I will be going to a PCA DE in two weeks. Need some advice on tracking my new TT. I have done 3 DE's in my Boxster (2.5L 210HP) Tiptronic. I will be driving a 2002 TT 6spd, with TechArt Intake/DME/Exhaust, with approx. 480HP. I am going to get race brake pads, flush brake fluid and replace with Motul Blue. I already have Harness Bar and 5-point harness.
Any pointers?
I used to just FLOOR the gas pedal (in the Boxster) during the turn-out, coming out of the turns, and just give the passing signal to (almost) every car behind me!!!!!
Now I figure things will go a little differently!
Any advice?
You usually see Boxsters, 993's, 964's, older 911's and a few 944's in the novice group. I figure, well I should be on top of the HP heap (I didn't say "skill")........but there is a GT-2 signed up in my group. Should be fun trying to keep pace with a GT-2. I will try to line up right behind it during the sessions.
Thanks.

 

Learn the lines.

 

A Tiptronic Boxster, and 6 days of DE on the same track, gives you plenty of time to learn the lines.
Thanks.

 

I wouldn't get the race pads unless you will be using the car only for tracking. The OEM pads are great for infrequent tracking and the race pads will be poor and be noisy for daily driving.
The Boxster is great training for the TT. Don't expect to go much faster until you learn the new car though. You tend to carry more speed into the turn with the Boxster and actual lap time will not be that far different until you learn the limits of the TT.
Most importantly - expect to Have Fun. It's not a race.

 

You may benefit from the GT3 brake ducts to feed more air to the brakes... and they are not very expensive.

 

If I am interpreting your comment correctly, this is a huge mistake in many cases, unless you have profound knowledge about the abilities of the driver of the car in front.
Many novices find themselves in a situation wherein their skills are improving and they are getting faster lap times. Inevitably, they will come upon a slower driver. It is a common human reaction to follow the car in front of you but this is not necessarily the wisest thing to do. When I have instructed, I often will tell the student to imagine the car in front of them is transparent. You most certainly want to pay attention to what they are doing, their brake lights, hand signals and vehicle attitude BUT at the same time look THROUGH the car to road in front of them. Choose your own line based upon YOUR driving experience and car's handling response characteristcs (such as...understeer, oversteer, front engined, rear engined, mid-engined, performance mods, etc.).
If you get caught up following the car in front of you, you run the risks of making all of their mistakes as well. Now, if the driver in front of you happens to be Michael Schummacher, well, that is another story!!

 

But, then again, if MS is in front of you, he will not be for more than a few seconds!!!

 

Above comments are all on point - but, are you running solo in a PCA DE,driving in the novice class? Never heard of that, at least not in this area. As far as following cars, unless you are following an instructor or a known racer, forget about the car in front of you. In fact, back off, give him or her some room and drive at your pace - but most importantly - drive the line. Speed will increase as you learn the line and begin to understand, slow in to corners and fast out. Brake in a straight line.

I have been driving Boxsters, both regular and Boxster S and just recently drove a 996 for two days at the track. Much different - but it just takes some time getting used to the differences. I also hope to drive my tt at the track - assuming I ever get it (now deciding whether to wait for Turbo S.)

Good luck and have blast.

 

I just had another DE day last Friday (my third this year), so the experience is still fresh in my mind.

I normally don't hit full stride until my third session, driving the first two 7-8/10th's while getting reacclimated with the track and comfortable with the car. I also wait until the cars lined up on pit row are all on track before I go out. It gives me plenty of room to go at my own pace and I won't get caught in the trap of running the line of the guy in front of me (as KPV mentioned) or trying to keep up with someone faster too early on. Also, I'm less likely that way to get caught in a "train" of slower traffic (especially in a lower run group where skills and equipment are much more varied).

If I were you, I'd wait a few sessions to line up behind the GT2. I've done the same thing myself to see how my car compares with that of others, but the biggest variable is still driver skill so you may not learn a lot about your car vs his from that experience (I had a GT2 in my rungroup one day at Buttonwillow last year and he was one of the slowest in the group, even in the straightaways...a huge let down for me as I passed him a number of times in my C2).

 

My advice is simple. Learn the language of your car. It will tell you when things are not up to snuff. Pay attention to shimmy, vibration, and the handling of the car. Devices that can enhance your ability to talk and listen to your car are a tire pressure gauge, a pyrometer, clip board and some sort of timing device. Don't misunderstand the timer, it is not to set records. It is for you to see if what feels smooth is quick or what feels fast is accurate. It is important to know if the "line" is really being learned/improved upon. If your times on the third DE are slower than your first, than something may not be right. Furthermore, diff't cars may have slightly diff't lines. The "wet" line is often diff't than the dry line. And the race line may be altogether diff't than the fast line b/c of traffic or what is available. This last part is another level, but with enough experience there is always another level, and a good instructor will point these things out to you. Hopefully your instructor will have a similar car to yours. That is a plus. Keep a driver's log book and if your PCA club doesn't have one, suggest that they be handed out at the DE's.

A couple of quick comments on the previous notes. It is a good idea to look through the car in front of you and drive YOUR line. It is easy to fall into the line in front of you. Don't squeeze the steering wheel and let your seat/butt interface talk to you. Don't let drastic reactions abruptly alter the attitude of the car: smooth is usually fast. And never drive at 100% unless you are racing. have fun!

 

Are you driving with an instructor??? If so, make sure you listen to what your instructor is saying.

Do not worry about who is passing who. There is always somebody faster out there in a lesser powered car, just remember that when that NA 944 or Miata shows up on your rear bumper in the twisty section. Drive for yourself and stay within your limits, especialy important if you are planning on driving the car home. Smoother is faster and the speed will come naturally.

I would also suggest leaving the stock pads alone till you reach their limits and need to move to a better pad. Even then you may want to try a sport type pad before jumping into a full race pad.

 

Let me just say this. I have a lot of track experience in my previous C2 and just a handful in my Turbo. I started over when I got the Turbo.
It's night and day. Don't even think about being the fastest in your group. I can virtually guarantee you won't be.
Just learn to drive that car.

I wouldn't change anything on the car either... if it's relatively new, you don't need to.