Hi Spapdx,

First off, the S is a fine track car right off the showroom floor (well, save the break in period). Second, you'd be truly missing out by not going to the track to (i) see what your car can really do (in a safe environment) and (ii) start to develop the skills to drive it well.

In preparation for your first track day, you can run the car without doing anything, although I'd strongly recommend swapping out your brake fluid for DOT 4 fluid. It's not hard to cook the fluid, and there's enough going on your first time at the track that you just don't need the anxiety. I've done so many rental cars at racetracks (sometimes, it's the only way of driving a new track) that I can vouch for the fact that you can get away with stock fluid if you're careful, but given that it's so easy to change your fluid, I'd do it. You can also run the stock brake pads, but you'll need to check your pad wear between sessions just to make sure you've got plenty of pad left. For fluid, you can buy Synpower DOT 3/4 for something like $6 a quart (it's cheap) and it works great. You can do the change yourself in about an hour, including bleeding all four corners.

As for classes, you'll be classed with other novices (don't take it personally, everyone's got to start from where they are in terms of skill and driving well is really a matter of skill, not guts, not instinct), and you'll be assigned an instructor. I'd be willing to be your instructor for your first event or two, if I'm in town and not otherwise busy. There are a few events in April/May you might consider at PIR, which is a great track -- very safe but challenging to drive fast. I'm instructing for WOS at the Porsche event in April but am otherwise uncommitted.

There's a great introductory thread in the PacNW forum that you should read about tracking. Check it out. I don't claim to the only S2K owner who spends time at the track, and there's a lot of good info on the boards already.

Best,
CB

April
24 PIR, Oregon Porsche Club

 

Oh snap! Chris, is that a Weimaraner? EIther way beautiful dog!

I used to have a Beagle and now have Yorkie Terrier... As soon as I move into a house I will be looking for a Weimaraner breeder.

Good stuff!

 

Yep, she's a Weim. My second. The first was so much easier than the Irish Setter I got when I first got out of college that when I lost the first Weim, there's no question I'd get another. She's a good kid. Just can't paint for sh(*&^t, though, which is too bad as that's what I'm doing today....

 

[QUOTE=cbender,Apr 8 2005, 11:29 AM] Just can't paint for sh(*&^t, though, which is too bad as that's what I'm doing today....

 

Ok cool, ill check that out.

Whats the price (approx.) for what your talking about, a day at the track with an instructor??

 

Only a few clubs charge novices more for an instructor (and instructors never get any money for doing it, although some clubs will give them a break on the track fee). The cost depends on the track (tracks like Laguna tend to fetch a lot more than, say, PIR) and the organizers, but the charges at PIR for the Porsche Club are $100 ($150 if you don't register until two weeks prior to the event) and for the BMW Club are $100. You'll probably have to also join their club (but I think they recognize cross-memberships, so you might be able to drive with one by joining the other). Membership costs like $35 or so. Add gas (plan to get about 10 mpg -- I get only about 6 mpg!), lunch, and wear on your brake pads and tires. That depends upon how hard you drive and what you're running.

CB

More info available at:

BMW April 29 event: http://www.bmwacaportland.com/drive/..._04_29_TD.html

Porsche April 24 event: http://www.oregonpca.org/

Also check the PacNW forum as there are two threads there of note. One has advice for newcomers to tracking. The other has a 2005 calendar of events and links to the various sponsors and track websites.