Slipstream - September 2001

The July Porsche Driving Experience at TMS
By Hill Bullock
The Porsche Driving Experience, in conjunction with Park Place
Porsche, held a two-day driving school at Texas Motor Speedway on
the weekend of July 28 and 29. Instructors included such notables as
“Doc” Bundy of SpeedVision fame, Jeff Purner, and John Paul, Jr. The
school did not bring their 996s along for students to drive; instead
everyone used their own cars, but then the cost was a good bit less
than it is normally when 996s are provided. Park Place was gracious
enough to provide Boxsters for the instructors to use, as well as for a
few prospective clients. Using our own cars worked out quite well
actually, as it allowed students to explore the limits of their cars, and
to “bum” rides from others in order to get a little variety. I managed
to convince a very nice lady to let me ride in her 996 TT a few times.
Wow, does that car scoot! In my own case, I had just purchased a set
of Yokohama DOT R-compound tires and was anxious to try them.
The Saturday session began with some classroom instruction,
which was followed by instructor-led track time on the TMS infield
and various driving exercises (auto-cross, slalom, thresh-hold braking,
heel-n-toe practice) in the large TMS parking area. We enjoyed
a delicious lunch in the Speedway Club while enjoying a fantastic
view of the entire stadium. The Saturday infield sessions were kept to
moderate driving, with instructors frequently hopping between cars
and leading the pack around multiple times to help people find the
line. The parking lot exercises were a bit more exciting, as it involved
lots of tires squealing and loss of control. Of course, that was exactly
the intention, as the instructors encouraged everyone to find, exceed,
and remember the limits of their cars in this very controlled environment.
Tracy Moore and Ben Witry of Park Place Porsche at the raffle drawing.
Raffle winners Wendy Shoffit, Doug Molny, Kay Leibel, and John Hrad,
talking with James Shoffit in the shade.
Lee Wilkins showing off his new wheels.
Gridding.
The Sunday session was primarily oriented towards TMS infield
track time. As most folks are aware, Park Place Porsche generously
donated a number of tickets to the Sunday session, which Maverick
Region proceeded to raffle off for charity. As a result, the number of
familiar faces increased on Sunday, with ticket raffle ‘winners’ Wendy
Shoffit, Kay Leibel, John Hrad, Bill Kasdorf and Doug Molny all in
attendance. John Hrad took the opportunity to debut his new Guards
Red 996, which he had spent the past week furiously preparing. Also
in attendance were Lanean Hughes, George Abdalla, Bob Everson,
and James Shoffit, who came just to watch the fun. Sunday’s activities
included a short classroom session for folks who hadn’t been in
Saturday’s session, followed by plenty of opportunity to get on the
track and run it hard.
The instructors were great, the lessons very informative, and the
smile-factor was sky high. I had my first real experience with heel-ntoe,
a skill I have been trying to get started on for some time. I was
pleased with the progress I made, managing quite a few reasonably
smooth transitions; intermixed, of course, with plenty of mistakes.
If you have the time and the inclination, the PDE schools provide
a great forum for improving your driving skills and having a
wonderful time discovering why people love to drive Porsches, and
love to drive them fast. The best part was I managed to end my day
Sunday with just enough gas to make it to the gas station a block away.
That is what I call running for all it is worth!
Thank you to Park Place Porsche and Tracy Moore for the
generous donation of 5 ‘slots’ to this event. Maverick Region’s
charity, Hope Shelter, received $750 from the raffle proceeds!
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