The Joy of Driving

All-

Yesterday, I took my Cayman to TWS in College Station, Texas for a Test n’ Tune day. I had originally signed up for a PCA DE weekend. But they insisted I start at the bottom of the DE ladder (Green w/an instructor) and work my way up to solo because I had never done any PCA events. I wasn’t interested because I just wanted to motor around at 7/10s for fun. (BTW, Peter’s website has the best explanation of driving by the 10s.)

Fortunately, I discovered the Track had a TnT day, and it was a blast. There were only about 25-30 cars with two run groups: race and HPDE. So for a little more than $200, you could get in four hours of track time. Whut a country!

Even better, there were only two of us in the HPDE group! After a while, the Track starting letting race cars run with us, which I didn’t mind. TWS looks like a high-speed track due to the front straight (see map), but it really is a driver’s course. I have seen great SM drivers embarrass the hell out good drivers in cars costing 10 to 20 times as much. So when a brand-new GT3 blew by me in between T2 and T3, it was fun keeping up with him all the way through Larry, Curly and Moe (T13/14/15).

The only hangup was to keep reminding myself that, not only did my car not have a cage, it is my daily driver. But once over that hump, it was almost too much fun to just motor around and enjoy the car on a track I know well (I probably have close to a 1,000 miles on TWS.) I didn’t time myself. I wasn’t doing anything stupid. I was just remembering the line and having fun.

For example, my biggest hangup as a driver is not tracking all the way out. (I have “edge phobia” from riding motorcycles for too long.) So it was great to build up enough speed to naturally swing all the way out without causing any drama. Seat time is seat time.

And, man-oh-man, a Cayman is a sweet car. After the tires got a bit greasy, I could gin up some mild oversteer. Other than that, it is point and shoot. These cars are going to make great race cars someday. Loose about 500 pounds, harder brake pads, and a mild turbo, and you Bimmer guys better watch out!

My car is also a cheater because it has the base PDK. Talk about making life easy, this tranny is fantastic on the track. The super duper upscale version is even better. Apparently, left foot braking is the key, but I’ll need an extension on the pedal to make this work.

Long story short, I’m embarrassed about how long it has been since I hit the notes. (Peter and Will, you know how long it has been.) My experience has been that life is not a straight line. It tends to go up and down and sometimes curves back around on you. But like everything, you have to make the time to do those things you like to do. So no more excuses, while I’m not at the point where I can go racing, there will be at least a half-dozen more TnT days this year. Sometimes, you gotta love the one you’re with.

Dale
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Whoops. Forgot pics.

1. Maranelloman hearing that FChat still loves him.
2. Cayman in the am
3. Maranelloman teaching the high dive. Yes, TWS is an old track.
4. Spec Boxsters look cool.
5. Who ever though baby blue would be one of the coolest race car colors?
6. Proof Texas has nice back roads, and, yes, I drove the car home.
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Thanks for all the kind words.

My point is if you have some experience, you really should take your hot rod out for a test and tune day. My main point is that I wasn't driving at racing speeds. But going 7/10s was a lot of fun. I was going fast enough that the race cars had to think before passing. But, I wasn't the least bit surprised when they would snap back in front of me after passing. After all, the racing line is the racing line. I trusted them. They trusted me.

If you don't have any experience, then go through the PCA or whatever ladder. Gain some respect. Learn how it works.

But $225 bucks for 4 hours of track time can't be beat.

I'll see all you Ferrari, Lambo, Vette, Porsche guys at the track.

Dale

 

Great stuff. But you win. California is the place to be!

Exactly. My favorite race cars are the Gulf Oil GTs and the white with blue stripes GTs. Funny, huh? You'd think Ferrari racing red would be my main man. But I absolutely love the Gulf Oil - Baby Blue and Orange.

Dale