1. Why is that I am now more interested in reading Cook's than Autoweek? Please note, I still grab SCM, Roundel, and Panorama before Cook's. In that sense, I am more like my father these days. It used to frustrate me that he only likes what he likes, and never spends time on the other stuff. Is this a natural consequence of aging, spending time on only the things you know you like? I have no patience for another article about another Japanese coupe or American sedan. I just don't care, and you can't make me.
2. It is ridiculously easy to speed in a 996 Carrera. I can't imagine what a 997 Turbo is like.
3. My never-before-used, been-sitting-in-its-box-unopened-for-five-years, Valentine One seems to work fine. I decided to break it out tonight on the way to the Cape, because my usual ticket-avoidance method -eyeballs- doesn't work as well at night. Crossing into one of the small towns along the route, I learned the V1 works when it warned me of a cruiser well before I saw it. I wasn't actually speeding at that point, but I might have been. A permanent install is on my modifications list.
4. Tomorrow we lift off the hardtop from the Carrera for spring. Let's see how creased that back window is.
5. AG AG is really hanging on. He's moved from lying denial to lying forgetfulness. The next step is confession. Then resignation. Could we move it along, please? The guy is in so far over his head, it's amazing he can breathe. Being GWB's friend has really paid off over the past six years. I'm sick of the whole crowd, myself.
The best part of the V1 is that in casual driving you don't have to worry about doing a little over the speed limit. My V1 has always gone of well in advance of the cop being in visual range.
Also, apparently, theres a mode you can modify the exact way the modes work. I can't find the link right now though...
Posted by: SteveA | March 31, 2007 at 04:49 PM
1. Pano is fine but are you reading the Nor'Easter as well?
2. You could always just drive around in 3rd gear. Or another way to mitigate the "need for speed" is to sign up for the May 7th DE event. Some track time always helps lessen my desire to put my foot down in an inappropriate location.
3. My Valentine One is by far the best detector I've used. And driving a Porsche will generally increase the likely hood of being stopped just because it's going to be noticed and even if you weren't speeding this time, you probably were before ( or will again ) so here's your ticket. (Just be glad your not the guy in the Red Ferrari 599 with the Blond. That's apparently a prima fascia ticket-able offense.)
4. It must be spring. So far today I've seen 2 Ferraris, a clean 68 Vette, a GTO and several other Porsches, And that's just on a couple of short trips into Concord Center. The first nice weekend day and everybody takes the car covers off and goes for a ride.
Posted by: Ted | March 31, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Ted, I'm well past the age where I want to cut it up on the back roads or pass in the short passing zones of the highway out here on Cape Cod. It's too damn dangerous, and I have kids, and so do other people, and now that I'm a grown up I see that stupid actions have disastrous consequences. That said, I don't think any amount of wisdom will take away the lah-de-dah-holy-shit-I'm-going-85! I get out of that 996 on the interstates.
I'd like to try a DE, though. With the BMWCCA, my 325i cabrio was banned, so I didn't have a ride for their schools. PCA takes cabs, so it's a possibility for me. But that awareness of consequences I mentioned makes me loathe to get on any kind of track without a roll cage in the thing.
I don't know about Nor'Easter. Can you enlighten me?
CP
Posted by: carpundit | March 31, 2007 at 07:31 PM
"I'm well past the age where I want to cut it up on the back roads or pass in the short passing zones of the highway out here on Cape Cod. It's too damn dangerous, and I have kids, and so do other people, and now that I'm a grown up I see that stupid actions have disastrous consequences."
Ah, I remember those days.
They never made a movie called the Orleans drift...
Posted by: Erik | March 31, 2007 at 08:34 PM
Carpe
The Nor'Easter is the Northeast regions monthly newsletter. When you joined you would have started to receive a monthly copy for the first year. The next year requires an additional subscription payment above the National dues ( which covers Pano ) However, It's now also available in PDF form on the website http://www.porschenet.com/ The newsletter is what you need to find out about all the region's events. There is extensive info on the DE Program in Feb and March issues as well as the DE section of the Web site. The First DE event this year is a one day novice oriented event at NHIS May 7th. If you're still unsure you can come up just to watch see how it all works. But contact the Track Chair first. You'll see a number of Cabs participating. A roll bar is not needed, ( your Cab has a pop up bar in any case ) and you're probably safer on the track than the trip up and back.
Posted by: Ted | March 31, 2007 at 11:30 PM
Ted,
Thanks. That explains it. I just upped my membership from "Quest," so I haven't received a regional publication.
You're right about the track versus the drive up, I'm sure.
Interestingly, my BMW also has pop-up rollbars, but BMWCCA is strict about the "no ragtops" rule.
Erik,
I have no idea what you're talking about and that's the story I'm sticking with.
CP
Posted by: carpundit | March 31, 2007 at 11:53 PM
I think there might be pictures...
:-)
Don't you miss the 3 lane section of route 6?
Posted by: Erik | April 01, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Video here
http://www.ncr-pca.org/video/Rain%20Lap%202.wmv
The first is a lap of NHIS - note that all passing is done only after a hand signal from the car being passed. Camera attached to the windshield of my C2 ( and note that the car in front is a cab. ) The race cars run in thier own seperate group, mostly it's street cars, all grouped by experience ( number of DE's).
The second is at the Glen, with a "HelmetCam". Even though there are probably 20 cars on the track you generally actually see only a few
http://porsche.magnify.net/item/FMSQD9HGJD485BDY
Posted by: Ted | April 01, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Thanks, Ted. Great links!
Anyone ever go out there with a Tip?
CP
Posted by: carpundit | April 01, 2007 at 09:02 PM
There are some who run Tiptronics. The 996/7 Tips are perfectly capable of handling track days. You don't get quite the "steer with the throttle" control-ability of a 6 speed, but that's more that domain of the faster run groups anyway. The first 4 or 5 DE's you'll be plenty busy just concentrating on the line, listening to your instructor (until you've been "signed off", you'll have a certified instructor as a passenger for every session), developing some smoothness, and placeing the car at the right point at the right time.
Posted by: Ted | April 01, 2007 at 09:43 PM
If anyone is interested, you can now buy the experience of a lifetime - Hot Laps in a Porsche Race Car driven by Australian Motor Racing Legend - 'The Master', Jim Richards at Mt Panorama Bathurst!
Posted by: Mount Panorama Hot Laps | July 06, 2008 at 07:20 AM