It was only two years ago that I decided it was time to replace my trusty 13-year old VW GTI. It didn't take me long to decide to get the car I'vealways dreamed of. A few months later I drove Katrina home, a lovely Oak Green 911SC of 1980 vintage. Just driving her down the road was a thrill, but I didn't buy the ultimate driving machine to simply cruise down thehighway in 5th gear. I wanted to see what a Porsche will really do. However, after reading numerous "Car & Driver" articles describing "lift-throttle-oversteer" inherent in 911s, I knew I didn't want to find the limits of my pride and joy while barreling down a concrete-lined off-ramp.That's where PCA and the wonderful people at Maverick Region come in.
Several years before Katrina came along, I met a Maverick member who told me about the club and talked about autocrossing and Drivers' Education out atMineralRing. I don't remember who the member was now, but I have always remembered his comments about having a place to drive your car to the limits. My first step after driving my new/old Porsche home was to get onthe web and look up the local affiliate of the Porsche Club of America. I sent an e-mail requesting an application and a few days later got a packetin the mail with application, Slipstream, and other great info. I quickly read through Slipstream cover-to-cover, and perused the autocross results.I'll have to admit I was a bit intimidated. I just wanted to get out and drive my car FAST around a closed course to see what it would do. Yet herewere all these times, and car classes, and talk of racing. Hmmmm. Maybe I was in over my head. I attended a few dinner socials and began askingquestions and found that the autocross wasn't nearly as intimidating as it looked. However, before I started running against the clock, I decided to dothe Drivers' Education event to get a better feel for my car.
I got the Slipstream with the Drivers' Ed. application in it and filled it out. After a few calls to Laura Phillips to find out what this "pre-tech"was all about, I grabbed my Mapsco and headed for Mayo Performance. Before every high-speed event, whether it's autocross or Drivers' Ed, your carneeds a safety inspection to ensure your safety and others while out on the track. "Pre-tech" is simply a technical safety inspection done one eveningduring the week before the event. If at all possible, you are encouraged to bring your car out to the pre-tech inspection to save time on the morning ofthe event. If you can't make it to pre-tech, your car will have to be inspected at the track. If too many people wait until the day of the event,it can delay the starting. The inspection was very straight-forward and took only a few minutes although I hung around for several hours ogling other'sbeautiful cars, everything from 914 race cars to Oldsmobiles. Pre-tech is a great place to meet other enthusiasts and see what kind of cars you might becompeting against in an autocross. This is also the time you will "classify" your car to determine who you compete against. Every Porsche is placed intoa class based on the model, year, and the improvements made to the car. That way, my stock 911SC is not competing against a race-prepared 914. If youdon't know how to classify your car, don't worry, they will help you at the inspection.
Finally, Drivers' Ed. weekend was here. I set out early Saturday morning (trusty Mapsco by my side) and headed west. I had never been to MineralWells before so was relieved when a couple 911s passed me about halfway there. I latched onto their bumpers and followed them to the MineralRing.What a thrill to pull into the parking lot and see dozens of Porsches lined up, drivers chomping at the wheel, the expanse of pavement and its assortment of cones in the distance! After the mandatory drivers meeting, weteamed up with our instructors and got ready to do some driving.
Drivers' Ed. is a two-day event and you can plan on being exhausted when you're done. The first day is spent doing specific exercises such as slalomand skidpad, to get a feel for what your car is capable of. The second day, you start putting these exercises together and it culminates in running afull autocross course. What a high when you run the whole course that first time without knocking over any cones!
If you're not sure about jumping into autocross with both feet, Drivers' Education is a great way to start. Even if you don't intend to compete inautocross, Drivers' Ed. is the place to wring out your car and see what its limits are in a controlled, "no-harm" environment. The worst you'll do iswipe out a few plastic cones (believe me, I've taken out my share - I'm convinced some of them jump out of the way when they see me coming). I knowit will make you a better driver on and off the track. This year, Maverick Region's Drivers' Education is April 24-25. Watch Slipstream for details.
With or without Drivers' Ed., all are welcome to try their hand at autocross. The Maverick Region has a two-day autocross with the Saturday and Sunday events being run slightly different. You are welcome to run both daysor just one. On both days, drivers are split into two groups. One group works the course while the other group drives and then they swap. Don't worry if you don't know a corner-worker from timing or scoring. You will beteamed with an experienced driver who will teach you what to do.
I'm going to start with the Sunday course as this is what most people think of as autocross. The course is different every weekend. It is designed by a different person for each race so there is a lot of variety. Some courses are open and fast, some are tight and slow, and some are mixed. Before thecompetition, you can walk the course with the aid of a course map, but you will not be able to drive it until your first timed lap. You start each lapfrom the starting "grid" and get a running start across the start/finish line. As you exit the course across the start/finish line, your time isrecorded and you return to the starting "grid" to think about what you did right and what you did wrong while you wait for your next lap. Generally youwill do 3-5 laps like this and then return to the parking area. After everyone in the run group has completed their laps, you will take over oneof the worker stations, while the other group gets their chance to embarrass/redeem themselves.
The Saturday course is one of three pre-designed courses so that by the end of the season, you will have a lot of experience with these layouts. You enter the course from "grid" just after the start/finish line and the firstlap will not be timed, giving you a chance to warm the tires and get your mind set on the course. As you cross the start/finish line, the clock startsand you then run 3-5 consecutive laps without stopping. Unlike the Sunday event, you don't get a break after you cross the start/finish line. Just asyou're feeling good about a clean run, WHOA, here's turn one!
After everyone drives their laps, the groups swap again and you get a second chance at the course so, by the end of the day, you will get to run 6-10total laps, depending on the number of cars entered.
Now, the title of this article is "It's Not Just For Racers." Yes, times are kept on each lap and you will be able to compare your times to otherdrivers'. And there are some very good drivers out there with very fast cars. But, other than a helmet, you don't have to have special tires or equipment. Your Porsche was built to DRIVE FAST and that's what autocross isall about. You don't need to worry about how fast, as long as you're having fun. The way I look at it, if I do better on my last lap than I did on myfirst, then I've succeeded. This is not cutthroat competition. All the drivers are willing to help a novice with advice on a line through a turn, or a braking point. Of course, if you then go out and beat them, you canexpect to be the one dispensing advice next time. Come on out to "The Ring" and let's have some fun! See you there.