Today fab944 and I attended Potomac chapter's High Performance Driving Clinic. Its not quite an HPDE, but geared toward new comers to track events. However, there were very few people in which this was their first event, most had few events under their belt.


Many were quite interested in the Caymans, so we got a lot questions before and the runs. There were also a good mix of Porsches, so overall it was a worthwhile event; there were a track-prep'd 914, 996 Turbo S, 997 and 997S, 930s, 964T, 993C2 and T, 944s, etc.


The day started with some fog and drizzle and turned into moderate rain late morning, but in the afternoon just before lapping sessions, it was all sunny and very pleasant. In the morning we had skid pad, slalom and braking exercises. It was disappointing... no matter what I did, I could not break loose the rear-end of the car, even in the wet skid pad. Couple of times, the rear stepped out but could not maintain or spin it; as soon as I'd lift off the throttle ever so slightly, the front would grip and recover almost without counter steering. Even though it was disappointing as the purpose of the exercises was to literally loose grip in a controlled manner, but it gave me significant confidence for the afternoon, where I really did not want to loose it [img]/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/regular_smile.gif[/img].


We had two 25-min. sessions n the afternoon. 1st session in the afternoon went well, my comfort level increased with the car. The car, again, felt so predictable and easy to drive that I kept increasing my pace. The circuit is a short one, 1.1 miles, so even though there were few car in my group (7 or 8), there were moments of tight traffic. The new comers usually could not give a point-by as they were busy dealing with the course and their car. During the last 5 laps in the 1st session, I got stuck behind a modified 944 Turbo. He had amazing power down the short straights, but was all over the place in the corners. It was obviousthe carwas very difficult to drive. I'd give about 1000 ft advance to him on the straights but would catch him by the second turn and he just did not think of giving a point-by nor his instructor, so it was frustrating but remained patient.


Being behind couple of newcomers, I had to be cautious under braking and stayed on the brakes longer than normal. Toward the end of the first session, behind the 944, I cooked the brakes and I had to slow down to cool the brakes; that was unnerving. By best lap time that I could record was 1:06.


2nd session, everyone was better giving point-bys and wasn't held back. I started to push slightly harder each lap. The amazing thing was the car. So unbelievably predictable, so stable and so compliant, I really cannot imagine a more satisfying car. Generally, I am quick to criticize cars, the handling or power delivery, etc. But with the Cayman, I just cannot find faults. Power comes very linearly andthe handling is just superb.


I always had problems on this track with turns 5 and 7. T5 is a left hander leading to the back straight, which is the longer straight, taken in 3rd gear at about 60 mph. If you don't brake and turn-in at the right moment, it is easy to miss the apex and loose speed on the straight. With the CS, it was just point and shoot, almost too easy. T7 is a decreasing radius left handler leading to front straight. You approach this turn at around 90-95 mph and the exit speed is about40-45 mph, so you can imagine the braking. I never could place the car as deep as I could with the CS. Controlling the CS with brakes or throttle is so easy, I went deeper in that corner, and in second gear, the car launches forward at a very brisk pace. The second session was much more fun no doubt. I lapped mostly in the 1:04 rage and had one lap in the high 1:03s. Brakes held very well, but toward the end right front tire was getting greasy due to heat.


The tires, Falken 615s, were also very predictable, giving plenty of notices before loosing grip gradually. The wear also seems quite acceptable, once I got the right pressures on them. As I felt more and more comfortable with the car and started to better understand the messages through my fingers and bottom, I believe I was at about the limit with the car. However, in this case it was clear that the limiting factor was the tires, not anything else on the car. The combination, the CS and the Falkens, are again very predictable and easy to drive, but the CS can certainly handle higher grip tires without problems.


fab944 also seemed to be having a lot of fun, he had only 600 mi. on the car when he arrived and promised he would try to drive the car more often [img]/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/wink_smile.gif[/img].


Overall, great day for me and the Cayman.

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FT

Thanks for the report, any other mods besides the tires?

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K-Man S

Wheels are Fikse 8.5' front and 10' rear; no other mods.

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FT

What did you wind up with for tire pressures? Hot/Cold

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Meade Engineering -- Custom Modifications

Of course it is tire dependent; however, after some trial and error, I ended up with almost the same pressures as the Bridgestone RE050 I used at VIR with the exception of the fronts: with Falkens 34 front and 40 rear seemed to work well; where as with the RE050s I believe I had ended up with 32 front and 40 rears.


This time around, pressure gains stayed right around 4 to 5 psi.

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FT

cooling down after some fun....[img]/UserFiles/summit point_fab944 and FT.JPG[/img]

FT - I moved from Germantown up to Frederick a little over a year ago and am interested in seeing you guys run at SP next time you are there. I am debating whetheror not to track myCayman so I wantto go and observe first. Do you knowwhenyou guys will be there again? Also, do you ever run on thebigger 2 mile track?

AmerLemans, its great to have you in the region, I hope we get to meet. As a matter of fact, if you check the Zone 2 forum, there is a large P-car meet on May 7 in Rockville.


Any how, right at this point, I am not sure of schedule when we will be at SP next. I suspect it will be with the BMWCCA either at the main circuit or the new Shenandoah circuit sometime in August/September time frame.


We are schedule to go to VIR, however, in June 17-18, but that's a long way just to watch. Please check the Zone 2 forum on and off as I post event schedules as they are available there, and I will try to keep in mind to send you a PM next time around.


One thing I can say with conviction is that you should try track events. Cayman feels so natural at the track. However, to get better acquinted with the car in a shorter period of time, you might want to try couple of autox events first. Chasepaeke region's autoxes are at the Ripken stadium and next one sometime in mid-May which I will likely attend as well.


I hope to see you around, and I'll keep you in mind for these various event.


Cheers,

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FT

FT - thanks for the quick response. I will do my absolute best to make the May 7 event in Rockville.


Also, do you have any recommendations on where to take our cars (besides the local dealers) to do mod work? I want to put either H&R or Eichbach springs on itand am looking for a good reputable outfit that is experienced in Porsche work.From what I have learned from other Club members, the rear springs are a pain in the *** to put on soI need to make sure the shop is experienced.


Thanks again and I look forward to meeting you.

In my mind, without a question, the best shop you can take it is FunktionAuto(.com). The technicians, especially Tim (who is well known in the P-car circles) have very strong experience and the shop is a delight to spend time in. It should be a 30 to 40 min drive from Rt. 15 for you to Dulles.


Hope to see you on the 7th.

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FT

Many thanks FT. That would work out great for me as I go into Herndon, VA once or twice a week anyhow.I take Rt 15 from Frederick to the Dulles Greenway. I will certainly let them know that you recommended their shop.


See you on the 7th.