Helmet

I bought a helmet yesterday, for autocrossing and track days. It is silver and hopefully matches my car. I can't wait to race on the 14th of October.



The SC is in the shop and I won't be able to pick it up until Wednesday... not because it is bad shape, but because the guys at SSI are horrible in providing time lines for their repairs. Then I am going to Texas on Monday and won't be back until late Tuesday night. Hopefully the car will be ready by then. It maybe the last time I bring it to SSI.

The Shop

I spoke with the guys at SSI about my brake grinding, they said most likely the brakes were not warmed up enough and make the grinding sound when they are cold. Cool. But, I was looking at the SC in the garage the other night and noticed that she was leaning to the passenger side. I decided to measure the fender heights to see if my mind was playin' tricks on me... and the rear passenger side was low riding... 3/4" in the front and 1 1/2" in the back. The guys at SSI are looking at that today, along with double checking the brakes, just in case. Stay tuned.

Wierd Brake Sound

Took the SC out this past weekend, and the brakes started to make a funny sound, kind of like the pads were worn out. But I just got new pads a few weeks ago. Wierd. I think I am going to take to the shop this week to have it check out. Sucks.

I took the wheel off and looked at the brakes... to be honest, I have no idea what I was looking for. I know what the parts are, what they do... but have no idea how to trouble shoot any of that.

2nd place

http://www.pcachs.org/autocross/autox_results_07/ax2007_ax06_class.html

I placed second in my class at my first autocross!



Overall I was 18.238 seconds off the leader. And even though I placed 61st out of 74, I am still stoked! There were 911 GT3's, 911 Turbos, Barely street legal cars, track cars... etc. Mine is as stock as stock can get. And I feel I did alright. Next time I am going to shave off more time and become a real threat to cars 1/10 my cars age and drivers with more experience... ha ha, I feel like I am racing BMX again. If you ain't first, you're last. Ricky Bobby, Bobby Deerfield, Michael Delaney, Schumacher... I am coming for you!

My boss asked me yesterday, what my career plan was and I asked him with a straight face... "is Porsche race car driver on my list of options?" Honestly, I am not joking. If I could chose a new profession race car driver would be on my short list. But, I guess I'll have to settle with Senior Designer in charge of in-store experience, could be worse... I could be reading and editing spread sheets, yuck.

Autocross Photos

Here is my lady next to a 356,which was loud and fast!



Some other nice ones.



This is not me, but it is a 1979 911sc, as close to mine as you could get that day.

My First Autocross

Hooked! My oh my. I can't even begin to explain how much fun it is to autocross the 911.
We had 4 runs each today. I pretty much sucked. Although, lap by lap I got better times.

Lap 1: Since I am a first time a first time autocross driver, it was mandatory I have an instructor on board (at least the 1st lap). So, I was assigned a mid-50s woman, whose only advice for me was to slow down... she is pretty much never allowed in my car ever again, worthless is not a strong enough word to explain her. Needless to say I posted my slowest time. Ugh. Oh, by the way I DQ that lap, since I missed 1 gate, oops.

Lap 2: I got brave and decided to take this lap alone, after being very bitter about the last instructor. I did much better that lap... shaving off 6 seconds from the prior time and finished clean.

Lap 3: All hell has broken loose... Derek Schwarz, an avid autocrosser and 911 racer... was my instructor. Holy cow! I want to be his Padawan Learner. Basically from the second I hit the gas he was instructing... Go go go gas gas gas push push brake go go straight go go hard brake throttle push it push it... you get the picture, that went on until I crossed the finish line. WOW! what a huge difference. I shaved another 6 seconds off from my last lap. Thanks Derek.

Lap 4: I decided to run the final lap alone again. With a new understanding of when and where to push and to brake, I ran the car even better this lap...shaving off 2 more seconds.

I am sure that my times are in the lower 20% overall, but until they post the times, I will not know how I did in my class. Who cares! I felt like I went balls to the wall in the 911 and ha so much fun. I want to quit my job and race cars for a living!

I learned:
1. How far to push the 911, and how to feel for when she is going to get loose.

2. A great respect for those who can really rally their cars, and keep them under control.

3. My kidneys hurt after the lap with Derek and more after my 4th lap, cornering can kick your ass!

4. Autocross rules. I want to buy racing tires and a helmet.


Pics to come

Rennasance Festival

The wife and I went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival this past Memorial Day Weekend. I have to admit it was pretty cool. Tons of things to learn, music to hear, performances to be seen.

I knew it was going to be a good time when we pulled up, parked and the guy who parked next to us got out of his car and said in a Balmerese (native Baltimore accent)... "Nice car partner." The 911 is great now that I have it back from the shop.

The Shop

I brought my 911 to SSI Performance in Parkville, MD. I had a battery issue. My battery kept dying and no longer held a charge. Also, it had an engine leak.

So after 3 days and $1200, I had a few things fixed.:

-New battery
-Alarm siren dismantled (cause of battery drain). Alarm still works, as a kill switch with out sound.
-New brake pads and fluid
-Replaced a oil hose
-All new belts

I am pleased to have a car that starts when I need it to and no longer leaks. I am hoping that I will not have to spend that kind of money for at least 2 years... but who know what might happen.