including Lime Rock, probably the closest to you. There's a school at Mid-Ohio, the Mid-Ohio school, which we use a lot. Any of these will be hundreds of dollars, even over a thousand. However the quality of instruction would be expected to be better.

Realize that the "racing" schools, that get you a comp license, assume you already know how to turn laps on track; they focus on teaching you how to race, mainly - how to share the track with others safely. That's all. This is pretty clearly not what you need at this point.
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

jjadczak · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 346 Location: Accokeek, MD

I think there is a SCCA Driver's School at LRP in either May or June. Check out scca.org I think they have a one day school on a Friday. Your gonna need seat time and you'll get it with SCCA schools but you'll probably have to do at least two weekends to obtain your liscence. They will also teach you racing strategy (if your lucky like me and got a great instructor) and passing. It's amazing what you'll learn. I now want to go out there and play with Vaghan's 924 but he lives too friggin far away. Make sure your car is fully sorted and that your CIS system is cleaned with new fuel injectors, fuel filters etc. Sometime I'll tell you a story of one of our SCCA Driver's School at Nelson Ledges where we had to throw in the towel early because the CIS system was clogged. Also, make sure you have someone there who knows how to work on a 924. You will NOT have time to do so at a normal school weekend.

Jeremy Jadczak
1978 924
SCCA ITA, NASA 944 Cup

924RACR · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2003 4:17 am Post subject:

Yes, having crew is critical when you get to a proper race school with your own car (as opposed to Skippy or Bondurant, where they provide the cars)... recruit and train them early, so they have a chance to learn and help you... lean on them heavily when the time comes... select a crew chief, doesn't necessarily need to know your car specifically, but needs to know the ropes at the track - how the car must be ready/prepped, when you need to be where, etc. You will have your head so far up your ASH when the day comes, you won't know which way is up! You won't remember how to drive! You won't remember how to turn the car on! You won't be able to fasten your seatbelt!!! Trust me!!! BTDT!!!

You will be learning and absorbing way too much to even question how the car is - that's why you must have a crew chief who you can rely on to give you a working, gassed, oiled, lugnuts-torqued car everytime you're ready to go back out! And who can help you find, connect, fasten, and tighten your belts when you get in the car! You will be unable to do anything other than stand on the gas and look in the mirror, trust me!!!

Hey, Jeremy - when you gonna post that nice write-up of your school that you sent me?!? It was really good, you should post it here!
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype