I'm not sure if it was because the car wasn't a BMW, or because it was a 911.

I too enjoy the multi-marque events. I did an event once where a couple of guys showed up in race-prepped minis and it was cool watching them go around corners, they were like big go-karts.

 

We have now steered offthread into existential miasma.... but what the heck...

PCA CR defines a GT car as a Porsche manufactured tub with a Porsche manufactured engine case and gear case... that's about as minimal as it gets.

944/911 with a GM crate motor.... got a Porsche VIN, chassis and bodywork... I;d say probably yes

A RUF? Absolutely.

944 with GM crate motor, all aftermarket fiberglass bodywork of undefinable origin on a Porsche tub.... not.

Speedster/550 replica with period correct detailing and a 356 motor... yes, (although personally I wouldn;t drive something like this on the track)

A cheesey Speedster replica with flares, generic interior and detailing and a VW motor... NOT.

 

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am not familiar with this phrase/terminology. What exactly are you referring to by "cover his hand"?

 

You put your hand lightly on top of his/her hand on the wheel. You can then guide but the student does not feel like you are taking over the wheel. You don't grab the wheel but you are able to directly show a steering input.

 

Thanks. Makes sense now, not that I would want to be in a car on a track with a driver who needed that much guidance!

 

Usually its only a gentle adjustment to correct the line if the student is turning in too sharp or too late... anything more is a bad idea. I usually ask permission in the pits, and demonstrate before we go on the track, and then usually tell the student well before we reach the offending turn that I am going ot guide their hand..

You need to be careful not to confuse them or surprise them.

 

I am a PCA member and own an older P-car that I would not want to track. I track my Z06 instead. I can understand giving preference to club members--our club--but the Porsche-only thing is a bit much, IMHO.

 

True, they can bite if you startle or corner them.

 

I have done that with a couple students most to get them to turn in at the right time at a specific corner. No matter how much talking they did not want to turn in just were they needed. They were always just a bit off. Not enough to go off track, but still not right. So I guided them a bit and figured right where they needed to do it.

 

If I have an "Gee you turned in early, yet again" or whatever driving line line issue student I will sometimes put my finger tip on the back of his/her hand and tell them that I recomend that they not turn until I remove it. I think this does a couple things. It gets rid of the out of the instructors mouth, in the students ear and kick around in the head for a while, then down to the arms, lag. It is feel to feel rather than verbal input that has to be converted to feel. I think it is also a mental thing for the student. The removing of the finger is a release of sorts. Again, no real phisical control that can be disconcerting to a student but it does have some good mental comunication. If is don't feel like the touch setup I will say waitwaitwaitwaitwait,OK...

 

My Region 2, First Settlers Region allows any marque too.

 

To get back on the thread's topic, I can understand why a region like Metro NY is Porsche only. They have approximately 1400 members, are in close proximity to Northern Jersey and Connecticut regions - we are talking about more than 3000 Porsche members, and they have no trouble filling up a track.

However, I'm not in MetroNorth anymore. I'm in a little region in the South called Coastal Empire. We have DEs at Roebling Road Raceway - we invite them all. First we send out invitations to our instructors, to insure that we get some. (We don't like to overwork our valuable instructors - we want them to come back, over and over and over.) Then we print out forms that are mailed to each of our 142 members. Then after they get first rights of refusal, out comes the heavy artillary - we email everyone that has ever attended, thought of attending or accidently emailed me in the past.

We seem to get in a nice crowd. For us it is more than just a DE. There is a Friday night social at the host hotel. On Saturday night, when the last car is off the track, we break open a keg of Heinekin and have a pig roast - right there at the track.

So if you are ever down in the Savannah way - feel free to drop in and say "hey."

 

i am so there! When's your next event?

 

Terry, thanks :-)

Our next event, we are putting on for Ocmulgee Region - but we are still the Dark Side DE will be September 17-18 at Roebling. If you need an application - it's available at http://vista.pca.org/ocm/

And the one after that is November 12-13 and that ap is at www.cerpca.org

And if you have any questions feel free to email me -- we'd love to see you there

Jackie

 

We get all types of cars at the PCA First Settler's Region DE at VIR, everyone is welcome.