52nd Porsche Parade Autocross by Jim Cambron - Heart O' Dixie

subsequent runs. As I approach the timing trailer, I hear “James Cambron, the only Parade
participant from the Heart O’ Dixie Region, has just run a 1:20.98 for 1 st in his Class.” I’m
elated. Now, I try to calm down and analyze the run in preparation for my 2 nd chance.
’07 Parade Autocross
In the staging area, I’m out of the car and checking tire pressures. I forgot to check them
just prior to this run and figure they’ve increased their pressure from sitting in the sun and on the
hot asphalt for 2-1/2 hours since setting them this morning. The rear tires are at 47 and the fronts
are 44. I let the pressures down to 1 pound below my starting targets; 37.5lbs and 39.0lbs,
thinking that the length of the course and higher than normal speeds will cause the pressures to
rise the extra pound. I try and relax and think what I want to do differently: keep my eyes up
and out, run harder, brake later and harder, less coasting, run closer to the cones, and decide to
try holding 2 nd gear on the straight this time instead of shifting to 3rd.
The P-16 Class is turning mid 1:20s and 1:30s. A friend who ran at Ft. Worth and
Hershey with me in his Boxster S, has moved to a 996 Twin-Turbo and is initially given a time
of 1:15, but it is immediately corrected to 1:25.
They call me for my 2 nd run and I hit the SPORT button (it defaults to disabled when you
start the car). I can’t do much different with the start—slowly through the first two gates and
then punch it across the starting line. Once again listen to the revs build and shift at what sounds
like 1 st gear redline—way too busy to look at the tach with turns 1 and 2 approaching. Tap the
brakes to plant the front end for turn 3. I have a faster entry and carry more speed through this
180 turn but I am still well within the traction limit. A quick slalom through turns 5 and 6 and
this time I hold 2 nd gear on the straight, instead of shifting-up to 3 rd gear, and immediately realize
it is a mistake. I have to depress the clutch and coast for 5-6 seconds to prevent bumping-off the
rev-limiter. I brake harder entering turn 7, but still without ABS, carrying more speed into this
wide 180 left-hander and when I shower-down on the throttle exiting 7, the engine stumbles and
I suspect the catalysts are fouling-up the engine. I enter the hard left-hander at turn 11 and get
back on the gas at exit when the engine stumbles again, this time worse. I briefly wonder if I
will even get in my 3 rd run, and if the car breaks, how will I get it back home.
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