Code of the Curve

[chet]

Congrats to Carl Vanderschuit for winning the PCNA sponsored Code of the Curve Cayman event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: http://wp.me/p2lHXB-iJ Way to go Carl! Final competition wasn't even close.

[Tim Comeau]

Very groovy, Carl. Good on you. Caymans are great cars.

[Carl Vanders]

THanks!
Porsche, Cayman registry and the Speed channel put on one first class event! It was great to meet fellow cayman folks- a rare opp. and a blast to drive the Cayman R. (Thanks Tom B. for posting the link on the event as I missed the email from the Registry.)

I Did give Justin a bit wild ride. We only had two laps on the track and the last lap was timed. I was second to last and decided after watching everyone cruising the first lap to instead attack it. Justin was expecting a cruise lap but I never let up on the gas, I could sense him suddenly tensing up and looking to and trying to brace himself. He was also an excellent coach and saved me from over cooking a few key turns.
Looking forward to the final event. It is scheduled tentatively in Feb at the Auto Speedway. The top three of us will each have a celeb driver and pro driver each on our team. In jest, I requested two Patricks- Patrick Dempsey and Patrick Long. Go SDR!

[Carl Vanders]

Its almost show time! Airs this sunday morning.

Info on the event-
King of the Curve featuring the new Porsche Cayman - Porsche Drive USA | view and share articles, news, images, videos, events http://drive.porsche.com/us/articles/ki ... che-cayman
http://www.speedtv.com/programs/king-of-the-curve/
behind the scenes vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuw9QcQ6J9c

(wrote this for P9 forum and wanted to share it with SDR)
-This was as a participant, to say the least, a unique opportunity and experience to be part of. It started in Las Vegas with the qualifying event and then proceeded to the final at the Auto club speedway.

Las Vegas started with about 70 Cayman enthusiasts competing in Porsche supplied 2013 Cayman R's for three spots in the final and the chance to drive/flog the new 2014 Cayman S -PDK, Torque Vector on 19 inch wheels.

Below link has a nice write up on the Las Vegas event. Scroll down to the Poker chip with Code of the curve title.

http://www.roadrunner-region-pca.org...ry_013_web.pdf


First off, the 2014 Cayman S is fantastic! I've owned all of the models starting with 968, 986, 987 Boxster and Cayman. Its inevitable I will be driving a 981!! I wouldn't care if was ugly and can't cook. It just handles amazing, (can't beat the mid engine and being in the center of the action!) There is little or no understeer, due in part to the new Torque Vector. Porsche has the car set up very neutral and the car will actually go into oversteer. The way the torque Vector and the PSM work together a rear wheel is braked to correct the oversteer from going to far. Wish I could have drivin it with the PSM off. (they did not want us sliding the car on tv - I would have for sure.

This was a such a cool event to be part of> A bit surreal. Thank you SPeed and Porsche! Wow I'm on Team Rahal! Dara was quite the competitor and of course Graham know's what he is doing. Cool people. Speed channel had a great crew and same for the Porsche folks in attendance. Everything was first class, we ate well too. (I'm always hungry) Had lots of fun with fellow competitor's Mike and Larry. It was also a real pleasure hanging out and discussing the Cayman with Paul and Jan- ( head of Cayman in Germany he was just promoted to both the Cayman and Boxster)

Justin Bell is a real pro too. Cool dude.

All the celeb's- William, Brian, Dara are past winners of the Celebrity Grand Prix Long Beach.
They all went though several days of training at Willow and Streets learning to drive and race. They then had to qualify.
I believe Brian won it twice. Fun Guy. It sounded like William has done more driving since. He is a racing fan. Enjoyed talking with him.
Since I'm a Porsche fan it was great to meet Patrick Long -very nice guy too. As is Brian Vickers.
Would have liked to talked more with all of them. It was a bit overwhelming with all the people talking and wanting to catch all the stories. Plus all the cameras in your face not to mention in the car with lights too. We were also wired for sound all day. No idea what I may have said.

We started around noon meeting our teammates and having some pictures taken. Then on to a briefing about the rules and how to do the challenges etc.
PSM to remain on. Bummer. It was so tempting to turn off. I have never drive with it on at an event (unless its raining)

Next we started with about a 20-30 minutes of team practice at each challenge. Each team went to one challenge station. We had the threshold braking first. Really Cooked our brakes then went to the track... We each took two laps with Graham in the car. Side note: I scared Justin in Vegas so I gave Graham a heads up that I was going to take my first lap at speed. Later he told me I scared him too. Graham said" try smoother -back off 20 percent. I was not a good listener. Dara early on was pushing to hard too and had a partial spin and parked it. Actually, she went out again by herself, did a few more laps and cleaned it up very nicely.. I would have liked to do that too... really just wanted to drive That car some more...

We started the event with a threshold braking (stop in the box) as in Vegas but with a twist. The next teammate had to get in the car quickly and race to the finish and stop the clock. They then repeated it with the third driving only having to get in quick-- Me>
I think our Practicing the seat belts ended up giving us a 1 plus second lead.

Next was the Slalom, Everyone received an individual timed run. Both Larry and I beat Graham and Patrick Long! (Larry said to me latter that night- lifetime bragging rights)
After this event Team Vickers took a one Tenth of a second lead!

The Final was the Autox portion using the full infield of Auto Club Speedway.

Total of three laps with driver changes ALL on the clock. This made for some real excitement, we came out from the hairpin down the straight at about 80-90 had to stop in the box under the bridge. Then Jump out and help your teammate with the seatbelt. Shortly after meeting Graham and Dara I said, "This thing could be won or lost on getting the seat belts out and fastened quickly" . (Sometimes it would pull out easily other times it would stick. )
We where the last group and dark was setting in for us and hard to see and judge distance's. First lap out was Dara, then myself, and then Graham. I'm not sure how much they will show (SPeed had several cameras on us and the car at all times) but I drove ugly.. Almost took out several cones entering to hot into the hard left before the last hairpin. THen we had to wait. No one knew who was going to win till they added up all times. They had us all stand together (at least 4 camera crews pointing at us)

don't read further if you dont want to know how wins. yeah right

I'm thinking- I blew it, to close to call, Team Vicker's got it, come on all ready. Then, suddenly the cameras turned to our team to announce the winner. Next thing I know cameras are in My face and Justin is asking me questions. ( I'm surprised as I was thinking Justin would go to Graham or Dara.) Way out of my comfort zone.. I wish on camera I had said many more thanks to all the other teams and to speed/porsche for quite the event.

[AGill]

Awesome job, Carl! You know it was the hat that gave you the win

I've got it set to record on the DVR!

[Carl Vanders]

Awesome job, Carl! You know it was the hat that gave you the win

I've got it set to record on the DVR!

Thanks again for letting me borrow the lucky hat. Had to promote SDR!

[Tim Comeau]

Nice, Carl. Great little cars of the type Porsche SHOULD be building, not trucks and sedans......
I hope Porsche sells a bucket load of Caymans.... and you should feel good that you helped them do it!

[SDGT3]

Congrats Carl!!!! You're a heck of a driver!

[Jad]

Nice show. Now you can tell everyone you beat Patrick Long at Fontana!

[SDGT3]

Just finished watching the show and Carl came off really well! Super fast, always one of top drivers and that's including the pros! Looked like a lot of fun with the added pressure of being on a show that would be broadcast nationally.