To track or not to track

[Topless]

Surely everyone must decide for themselves. A 100mph+ racetrack is probably not the best place for your first outing to learn car control.

Like Skiing, start on the bunny slopes. There is plenty of time to hit the double diamond chutes and ridges once you have mastered basic skills. I recently completed a Performance driving school where basic skills are mastered and safety and car control come first. Everyone in attendance came out a much safer and more confident driver on the street as well as the track. There was a wide range of attendees from veteran club racers honing their skills to a 17 yr old girl in her first car, to a 70 yr old grandmother learning better safety and awareness in her '68 912. I will be sending all of my kids to this next year.

Try Autocross with the PCA. It doesn't cost much, Speeds are usually much lower than track days, instructors are free, and if you hit a few cones or spin the only damage is to your ego. This is a safe and fun way to improve your driving skills.

If you do decide to go to the track, drive within your ability. if you ever get anxious or uncomfortable just slow it down or call it a day. Your fellow drivers will thank you for your wisdom. There is no reason to put your car in the weeds or worse if you keep your adrenaline in check and drive within your limits. You can still have fun and drive fast without beating your car.

There are lots of guys here with more experience at this than me (jmatta, kabel, johnV). Hopefully I have provided a little clarity as these questions were fresh in my mind 11/2 years ago. Drive safe.

[husker boxster]

FTD, great topic. You have the same thoughts / concerns as I have.

I didn't do DEs with my 01S and I'm pretty certain I won't with my LE. Since this is my DD, the practical side of me can't see wadding it up and having nothing left but 4 yrs of payments. I've seen enough "harmless spins" on TV turn into rollovers. I looked into the Porsche Driving Experience thinking this would be a good way to get some education using some else's Pcar. However, at $3K it's a bit too spendy for me at this time.

[FTD]

I have done 5 autocrosses and two days at Little Talladega. I don't mind oil changes and brake flushes [now that I know how to do a brake flush]. They are too easy to pay someone else to do. And it appears that changing the brake pads are darn simple also. What I don't want is big dollar wear. I drive like a nut; after all you can take aggressive turns and enjoy the phenomenal torque on the street without being a reckless driver or speed demon. My times at autocross are nothing to sneer at, but wouldn't it be cool if I could get better, better, better? That would be satisfying. I just am feeling queasy, having listened to all the guys at these events talk about what they have been replacing or fixing - and seeing cars towed home as well. It makes my pulse zing with anxiety.
Speaking of brake flush, I composed a DIY to post, but cannot get the images loaded. I will stick a pdf out there and maybe get the rest of it laid out later. Keep an eye out! I was real pleased to learn this simple maintenance.

[FTD]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

FTD, great topic. You have the same thoughts / concerns as I have.

I didn't do DEs with my 01S and I'm pretty certain I won't with my LE. Since this is my DD, the practical side of me can't see wadding it up and having nothing left but 4 yrs of payments. I've seen enough "harmless spins" on TV turn into rollovers. I looked into the Porsche Driving Experience thinking this would be a good way to get some education using some else's Pcar. However, at $3K it's a bit too spendy for me at this time.

Exactly everything in my mind, including looking into Skip Barber and balking at the price.
So, you guys have helped! I think autocross is OK, but maybe my stomach isn't interested at this time in DE. BTW, I bought a second set of wheels for autocross so I don't damage my good looking rims and overpriced tires. I guess I better at least wear out the tires on those extra rims!
Another BTW, we had an autocross today that I didn't go to. There are a few reasons why I didn't, including some related to this topic.

[edevlin]

I have done one autocross, but speeds got pretty high at the event (90+ mph). Great fun, but I did not realize it until afterwards that insurance would not cover ony damage done to the car during an event. I also have concerns on wear on the car, tires are not a small expense in our household, and my Boxster seems to eat the rears.

I think one of the other posters on this thread had good advice, if you cannot afford to fix or replace a car damaged during an autocross or DE event, you probably should not be doing it. In my case, I cannot afford to replace my boxster if damaged without insurance, so I think I am going to cool my jets with autocrossing.....

Ed

[ChrisZang]

well, IMHO P'cars are built to be driven fast and the only place I can do this legally is on the track.
I agree with earlier posters: Do a few Auto-X (with PCA) until you get a better feel for the car and at some point you simply know when it's time to try out your "track legs".
Again, do this with PCA, their focus is on safety, safety and safety
Both at Auto-X and track days you will ride with an instructor in the car until they find you are safe to go solo (and they are serious about this).
Initially I also was *very* worried about doing any damage to my daily driver but the car's just as fine and undamaged after almost 20 Auto-X and close to 10 track days as it was before. The reason is that at the end it's YOU who sets the speed in the car (NOBODY forces you to go faster than you feel comfortable). Don't get distracted by all the videos of people flipping their cars etc. Auto-X is EXTREMLY safe and the "flipping car videos" are one in a million examples of people on whom the "red mist" decended.

But on a different note look at the $$$ you have to spend:
For both Auto-X and track days you need a helmet and while some people think the most expensive helmet is just good enough for you, I went with a cheapo $100 helmet

Auto-X: very moderate cost, here in the Bay Area you pay $30 for a day (= 8 minutes of driving time) of Auto-X, you won't wear your tires too much but you'll see more wear, so no biggie here

track days:
usually $250 ~ $400 / day
I usually use on full tank of gas / day
you probably need to stay in a motel
I have special brake pads for the track ($500)
You need driving gloves ($50)
And I just bought a 2nd set of rims ($500) for track tires ($1,000)
and eventually you'll want to buy a timer ($100 ~ $200) and do more modifications (suspension, bucket seat, 6 point harness, etc.)
So considerable more $$$ to spend here....

[Topless]

On insurance-
I checked my coverage with Mercury and their policy is clear... If you are taking part in a Performance driving School or Driver Education with no timing involved, even on a racetrack, you and your car are covered. If you are in a timed event like Autocross or Time Trials it is competitive and considered racing... You are not covered. Other insurance carriers may vary greatly from this. Our local track days include PCA liability insurance which covers injuries. You are responsible for damage to the facility, your car, or damage to someone else's car.

On Performance Driving Schools-
The Porsche Driving Experience, Bob Bondurant, and Skip Barber all have great programs with professional instructors but they are very expensive at $3000 per weekend. Both the POC and PCA have local programs based on the same curriculum as the others for $200-$300. Check your local clubs. One of the great benefits of owning a Porsche is having access to some of the best driving instruction available at a fraction of the cost of Barber or Bondurant. Don't miss this opportunity. Here is one example. There are many others.
http://www.pcasdr.org/img/2008/Calendar/DSchool/School%20Ad-%20Spring%2008.pdf

[brp987]

I faced the same dilemma, but kept my sportbike. The bike experience so dwarfs my '01 S that the box is relegated to touring, and as such has probably never seen 5k. Ofcourse driving can be a thrill, but I do my own repairs and have really had my fill of engines, gearboxes, and etc. Bikes are cheap and can be viewed as expendables, much more readily than a pristine car, like my S is. Plus its nice getting 40+ mpg, riding in the carpool lane, and splitting lanes, which I hear is only legal in CA. As for the danger, I dunno,maybe I've been lucky. More than 150k miles on LA frwys and not a scratch. And believe you me, I'm not holding up traffic. Experience and common sense, hopefully.