Slipstream - November 2013

Specializing in all years and models of
Porsche exclusively for more than 30 years
Complete and Meticulous Maintenance and Repair
Tuning and Diagnostics (Carbs, MFI, CIS, OBD I & II)
Custom Engine and Transmission Rebuilds
Competition Car Preparation (Track or Autocross)
1521 Baccarac Ct Euless, TX 76040
817 540 4939
www.mayoperformance.com
email: Mayos@imagin.net
helmet with a tiara airbrushed on
it that I borrowed from my mom,
and adjusting my seat to a more
proper racing position. As I drove
up to the starting line, I was already
getting a lot of sideline support,
even though I killed it probably
three times just getting there.
Nerves, I guess. I like to imagine my
mom was dramatically wiping a tear
from her eye in a very cinematic
moment as I started my first run.
But that probably didn’t happen.
What did happen though, was that
I was given the signal to go and I
lifted my foot off the clutch and
pressed the gas . . . and went about
10 mph towards the first turn. My
dad, who was instructing me, kept
saying “Gas, gas, gas, gas, gas!” but
it wasn’t making me go that much
faster. I did eventually start gaining
speed through the course, but I was
still extremely nervous (and sick).
I think for my first run I got like
a 120. I ran again, and this time I
actually took my father’s suggestions
and I knocked off 10 seconds.
Again and I got 3 seconds faster.
I was feeling pretty good by this
point, then my friend Geneva, who
was also new at autocrossing, pulled
up and her time was one second
faster. Ugh. I didn’t let it get to
me, though. In this competition,
the only person I could compete
with was myself. So two runs and
two hit cones later, it was time for
lunch and I was feeling good about
myself. I ate a tasty burger and
shake then we went back to the
track. I was confident that I was going
to go faster, looking at the way
I had improved in the morning.
I was wrong. I got waaaay slower.
My first run of the afternoon was
very close to my second run of
the morning, back when I was still
scared to accelerate, and this time
I had hit a cone. I was a little mad,
but I figured it was just a fluke and I
was going to get better. My next run
I didn’t hit a cone (yay), but I got
a very similar time to the previous
one. Then the next run I got my
first DNF . . . and hit a cone. Needless
to say, I was a bit frustrated (for
a visual, imagine Godzilla tearing
apart Tokyo). Everybody kept
trying to calm me, saying that most
people got slower in the afternoon,
but it didn’t matter, I was still extremely
mad. It was only until after
the event was over and we were
driving home that I did calm down.
Reflecting on my first autocross
EVER, I really did have fun. It was
really cool and everyone was really
nice and supportive, as they usually
are. It was a really good learning
experience for me, especially
learning to never take my afternoon
runs. I also learned a good
lesson in wearing sunscreen. Ouch.
I will definitely want to go autocrossing
again, and maybe next
time I’ll drive an actual Porsche.
27