Write up on another track day in the Stradale...

I took the Stradale out to Thunderhill, an SCCA owned track in Norcal, this weekend with the Audi club. Saturday was pouring rain so I spent the day in my Audi S4 with rain tires carving it up. Its an amzingly fun track. On Sunday, I took out the CS and started to play. This was my first time back on track after a 100mph spin a few months ago that got me humbled. Getting used to the CS after the Audi is tricky. I find that I don't trust the insane amount of grip that the car has. Finding the proper apex and throttle position to keep the car neutral took a few laps. Even as I increased speed on each lap and played with each corner, the thought that I was going to snap the car out each time was alwasy there. My mind was constantly reciting "Don't lift, Don't lift". So, I left all pride in the pits and just went and worked on my lines.

As one very capable Porsche driver put it, I have enough car to keep myself learning for a long, long time. Given enough seat time and focus on technique, I'm sure I'll get used to steering the car with the throttle and understand what the car will and won't do. It'll just take some humility in the near term. At least I can still go out in the S4 and drive at 9/10ths without fear of tire walls and financial pain.

 

They do run a great event! Were you at Laguna last year with Chris Thorpe? If so, I think we met.

The yellow Porsche guys I saw were Thorpe and Joatine in the C4S.... I must have missed the third one! (Everyone was hiding in garages!).

Are you heading out to Laguna in Feb with the Audi Club? I might try to bring it out again if the weather looks promising.