Daily driver, no track.
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,077
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From: North Eastern US
Daily driver, no track.
For the two years I've owned the C4S, I've taken it to the track frequently. I drive it like a regular car on the streets, then go like crazy at the track. These last few months I've been unable to go to the track due to scheduling conflicts. I find that I'm starting to do crazy things on the street. I am finding it more and more difficult to behave responsibly on the street. It's getting to the point where I'd rather take the "other" car. I gotta get to a track!!! I don't know how you guys that use the P-car as a daily driver and not go to the track can do it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 857
Likes: 2
From: Cape Cod
Right after I got my M5 (Nov 1999) I found myself jacking aroud with an Audi R/S(?)4. When I looked down I was doing 140 mph. I immediately backed off and haven't done much over the existing "traffic flow" since. After your arrest and incarceration for reckless/careless driving, you'd be hard pressed to explain to the Judge why you were going 200% over the speed limit. Your liability would be open ended!
Going to the track allows me to "jack around" safely and legally.
I know exactly how you feel! I, too, don't see how the non-trackers can stand it???
Going to the track allows me to "jack around" safely and legally.
I know exactly how you feel! I, too, don't see how the non-trackers can stand it???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Foothills of Colorado
i don't track my C4, and i have the speeding tickets to show for it. what i generally do these days is drive the car hard in places i know the roads and i know that there aren't cops. i've lived around here for almost 9 years, and had my p-car for over 3 years and 35K miles, so i've discovered quite a few places you can have fun without worrying about smokey on your tail! i think i've avoided a few tickets too through simply driving too fast. i've been hauling down the highway a few times when there's no traffic around and i've passed a smokey and just kept going. i've never known if they pull out behind me or not, or whether they just figure i'm going too fast and they won't catch me, or whether they're just taking a nap. then i promptly take a deep breath and say, "you idiot, you need to slow down. go home and park the car now before you do something else stupid." 
i would love to go to the track with my car. i've just never had the time, and now that i'm engaged my fiancee isn't so hot for the idea of me tearing around a track at triple digit speeds.
i would love to go to the track with my car. i've just never had the time, and now that i'm engaged my fiancee isn't so hot for the idea of me tearing around a track at triple digit speeds.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, Ca
I've got to get to the track to get some ya yas out before I get into trouble with the law going > 200% of the speed limit.
Why don't some of us track our cars?? I think their is an easy-to-overcome barrier for many of us that have never had a car on the track and that is the basic knowledge of what it involves to track our cars, such as:
How do I find a track in my area?
How do I prep. my car for the track?
Costs??
Do I need a helmet for my noodle (obviously) - what kind?
Is everyone on the track going to run me over because I don't know what a blue and yellow flag means and my stock springs and sloppy street alignment will have me spinning around every turn??
I know this stuff exists in a number of places. It took me some time to realize that my car can out drive my driving abilities and it is not safe to push it anywhere near its limits on the street. I like others who have got the track bug just need to sit down and do some research rather than sneaking off to the nearest country road to outrun the local smokey.
Why don't some of us track our cars?? I think their is an easy-to-overcome barrier for many of us that have never had a car on the track and that is the basic knowledge of what it involves to track our cars, such as:
How do I find a track in my area?
How do I prep. my car for the track?
Costs??
Do I need a helmet for my noodle (obviously) - what kind?
Is everyone on the track going to run me over because I don't know what a blue and yellow flag means and my stock springs and sloppy street alignment will have me spinning around every turn??
I know this stuff exists in a number of places. It took me some time to realize that my car can out drive my driving abilities and it is not safe to push it anywhere near its limits on the street. I like others who have got the track bug just need to sit down and do some research rather than sneaking off to the nearest country road to outrun the local smokey.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Monterey, CA
Can't find track days, try autocrosses. I scanned the internet and put all of the track and autocross dates in my Palm calendar. I can thus look ahead weeks and months at a time to get my fix.
I find driving on the streets and freeways so boring compared to the track and autocross. I occupy my time practicing shifting techniques, hand position, visual scanning techniques, etc that will help me with my next track day.
I find driving on the streets and freeways so boring compared to the track and autocross. I occupy my time practicing shifting techniques, hand position, visual scanning techniques, etc that will help me with my next track day.
GT3 player par excellence
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: san francisco
thought track was $$$.
drove like hell on street.
then found tix is even more $$$ than track.
so now i skip work on weekdays, skip wife on weekends, track track track.
5 days in may, 6-7 days in june, and however many silverbullet can drag me into in july ;o)
drove like hell on street.
then found tix is even more $$$ than track.
so now i skip work on weekdays, skip wife on weekends, track track track.
5 days in may, 6-7 days in june, and however many silverbullet can drag me into in july ;o)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 857
Likes: 2
From: Cape Cod
Your local PCA can get you started at the track. Free mandatory instructors and class room time to help explain all this new stuff.
You will need to obtain, at least, the use of an approved helmet. The PCA can answer any questions you have about what is required.
If you are like me you'll think you are really good until your eighth or ninth track day then.......you realize you suck and need to pay more attention to your instructor and guess what?????? You'll become a better driver!!!!
You will need to obtain, at least, the use of an approved helmet. The PCA can answer any questions you have about what is required.
If you are like me you'll think you are really good until your eighth or ninth track day then.......you realize you suck and need to pay more attention to your instructor and guess what?????? You'll become a better driver!!!!
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From: Los Angeles, CA
I can not drive my car on the street like I do on the track or autocross. Street driving requires too much defensive thought, no fun and not worth it.
Performance driving requires 100% focus.
Street / canyon driving requires requires too much thought about the other guy
Performance driving requires 100% focus.
