Any Norcal 944-Spec Stuff yet?

[CKKrause]

I tried to post this before, so excuse me if this is a repeat posting. I am new to this forum, but I am a NASA member and have driven with NASA HPDE3 at Infineon. I have an '88 924S and plan to get my novice racing licence next year and plan to build my car into a racer. Your 994-Spec group looks like fun, so I'm wondering if there are any plans to get something going in Northern Cal? Thanks for your response!

 

-CKKrause

[PeanutinCA]

Just incase nobody logs on until tomorrow. There is a couple guys up North, search the past posts here and you should find something? I think there is about 2 guys so far? So you could make 3! I wont claim to remember the details, but at least would like to give you so good news until someone with the knowledge jumps in.

 

Good luck and get yourself ready for 2005 in NorCal.

 

P.Dilly.

[Tim Comeau]

CK,

Yep, 2 guys are in the NorCal Group so far. Ken Huey(pixar), Bill Pennock.

Others are interested, too.

We do have a great little class and it's because of our rules. Feel free to ask questions. Check out Joe Paluch's website for lots of info and a link to the rules.

Cheers!

[pixrken]

Hi CK,

 

Small world, I got the spare '88 engine I bought from you running.

I was going to contact you to see if you were interested in running in the 944-spec class with your 924S.

I have a coworker that just picked up a 944 as a dedicated autoX car and maybe future 944-spec.

Hope to run with you next year!

[billpennock]

I attempted to run SCCA this summer, I say attempted because my first race I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got taged at Laguna. I got the rear quarter fixed and the second race overheated badly. It hasn't been right since. I am currently looking for a mechanic that isn't gonna cost me an arm and a leg. I was doing my own work but I have determined that relearning auto mechanics that I learned on late 60's american cars on a mid 80's Porsche is having less than steller results.

 

Anyway if a class develops in NASA I'd move over here no problem.

[pixrken]

Hi Bill Pennock,

 

I found a good mechanic that works on 944's at very reasonable rates.

He helped me put my car back together (swapped out power steering rack for manual, rebuilt engine, new clutch, A/C delete, replace internal oil cooler for external 944 turbo style oil cooler, etc.

I'll PM you his name and number.

Let's see if we can jump start the 944-spec in Norcal.

[CKKrause]

Hi Ken-

 

I'm probably a year away from having the racing license and getting the car from a solid DE setup to a race setup...it'll be a real bummer to have to pull the AC out (Thunderhill is 3 hot hours of driving away), as I was getting mid-high 30's out of the AC vents...Oh well! On the other hand, I'll have a great time getting the car ready. I'll stay on this site and watch things develop. It really gives me a goal to shoot for now!!

 

Thanks for all of the comments!

 

-CKKrause

[Tim Comeau]

CK,

pull the A/C last. Strip your interior, put in a cage and all your safety gear, add suspension and start racing the car heavy. That's ok.

I use a NACA duct zip tied to my driver's side window frame as my A/C!

But when I first started racing my 924S, I'd be sitting in pre-grid with the A/C AND the radio on.

The important thing is get it to the track and start getting seat time.

 

Ken,

I love your enthusiasm for the new NorCal Group. Let's get some official class number boards on those cars, you guys. That'll help the advertising of our class.

 

Bill,

Do you need any parts?

[944-Spec#94]

I agree with Tim.

Seat time is the most important thing you can do. You can race a car that is not fully prepared to the limit of the rules. So leave the A/C in for a while. At first it will NOT make the difference between winning and losing.

 

One thing you want to make sure you do before you start racing is get comfortable at speed and with other cars around. Spend lots of time in DE's getting so that you can drive the car hard and fast.

 

You really want to be no more than 5 seconds off the pace of the front runners. The reason is that if you are not within that pace there is probably much to learn still about driving rather than racing. I am one who feels you need to learn to drive well before you can race.

 

Frankly DE days offer more seat time that race days. Simply because you can use all the sessions to test and learn. Lots of folks seems to forget to learn to drive when they are racing. The racing concept takes hold vs using the race time to learn to drive better. Also DE is much lower pressure and much better learning enviorment. HPDE 4 is great place to learn since it allows open passing, but still is a "DE" enviroment.

 

[CKKrause]

I hear you, gentlemen! I've been doing as many DE's as I have time for...I got 7 days in this year. My next DE will be at Thunderhill on 1/16.

 

I did the NASA HPDE weekend last month at Infineon in their HPDE3 class. While it was fun to learn a new track, most of the cars were high powered 911's and 930's and I felt like I was holding people up and a real slowpoke. I found that the SCCA HPDS's have more cars that are comparable to the 924S and I felt much more in the flow of things...

 

Regardless, I'm seriously considering getting the car race (less the AC!!!) ready for April as SCCA has a licenseing school then. Thanks for your comments and I hope to eventually see you all at the track!!

 

-CKKrause