I took my Cayman down to Zone 7's CRAB32 Event on April 7-9 hosted by the Sacramento Valley Region and autocrossed it on Saturday. Even though I had just passed through the 2000 mile breakin period the day before on my way down from Reno, and was my first autocross event, I placed 3rd against all the other Boxsters and late model 911's (993s and 996s). That day was the first time I had experienced full throttle accelleration like that and I was real twitchy and stiff around the track with an instructor riding along as well.


PASM really helped here.One personnoticed and commentedas I went around the course that they had seen a Cayman S autocross before but that mine seemed to stay much flatter in the turns and didn't seem stock. A friend of mine told the person that I had PASM and Sport mode and that they were definitely turned on. I'd also like to point out that because of my difficulty in trying to get my pair of CG-Locks installed, I did not have anything other than the stock seatbelts to A/X in. The sport seats kept me very well planted.


Hehe, my friend who chairs the SVR's A/X joked with me today when I registered for his next A/X that I can't bring my Cayman to anymore autocrosses as it ticks off the 911 owners by making them seem too slow. He owns a 996 and has been autocrossing for a few years now and I beat his fastest time by over 2 and half seconds and that's with my stock setup before I de-snorked and added my custom catback system. The Cayman feels so natural around corners, I can't wait to take it to a Driver Education session at Thunderhill this summer.


I had alot of fun and also placed 3rd in the CRAB32 Concours judged event, my first concours too, which was the day after the autocross, so I had to clean alot but still missed some things.



Edited by - Coupe-de-Gras on 05/04/2006 10:41:22 PM

Edited by - Coupe-de-Gras on 05/04/2006 10:43:02 PM

Awesome write -up. Tell 'Chili' Mike Willis, Steve Nieslony (fast 914guy) that Brad Roberts said hello. Not sure if you met the zone president Larry Sharp, but he is in your area also (runs a VERY quick yellow 911)


I really miss running the Reno Zone event. I guess they didnt get enough interest to hold the event.


Welcome to Mid-engine. You wont be going back.


B

Edited by - Brad Roberts on 05/04/2006 11:58:46 PM

Thanks. The instructor was riding with me on all my runs, except the last onewhere I blew it because without the added weight I was going so much faster that I took out too many cones. My instructor, Mike Ambrozewicz, who owns a Carrera GT, was very impressed with the Cayman and liked it.


Here is the link to the CRAB32 A/X photos page: http://web.mac.com/lepprd/iWeb/Site%202/CRAB%20Ax.html


And here is a link to the CRAB32 main page: http://scv.pca.org/crab/CRAB.htm


I also would like to see more A/X'ing here in the Sierra Nevada Region, and maybe some track events at the Reno Fernley Raceway: http://www.reno-fernleyraceway.com




Edited by - Coupe-de-Gras on 05/04/2006 11:13:35 PM

Mike A bought a CGT ?? HOLY SH_T. I have helped Mike out many times on his flared ugly 914. His wife runs it also. I knew Mike made some money in real estate, but I didnt know he made CGT type of money. He still has another 914 project being built in the bay area. A super wild bad boy.


Thanks for your post. I really miss the NorCal people. I miss being within a few hours of 4 tracks..that is what I miss...LOL


B

I sponsored CRAB back in 2003 when I was living near Sears point in Novato. I used to run the Redwood region AutoX's as well as Marina down with Loma Prieta region. I also ran GGR. I have about 17 days at Thill, 6 or so at Laguna, and several at Sears. 4 or 5 at Buttonwillow. I now run Willow Sprins/ and Streets as well as Buttonwillow. My first Fontana date is approaching with POC.


I'm VERY happy to see so many people trying the Cayman out. I know it is going to be awesome at the track.





B

This is Steve's 914. I rebuilt the entire suspension console after he broke at it Alameda back a year and half ago. I aligned it in front of everybody in that same parking lot you AutoX'd in..LOL


His girlfriend is in the trailer in the first pics on the site.


[img]/UserFiles/cax784.jpeg[/img]

This is Larry Sharp the zone president and 3 time SCCA SoloII National Champ (in a Ford Focus)


Great guy. He was on the winning THILL NASA 25hr team back in Dec. of last year (see recent Pano write -up about team 'Lost in Space'


[img]/UserFiles/cax808.jpeg[/img]







Edited by - Brad Roberts on 05/04/2006 11:40:36 PM

My Boxster Spec car has the original engine from this car in it now..LOL I forget his name.


[img]/UserFiles/cax819.jpeg[/img]

This is Terry Zucone. He has been AutoX'ing 'Marcel' since they invented AutoX LOL


I'm letting you know who these people are.. because they are the 'movers & shakers' of the NorCal AutoX people. They make things happen and they attend almost ALL the events. All of them are AWESOME instructors. I know all of them personally.


[img]/UserFiles/cax877.jpeg[/img]

Two more and I'm done. Two more VERY important people. This is Mary Anne driving, 'Bud and Mary Anne' another person who AutoX'd a Boxster a few years back and attends ALL the zone events.


[img]/UserFiles/cax897.jpeg[/img]

This is Tom Provasi's car driven by his wife. He/she are 8-10 time Parade AutoX overall winners in the 'Orange Crate' 914. He used to be PCA National Treasurer. Please dont hesitate to ask ANY of these people for help with driving the CaymanS. I know Mike is good.. but combined..these people above have over 100 years of AutoX'ing between them!


[img]/UserFiles/cax907.jpeg[/img]

This is why I am excited to be a new-to-Porsche Cayman S owner - everyday people having serious fun driving Porsches of all ages and types... they seem as friendly in Cali as they are here in northern Alberta, and probably everywhere in between!

See you at the track!

==RedEye

Welcome.


You will thoroughly enjoy owning your first Porsche.


It's not just the car, it's the people.





B