74carreraturbo

This weekend I'll be taking the C4 to Hallett Motor Speedway for a drivers school event(basically a run at your own pace, no passing in the turns kind of thing) and I want to get a little advice on what I should make sure to do before I go... The obvious things have been covered(brake bleeding, air pressures, fluid levels, etc) but I just want to make sure i'm not missing anything. I will be driving this car 2 1/2hrs to the track and 2 1/2 back so I want to make sure I dont kill it! I'm used to driving mustangs out at Hallett so this will be a whole new experience! The car has the bilsteins/H&R greens, light flywheel and RS clutch,strut tower brace and adjustable swaybar... Should i expect lots of understeer?

On a side note, my buddy just wants me to go so he can see how close his car is to mine(99 M3, basically stock but he's the better driver).. Will I be able to keep up with him without having to push the car very hard? Thanks for all your advice guys!

kgorman

how are your brake pads? bring layers of clothes, some snacks, and plenty of liquids. Take a camp chair and awning if you have one.

Forget keeping up with your buddy, focus on learning. I am assuming you will have an instructor, listen closely to your instructor and work on being consistent and smooth. Perhaps find a track map with the line on it (sorry I don't know that track) and memorize the line beforehand.

In terms of understeer, for your first day, don't worry too much. Just make notes about the handling for future mods/adjustments.

and most of all: HAVE FUN and be safe.

74carreraturbo

Definitely great advice! I have already ridden with an instructor and am very familiar with this track(i've ran it with 2 mustang GT's, 1 audi TT and twice with an ITB 914), however never with a 911 so i'm really not sure what to expect handling-wise.. I know it will be different than all of those

TR6

Don't lift on the throttle in the turns.

Previous advice was spot on: Don't worry about keeping up with your buddy. Focus on learning the car, learning the track.

74carreraturbo

I'll keep that in mind for sure

I had the choice of taking the C4 or my rediculous land missile of a narrow body turbo which i've had almost 5 years and still am scared to put on a race track... It's sad really because the car has spent most of its life as a race car but it really needs to be sorted before I even feel safe in it. I really really want to put it on a track though because i'd love to see what a 2300lb turbo car could do

CanyonBlaster

go to the DE forum and search. An entire career worth of reading.

short summary = slow in/rev match/down shift/fast out.

sounds like you are a decent driver already so you'll have a blast!

ilko

Go there rested and relaxed. listen to your instructor very carefully and ask him as many questions as you can think of. Ask him for a lot of feedback - did I do this right, should I do that, etc. He'll give you tons of advice.

I wouldn't try to compete with anyone on your first day, or at any point during DE. It's driver's education, not a race. You can try the drag strip or a local autocross for that.

Also, check out this guide, it's from Metro NY PCA, but it holds true for all regions: http://metronypca.org/DriverEd/DE%20...de%201_4g2.pdf

You'll meet great people and will have an awesome time

Marc Shaw

Attached is the list I use when packing the car for a DE.

Marc

MarkD

great list Marc, thanks

ilko

Here's a great website that can give you tons of info on any track along with instructions, directions, etc: http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Halle...Racing_Circuit

deep_uv

Oh, so that's what you were doing.


Seriously, the best tip (other than Marc's list) I got before my first DE was from my buddy Greg (TR6). Go get as large of a Rubbermaid storage tub as you can fit in your car to hold your stuff. That way you have rain protection for your gear. Also helps in keeping everything together.

Steve