No problem. I need to try a set of Cup 2's at some point. I think they might be the better tire anyway. RE71R's have great steering response, but I don't feel the ultimate grip is any better than the OE spec PZero. It's also a tire geared toward street class autocross. They get greasy when they get hot, like most street tires. The Cup 2 is more of a track tire and may provide more consistent performance.

 

OK, I am still all set on Saturday 9/29 for Grattan. Got the car back from the shop and I am ready to go! Alignment, brake pads, brake fluid-->Check!
Anyone else planning on attending?

 

I'll be there on the 29th

 

 

If I get there early enough I'm going to attempt to park near / under the tree at the west end of the upper paddock.

 

OK, thanks, I have parked on the lawn in the past, not sure about this time. I am with a buddy who has a blue mustang. My car is a 996 C2 Black, very basic. Will stop by...

 

Enjoyed meeting you Scooby. I loved your data set-up and by the way, you/your car are crazy fast. I was surprised at the number of spin outs and accidents. Is that normal for a 3balls racing event? PCA events are usually more strict and conservative.

 

Likewise! Pleasure chatting with you. Busy week this week, but hopefully by Saturday I can process the video and data and upload a run or two to Youtube. I set consecutive personal bests during my last session. New personal best is 1:27.68.

I don't run PCA events, so it's a little hard to compare, but this was a significant outlier for a 3 ***** event. Normally there are 3 or 4 spins across the entire day and an actual wreck is infrequent. We seemed to average 1 or 2 spins per group / session on Saturday. This was the first time I've ever seen cars make contact on track. It was the first time anyone has ever been crazy enough to stop on track, let their passenger out, and then drive off without them. There was also more debris on track than I'm used to seeing.

The two big differences for me are ownership and instruction. In general I think most Porsche owners own nice cars and maintain them well enough to not encounter the mechanical failures you'll see at a 3 ***** event. No one's Porsche is their $500 Lemons / Chump car. No one's Porsche is their home-made kit built with limited mechanical aptitude. Then you have PCA's rules. Until they decide you're a good enough driver you are required to have an instructor in the car. 3 ***** recommends that n00bs and inexperienced drivers take advantage of available instruction, but don't make it mandatory. They will talk to people if they are breaking the rules, but don't sit in the car and police them up front to ensure they get it right from the start. I appreciate the freedom 3 ***** allows, but can definitely see where a PCA event is a bit more "safe" from a car and driver perspective.

 

Finally sat down to process video and data last night only to find that my GoPro had a hiccup and didn't record my fastest laps. I think it reached a file size limit, stopped, and started a new recording. I'll see what I can do for video and data from another session, just to share, but I don't get to share my best laps .

 

Well that definitely sucks about the video. Not that you need it, but I cell phone timed a few of your laps and I can definitely speak that you were consistently running fast laps in or near the 1:27s. Well done!

 

That's exactly why I was hoping for video. These are the laps I'm missing. If we're both at the track next spring/summer/fall feel free to grab your helmet and jump in the passenger seat .

 

Great, I will take you up on the offer. Yes too bad you didn't get the video. You were as fast as anyone on the track, quite impressive.

 

That's why I won't do 3 ***** anymore. I saw so many cars basically blow up and scatter crap on the track in a few sessions with them, I won't go back.

I'm in SE Michigan too, if you like tracks join the RSR PCA group. It's a splitoff from the Southeast Michigan PCA and we run many events every year at Grattan, Waterford Hills, and sometimes Gingerman. Great group, safety conscious but very quick if you want to push yourself.

I had heard the same thing as you about M1, I've seen the track but haven't driven it even though it's 10 minutes from me in Bloomfield Hills.

If you guys do a drive somewhere fun, let me know too. I'm the guy with the green Cayman R or the red Boxster depending on the weather.

 

 

I'm down there all the time on the weekends with friends cruising. come say hi if you see us. always up for a Porsche cruise as well.

Brian