KLVA

I was hoping the Shark Tank has a few DE veterans, I get to go to a 3 day DE at Summit Point in WV Aug 14-16, Porsche Fest, and was hoping for some advice about the main track and where folks have stayed up there and other stuff. I do not 'yet' have the full blown RV and enclosed race trailer for track weekends...maybe one day...after I win the lottery..or rob banks. I realize I am venturing into air sucking, *** dragging, twin turbo land but I really got hooked back in April at the one day HPDC on the Jefferson track. I was the only 928 there amongst over 40 cars in 3 groups. I did OK...hoping for better this time..gonna be trying out my new RMB... Any words of wisdom or wise will be appreciated !!

IcemanG17

#1 rule of DE......HAVE FUN and BE SAFE

Everything after that is gravy.......

Don't worry about spending money on a tow rig-trailer-racecar....that will come with time....for now....just work on your driving....and spend your $$$ getting out there and getting some instruction (PCA is good).....just run your stock 928 on street tires and have fun....as long as your tires-brake pads & fluid & general maintance is up to date you will be fine...& don't worry if your 928 is an automatic...my 1st several trackdays was in my automatic S4....still it was a BLAST.....

Go fast parts will come with time, but do reduce a street cars "street-ability"...which is why I went with a full blown race 928....that I only drive on the track....because honestly it sucks to drive on the street...

JG928S4

relax, have fun, learn the track, time on the track will make you faster than any bolt on, or other $$$ you can spend, driving will never be the same. Enjoy!!

worf928

Listen to your instructor (assuming he has a clue about something other than a 911).

Watch out for The Red Mist. If you catch yourself thinking "I'm really gonna try to be fast this lap" you will be slower.

KLVA

Thanks, you guys...I have really tried to get all the routine stuff done over the last year and a half...Brakes..SS lines, Oil Pan/ steering rack..motor mounts, shocks, I have been doing alot of routine driving on weekends to make sure all is tight, Couple of questions, if you don't mind. Shifting between 3 back to drive to downshift and back up to drive with the 4 speed AT. I did some of that at Sharks in the Mountains in June. What about upshifting and downshifting on a regular track ? What are your thoughts on that? I am really looking forward to this 3 day DE event. I am also very impressed with the organization for these events, the instructors are really serious about safety and skill development. I am hoping to get involved more with track activities later. Any other techniques that might come to mind for my 88 AT....Thanks again, Kevin Great car number, Iceman......Thanks Dave ,I will keep my eye on the ball...I am pretty sure my helmet won't let my head get too much bigger.

worf928

You'd be surprised. I mean look at Lewis Hamilton. His red mist cost him the F1 WDC in 2007

Temekun

Smooth on the throttle, smooth through the turns. Know you are going to be slow on the straights compared to most of todays cars.
You can make time up to corners with the 928 brakes, just try to be smooth off, hit your mark and smooth back on the throttle.
Alwaysremember you are eally competing with yourself, it helps avoid the red mist and lets you enjoy what you have.

IcemanG17

Kev
88 AT...EXACT same as I started with....just leave it in 3 all the time.....then if the corner is slow enough you can use the kickdown to power out of it....thats what I did for my 1st several DE's.... The automatic for begineers is a good thing....just leave it in 3 and concentrate on your lines and braking points....I would say the couple "pointers" that helped me the most are:

SMOOTH smooth is fast, when you think "I'm going fast in this corner", your not, your trying too hard...squealing tires all over the place is NOT faster...my best lap times are from laps I don't really remember...they just went smooth... A tires "friction curve" is an nice steady arc...not a square...you need to smoothly bring the tire up to its traction limit...not in a quick harsh motion...

BRAKE think of them as an ON-OFF switch....I used to incorrecrtly think that by "going easy" on the brakes was better (translated, braking less hard, but longer for a given corner).....its not that makes MORE heat....ideally you should be right on the edge of ABS under heavy braking.....

Another good motto is this: brake-shift-turn-gas....in that order....

Once you feel comfortable with the "lines" of a track...then you can concentrate on improving a certain corner.....so pick one you really want to improve....the "most" important corner on a racetrack is the one before the longest straight.....

I've also found these books VERY helpful

http://www.speedsecrets.com/PRODUCTS...9/Default.aspx

KLVA

Thanks a million, Brian....That is EXACTLY what I needed to hear and I will try to concentrate on the line and not the speed. I guess it is sort of like skiing..see the line ahead...picture in your mind the next move and keep up the pace with even steady actions. I am now going to study the track configuration and prepare for how my car can best improve the line. Thanks !!

Mike Frye

I'm jealous! I've been wanting to do a DE since I got my car almost 3 years ago. There always seems to be somewhere else to put the money though.

Enjoy and please post on how it went!

Slantnose!

Have fun & post a picture later...

mcholdfast

If your instructor is also driving in the DE, ask if you can be a passenger on one of his runs. It'll give you first hand experience of what it's supposed to be like. It was a real eye opener for me. Just don't eat anything before the ride.

JPTL

If you're not planning on hoofing it back to WB each day, you can set up camp there at SP @ no charge if that's your thing. Half of the infield is wooded with a network of dirt roads. There are several spots for a tent & IIRC, there may be a few grills for burgers, etc. You may want to call SP to confirm that they're still doing that.
Otherwise inexpensive accomotations in-town (Charles Town WV).
Have fun!

KLVA

Dude !! That already happened back in April at the one day High Performance Driving Course I went to. Ryan took me out in his 2008 GTI and scared the crap outta me and it was so cool.....lesson learned, if he can do that in a VW, then I can be somewhat more confident in my 5.0 litre V8 !! Maybe I will ask again or it might be also part of the program . Hope the sale of the 90 GT was not too traumatic....That would have been my next choice ..er...maybe carchick's Iris Blau GTS 5speed... I could never afford THAT one !!!

IcemanG17

Kev
Its all about SMOOTH....when I 1st got on track the 1st thing I wanted to do was FLOOR IT...& see how long I could floor it and how fast I could go.....fun..sure....but it does not make for a fast lap...its all about taking the CORNERS fast that makes the difference.... I couldn't understand how all the damm miatas with NO power could pass me.....how....by taking the corners far faster and carrying mometum between corners....or being SMOOTH....

Another great tip is always look where you want the car to go....so always look for the apex...look OUT of the drivers side window in left hand turns..... just like skiing...think about what your gonna do before you do it..... Brake....smoothly turn in, slowly feed throttle, look for apex-trackout...slowly go full throttle at apex, unwind steering towards trackout and setup for next corner....

Just listen to your instructor and have fun...riding with them is a good idea (unless you get sick, which happens)...to see the lines at a higher pace....drive within YOUR limits...not the "Cars limits"... its no fun to push too hard and smack a wall.....I've seen it three times at track days....all P-cars that ranged from $75-$110k....so it was a significant OUCH....