Z-man

Umm, let me clarify: I've never done 135 into the Oak Tree at VIR, but if anyone did, they'd fly right off the track!

-Z.

rsrdan

How fast are you doing thru the uphill esses,and thru south bend?

Best part of the track for ANY 944!!

Z-man

rsrdan:
I'm probably getting close to 100 at the top of the climbing esses, but I don't know for sure. I've only had 3 days on that track, and by day three, I was understanding the climbing esses better. That last left-hander before the little valley before the oak tree is a bugger! (Taking it a bit early is helpful in setting up for that short run to Oak Tree)

South Bend: WOT in 4th, but I definately over-brake that turn! Too busy to notice my speed there.

As for Oak Tree: I'm down into second gear for that turn: sure is frustrating when you're catching someone there, and they take off the long straight (stupid turbos!! )

-Z.

Edit: I was thinking of the wrong corner for 'South Bend.'

fpena944

A bit off topic but do any of you have any videos of your runs on Watkins Glen or VIR? I'd love to get into track events but the Cabrio is not allowed unless I mildly hack up the interior and add a roll bar. (or at least that's the impression I'm under from the rules I've read)

So instead I guess I could live vicariously through the magic of video :-(

Z-man

fpena944:
Check out This site. (GTC Motorsports) On the main page, click on "Does your baby got back?" link, and that will put you in the vids section. Lots of stuff from The Glen (my favorite is VIPER CAM), Lime Rock (fav: PPE Coming out at Lime Rock 2003), VIR, Road Atlanta...etc.

Enjoy!
-Z-man.

Ken

Cool info. I pretty much do the same thing but the speeds are lower. Right at track out at the top of the esses I near redline in forth at ~115. Grab 5th and can only get up to about 120-125. She's really running out of breath there.

That was my favorite section of the entire track. Take turn one, redline 3rd, grab fourth, plant foot, pray! It took me a whole day to get the guts to stay on it, but my instructor keep saying to go for it. I finally did and it was great! Whenever I need something exciting to think about, that pops right into my head.

Z-man, do you happen to know what kind of lap times you pull at the Glen? My dad was with me and gave me some approximate times. I ran 2:45s the first day with the instructor. The second day he said I was running closer to 2:30. I timed my instructor, Dick Fell, and he was running 2:15s!

mpw

2:30 is pretty quick, 2:15 is awesome, must have been a hell of a ride (was he driving your car, or his?). A buddy and I were only able to muster 2:28 in our S4s, but we were pretty happy with that since it was our first time at WGI; definitely one of my favorite tracks. I can't wait to get a 944 out there this summer.

Ken

Haha, 2:15 was in his 67 911. Full out track car. Stripped with a monster 3.6 or 3.8. He was blowing past everything on the track. He said his favorite thing was passing rich guys in Cup cars that think they're cool!

He apparently doesn't like to take people for rides as something always goes wrong when he does. This was my first time too!

Z-man

Ken, I haven't timed myself at the Glen in over a year, so I don't have any times for you.

For those who don't know him, Dick Fell is one of the fastest drivers in our upper group groups. Great instructor, excellent driver, really nice all-around guy. BTW: He drives a heavily modified 1968 911. (Not sure what motor he has in it) He's now got a 996 body kit for it. If you can get him to instruct you, or take you for a ride, you are in for a treat!

-Z-man.

trev0006

i had the 88 944 turbo S and it was probebly one of th best cars I have ever owned, the only problem I had with the car was the clutch and water pump leak, as far as performance it would kill some of the so called top sports cars of today, specialy if you install the ECU chip.

rsrdan

Zman,
Iwas having trouble with south bend at VIR also,...Hugh Plumb ( race car driver) rode with me and said also to early apex south bend.Turn one also.