anonymousagain

Beginning along a newly discovered 13mi mountain road detour last night, I came upon a 3000GT-VR4 (didn't realize they have the largest wing ever created). As I intentionally caught up, it became apparent that he waited for me to get close and then increased his speed. "Kewl, a fun drive!"

It was nearly dark, so driving the turns was a bit more spectacular as the headlights strained to follow the road on the tight switchbacks. This is a constant turning road, 2nd gear 95% of the way, with brief jumps to 3rd to lower rpm’s on occasion, but could have held 2nd just fine.

So I’m following this guy a few lengths back for ~4mi or so…safe cushion, smooth corner speed, reading the road according to his lead…nice follow the leader pace, while I’m critiquing the attitude of his car -vs- the attitude of SATA. He’s squirting out of the corners and I can tell he’s working it some, but I’m still thinking this is great fun and I’ve easily got him covered, reeling him in quickly on a couple short straight bursts, just to let him know he’s not going anywhere.

Then he slows to the short open shoulder to let me by. “Dang, he had some nice projector lights on that thing too!” I figure okay, he was going a bit slower than Bill Ball fun drive speed anyway, so I’ll lead and let him trail. Besides, I’m tired of looking at that insanely huge wing!

So he tucks in behind and we start along… safe pace for headlights, smooth corner speed…. When after a bunch of turns I notice he’s a tad bit off the pace. Short straight and I see his lights elevate out of the last corner to try and make up distance. Left, left, right, left, hairpin right, left. Hmmm, lost him? Nope, just about a corner and a half behind. Man this is fun. A little cold, better up the climate a bit warmer. Check the mirror and yep, he’s off pace now, and I can barely catch his lights periodically in the distance. So I continue enjoying the L/R dance until it straightens out to flat ground where I keep it mellow and catch a Tahoe about a ½ mile ahead.

The VR4 catches up just before reaching the road’s end, so I pull to the shoulder so he comes up along side. I was thinking a younger kid, but the guy was late 40’s:

Me: Wow that was fun! Really neat winding through the corners like that.

Him: I love that road. Gotta say though, I’ve driven with a lot of quick cars and never had anyone pass me before. That was impressive.

Me: Thanks. This thing is really smooth through that stuff. I just found this road too. 2nd time on it!

Him: Really? Wow. Thought for sure I’d stay with you too, but man you were just stuck to the road. You were definitely fast.

Me: Thanks. With the auto I have to hold 2nd the entire time too, since I can’t downshift to 1st, and some of those corners 1st would have been nice.

Him: U-huh.

Me: That’s a VR4, huh? Twin turbo, all wheel drive. Must be nice, ‘cause I can feel the open diff on some of those hairpins and wish I at least had an LSD.

Him: He, he. Well, looks like I had all the advantages and you still walked away. I gotta say, I really am impressed. Have run with some very fast cars too. That’s a nice ride. Wasn’t expecting that.

Me: Thanks. 928’s are a really smooth, balanced car. Well, thanks for playing. Drive careful and maybe I’ll see you again.

Him: Thanks. You do the same, but I think I’ll just follow from the get go next time

He was in a 1999 3000GT-VR4, 5sp, sounded like aftermarket exhaust. Driving pace was like a fun drive around 6/10, with a couple brief 7/10 straights. SATA is still running on 225/50/16’s too!

Serious fun!! I just had to share.

macreel

anon... nice 'fictional' tale.

and the road is where? rte # ?


G'luck.

Bill Ball

Yeah, what macreel said.

I see your knee has healed enough to get back in the saddle...like the time I got back on my motorcycle with the wrist cast still on.

Maybe a funride down this road??

anonymousagain

Bill - was good to see that the PT is working and my reaction time is working.

It seems feasible for a fun ride, although I haven't been on it enough to know what the traffic patterns etc are like. Hoping it doesn't turn out to be a weekend tourist attraction. I'm sure some locals have enjoyed it, but I'm holding judgment until I get more exposure to it. Again, it's not that it's a fast race type road (although I guess someone with a deathwish could push it), but more of a constant L/R agility experience...to me at least and I think I drive quite spirited sometimes.

Drop me a PM if you'd like to scout it.

anonymousagain

exactly, except the cast is inside, next to my knee !!
.

nee.dragger

Sweet, scratch one up for the 928's (I just love hearing things like this)

IcemanG17

Kirt
Nice......the old boys can still kick some butt!! You gotta try a DE this year.......then you'll really get to see what SATA can really do!!

I think a norcal fun drive on this road might be required in the near future!! I'm in!!

anonymousagain

...the interesting thing to me is that I kinda wish I was in The Blue Car, to see how differently it'd fare; aside from guaranteed brake fade, I feel it'd still dance more than admirably, even with significant lower power.

I guess overall, we get many more opportunities to compare straight line and I enjoy knowing SATA is quite high in the food chain. It was seriously a blast to know I'm under-driving a stock 928 on unfamilliar road and it high performs without question...it cracked me up when I realized I was adjusting the climate control. To be able to compare to an equal vehicle with more experienced driver, just made it all the more sweet. Surely not the fastest, but boy I can't imagine anything else as composed and fun !!

Would like to hit a DE, but not sure when/where they happen.

IcemanG17

Kirt
Only a few PCA DE's are listed right now........I would recommend thunderhill as a great 1st time track.....mostly for its lack of walls to hit if you have an "off"..... I plan on going there at least twice this year!! Hopefully we can get a large group on 928's to show up!!

http://www.hookedondriving.com/category.cfm?category=1

This "high performance drivers education" organization also did the event I went to with PCA....very well run with great instructors (having Dennis helped alot).....a bit pricey, but worth it! There are several events at thunderhill starting in March and about monthly after that!

bgrabner

anonymousagain - that road wouldn't happen to be up in the Auburn area would it?

anonymousagain

thanks Brian. I'll look for future gatherings and check the website.

Bill - nope, but I know there are some nice roads up in that area. Hopefully this summer

danglerb

I was on one of the little roads between 1 and 101 north of SF in my 914, feeling pretty snotty through the twisties, and some local in a Mazda stationwagon full of groceries and kids just blew past me and disappeared within a few turns. Really cooled my jets.

JEC_31

Awseome story, and happy ending too. Thanks for sharing!

Shane

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!

'86.5s RULE

SMTCapeCod

NIce! The '99s are the only year with that picnic table rear wing...gawdawful. Well, I should say the only year that it came factory. My '94 had a switchable suspension which was nice and aerodynamics and exhaust...I believe the suspension geometry also nudges teh camber under load. They got rid of the gadgetry as the years went on, and the last year is known for having a somewhat soft supsension. They utilize fairly small turbos, my '94 was actually more responsive down low than my Euro is..and any good driver can do some serious damage to most 2WD cars if launching from a standing start-- it's a whole different game. The small turbos mean the cars are exceedingly sensitive to boost leaks-- one lose hose clamp and power takes a nose dive.
They are genuinely scarce though, couple hundred '99s if I remember correctly. The twin turbo six was rated at 320, so your cars were in a similar ballpark particularly given the parasitic loss from the AWD gear. Good thing about the VR4 though- $1K for a turbo upgrade, $200 for injectors and $300 for a fuel controller and all of a sudden you're into the 400HP range.Some Dyno Results ANd ANOTHER thing, a high quality plolished stainless downpipe that eliminates the pre-cats and main converter can be had for a round three hundred bucks, instead of five hundred! Cheaper/easier to get good output than with these cars. Of course, all that said, I sold my VR4 and not my 928....
So, congrats, my guess is your driving skills made a big difference in the outcome. NIce that two drivers can have a little fund and be sociable afterwards.