[nate]

Had fun this weekend. The only letdown was a speeding ticket on the way from the hotel to the track at 7:30am on Sunday.

There was a DE event and Club Race this weekend at No Problem Raceway put on by the PCA. It was a lot of fun, the Club Race cars were great. The GT2 class cars are INCREDIBLE. 450+ hp race cars, faster on NASCAR circuts than actual NASCARS. The white 996 was built by Porsche for LeMans. The 328Ci was great too. Both instructors and club racers were impressed with the car and its performance/handling. There were 5 BMWs out on the track today. 2 E36 M3s, one a race-prepped car w/cage and another street car; 3 E46s, all non-SP cars, a '02 325i, '00 323i (on 15" tires), and my '00 328Ci. All manual transmissions. The 323 was a first-timer (attracive sorority girl) and the 325 was an experienced driver (club racer, I think). Here are some pictures, I'll answer any questions...

*Slight* Tire Wear

This LeMans level car won the Club Race

Two GT2 class cars

Turn 1, the trickiest on the course. (this was taken on a parade lap)

The E46 is fun on the track and is very communative, anyone that tells you different has no idea what they are talking about. On the track scales, my car weighed 20lbs less than the track-car E36 M3.

A map of the Circut...

 

[ALEX325i]

Cool!!! :thumb:

Looks like you had lots of fun Nate! :thumb: Now, how about a few pix of the sorority girl

Edit:

Time for new S03's...

 

[Shinobi]

Now That's What I Like To See

Bimmers and Porsches doing what they're supposed to be doing. At some point in the future, I'm going to try one of those road courses. Nice pics and I'm sure you had fun.

Oh, and I'm with Alex on this, where's that sorority girl pic? An attractive girl driving at the track? Now there's a keeper.

 

[nate]

Ya, the girl was quite attractive. I think her dad encouraged her to come, because he was racing (a 944 Turbo, I think). No pics

 

[nate]

Edit:

Time for new S03's...

These tires still have life in them :thumb:

The RF was the one in the pic, it got worn the most by FAR. Course ran clockwise.

Shinobi- This is MUCH more fun than Auto-X. There is a lot more track time, your car gets pushed (and beaten on) a lot more. I am going to auto-x next weekend. My first event at the Naval airbase. On runways/taxiways

 

[Shinobi]

Porsche Club Events Are Cool

I get a taste of the road course setup with the Autocrosses held by the local Porsche Club. They run continuous lap formats, which as you know means a good 20 minutes of straight running. That is definitely harder on your car than a regular start and stop autocross. Plus its fun to try to catch the guys in front of you, or lose those on your tail. Soon enough, I'll go out to the big track.

Oh, and if you think the S03s are good, wait till you start driving on R-Compounds. The better grip has made me much more confident, aggressive, and successful. After riding on those, the only time I ride on my streets at the events is when its raining.

Good luck at your next event :thumb: Be careful of those airport surfaces though. Occassionaly we run at the old El Toro Marine Base here and that place is like a cheese-grater to the tires. A full day there is like 3 days anywhere else.

 

[nate]

Re: Porsche Club Events Are Cool

I get a taste of the road course setup with the Autocrosses held by the local Porsche Club. They run continuous lap formats, which as you know means a good 20 minutes of straight running. That is definitely harder on your car than a regular start and stop autocross. Plus its fun to try to catch the guys in front of you, or lose those on your tail. Soon enough, I'll go out to the big track.

Oh, and if you think the S03s are good, wait till you start driving on R-Compounds. The better grip has made me much more confident, aggressive, and successful. After riding on those, the only time I ride on my streets at the events is when its raining.

Good luck at your next event :thumb: Be careful of those airport surfaces though. Occassionaly we run at the old El Toro Marine Base here and that place is like a cheese-grater to the tires. A full day there is like 3 days anywhere else.

Wow! Continuous laps? 20 min. total time? Auto-X is still not even close to the level of a road course.

You should do a road course. I would advise against using the R-compounds your first few times though. I hope the air station has a good surface :eeps:

 

[Shinobi]

Re: Porsche Club Events Are Cool

Wow! Continuous laps? 20 min. total time? Auto-X is still not even close to the level of a road course.

Oh, that's per session. A typical BMW or SCCA autocross is 5-6 runs twice in the morning and then 3 timed runs.

The recent PCA event had 2 20-minute sessions with 10-12 laps in each and then 5 timed runs.

I rode as a passenger at the road course in Willow Springs and my friend had something like 1 1/2 to 2 hours of track time. He almost got tired of steering and we ended up with an empty tank getting only 9 miles per gallon in his s2000. It was alot of fun though.

 

[nate]

Re: Re: Porsche Club Events Are Cool

I rode as a passenger at the road course in Willow Springs and my friend had something like 1 1/2 to 2 hours of track time. He almost got tired of steering and we ended up with an empty tank getting only 9 miles per gallon in his s2000. It was alot of fun though.

1.5-2hrs continuous? He must have took breaks, right?

 

[ObD]

On the track scales, my car weighed 20lbs less than the track-car E36 M3.

Careful, you're speaking blasphemy to the E46 haters. :angel:

 

[Mystikal]

The RF was the one in the pic, it got worn the most by FAR. Course ran clockwise.

Now, that wouldn't make any sense. The RF would be the inside front tire. Exactly what kind of driving style are you taking, nate?!

 

[nate]

Now, that wouldn't make any sense. The RF would be the inside front tire. Exactly what kind of driving style are you taking, nate?!

I meant LF

 

[nate]

Oh, I forgot to mention this....

On Saturday, I saw a cop filling his cruiser up while smoking a cigarette :tsk: