What we've learned on the track

[944boy]

I totally agree about about looking as far down the track as possible. It is really a good habit!

I do not totally agree about the shift lights.... The Boxster (and 911) has a great tach layout perfect for racing. Try that with a late model 944. Redline is about 4 o'clock on the right. Difficult to see behind the wheel spokes if turned at all. There is however a small built in shift light at the top in the shape of an arrow.

Competitive driving is really a great thing for the whole family and I think helps street driving. Teaches better control and confidence, staying calm instead of panicking.

I bet the Boxster felt really heavy compared to the open-wheeler.

[pbanders]

What I learned on the track was that you have to PAY ATTENTION. The biggest problem I see on the road are drivers who are utterly inattentive and not ready to respond to the situation. Beyond the obvious distractions of the cell phone, the kids, the nav system, the radio, etc., I see drivers whose posture and grip on the wheel tells me they're not really engaged. Leaning on the door, one hand on the wheel, open hand draped on the top of the wheel, so close to the wheel their elbow is at a 90 degree angle, etc.

Keep both hands on the wheel (I prefer 3 and 9), adjust your seat for proper distance to the wheel, make sure your mirrors are optimally adjusted (very impt in the Box with the top up), windows clean, and as quickurt said, eyes down the road. It's ok to have the radio on, but not so loud that it's keeping you from hearing what's goiing on around you. If you have nav, set it when stopped and if you're really confused, pull off and check it instead of trying to read the map - or have your passenger manage it and direct you.

You'll find that when you're fully engaged with driving, it's a better experience, anyway!

[renzop]

As it applies to street driving, "look far ahead" is one of the best accident avoidance techniques there is. Let's take it to the next level by saying, "to look far ahead" you need to avoid tailgating or even close following at all costs. You can't look ahead if you can only see the car infront of you. Most drivers do not follow the 2 second following distance rule and that is what causes many, mnay accidents.

Another race technique that we know about that applies to street driving is, "try to brake in a stright line" Sure, we all know about and use trail braking, but we also know that you cannot trail brake with tthe same force applied as straight line braking.

Finally, there is the, "release pressure to reduce understeer" If someone can be trained to recognize terminal understeer and to react unnaturally by unwinding the wheel they can save themselves from disaster.

Good idea for a thread,
Alan

[pbanders]

Another technique I use is one I developed from years of training on the road as a racing cyclist, is to constantly be running "what if" scenarios in my head, in response to traffic situations. In each "what if", I try to plan a way out. Example - I'm approaching an intersection, and I see a car in the oncoming lane getting ready to turn left. "What if the light changes and the guy goes for it?" - by anticipating this, I plan to steer around him, instead of reactively slamming on the brakes.

Yeah, I know it sounds ridiculous, but you get used to doing it after a while and it's nearly a subconcious process. It's saved my a$$ more than once in the car, and about a million times on the bike.

[Quickurt]

Excellent comments and additions!
I like the "running scenarios" description. Great way to describe the technique.
On the track you know in a short time where you can and can't go to avoid something, because you go around and round, lap after lap, and you've probably had an old hand at the track tell you about that particular track's "bad spots."
On the street, it's another story, unless it's your daily commute route.
So, I constantly watch for "can't go" areas: deep ditch swales next to the road, driveway culverts, walls, deep center medians, etc. In that way, if something does happen you must avoid, you are aware of directions that are off limits, which greatly shortens decision times for taking action. You will also learn to be aware of these danger spots in watching your "vision scene" and you will begin to find yourself glancing at them, to log all of the details of the hazard, and then returning to your "down the road" view.
Also, the street has other hazards the track does not. ANY TIME you break left, in an attempt to avoid a serious situation, you are putting yourself on a path to a possible head-on collision. You may be on a divided highway, but if there is no center wall or guardrail to stop your momentum, you have directed your car toward a head-on situation and you will then have to change directions again to avoid going into the oncoming lane.
Another rule to remember: ANY other type of collision is always better than a head-on collision.

[dmcutter]

As a bicyclist and 20+ year motorcycle rider, +1 on the escape route planning. Something else I do, with the proliferation of SUVs, is look through the car in front of me at the cars ahead of them-you can generally see the high mounted brake light of the vehicle up the road so you have time to anticipate the braking of the guy you're trailing.

[Surfncpa]

I am glad I took the time to read this thread. There are a lot of good tips in here.

Especially valuable to me are the ways to reduce the blind spot on the driver's side by putting stickons onto the mirrors. The blind spot is something that really troubles me. I have it ingrained to always turn my head and look before changing lanes instead of just relying on the mirrors. When I do that in my Boxster, like others have mentioned, my vision is blocked by part of the car. I end up turning my while leaning forward as far as I can to try to see out.

