May 2010 - PCA-SAR Home Page

ox. My friend who invited me to this
event hears it too often, as it is.
SCCA’s Evolution Driving School
teaches you to talk out loud to yourself
while driving the course. It may sound crazy,
but it does work! I am going to share
with you what I say out loud in the car corner
by corner around Pinal Air Park’s road
course. This has been done by many successful
racers, and whether you are new to
this or a veteran, keeping you mind focused
and ahead is the goal. I hope that my
new found friends in the Southern Arizona
Region Porsche Club will find this insightful
and beneficial in improving their racing
mindset and lowering their track times!
Now ride along with me in a Corvette...
THE TRACK
I'm starting with the start/finish line used
for timing this event.
I’ve exited the fourth cone of a fivecone
slalom now on full throttle. I’m looking
through Turn 11 and actually looking
out my side window at Turn 12. “Brake,
brake,” I say. “Not too much brake, use all
the road, get the car into steady state and
use your throttle not your steering. Modulate
the throttle, modulate the throttle.
Make the entry into Turn 12 smooth and
flowing; look ahead now.”
I’m between Turn 12 and Turn 13:
“Don’t get out of the throttle, look all the
way to the grid.” Remember the car goes
where your eyes are.
Turn 12: “Keep the car outside. Make
the chicane as straight as possible. Full
throttle, now, full hard brake early! Off
brake and start to smoothly accelerate
through the box.”
Going to Turn 1: “Damn, the dirt on the
course!” Too many are entering too early.
Get the car settled after the jump.
Look ahead to Turn 3: On as much
throttle as the Corvette will take, stay outside,
she wants to push in, moderate brake
now, keep up the momentum, Darrell.
Look for Turn 4, allow her to push out
wide, but stay 6 inches away from the edge
drop off. You can cause a spin get off an
abrupt edge like that. Modulate the throttle
now. Get a nice late apex on Turn 4.”
Turn 4: “Look at Turn 5. On full
throttle as fast as you can. Keep her wide
to get a late apex on that cone in the beginning
of Turn 5.”
Turn 5: “Good and quick turn in.
Look to make the chicane of cones
straight. Now, full throttle at the second
cone. Fly over the hill. Keep the wheel
straight, she’ll want to squirm out left on
that negative camber road, when she’s
light.”
Entering Turn 6: “Look ahead to
Turn 7 as much as you can." Try to stay on
throttle. Top end of second gear (66 mph).
Entering Turn 8: “Brake, brake, brake
early, hard, and straight. Off brake, Turn in
and scuff speed to slow the car down
through Turn 8.”
Turns 9 and 10: “Steady state. Keep
momentum up and prepare for the
straight. Enter wide and come in for a late
apex on Turn 10. Stay away from the gravel
on the outside and stay inside by apex of
the corner. Start to smoothly gradually go
WOT (wide open throttle) 10 feet before
the outside cone.” Corvettes are neutral
here. Porsches 911 Turbos are understeer-
ing and can’t do this. 914-6s and Boxsters
should do this well. There is just a different
car advantages here.
Straight: “WOT now. Hit rev limiter
in second (66 mph). Brake straight and
make initial turn on first slalom cone.” I’m
looking at the last cone now with all the
others in my fore vision. I’m telling myself
to turn in early on each cone. “Now, accelerate
out of the fourth cone and keep the
car away from the edge of the asphalt and
the fifth cone.”
“Get it on.” WOT, shift into third.
“Now in midrange third. Smooth down
shift and braking straight; no chirp from
the tires. Don’t break those tires loose!
Look ahead at the last cone of the slalom.
You’re late! Keep the rear of the car behind
the cone! Quick hands, no hesitations, accelerate
past the last cone.”
THE WRAP
Yes, I talk a lot while racing, but I hope
the blow-by-blow account helps. If you
want a ride some time, just ask. There are
no demerits for Porsche owners riding in
Corvettes!
Keep up the good work that you guys
do! I’ll see you next time.
www.pcasar.com Zuffenhausen News | May 2010 | 9