Tracking Out – March 2012

 

Can you believe that it is March already? Where has the time gone this winter? When you are reading this, our opening day at Lime Rock will be scarcely 40 days away! If you have not uncovered your car, unplugged the Battery Tender, and started getting things ready, well, now would be the time. For many of us, the preparations for the track season can be a daunting task, both in effort and expense. Making matters worse, the economy is obviously not great, and not getting better anytime soon. Let’s face it, with the battle going on between the dynamic Mitt Romney and the enigmatic Newt Gingrich, the only things Barack has to worry about is picking a new Secretary of State, and deciding if the curtains in the Oval Office need to be updated. So with that, I decided to put together a compendium of sorts spanning the obvious to the overlooked. Here are some tips that I have accumulated over the years that may be of some help to you as you prepare for the season.

Buy early, buy often, buy wisely. There is no question that this hobby is expensive from a parts and maintenance standpoint. You can lessen the blow however, by picking things up well before you may need them and getting some deals along the way. Take brake pads, for example. For whatever reason, I always find myself in a time crunch, usually right before a track event, searching for the right pads for the car. I end up buying them at full retail, and then add insult and injury by needing expedited shipping. If you keep your eyes and ears open, though, there are often savings throughout the year. Shops will run sales, often in the winter months. You can also get great private sale deals. Many times a club member will change Porsches, and sell the extra parts from the former car in our Porscheforus Mart or the “for sale” section of our club website. Swap meets like our own NNJR “white elephant” sale every January, or the famous annual Saturdday Hershey show on April 21 are also great sources. Case in point, I watched a fellow club member this past weekend at the white elephant pick up two sets of new Pagid front pads for “Big Red” brakes, plus a set of rears, for $100! Full retail on those Pagids is easily more than $800. Another example is motor oil. Many Porsches use tried and true Mobil 1 synthetic oil and if you have a 911, you are buying eleven quarts of it for each oil change. Buying it when it is on sale, or in bulk five-quart containers, can literally cut the price in half, from around $9 a quart to $4.50. You can apply this logic to almost anything, of course, the common theme is to avoid waiting to the last minute to buy things you need. Stock up on those expendables that you know you will need throughout the season. Do not forget about bottled water and sun block, either.

 

Me and Mr. Speedums: A Love, Hate, Love Story

Since before I could drive, I always wanted a Porsche 911. But not just any 911 though, I wanted a Red Targa, as that always seemed the most aesthetically correct combination. I had this want long after Red Targas fell out of fashion. Heck, even after air-cooled Porsches fell out of fashion. I also wanted a Red Ferrari 308 Targa, but that is a different story.

Then one day in 1997 my better half and I were at a used car lot investigating a Mercedes 300TD to replace our dying commuter car. And there it was: a slightly rough looking but beautifully classic red 1974 Porsche 911 Targa. My childhood desire was for a later car, complete with obligatory whale tail, but this was better! I forgot they even used to have brushed stainless Targa bars! I had to have it! It was cheap (relatively) and I justified it by saying that I always wanted to have a project car to work on and that this was just a glorified Beetle. Right? Well that argument worked and both the Benz and Porsche came home with us.

Wheel Cleaning and Detailing/The Dangers and Proper Technique to Perfect Wheels

Concours enthusiasts love clean and shiny wheels. Perfect looking wheels really make the car pop. A vehicle however, with dirty or even damaged wheels can really take away from the look of a gorgeous automobile. Wheels are more expensive than ever, with many people installing custom aftermarket wheels for a more personal look. OEM wheels are nicer than ever as well, and enhance the posture and stance of a great looking vehicle. Care must be taken to protect this ever increasing investment.

AutoX – March 2012

Well, as you are reading this, it probably is still pretty cold out. No better time than now to begin to think about the coming Autocross (AutoX) season. You need to start getting your car ready for the season so you are ready for our 2012 season. We know that there are a number of you out there that are sitting on the sidelines, thinking about AutoXing, but are a bit apprehensive. Read this primer, come to an event or two, ask for an Instructor and give it a shot – you will have a blast.
In the most basic sense, AutoX is a test of driver skill. As you take your runs at each event, your car control skills are evolving and improving. Precision and speed are the fundamental skills being tested and developed. Scoring is based on the time it takes you to drive a defined course. Your individual time is compared to other cars in your same car class and the day’s winners are determined by whoever has the best time in their class. More on classes later, but classes are the way to ensure a level playing field; if you are driving a 944 or a Miata, you would not want your time compared to a GT3, right? Penalties are assessed for knocking over cones or knocking them out of the chalk marked box. AutoX events are held in a nice safe and controlled environment – empty parking lots. Our courses are designed to allow for a competitive event but not too tortuous so as to make it too difficult (especially in the beginning of the season). You drive at varying speeds as you navigate the course and speeds are generally below highway speeds.
So, you have decided to join us – now what?