The other part of the view I am trying to get used to is that most of the time I can not see beyond the car in front of me. I am used to driving a pickup truck or SUV and I could always see over or through the cars in front of me. I have to compensate in the Boxster by being extra vigilant and ready to break. Having good breaks also helps.

We have all heard the driving rule of leaving a 2 second space between you and the car in front. Unfortunately, that just isn't possible most of the time on the freeways I drive. If you had that much space between you and the car in front someone behind you would try to pass you and get in that gap. Slow down again, the next car will do it. Keep doing it and you'll cause traffic to jam behind you and the other drivers will be flipping you off as they pass you.

[mikefocke]

Porsche sells which are an option that have the outer third of the mirror angled slightly outward to cover the blind spot. Aspheric mirrors were what they were initially called. They clip in and plug in in place of the flat ones and you lose nothing in the defrost area, they work just like stock. Not cheap but they keep you from having to use ugly stick ons.

I liked them so much on my first Boxster I got another pair for my second Boxster.

[Mikelove]

Ive seen so many accidents happen due to people Driving too close.
Picture a broken down car, the driver infront of you isnt paying attention, they swerve around it without signalling , bang game over for you. Keep your distance from the driver infront. So what if some idiot steals a place infront of you because you left a gap. Let it be them that learn the hard way.

We have all heard the driving rule of leaving a 2 second space between you and the car in front. Unfortunately, that just isn't possible most of the time on the freeways I drive. If you had that much space between you and the car in front someone behind you would try to pass you and get in that gap. Slow down again, the next car will do it. Keep doing it and you'll cause traffic to jam behind you and the other drivers will be flipping you off as they pass you.[/QUOTE]

[Flyboykurty]

I want to be a bit more aggressive on my Track Days and am considering a new set of Wheels / Tires oriented for the Track 90% / Street 10%... So, tire Life is NOT the highest concern... I am used to using "Top Level" Tires on my motorcycles (Slicks)... I have noticed that the Track Day and Road Course organizations state the Boxster is "Legal" with it's Factory Roll-bar UNLESS "R" Compound Tires are used... Anyone enlighten me to what choices would be best ?... Also, should I stay with the 17" or upgrade to 19" for the Track Tire Fitment ?

[Jinx]

I upgraded the mirrors (both sides) on former ride and they were great.
It took a while to get use to the mirrors.
I have read a article somewhere on how to set the rear view
Mirrors for track use and seems to help a great deal to over
Come the blind spot issue. Pls note I have no track experience .

Here is how it is done; top up, center inside rear view mirror
Have some one mark the very outside edge of vision of inside
Rear view mirror behind the car (I used a yard stick).
Now adjust outside mirrors So object is just on the inside
edge of outside mirrors. Do this for both sides.

Hope this makes sense. I could not figure out any other way to word it.

Jinx

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Flyboykurty

Also, should I stay with the 17" or upgrade to 19" for the Track Tire Fitment ?

Boxster Spec requires 17" wheels in the stock sizes and offsets, but even if you are not in spec 17" tires are *way* cheaper than 19"s. (Edit: at least for the street tires and max perf and extreme summer tires)

[deeksha]

In this many replies are good but i want to know more points about boxster and its concepts

[imon_2nd]

Great thread! I agree with most of it, except the guys who think they need special mirrors.
The past couple of years, I've been doing track days at Thunderhill in Willows, CA, using a heavily modified Miata. Tons O Fun, for sure. The only problem I've had there is Turn 3 where the road's camber is reversed. The Bridgestone RE-11s don't give any clue before they break loose. Would be nice if they made some warning noise. My wife actually got the car sideways at that spot on one of her runs.
I'd like to run my 2004 Boxster S at the track, but the car feels like it needs better shocks and springs, compared to my Miata. I might try the box as-is and see how far off the mark I am before modifying it.
The main thing I've learned at the track is, tires make a huge difference, as does track temperature and tire temperature. Unless it's 100 degrees out there, warm up your tires before pushing the limits. Summer tires on a cold day don't stick as well even after they warm up.

[imsawidebody]

Hi friends.
Will be running my 986 stock Boxster at Mid Ohio on a few open track days.
Would like to have a set of dedicated track slicks and wheels, suggestions appreciated.
I am fairly experienced and competition licensed, just not that good

[yale02]

Originally Posted by imsawidebody

Hi friends.
Will be running my 986 stock Boxster at Mid Ohio on a few open track days.
Would like to have a set of dedicated track slicks and wheels, suggestions appreciated.
I am fairly experienced and competition licensed, just not that good

If you are going to do track days I would highly recommend Nitto NT01's. Perfect for DE weekends and Time Trials. I even do some wheel to wheel action on them sometimes.

I'm way too new here to comment on wheels other than to say that Enkei make some fantastic wheels for the track. I have several sets of RPF1's and NT03+M for my track only RX8. They would probably look good on a Boxster too but have not yet looked into size availability.