Street / canyon driving requires requires too much thought about the other guy
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Thread Starter
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,077
Likes: 245
From: North Eastern US
The darn P-car just begs to be driven hard and fast. And the PSE doesn't help any. Neither does the VarioCam. Just as you settle in for a leisurely drive, there's that little boost at 3K RPM, accompanied by a little roar from PSE. Sounds and feels so good, you neglect to upshift and the push and roar just increase. Of course, now you have to do the same thing with the next gear, and then the next. Little demons on your shoulder just keep egging you on.
Getting to the track pacifies those little demons. They stay satiated (sated?) for a time, allowing for responsible public road driving. I'm just going to have to MAKE time this time. Thanks for letting me vent.
Getting to the track pacifies those little demons. They stay satiated (sated?) for a time, allowing for responsible public road driving. I'm just going to have to MAKE time this time. Thanks for letting me vent.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Monterey, CA
We're lucky over here in Monterey with some great two lane county roads! I often wake up early on Sunday mornings, put the windows down, open up the sunroof, crank up the heater and enjoy an hour to myself. I find that second gear corners to be the best. You can't get up to too high speed and you can enjoy the sensation of being pushed into your seat coming out of the corner. I just watch out for the early morning runners and cyclists!
I've met John at the track and even though I got all of my vaccinations I seam to have caught the track bug!
I've met John at the track and even though I got all of my vaccinations I seam to have caught the track bug!
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 0
From: dayton,ohio
I know exactly what you mean, I've had my 03 C4S for about a year now, and had been lucky doing occasional 3 digit speeds in the hwy and keeping the speed demon in me happy. A few weeks ago i got a ticket for doing 108 on a 65 (cop caught me hiding behind a bridge, in the last 3 yrs i've never seen a cop there before, the first time they put a speed trap and I get caught).
Now i am forced to do 75 mph on empty roads, and I can't do it. I just mailed my PCA and Rennlist membership and in the process of enrolling for my first DE at Putnam in july
. My wify finally realsied that DE is safer than me speeding in trhe hwy's.
Now i am forced to do 75 mph on empty roads, and I can't do it. I just mailed my PCA and Rennlist membership and in the process of enrolling for my first DE at Putnam in july
. My wify finally realsied that DE is safer than me speeding in trhe hwy's.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,064
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Originally posted by Palting
The darn P-car just begs to be driven hard and fast. And the PSE doesn't help any. Neither does the VarioCam. Just as you settle in for a leisurely drive, there's that little boost at 3K RPM, accompanied by a little roar from PSE. Sounds and feels so good, you neglect to upshift and the push and roar just increase. Of course, now you have to do the same thing with the next gear, and then the next. Little demons on your shoulder just keep egging you on.
Getting to the track pacifies those little demons. They stay satiated (sated?) for a time, allowing for responsible public road driving. I'm just going to have to MAKE time this time. Thanks for letting me vent.
The darn P-car just begs to be driven hard and fast. And the PSE doesn't help any. Neither does the VarioCam. Just as you settle in for a leisurely drive, there's that little boost at 3K RPM, accompanied by a little roar from PSE. Sounds and feels so good, you neglect to upshift and the push and roar just increase. Of course, now you have to do the same thing with the next gear, and then the next. Little demons on your shoulder just keep egging you on.
Getting to the track pacifies those little demons. They stay satiated (sated?) for a time, allowing for responsible public road driving. I'm just going to have to MAKE time this time. Thanks for letting me vent.
I know what you mean. That's why I ran that rally last weekend, to stretch the cars legs so to speak and it worked since we finished first.
Something that might help is to find a stretch of road that isn't too far out of the way and take the long way home from time to time while exercising the car and your right foot. I'll do that sometimes, take a different way home because I know it has twisty roads or a stretch where I can open it up, etc. That usually helps tide me over until track time... I'm somewhat worried about being desensitized to speed though. I've found myself doing 150+ as if it were 55, not realizing that a mistake at that speed can be very deadly, but the car is just so smooth at those speeds and everything just flows so naturally it is hard not to become desensitized!
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 15,050
Likes: 311
From: san francisco
What's worse Palting is if you don't take out your car to the track often-the p-car has a mind of it's own and start getting fussy and it starts to breakdown on you- 6 months since last trackday(been using my GTI for the track)- 2 of my ignition coils ceased/MAF died/2 o2 sensors gone. Of all the times tracking my Pcar-it was a happy camper-city driving sucks especially in San Francisco. Is anyone going to participate in the 2 day NASA(Porsche Only DE) event I think sometime in October at Infineon raceway at Sear's Point(my favorite track)-I'm planning to go-if not my car will blow up on me? Regards. Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
From: FL Space Coast
teflon: You need to indoctrinate (I was gonna say train but that'd be too un-PC ) your fiance better. I took mine to Sebring last weekend for my first DE with my GT3 and after an unplanned off track excursion in the 2nd session she was all for me getting back on the proverbial horse in the 3rd session. She also thinks I need a 2nd set of wheels and track tires after I explained why other folks at the DE were changing wheels and I wasn't. Now I'm just worried she's going to want her own 911 for DEs. And here I thought buying her ring at Tiffany's was expensive.
) your fiance better. I took mine to Sebring last weekend for my first DE with my GT3 and after an unplanned off track excursion in the 2nd session she was all for me getting back on the proverbial horse in the 3rd session. She also thinks I need a 2nd set of wheels and track tires after I explained why other folks at the DE were changing wheels and I wasn't. Now I'm just worried she's going to want her own 911 for DEs. And here I thought buying her ring at Tiffany's was expensive.