first track day(s) in 996 C4S
#1
first track day(s) in 996 C4S
I returned to Spring Mountain this weekend for 2 days of HDPE with the LV Porsche club. If you watched this week's Top Gear - this is the track where Chris and Matt tested the Lambo vs Porsche.
I have been running this track for 2+ years in my base 981 boxster w/ PDK.
Honestly, it took me MUCH longer than I'd anticipated to get used to the C4S. driving that boxster w/ pdk was almost like a video game, so perfectly balanced and shifted amazingly - so all I had to focus on was the line.
The biggest hurdle for me was learning the shift points and I did miss a few shifts.
I also just had to spend some seat time learning her limits.
I was also running race tires for the first time ever. learning to trust the grip....
We run the 3.4 config at Spring Mountain. My times in the boxster hovered around 3:01 - 3:06..... every now and then would put up a 2:56, 2:58, etc.
The first day and half of the second day my times stayed around 3:03 - 3:10. On the last session my buddy Bob (a great driver) rode with me - gave me a few tips ... my last 4 laps were all 2:58 and 2:59. He helped with one line but also helped me trust the grip in the tires.
anyway - it was exausting and fun.... so worn out (I was voulentering when not on track)...... AND I CANT WAIT TO GET BACK, get more seat time and more familiar with Bertha on Track. I have so much more to learn.
Here are two videos - using Harry's Lap Timer on an iPhone. Did one with phone mounted to front - also mounted it to rear window to capture shifts and wheel input.
tried to embed videos and didn't work
I have been running this track for 2+ years in my base 981 boxster w/ PDK.
Honestly, it took me MUCH longer than I'd anticipated to get used to the C4S. driving that boxster w/ pdk was almost like a video game, so perfectly balanced and shifted amazingly - so all I had to focus on was the line.
The biggest hurdle for me was learning the shift points and I did miss a few shifts.
I also just had to spend some seat time learning her limits.
I was also running race tires for the first time ever. learning to trust the grip....
We run the 3.4 config at Spring Mountain. My times in the boxster hovered around 3:01 - 3:06..... every now and then would put up a 2:56, 2:58, etc.
The first day and half of the second day my times stayed around 3:03 - 3:10. On the last session my buddy Bob (a great driver) rode with me - gave me a few tips ... my last 4 laps were all 2:58 and 2:59. He helped with one line but also helped me trust the grip in the tires.
anyway - it was exausting and fun.... so worn out (I was voulentering when not on track)...... AND I CANT WAIT TO GET BACK, get more seat time and more familiar with Bertha on Track. I have so much more to learn.
Here are two videos - using Harry's Lap Timer on an iPhone. Did one with phone mounted to front - also mounted it to rear window to capture shifts and wheel input.
tried to embed videos and didn't work
#3
Rennlist Member
Id be curious to hear this as well. Also a new C4S owner itching to get on the track. Planning on removing the front diff as it's mostly useless for adverse weather conditions and adds unnecessary weight.
#5
Rennlist Member
Awesome! Looks like a blast. As stated, removing the FWD will totally change how the car feels on the track. Also, the biggest difference between a boxster and a 911 is you HAVE to trailbrake a 911 to load up the the front tires through corner entry. Once you get the hang of it, it is very very addictive.
#6
the turn that has BITTEN a lot of folks is just after that..... after the drop, you sweep left to the apex cone and then hard right to the "top" apex cone of "Zora's Run" - (1:14 mark) it is uphill and people have lifted off the throttle there with disastrous results....
#7
after the weekend with the 4S - I would say the Boxster was "easy" to drive - the balance of mid engine; and the PDK was doing all of the hard work - all I had to do was learn the line.
You really have to "drive" the 4S.... but that makes it much more rewarding.
It took MANY track days for me to crack the 3min lap mark with the boxster... and even when I did, it would be one lap in the entire session... and on the last session with the 4S, when I was feeling more confident - I beat thhe 3 min mark on several laps in a row.
I can't wait to get more confident in this car's ability.
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#10
Rennlist Member
I can add to the conversation as I came from my 64 and SC before I got my C4S. I too recently came back from my first track outing in the car. I had an absolute hoot of a time especially the second day as first getting more comefortable getting on the power earlier but also the track was wet in the morning. I was concerned about understeer but I got a proper alignment and up sized to 235/315 tires. I had no understeer, could throttle steer around the carousel and get on the power earlier than my 64. My opinion, leave the car as is, do not remove the front diff, and keep your hands steady at 9/3 positions (had to get that in there). Other than that, get a deep sump with x51 baffle and have a blast!
#11
#12
Rennlist Member
I wish we had a track here!
#13
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by 808Bill
I wish we had a track here!