Slipstream - June 2011

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Getting a Grip By Travis Howard The Autocross School this year was held in April at one of the Ball Park in Arlington’s parking lots. Since last year, the school got a new name, new location, and better weather. This year the autocross school became The Get a Grip Autocross Academy, pretty snazzy, right? Instead of the Pennington Field lot, we went bigger with the Ball Park in Arlington. And instead of the cold, ice or snow in February, we had sunshine and temperature in the upper seventies. Twenty-one drivers enrolled for the experience and chance to see what their cars could do in an autocross environment. The students would get one-on-one instruction from some of the best. Photos by Avery Murphy There were multiple AX Top Driver winners and even DE instructors such as Bryan Bell there to share their experience and knowledge with the students. In the morning while the exercises were being set up, I had a chance to survey the paddock. Lined up were Porsche models ranging from the 914 (known as one of the best autocross weapons in the right hands), to a 930 Turbo which would be a handful on the tight autocross course. We also had a sprinkling of newer water cooled Porsches. On the other end of the spectrum was a Cayenne shared by Jerry and Myra Sutton. Okay down to business. The students were split into two groups and matched to their instructors. One group would start with the Braking and Slalom exercises while the other group got acquainted with the Skid Pad. The instructor drives the car first to demonstrate the correct technique, then the student takes over. The Braking exercise teaches threshhold braking. The student accelerates at maximum speed and determines were they must start braking to stop at an identified spot using maximum braking without locking up the wheels or having the ABS in newer cars come on. Half the fun is the gathering... The slalom exercise is always one of the favorites. Here the student has a choice of an increasing (cone spacing gets wider), constant (cone spacing does not change), and a chicane (an offset pair of gates similar to changing lanes on the highway quickly). The Skid Pads are a test of car physics. The student drives around the Skid Pad as fast as possible using the throttle to steer the car around the circle. The afternoon was a chance to put the practiced skills to use. While one group of students ran the autocross course the other group worked the corners with their instructors. They had an excellent vantage point to observe the car as 28
they navigated the course. As I worked grid I noticed the drivers as they came up to the The new Sutton mobile start line. Either they had a huge smile on their face or a stoic look of determination to find another second to take off their run time. If you want to experience the fun, competition, frustration, or the thrill of victory that make up autocross, come out to our next event. Your Porsche deserves a new home! Let me help you find one… . Laurie Wirth REALTOR Serving North Dallas Suburbs Phone: 214-223-7488 Email: LaurieWirth@kw.com Website: www.LaurieWirth.com <strong>June</strong> 29
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