So, I have my first DE date with the 911 this month, and had a silly question:

Do you run with or without the bonnet over the drop-top? I see arguments for both ways, and was just curious what others do. This is with a non-PCA org, with no specific instructions about it.

 

I belive you must have a roll bar if its a Cab. We all like topless, but go top up for aerodynamic reasons, trust me it makes a differance

 

Yep, have the new roll bar in, but honestly, I'm going to be restraining to 2/3 normal on this event, as I'm going from a front engine / front drive to a rear engine / rear drive, and I need to focus on things other than max speed... like not sending the 911 into the wall at New Hampshire International.

 

It will be easier to also hear the instructor, plus you wont get sun baked all day. And, God forbid the worst happens, will help keep you in the car if you dont have harnesses

FF to a RR? What did you used to drive that was FF? I balance that daily between the GTI and the Porsches.

I dont know how many of you guys know VW's too, but with a feather weight of a little over 2200#'s, a hopped up motor, and a full H&R cup kit, stress bars, solid bushings, limited slip, big brakes, and sticky YOKO's It regularly hands most people thier asses on a canyon road.

 

Yep, I'm fully respectful of the old Rabbits, Golfs, etc. out there.

Came from a 500hp Vortech-supercharged & cammed Taurus SHO, Quaife diff, headers & true-duals, custom coilovers w/ Konis, bolted-in roll bar, Wilwood 4-pot brakes etc.

A pic of my old "Type-POS":


I'm in the back in the 2nd one, obviously. The Turbo was nutty fast.

They dropped me back in Advanced (solo), even with the new chassis, so I'm going to be searching around for someone with more rear/rear experience to ride shotgun. Good point about the copilot too. A number of the guys have squawk-boxes, but with the wind noise it'd be a bit much.

 

Some events you will have to keep the top up. Some events and organizations you will be able to do whatever. I've run PCA events in different parts of the country with different rules.

Yes, having the top up will get you a higher speed. I see 5-7 miles an hour faster on the back straight of Sebring with the top up.

With it down - it's a nice experience on the track - just like life -



If you put the top down, then put the cover on it tightly - I use zip ties in addition to the hooks to hold down the inside part (since you don't have the seat backs anymore) it is good for at least 135 mph by the way...

 

Fred: Every competition event that I've ever run, except for a few slaloms, the organizers have required that soft tops are in the closed position. As others have stated there are plenty of good reasons for this, and I personally, having raced SCCA Nationals, would question the safety levels any club has that would allow you to run at race track speeds with the top down. Yes, if you have a chop-top race car with a full cage that's one thing, a street car with a hoop is something else entirely. Sorry for my two cents, but I'm a safety advocate, and always lean toward the side that will seem to keep you safer... Have fun at the track!
Pete

 

No problems at all, Peter. I'm pulling info, as this is my first drop-top, and I'd rather have a clue going in.

The reason I asked about it was that last year I'd seen a mid-60's topless Vette tooling around the track, as well as a Bimmer IIRC.

2006 will likely bring a 2nd 911 to the family, if the funds allow it, and it'll be a coupe.

Thanks all, any & all suggestions welcomed.

 

At Sebring, they run the cabs and boxsters with either the top up or down. (With proper roll protection) At Texas Motor Speedway - the cab top had to be up. You can also wear shorts and short sleeve shirts at Sebring, yet had to wear long pants and long sleeve shirts at Texas Motor Speedway.

The reasoning at Sebring was apparently that they were having more accidents/or near accidents or lapse of judgement due to heat fatigue. They are very strict about passing, car placement - in Texas they were much looser. Both have excellent safety records.

My last instructor told me he felt safer in a cabriolet with a roll bar than a coupe without one. I do have 5 point harnesses for just that reason.

 

That SHO is awesome! I love a sleeper! HAHA The guys in Z06's must REALLY...hate you. cant beat a late 80's four door ford Taurus, they suck

 

It may depend upon the organizing group. NER PCA allows the top down if you have arm restraints.

 

Another SHO driver & I became infamous a couple of years ago on the email lists...

-->
True story:

At Lime Rock in November, I was instructing a friend in a Ferrari 355 (in the Intermediate 1 group). As we're lining up in the paddock, we see a (smoking) Taurus SHO backing up to go out with us. My friend, who shall remain anonymous, makes a snide comment about this organization allowing
"just about anyone to run, huh?".

I laugh (mostly) to myself, and tell my friend, "don't be making statments like that until you see how the guy runs. You may regret it."

Halfway through the session, I look in the mirror. You guessed it - that SHO is on our BUTT. I tell my friend, and he tries to drive even faster. I caution him not to drive too fast, above his skill level, but we can't shake this guy. I suggest to (order) him to give a point-by, which he grudginly
does, with some great embarrasment.

This was pretty funny, in and of itself, until 5 laps later, when we get caught by ANOTHER friggin' Taurus.

I don't think he's lived it down yet... :-D

vty,

--Dennis

<--

The other guy was Tom Smith in his red 91 SHO, and I had a toned-down ride (9psi boost instead of 15psi, non-Quaife'd transaxle for that date). After we saw the email circulate, I had "Smoking Taurus Club" decals made up for Tom & I.

This year's track SHO is being built up now, bored, ported, cammed, opened exhaust, Tokicos & Eibachs, some PBR brakes if I can swing it in time, and all hopefully under $1,000. As low-buck as possible, so I won't care about leaving it at the track when it expires 1500 miles from home (I drive to events rather than trailer). It IS going to be different running half the power in the same kind of chassis though.

I don't want to beat on my "nice" 911 this year too badly, but to me, if you own a sports car like a Porsche, it's gotta see the track at least once.

 

Amen on that - and these cars are a blast to drive on the track. Difficult to drive really fast - but a blast. Just remember - don't lift.

 

The regions in the Mid-West also require that the top be up unless you have arm-restraints.