Watkins Glen Weekend
 

Weekend before last I did a 2 day DE event at Watkins Glen. It was the second time I've been to the Glen and it is definitely one of my favorites. Everybody says, "It's a big fast race track," and it's true. It's 3.4 miles, 11 turns and a chicane. Top speed in my car, right before the chicane is about 120 mph. Below is a track map. The NASCAR races use the short track, taking the shortcut and leaving out the part of the track they call "the boot." There is a lot of elevation change, particularly on "the boot".

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...entrackmap.jpg

Saturday was a good day with great weather, but it was marred with a number of incidents. Below is a picture of one of them. This guy's Z06 was supercharged and intercooled with maybe 800 hp at the wheels. This guy's license plate was "Devil Z." After his first session, his instructor refused to ride with him, because he wouldn't follow instructions. On the warm-up lap of the second session, on the exit to the first turn after pit-out, he gave it way too much gas and, then, straight into the guard rail. It took 45 minutes to repair the guard rail with additional expenses to "Devil Z' of about $2000 for the repair. I heard two instructors discussing the incident later. One said he didn't know whether the incident started in the entrance to turn 2 or the exit to the turn. The other looked at him and said "I think it started in the womb."

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...svxDevilZ2.jpg

I did OT's "$20, 20 minute" mod before I went to the track. I think it made a big difference in turn-in transitions. Particularly at the chicane where it's a quick right, then a left that you hold to catch both inside curbs, then back right again to exit back on to the straight. The transition seemed a lot smoother than the last time I was at the Glen. I recommend the mod highly. Here is a shot of me about to be eaten by one of the ever-present Evo's. Evo's and C-5 Corvette's are by far the most popular cars at the events I've been at recently. Both give you very big bang for the buck.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...2473_LoRes.jpg

Sunday was a completely different experience. For the first time in my motorsports career, I did RAIN. Eighteen track days, and they have all been dry. It is a different experience. Rain demands smoothness, roll on the throttle, roll off the throttle, roll on the brake, roll off the brake, even quick turn-in's should be started slowly, so as not to break loose the tires with the initial movement. I had a couple of squirrely moments, but nothing dramatic. I think that getting the slight additional camber on the rear cured any tendency to be tail happy. The one time the back end started to come around, when I overcooked the entrance to turn 1, while the course was damp, a momentary application of counter-steer was all I needed to get it back in line. Unfortunately, others weren't so lucky, and we had another series of incidents. The worst in my group involved a 996 GT3, which lost it under braking in the wet and did a header into the guard rail just before the chicane. Both air bags popped, and becaue the instructor was wearing a closed face helmet, the airbag gave him quite a jolt. He spent the night in the hospital for observation. I came up just after he hit and there were pieces of Porsche all over the race track. Did a very strange line into and through the chicane to avoid hitting any big pieces. Here is the money RAIN pic:

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...3168_HiRes.jpg

As always, I got some great rides from instructors during their sessions, a C-6, a race prepared Camaro with a very good driver, a 997 Carerra S, a 944 Turbo also with a great driver, and a race prepared Integra R. Toward the end of the day, the track dried, and my last 2 sessions were terrific. My instructor signed me off to solo. Below is a pic of me being followed by a friend. Note the empty instructor's seat. My friend said he wanted to follow me around for a couple of laps to look at my line. Then he got bored and blew past me. All in all, a great weekend, and a great way ot end the season.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...2736_LoRes.jpg

Watkins Glen brings back a lot of memories. My Dad & a couple friends (The Holder Bro's) campaigned a Porsche 550 Spyder for many years on the East coast circuit in the early 60's. Some character named Stirling Moss was the guy you had to outrace back then. I even remember the days of hay bales and the actual race being run through town which had it's share of risks to drivers and spectators alike. Great to see the SVX on that track & sounds like a heck of a lot of fun. Drive on guys!

Yeah, I love the Glen. I have 13 days on that track in my Porsche. Needless to say, unless you,ve converted to a manual, I don't think I would drive the SVX there - the auto is just not crisp enough to be sure you are in the right gear at all times.

Dan,
Have I told you lately how much I hate you?:p:p:p
-Bill

Bill:

No need to hate me. Anybody can do this. I didn't start until I was 57 years old. YT did his first one this year, after I badgered him about it, and I think he'll be back next year for at least one. There is a new group in your area called Trackdaze that has started doing DE events at Summit and VIR, and they are pretty reasonable, like $350 for a 2 day event. Calculate the cost per minute of seat time. Autocross: $25 for 2 minutes (4 runs at 30 secs each) HPDE day, $175-250 for 60 to 90 minutes. Maybe I'll see you at Summit.

Dan :cool: :cool:

Dan,
Hate in an envious sense only;):D. 57 huh? Okay, so I've got 10 years to catch up:lol: I've got a trailer lined up, I just need to find a nice F250/350 or comparable to tow with (I'm considering an E250/350 so I can sleep in it at the track:cool:). Summit or VIR are both possibilities next year (no big mission proposals until the end of 2008:cool:).
-Bill

You know Bill, I've been considering selling the Green Behemoth lately. I'm torn between keeping it and buying a trailer and selling it and not buying a trailer:lol:

Todd

My plans for next year are to retire the SVX from the track except for rain. I will be trailering my WCM Ultralite to the track, using a 12 ft. aluminum open trailer that weighs about 700 lbs. To pull the combined 2000 lb. weight of car, tires and trailer, I intend to use a Subaru Legacy GT Wagon. Ultralite is under construction, trailer is speced and awaiting my order. Legacy wagon will be purchased in January or February. :D

Now you can hate him, Bill!


j/k:o

Fixed your post Dan, have a great time!:D

Tom,
You beat me to it;):p:D
-Bill

Ben,
You S*ck!!:p:p:p:p:D:D:D
-Bill

Todd,
What, you think I just won the Lottery?:p The Green Behemoth is waaaay beyond my $$ means until I get all three kids through college......which will be when I'm 60!
-Bill

Ah but I must be able to drive. Just picked the racer up this am brought it back to the house and was able to unload it during morning traffic without the use of a clutch and without a driver seat!:D

It isn't a lot of fun having to make a 5 point turn when you need to shut the car off to shift gears!:D

Quoted for all-around coolness:cool: Awesome combo Dan. I'm rather:tongue: envious. Congratulations on your new toys!!!

Todd