I just signed up for this driving event at auto club speedway in fontana, ca. Is anyone else going? It looks like there's still some spots available for the session tomorrow from 1-4pm if anyone is interested.


https://porschetestdrive.porschedeal...details&eid=87

 

I attended this event for the San Diego region at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in March. While the surface was very slick (a slick surface combined with really heavy rains all day before), my father and I had a blast.

You drive each vehicle (a 991S, Panamera 4, and Cayenne Turbo) three laps around an autocross course with one of the instructurs sitting next to you and giving you some pointers. You then ride shotgun in each of the same cars while the instructors show you just how bad a driver you really are.

Great fun... and the new 991 S... stunning... just stunning.

 

Got the invite, signed up, no confirmation. F*ck it.

 

I went to the Thursday afternoon session at Fontana. I was able to drive two different 991S PDK's as well as an (OMG!) Panamera Turbo S.

Unfortunately it was only one partial lap at a time, with a PSDS instructor leading the parade in a Cayenne. Although they claimed they were driving the Cayennes "as fast as they'll go" they very clearly were doing no such thing. I have done several DE's at the same track and we were just putt putting along. I'd compare the pace to a gentle "yellow flag" warm-up lap.

We also were able to take a hot lap in the 991S with a PSDS instructor driving. That was much more like it. To be honest I was focused more on the line being driven than feeling the car, but all the reports that the car understeers less than my GTS seem to be accurate.

We also had a chance to drive a couple of laps on a simple autocross course with an instructor on board. The back side of the course contained a couple of decreasing radius turns, and there I could really feel that the 991's front end tracks into a turn better than my GTS. On one turn where I overcooked it my GTS would have plowed ahead; in the 991 I got a big tail wag instead.

The cars are always the star of the show at these affairs, which was the good news. The bad news was that it appears that the programs are now being run by somebody new, who appears never to attended one of the older (and well run) programs. It was a mess - we stood around endlessly. My friend got so po'ed she headed for her car to leave. I talked her into staying a while longer, but we left early out of frustration. I talked to a few people about my complaints and they seemed attentive. We'll see if they improve in the future.

I'll say one thing, though. Driving with the PSDS instructors whets my appetite to go back to Barber. I'm thinking seriously about the Masters Plus program in September.

DMoore
'11 GTS
'10 Panamera 4S

 

I ended up doing the Friday afternoon session. I'm with you on the panamera turbo s (OMG), it was insanely fast. I can see why people would like the panamera, but Im still a 911 guy.

I didn't have the same problem that you seemed to have about how the program was run. It was run rather efficiently imo, but that may also have been because I attended the last session and they probably got a hang on things by then.

I must say when I first drove the 991 on the autocross track, I was a bit disappointed. It wasn't until we went on the high speed track following the cayenne that I got to experience the 991 in all its glory. With the sport buttons/suspension setting engaged it was a completely different animal. The 991 definitely feels longer than the 997 and a bit less playful. The sound of the 991 is intoxicating! In retrospect they did a good job with it, but I still like the steering feel of the 997 a bit more.