This is the end of the dream. . .

I decided to sell the car. I took a hard, realistic look at my finances, and the sprog is just going to make owning this car too difficult. I have it up on Craig's list now. http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/939377839.html

Photos of the Sprog!

Finish of the season

Well, the autocross season is over. I missed the last two events of the season.

I finished the season more consistent than last year. I was slow, but consistently slow. I typically finished 4th out of a field of 5.

I need to do some work on the car, it is time to replace the wires, upgrade to turbo tie rod ends, and recharge the AC. But all of that will have to wait. My wife and I are expecting our first child. So, baby shoes will replace car tires. Wish us luck with the Sprog!

Baby needs a new set of shoes

I missed the last autocross due to cash flow, gas prices and time. There is a new autocross this weekend. Right now, I expect to make that event.

I need to get a new set of tires for the 911. Looking at the tread, I am losing the side channels for getting water out from under the tread. Interestingly, I am not seeing any cupping, any uneven wear on the tires. This says that I am running at about the right level of air pressure, have a good alignment and my shocks are not worn out as much as I thought. All good things.

One nice thing about owning an old car, even though the tires are "extremely wide" and "high performance" for 1979, they are average passenger car tires for today. So much cheaper than I expected.

3rd Autocross

I attended my 3rd autocross of the season Sunday May 25th. This event was a NORPCA event at Lakeland Community College. John Hulick set up the course, with some help from another person. The course started with a long fast sweeping curve to the left on the tarmac where we usually establish the starting grid. The course then took a little jog across to the area where the course is typically laid out. There was a series of offset gates, followed by a very narrow gate into the optional slalom. At the end of the slalom was a 360 / 720 curve. You entered at 3 o'clock and followed around counter clockwise through 12, 9, 6, 3, 12 and 9 again. Out into a series of very fast straight gates, with a wicked offset gate and a Chicago box at the end of the straight. You then had a short straight and a tight left turn into the exit. 

This made for a 6 tenths of a mile course, with times running from 54 seconds out to 70 seconds, depending on the car and the driver. Fast drivers were John (of course), Doug Bradley, Dan, and Gino. Gino had the fastest time in the 4 cylinder Porsche class and John had the fastest time in the 6 cylinder Porsches and had the fastest time of the day. 

The  fastest time in the X class was a Camero with a new suspension set up. He initially had trouble with the first gate after the 360, but corrected in the afternoon and had some good runs after that. 

As for me, my times were progressively better. NORPCA gives out time slips so I have my times.

1st run 65.6 +1 cone

2nd run 63.0

3rd run 61.4 +1 cone

4th run 62.6

5th run 61.2

My group then worked the course, we took a lunch break, and then had our afternoon runs.

6th run 61.2

7th run 60.4

8th run 59.9

9th run 59.2

So over the day I took 6 seconds off my time. I was progressively faster, driving the car better each run. John gave me a compliment at the end of my last run, saying it looked really good. I was really pleased with the last run, and the run before it. Typically, when I have a good run, I end up over driving the next run and lose the progress I had made. This time I was able to keep my cool and control the car. 

I was watching Les's times as he had brought his 914-6 and his car is one of the ones I know is in my class. We ran fairly close to each other in times, and knowing where he was helped me push harder on my car.

Overall a very fun day.

AutoCross Video

A few people have looked askance when I mentioned autocross to them. This video from the Porsche Parade in 2007 should help explain what an autocross is - Part 1

2nd Autocross

I ended up skipping the first IRAC event. I missed on being in the running for a trophy last year by one event, so I hope I don't regret it. The event was 5 hours away, and a 4 am wake up call on Sunday just did not work for me.

My 2nd event was down in Akron again, this Sunday May 18th. There was on again, off again rain all day. This made the course very interesting. Plus Walt set up a very fast course, with two long straight parts connected by a wide curve. I had a blast with the course. On my fastest run my rear end was wagging back and forth in the fast curve something fierce. My time went from a 68 second to a 60 second time, out of the running for prizes, but higher in the pack than last time.

I think I will never be in the top three, as I am always going to be easier on the car and watching to insure nothing goes awry. Getting pear shaped in the back corner was fun on the last run, but I am not sure it is something I want to do every time. Too much chance of damaging the car.