jsabatini

Finn,

Your right, my 911 will still be in shape because I probably will still be driving my rolling chicane Bimmer at the track. We just got the 911 from the in-laws in February and I have not gotten up the courage to take the 911 to the track. All the horror stories I have heard about the older tail happy 911's. Was thinking about taking it to this November's Suncoast Instructor school to learn how to drive it, but will probably wait until next November.

Regarding FWD cars, do we really have a choice with a son named Cooper S Sabatini? Think about it, his first car will have his name on the back of it. Honestly, the wife came up with the name without thinking about the Mini Cooper cars, but after we thought about it, we got a good laugh. The boy has a bunch of Mini Cooper cars. Got 2 remote control Minis for his first Christmas at 1 month old. I already got him a Cooper S key chain and hat.

techno99

And thus the comment about Cooper learning to drive front wheel drive... I promised John that the wife would be ready to part with our Cooper S when John's Cooper S is ready to drive in 14 years. The car it replaced was 18 years old when we sold it... (Sorry for the thread hijack.)

Flying Finn

Well then, here's one for Cooper!
("Flying Finn" ala 1967)

jsabatini

Finn,

King of Cool you are! That is a great picture. That picture, along with the pic in your avatar explains why you were able to break 2:30 at Sebring. There is a blue student who has been to a few schools with Suncoast who is from Austria who drives an Audi TT and he has some rally experience. What a fun ride!

pedsurg

Finn: GREAT pic!!

John: I recently instructed the student to whom you are referring . I was told I would be instructing "Michelle", a green student. I had a mental picture of a "typical" female green student and spent some time planning my approach the day. (I realize there are no TYPICAL students). Well at the instructor student pair up, she turned out to be a he, not only that but I learned he had received a battlefield promotion to Blue. So we head out in the antique TT and as John says, what a ride. After several rapid laps notable for the nearly complete lack of braking we pull into the pits. I reiterate our standard aproach that slowing in the turns involves the use of brakes not the tranny; that brake pads are much cheaper than clutches, etc etc etc. We head out again with the same results: VERY fast laps with minimal braking. So we pull in again and I finally ask him what the deal is. He admitted that he had been a rally driver in Belgium, driving an old Lancia. After one or two laps in that car, the brakes were shot and one was forced to slow with the tranny. He did well and came close to a national championship several times. At least that was his story. VERY entertaining, quite educational.

Finn: Sorry for the hijack.

Jack

DanS911

Jack

You must know folks who do the match-ups to be so fortunate to get a student who doesn't believe in using the brakes at Sebring!!

Flying Finn

Thanks guys,

That is Timo Makinen, who was truly a "Flying Finn" in those little Minis back in 60s! Him and Rauno Aaltonen (who drove for Porsche also) were pioneers in Minis and Rally in general.

Jack, that student of yours sounds really interesting!

I just received the photos from the Sebring weekend, here are couple examples.

38D

Finn, you need to come to the Sebring race. We'll have you down to the mid 2:28s easy.

mitch236

2.29

Flying Finn

2.29

I think we've exposed the secret of 2.29 (Guards Red and lifting a wheel)!

TD in DC

Hell, if that's all there is to it I can do that!

Flying Finn

Shhh....

38D

And the secret to doing 2:27s is guards red and keeping all your wheels on the ground (no picture, but here's some video from the race this year).

38D @ Sebring

Flying Finn

Colin,

Nice video, it sure is crowded at times. In the beginning, I'm pretty sure the red 993 in couple of cars in front of you is the same that was at Sebring with me (we were running the same pace so it was lot of fun).

Although watching that video makes me wish I had your motor...

38D

No red 993s in the video. There is a red 996 and a red RSA. I can assure you I don't lose to 993s .

My motor is good in some spots, but blows in others. You can see the lag in my car, as I am always getting pulled badly out of corners. But I typically make it up at the top end, so ti's probably a net wash. I also think that the one RSA was having issue shifting, as I should not have caught him like going into the hairpin.