Old Faithful Porsche PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA - Yellowstone ...

PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA - YELLOWSTONE REGIONLearning how to drive a Porscheby Al UpsherSeveral years ago I recall talking to a Porsche enginebuilder and he made the statement that nobodyreally needed a Porsche. There is a certain amountof truth in this, but if you really like to drive andwant to understand why Porsche made these carsin the first place you do need a Porsche.After moving to Jackson with my wife, Joni, Ipurchased a 1989 Carrera cabriolet. I spent a lotof time reading about the history of Porsches aswell as visiting all the internet sites where Porscheenthusiasts hang out. What became obvious washow the development of the Porsche had beenbased on racing. It seemed to me that if you weregoing to own one of these cars, perhaps you shouldget it on the track and see what it was all about.We have all seen owners trying to sell their “garagequeens” on the basis that it has never been tracked,never seen snow or driven in the rain. Obviously,there are a number of early Porsches that havebecome quite valuable and should be maintainedaccordingly. However, after having been on thetrack, experiencing how durable these cars are andhow much fun they are to drive, unless you try ityou are missing a great experience.So just what does someone do if they want to gettheir car on the track? Many of the PCA regionalwebsites have a lot of information from whathappens at a Driver’s Education event as well ashow to prepare your car and yourself. I didn’t knowanybody with track experience to ask directly, sobeing a complete novice, I downloaded a numberof articles off the web about what to bring, how tofind “the line” - the fastest way around the track-to how to down shift-“toe heel” at speed. Drivingaround Jackson I taught myself the so called toeheel method of downshifting before I ever went tothe track. My wife was not impressed, thinking allthis was some latent adolescent urge.Through the PCA web sites I began looking forDE (Driver’s Education) events. Obviously, livingin Jackson requires a certain amount of effort toget to a track. Fortunately, I was able to find a twoday event in Phoenix and a three day event thefollowing week-end in Las Vegas. In April, withthe temperature here in the mid 30’s, even my wifebought into this trip. I signed up, bought a helmetand off we went.By this time, I had sold the cabriolet and purchased a1982 911 SC. You don’t you need to buy some special,high powered car to drive on the track. My theory,based upon what I had read and confirmed by mysubsequent experience, was to find a reasonablypriced, reliable car that would allow you to developyour driving skills. Some of the best drivers I haveseen on the track drive 914’s and early 2.2 and 2.4liter cars. More than once I have passed a lesserpowered car on the straight to only see them gluedto my rear bumper through a series of turns.These lesser horse powered Porsches, including mySC are called momentum cars. With these types ofcars, you do not have the acceleration and torquetypical of the later model Porsches, so it is criticalthat the driver learn how to brake and control thecar in such a manner as to maintain the maximumspeed going into and out of corners. Experienceddrivers can feel when they are at the car’s limitsof traction and these types of Porsches are moreforgiving in allowing you to develop these skills.Keeping the car balanced and being smooth is thekey to driving fast. One of the best instructors I everhad was a woman from Boulder, Colorado whosaid driving was analogous to dancing where youneed to be smooth and balanced.Driving on the track or auto crossing gives you a realappreciation for capability of these cars and howwell they are built. It is amazing to me that my SCruns like it does after 23 years. I have a friend in LasVegas who has an SC like mine and he has 340,000on the clock with over 100,000 of these miles on thetrack. He recently missed a shift at a time trial andhad to pull the engine. He found some damage to arod bearing, but all the pistons and cylinders werewell within factory specifications.Over the past four years I have logged over 60 dayson the track through the PCA and The PorscheOwner’s Club (POC). The latter group is basedin California and only conducts track events.Both groups have specific requirements for thoseinterested in obtaining a time trial or race license.You don’t need to get a license to learn how to drivecontinued on Page 17Old Faithful Porsche13