Just finished making yours I'll mail it tomorrow.

 

Today started bright and early with a long drive out of town, which means only one thing...


...my very first trackday in the 964


It was a trackday which was (very well) organised by Circuit Club at Wakefield Park, which is a club-style track about two hours south of Sydney. Circuit Club days, always seems to attract some interesting cars. You'll notice some interesting company in the garages next to the 964...


Oh yes, that's right...a WRC Corolla! The real thing!


Also present was a Group A Celica rally car.


This was an interesting concoction, an Australian-made Elfin Clubman. Basically like a Caterham Se7en, but with a 5.7L V8 engine




There was also a good collection of modern Euro performance cars, too (including an AMG Black Series).


As well as Japanese performance cars, like time-attack spec Hondas and the ever-popular Lancer Evolutions.


I started out quite gingerly, as the track was a little wet and greasy, and slowly felt my way into the 964's handling. To be perfectly honest, I found it quite challenging to come to grips (bad pun, ok) with it in the slippery conditions...as you can see here


I was finding the faster corners especially hard, if I went in off the throttle, the tail would want to rotate a LOT before the apex. But if I dived in with lots of throttle, then I'd get heaps of power oversteer and end up with the same result mid-corner. Eventually I figured out that what the car seemed to want me to do, is to enter the corner on a neutral throttle, and then squeeeeeze on the power towards the apex. That way, you'd get a nice four wheel drift on corner exit, with the foot to the floor. Working out this balance took a bit of time though...

But in the end, I managed to cut my initial lap times of 1'17 down to 1'12, and I'm pretty happy with that. Here's the least-worst lap.


My approach to the slower corners could use some work too, I think I'm not being aggressive enough with my entry speed, and I need to learn more finesse for the faster sweepers. I still have quite a bit to learn, but it'll be fun trying

The 964 is certainly holding up its end of the bargain though, it ran strong all day without missing a beat, and on the long drive home, was fresh as a daisy. So much fun to drive.

 

can you just relax a bit with your hands on the steering wheel. stop moving them all over the place for no reason. leave them at the '10 to 2' position. i was getting stressed out just watching that. it is a fast racetrack circuit, not a motorkhana.

 

thanks for the pics btw.
are you joining the porsche car club?

 

what's your bars' setup?

 

I am a member of the NSW Club

Stock

 

Good on you man, you'll get settled in with your technique and setup but for first time out you did a bloody good job of keeping it on the black stuff, IMHO. Looks like it was greasy, even that WRC corolla was sideways on exit of one of the corner from what I saw.

Thanks for taking the time to put the videos together too.

 

I think your car deserves some RS-bars upgrade.

 

I am thinking of upgrading to KW V3 first

 

NICE choice! RS bars are their ideal match...!

 

i think you need to sit closer to the wheel.

 

Looks like you had a great time and learned a lot your car's handling. It takes the ownership experience to the next level.

Also good to see that all that hard work you put into the car has paid of with a solid - no issues - day at the track. These cars are so strong.

KW V3? Yes!

 

you may also want to consider kw v1 too and h&r anti roll bars

 

I'm kinda a funny shape Usually when I jump into a car, I slide the seat all the way forwards (I have short legs) but then I have a long torso/big head, so if the backrest is at a normal angle, the helmet hits the roof. So the backrest has to go back a notch or two. And then i have short arms, so it tends to look more dramatic than it really is

But...you work with what you got, and over the years I've gotten used to it (not like I have a choice) to the point where it doesn't seem like an issue to wind on lots of lock and off again.

 

Oh, here are the times, if anyone was interested: http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/re...2012.WAKE.S3.Y