944 Spec tech session?

[elcap00]

Jackie-
I am trying to get you but, you are always 1/2 a track ahead and you have always helped me--I am grateful for that. Do not misunderstand my tone in this thread.

Paul--I am new to this driving between cones and on a track thing--just trying to figure out how to get the most out of what I have available--questioning is different from whining--c'mon man--name calling is not nice.

I seriously believe that hardware/tuning is a big factor in going fast--how else can you explain how a "decent" driver can jump in a Kinninger car and log a top 10 time.

[pdy]

Toby:

I was trying to be cute - my sincere appologies if I came across as insulting or offensive instead.

I still think the driver is a big factor...
But the car is a factor too.

One thing I have found that helps is to ride/drive with somebody who I think is good (Jackie, Curt, etc.). Yes, I still do this occasionally.

One hardware related tip is don't just make the car fast, but make the car for youself. By this I mean tailor the car to suit you. The way the seat fits,
steering wheel, pedals, shifter, mirrors, etc. It should be the perfect environment to allow you to focus on your driving. I have repeatedly found that
this makes a MUCH bigger difference than I would have guessed. Additionally, build, tune, and adjust the car to your driving style. If you like more
oversteer, that can be done with relatively minor suspension settings. If you are after top speed (Fontana and Big Willow), pay attention to making
your car have sleek aerodynamics. You get the idea. Unfortunately, it may take some time to figure out the finer details of what you want. And this is
another good reason that many recommend to just drive what you have for a while. Still, it wouldn't hurt to check with others to garner best practices
(like on this forum, or at a tech session).

[mrondeau]

Toby - For what it's worth... We have 4 drivers in our car and we are spread all over the place time wise. We're all driving the exact same car so the ONLY variable is the driver.

Try to get as much experience and seat time as you can in your car and focus on the driving. Use all of the resources available and try to learn from everyone. Most of all, have fun driving!!

Even though our car has a stock 2.5 engine, I refuse to believe that Jackie is uncatchable in GP. Of course, that may just be me.

[elcap00]

HEY--this thread is supposed to be about a tech session!

Stop directing comments to me---it makes me feel a little too exposed and not anonymous (isnt that what boards like this are for? anonymity and being shielded by a fake name?)

Paul--no worries--it was pretty clever; and Mark--Jackie is very reachable-even though my times dont reflect it--I can feel it--any event now the pillar of speed Jackie is going to fall--hopefully knocked down by me

Now--back to the tech session

[ronaldtrotter]

May 3rd would be great except for the Red Bull Air Races in San Diego Bay. Now these guys are nuts. But I'd like to go along for a ride.

[ChuckS]

Tim:
I can't make May 3 or 4. I am relatively open this weekend, April 26 - 27. Sun. May 11 or Sun May 18 or Sun. June 1.
Maybe we could have a "chalk talk" on a week night and a work/play with a car on a weekend.
I would really like to be there, but if you have it at a time when I can't go, I will understand.

[ChuckS]

By the way, Greg will be back from the east coast by June 1 and he would like to be a part of all of this as well.

It also means yet another 944 competitor to duke it out with!

[ronaldtrotter]

Hey Chuck, I realize this is a Porsche forum, but why not list the other cars below your name. Like the English/American sports car and the Buick and the corvette. Need I go on.

[ChuckS]

Ron: No need to advertise. How about what is says now!

[Jad]

I think what it says now is that you need help, serious help


But you certainly won't be lonely at the meetings

[mrondeau]

Chuck,

We're here to help. The first step is to admit that you have an addiction.

[Curt Yaws]

Paul:
Thank you. I'm honored to be placed in parentheses with Jackie. I am firmly convinced that having a great driver in my passenger seat or riding with fast guys at every event has been the most beneficial single thing for the driving progress I have made in the last year. Oh, and those Hoosiers helped too. But dropping 11 seconds from my previous Fontana time didn't come from tires. It came from doing 2 AX's each month (SDR & OCR), Streets events with GPX and OCR, and TT's with Jack and Robert. I look for instructors that I naturally gravitate to. I'll name names...Dave Gardner and Jerry Griffin are two quiet guys you have to seek out, but they are great instructors. We have a whole passel of great instructors. It's like finding a yoga instructor...you just know when you get the right one for you.
In the long run of course you have to spend money on your car as well, but by waiting it has been easier for me to learn what I wanted changed, and why. When my car was rolling in the esses at Buttonwillow, I knew some stiffer springs were coming up soon.
And, as to gunning for specific people, why leave it at one person? How about the Japanese approach of continuous improvement? I try to beat myself each event; reduce my differential to TTOD. I'm 52, will never again have 19 year old reflexes, will never be an F1 driver. But I do have 20+ years of a fun hobby, and surely I can get a bit better each year.
So I'm in the camp of more instruction until you can recognize and define the problem your car has that you can't fix by driving better.
As to Chuck and all his cars, I can only say I'm jealous. I've been to see him for instruction on advanced car storage.

[ChuckS]

What addiction? I can stop anytime! Really!
Just because I was drooling over the midnight blue 08 Turbo and John Simones Carrera at the PDS, and seeing a nice 951 Street car in the adds doesn't mean I have an addiction. After I buy them, they become part of the family - and you just can't get rid of family can you?
I think Jad and Mark are right, I need help!

[ronaldtrotter]

Does the 12 step program start after 12 cars?

[944 boy]

He might be past that point already!

That and maybe I had something to do with it, it was my 944 that caused us to start autocrossing back in 2002.

That being said, I would like to join you guys for a spec session, but don't hold it up just for me!