Saving a Scuderia

So I have a friend who has helped me with lots of his time and knowledge putting this magnificent Scud back on the road & track. He had never been on track in any car, but he has driven just about everything. Well it was payback time!!!

I had him meet me at NJMP - the lightning track - which is IMHO one of the best tracks for a new person to drive. We signed up for a 2 day event with HOD and I would be his instructor and he was going to drive the Scud. HOD is a great 1st time venue because the "rules" allow for even new students to go out in instructors cars in higher run groups, so he was able to sit with me in the open track run group where passing signals are optional and I could push the car.

Having instructed lots of first timers I knew I wasn't really doing him any favors putting him in a car that is way too powerful and on full race slicks. Kinda like handing a 10 year old an AR-10?!?!? That said my friend is very smart and he listens and does the best bodywork I have ever seen, so the deal is you brake it you fix it- I will never sell this car. All my track friends thought this would end in disaster...

Before he arrived I pointed him to Speed Secrets - the Ross Bentley books. He read them all so we had a common language to communicate and I knew he would understand the basic dynamics of a car on track.

I took him out for a few recon laps to get him looking at flag stations and feeling the grip level, tires are now up to temp - time to switch. He hit the gas and took to it like a fish to water. We started out at moderate speed, race mode, and he very quickly found that the Scud was much faster then anything else on track in the beginner run group. I'm not going to lie, I was a nervous, by the end of the 1st run session he was lapping 1/2 the cars on track. The really nice part was that he followed all my instructions and had excellent awareness of the cars around him and even picked up on the subtle ways the Scud communicates with the driver, slight understeer/oversteer, ABS kick when braking after picking up clag on the tires, throttle on oversteer. Through the next 4 session he only got better as he began to hit his braking, turn in, and apex points consistently.

Day 2 was even better except that we received some negative comment from other beginner group drivers. Comments ranged from, "you should be in another group" to "you lapped me 5 times that run" to the finally- middle fingered pass signal. I found it all rather amusing as the organizers were happy with his driving and his etiquette on circuit.

For me one of the best parts of the experience was sitting right seat and being able to see and feel how incredible the car is. The sheer speed the Scud can carry through corners is just breathtaking. The ability to correct issues, mid corner with either throttle or steering is something very few other cars can do. And to have a 1st time student hunt down other beginners with more experience in much more powerful cars - GTR, Z06, and 991 Turbo, was really fun to watch.

My friend is truly Hooked On Driving(forgive me), just purchased a nice cayman, and we had a ball.

What an amazing car, looks like some lucky family member will be very happy someday hopefully far away. If your reading this and considering buying a Scud - do it, it will be one of the best decisions in your life.