What a blast that was. Our PCA track is High Plains and it is a real nice track layout. Lots of corners and elevation changes. There are a couple downhill off camber corners that were really challenging for me along with the corners where the radius decreases.

I was worried since I only have 6 weeks in to my first sports car and no track experience except the world road show I would be the slow guy. I was one of fastest in my group and was bumped from the green to blue group for the next session. I am sure the car helped although there were two 997.2 turbos in the green group. I drifted out a few times and the car just straightened back out with a little counter steer. It is going to take me a while to learn to not let off on the throttle when I drift. Instinct tells you to let up. On my very first session an older 911 spun out right in front of me. That got my attention and adrenaline up. I was also worried about passing. The green group was pretty small and spread out especially on Sun and passing was real easy. Every one was real good about letting people by.

The things I really need to work on are a more smooth right foot and more faith in the car on the higher speed turns. It is absolutely amazing how fast these cars can go around a corner if you keep the throttle and steering smooth. It also amazing how fast they will loose traction if you upset the car.

I do have a couple questions. I do plan on going back for DE events but am concerned or am trying to figure out the cost of doing so. The events are not cheap but it is the tires and brake pads I am concerned about. I was there two days and put a bit of wear on the tires. I don't know how to check the brake pads and need to learn how. I am curious how many DE events it would take for a beginner to wear out the tires and brakes.

 

Glad to see you like your first DE! I am afraid you caught the virus already
It is very true that the limit of the 991 is much higher than where you would dare to go initially.

Regarding costs... well, it is an expensive hobby.
Here's my own math:
-registration: $400-$500
-track insurance: ~$550 (for a $100k car value)
-tires: 5 weekends with a set of track tires ~$300 per weekend
-pads: 2 weekends for a set of stock front pads ~$150 per weekend (but you will rapidly need brakes upgrade if you push it harder)
-gas for the track: ~$150

In total ~$1,600 without travel, hotel and meals... and without car depreciation, upgrades you will want to do, a cracked windshield every once in a while etc.

It roughly means that you are paying $6.7 per minute or $15 to $20 per lap.

Still, it is worth every penny!

 

Thanks, I don't see me getting track wheels unless I can drive them to the track and that seems like a bad idea since I live 75 miles from the track. I have zero interest in getting a trailer or pulling a trailer with my C2S.

I did have fun and want to do more track days but only DE events with my car in mostly or totally stock form. I figured out yesterday that I have little interest in a race or pure track car. I don't like working on cars (except to detail them) and I think that kind of goes with track car ownership. I also have to many other hobbies that I am not going to give up so my track days will be more limited then someone who has racing as their main hobby.

I did not buy track insurance and need to think thru that cost / risk decision.

 

its not too bad and its a lot of fun.

Tires/wheels- I would suggest getting 19's. Tires will cost less and you'll have more choice. You may be able to find some take offs from the dealer as the 19s were stock on the base 911.

Brake Fluid- FLush at least every 6months with hi performance fluid

Brake Pad- the stock pads are decent, they prob last you 5-6 track days. YOu could get more agressive pagids but you may not like the noise on a DD.

 

I know race wheels are cheaper and perform better and so are 18 or 19 inch rims but not if you add the cost of a trailer and trailer storage. I have no other way to get the car and the wheels to the track. Then you have the whole warranty oil thing with the 991 and track tires.

It would be great if there was a race / street wheel I could use that would not wear out to fast driving to and from the track.

6 track days on stock pads I can live with. I don't want the squeal of track pads.

Either way this was my first DE and I have one more in a month and that is it for this year. I have plenty of time to figure out what I want to do if anything. I am sure you all know right now the tires are not the limiting factor for me at this stage.

 

Clearly you can have worthwhile fun at any level of commitment. What you learn about the car and driving is bound to pay dividends in street driving. Just do it!

 

lol @ the break down. Fun factor > Costs!

 

All makes perfect sense. In my short experience on the track, I have not seen people get hurt, but I have seen quite a few cars totaled: a new E92 M3 rolling over, a 911 GT3 hitting a concrete wall, etc. Even if you sell what is left of a totaled 991, you will probably write off 75% of its value at a bare minimum (not to mention you may not easily find a buyer for your engine, seats, wheels or whatever is intact).
I do not know if there are any official statistics, but I think I have seen something like 1% of the cars participating to DE's getting seriously damaged and I am personally not taking the chance to write off my 991, even if it is only a 1% probability... Just my 2 cents (well, a bit more in fact )

 

Agree with the cost breakdown based on my recent experience. I would also say that accidents do happen, no matter how experienced you are and I like Serge I would take out the insurance. Your standard insurance usually articulates that you must not be racing on a track. Its a very grey area and to ensure I am covered I take out the insurance. I even took it out for an HPDC event which is the precursor to a DE.

 

Well a brand new 981 Cayman went two wheels off and then back on and overshot the track doing more then a 360. It came to a stop 50 from a concrete wall. No damage but everyone watching was holding our breath and wondering when and where the car would stop.

After seeing that and reading the advice here I will probably get the insurance from now on. Bottom line I can afford the insurance but can't afford to replace the car.

Thanks for the advice.

 

In case you needed anything more to get convinced, here's what happened this past weekend:



Glad I have track insurance...

 

OP: The track is completely addictive... and expensive, any way you slice it. You have to decide whether it's worth it. Accidents happen, all the time. Most guys who track a lot eventually have one -- cost of doing business in the long term. Ask yourself honestly whether you can afford that outcome (with or without insurance).
To answer your question, the pad depths are monitored by a sensor (not reliable) or with a flashlight (very reliable). Anyone at the track, dealer, or indy shop can help. This is important. If you track with any regularity, you need to check your pads regularly. I assume you know to brake flush properly and often but if not, do a search -- also crucial.
Re tires, I have driven many times to and from the track on Toyo R888's. The wear on the ride to/from is not significant compared to the wear the get on the track. Don't let that stop you. In the end, it prob saves money (in 19' size compared to 20' stock tires) and it's safer because you have more grip. That said, it shouldn't be a rush for you. I tracked around 70 days or 4 years in my 997 and 991 in stock tires and they are fine until you really get your speeds up.
More important than tires, IMO, is getting a set of track pads (like Pagid Rs-29's). It's somewhat debatable whether track tires save $ but I can say with 100% certainty that track pads are a bargain. A set of Pagids can easily last you two seasons of heavy use and they are close to the same price of the street pads, which wear very quickly (due to PTV, among other reasons). Again, as you get your speeds up they will become imperative, as you will want more confidence in the brake pedal late in the session than even the stock pads can provide.

 

Glad u had fun, the 991 is a superb track car, track insurance, depending on how much you plan/want to push yourself and the car. i only go as high as 7/10- 8/10, with the coilovers on the car, the car is so stable, feels like I should upgrade to some slicks instead of MPSS tires.

Track insurance is a good idea, if you plan to go ***** out at the track.

 

Sorry to hear and see your misfortune. I have some friends that track their P cars and have been informed stuff like this happens...

Hope it is up and running like new soon.

 

Man, I really wish you wouldn't break it down. I prefer to put it in the "misc" category in Quicken and hope my wife doesn't ask a lot of questions.

Marc

PS. worth every penny. Glad you had a good time. Love to see more people on the track.