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Thank you all for the comments.
A quick update for you about that strange stoppage
is that it has not done it again.
The Econoboxster participated in its first autocross today.
I suppose it would be more accurate to say that I drove it
in an autorcross today.
And it did fine.
No weird shutting off or anything.
Although I nearly did. Autocross in August in Houston?
What was I thinking? Jeez Louise it was hot!
And its a great car to learn in -- not scary fast and not
so expensive that if something awful were to happen it
wouldn't be the end of the world. Well, it might be if one
actually perished in a fiery crash, but let's not go there.
This particular event was held at the Houston Police Academy
and was set up with a fairly fast sweeping turn. And by fast
I mean you would be fairly up there in second gear -- so maybe
a top speed of 55, maybe 60+.
And once out of the gate and into second gear, no more shifting
was needed, allowing left foot braking for the rest of the course.
I don't know how well I did in comparison to others (1:53XX fastest)
some were faster, some slower. The other boxsters were a little faster.
All were somewhat modified except for a new S (special tires and
other tricks of the trade) and were piloted be experienced guys.
So my excuse, other than my ignorance, was it was a plain
ol' Box on stock tires -- stock everything, including tire pressures.
But it seemed like a good way to feel the car near its edge of adhesion
without the intimidation factor at the high speed DE at Texas
World Speedway.
For which I am signed up at the end of September.
If you have never experienced it, Turn 7 at TWS, at least
to me, is pretty much a religious experience.
You enter very fast in fourth gear sort of down a
banked uphill left turn. Let me try that again.
From a flat straight where you are rocking along pretty good in
fourth, the road dips and turns a pretty good bit to the left.
Then up the hill you go, still turning left, over the top of the
hill, the car unloads and you have to get set for the next one.
And if you screw that one up too badly, there is a nasty wall
there to catch you.
And then there is always Turn 1.
But that's another story.
Anyway that's in September.
All is well with the car except it needs a bath -- again.
The next automotive event on my calendar is a really
cool Jeep event in the Palo Duro Canyon the weekend
before the DE.
It provides an adrenaline rush too, just at really slow speeds.
Like 1.
As in 1 mile per hour in some sections. But it's a pretty intense
section. Cool stuff.
Well, you all must be getting tired of reading all this by now,
so I will sink slowly back into lurk mode unless something comes
up that might interest you all.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Be careful, it's a jungle out there...
- Mark
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