Just wanted to say my wife got me a cool b-day present the other day.

She signed me up for a DE lesson and a performance driving class through the local PCA chapter. I was going to go through these once I got my S4 up to snuff anyway, but it was great of her to figure this out all on her own. I've never mentioned this in any detail to her, except to say that I'd love to get out on a track someday, so I was quite surprised.

Although, she was a bit bummed and surprised to hear that my S4 is not up to it just yet. So that really surprised me because I've been talking with her regularly about the upcoming spends on the S4 and about when it would be best to do so, considering the household budget.

Anyway, just wanted to mention how cool that is, and how much I'm looking forward to it.

Now I just need to figure out whether to pull the S4 engine to do all the work I want to do on it which no doubt will lead to a cascade of wyait work, or just leave it in and do the essentials.

I was all fine with leaving it in there and doing the work (coolant hoses, fuel lines, vacuum hoses, motor mounts, pan gasket, tb/wp, etc) until Chuck (cdbtx) heard of my plans and started in with how much easier it would be to just pull the engine, and then do a bunch of other stuff while I'm at it (seals, main bearing, gaskets, etc, etc, etc.).

I know he's right, I just haven't accepted it yet!

 

Many consider pulling the engine to be a rite of passage .... besides if you are doing motor mounts oil pan gasket AND t-belt water pump it is quicker and far easier on your back to just extract the engine. Just be sure to get Chuck and Ken to give you a hand

 

That's great Ed! You'll love the PCA courses.. and then with time.. you'll want to advance.. and you'll wind up at the track attack.. and then with more time.. you'll want to race.. and then with time.. you'll wind up like us.... poor... but happy...

I'd be happy to help with all the work... but unless you have a heated garage.. it's a warm weather job..


Also if you're doing a PCA event - you'll want to have the engine nice and shiney...

 

Ed,

That is a true sign of a 'keeper'. Congrats and enjoy. That IS a great present.

 

I'll make a deal with you Ed.. figure out what your track days are and you can borrow my car if it doesn't conflict with any races. Just throw in the passenger seat and your good to go.... Then again.... maybe that's a bad idea.. once you drive a 2700lb 928 you'll start searching for a new project car.. (your's is simply to sweet to covert). But seriously - the offer's open and you're not going to hurt the car...

 

Happy Birthday! Nice present. Nice Wife. Lucky Man!

Enjoy!

 

Wow Chuck, that is an extremely generous offer. Thanks! Lets see how I do on the DE and Performance classes, maybe a few track days. If I don't wad my S4 after all that, and you still have your racer, lets talk then. Maybe by then you will have come to your senses! Ha ha...

No really, that is very cool. And it never ceases to amaze me how generous people on this list are, both with knowledge sharing, offers of help, and with material things as well. It really makes the ownership experience special.

 

And that's funny what you mentioned about not hurting the car, and also that we were talking about racing and dirt biking the other night.

I've regularly traded bikes with newbies out on the trail who have expressed an interest in my bikes. When I was getting into dirt biking, many people offered me rides on their bikes, and I don't think I ever turned an offer down. It was great to get to ride all the new bikes, and to get a feel for the different models.

And me and all of my friends regularly trade off bikes, its a lot of fun.

And one of the things that I have said over and over to newbs who are reluctant to hop on my bike is: "Don't worry, believe me, there isn't anything you could do to this bike that I already haven't done."

And its true.

It never ceases to amaze me how tough dirt bikes are. On any given ride, you can expect to go down at least 1 or 2 times. And its not unusual to have a fairly high speed crash. The times that you go on a ride, and don't crash, its something you will mention when someone asks you about your ride: "yeah, I didn't even go down, not once."

For track cars, and racers, I think the high $ damage potential is much greater then with dirt bikes though. Other cars, solid walls, etc, etc...

Anyway, I thought it was interesting that you would say that, as I've said almost those exact same words many times.

 

The only way I will drive someone's car on a race track is if I am able and willing to write them a check for the value of the car if for one reason or another I stuff it into a wall ... But that is how I think about it even the old very brown 1980 before I started tracking it I decided that I was OK with the possibility that the car might cease to exist or the engine might throw a rod. But that was a $2,000 car so not that big a deal besides parts is parts One of my students had his new GT3 1,400 miles on the clock I am quite sure that he would have let me drive it but ... so I simply run better lap times in the old very brown 1980 than he does !! and that was with him riding in the car... It is either educational , inspirational or a down right bummer depending on the point of view.

 

Nicely put Jim. That is a great way to look at the situation. If you can afford to replace it, and are willing to pony up the bucks, no matter what the circumstances of the incident (no - he hit me! It wasn't my fault!" bs) consider going for it. If not, don't even consider it.

 

Professional drivers "hired guns" obviously have gotten beyond that feeling of responsibility ...I know I will never get there The rent-a-ride guys on the coat tails of the pro races all sign a financial liability agreement and the cars have track insurance but often the first $10,000 or so is driver pays !

 

I once worked for a company that rented track cars and I can tell you first hand it gets ugly when a car is damaged.

 

Like ... You are going to charge HOW MUCH on my credit card ? But , But the tire went flat, something broke , that guy HIT ME ...... My wife is going to KILL ME

 

Race cars are disposable.... they guys that don't have that attitude are the guys duking it out after an incident..

Incidents at a track event are extrememly rare... put the right personality into a car at the track and the odds of anything happening are even rarer.... Put the guy that thinks he's Danica Patrick in the same car.... well.. I'm not going to go there...

 

poor Danica it just looks so bad when you spin the car trying to enter the pit road during the race.