Those of you who already know me will recognize much of this, but as I am new to this board and have read posts from some new GT2ers...

I put 4500 miles on my GT2 before selling it to work on a 959.

I loved the car, and drove it on all sorts or roads, all sorts of conditions, all sorts of speeds.

The first 500 miles or so was getting used to the car. The next 1500 was gradually exploring the limits. The last 2500 were playing...

The car's limits are extreme, and 99% of the time you can sense when you are getting close to them. You need to be careful because if you cross the line and don't have a lot of experience, you will lose control... But you have to be going hard and wild to get to that line.

There is a 1% exception. The car doesn't like uneven pavement, even at only "agressive" driving. This is the one place I urge you to be careful. Put one wheel in even a tiny rut and all of a sudden the fine scalpel that is the GT2 can suprise you...

The closest I came to real trouble (besides getting nicked at 53 MPH by police when exiting a 10MPH uphill, blind, reverse camber turn -- Ticket now framed) was when the car, just past the apex of a turn, as I was rolling on the throttle, not more than 80% of limit, hit an impossible to see cut in the pavement... And nearly went *** first...

That spooked me because I did nothing wrong.

So enjoy the car, it is amazing. Just remember it has a different set of behaviors 1% of the time -- so don't get too confident -- ever.

 

I know i speak for others too when i say, 959... details PLEASE!!!

 

Sure...

Again, apologies for those who've heard this...

Short Version: I was 15 when I read about the 959. It has been "the" dream car ever since. However, since we couldn't afford any car... We didn't run out and move to Germany and buy one... (Don't think I didn't try)

Fast-Forward: Last fall took delivery of the GT2 and started meeting and driving with lots of very nice people around So. Cal... Starting reading boards like this one... reading about people's project cars...etc.

It dawned on me. I loved the GT2 -- But there was one Porsche I would love more...

Spent some time researching the process of making the car US legal (a long subject I will post about if people want)... Started talking to people in Germany, etc... Then a friend introduced me to another friend who represented a Japanese Seller of a 959 with less than 4500 kms.

Took the plunge in March/April... Had the car sent to Houston (got there in May) because I thought Wallace Labs had the best program for what I wanted.

Things so far have gone very very well. My car appears to be able to pass all EPA (including CA) with modifications but without adding the electric air/fuel pump (the first 959 to not need it that I know of)...

If things go well I should have the car by Nov some time.

 

dean,

the gt2 is not evil. you should have tried different bar settings [higher rear] and more toe in for your slow speed usage!!!! and tried the same corner 50 more times until you got it right.

i love you man, but you gotta take responsibility, not put it on the car.

after another EVIL backstabbing of its unsuspecting 12 year old owner, GT2 sleeps waiting for night to suck the blood of the unwary.

 

Very funny picture/comment Watt! You always crack me up.

I still think that Deanger has a good point though. Some of the most rewarding/challenging cars to drive are likely to surprise you from time to time. And unfortunately, the only requirement for owning one of these precision machines is a fat bank account or healthy monthly pay check.

I'm almost too ashamed to admit it, but before I decided to take the plunge and go racing, I learned this fact the hard way with a 93 RX7 turbo. The handling in these cars was awesome - as evidenced by several back-to-back national solo II championships in the mid 90s until the advent of the Z06. However, they could easily bite the **** of a less experienced driver... as I found out on day three of my ownership experience. It was after that humiliating experience, that produced a lump of metal similar to the photo you posted, that I decided I needed to learn high performance driving.

P.S. Now my only trouble is being hit by overly zealous Spec RX7 drivers trying to win a $3.99 golden goddess... Hopefully the M3 will not be placed in the samerun group as my wacky Spec RX7 friends this year.

 

Watt,

GT2 is not evil, but even you are still trying to tame it for your high speed usage.

Obviously, even the "masters" at Andial screwed the car up... now it's Wheel Enhancement's turn

BTW, ching bling says you should look elsewhere for suspension setup.

 

Watt,

Stop screwing around with Andial and Wheel Enhancement for suspension setups! Goto the guy that does 90% of the POC track cars: He has setup every car that I have put on the track and does a fantastic job!

Ask for Steve.
JOHNSON WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE
19056 HAWTHORNE BLVD, TORRANCE, CA 90503
Phone: (310) 370-6301

Better yet have Steve go to the track with you and dial it into your driving style.

While you are there go see Callas Rennsport (my mechanic) he might still have the GT1 in his shop or few 959's! The shop is not pretty but he is the only authorized mechanic by Porsche NA to work on the GT1. Plus it does'nt hurt that he is the lead mechanic for ROHR & Champion Audi rs8.

 

the issue with setting the gt2 or any car for sustained speeds, thats for 100 continuous miles, of say 165 mph, is that there is no experience base out there except amongst the openroad racers none of whom runs a gt2. i am the only gt2 that runs this fast. some of the euros i hang with do it for maybe 15 minutes at a time on smooth freeways.

even ruf was experimenting when they tuned ruf-racers' car for these races.

many posters on the sites think they just have it nailed or their vendor has it nailed 'cause they drove 175 or [insert favourite speed] and their car was perfect... for 5 minutes [insert actual time], but not for 100 miles on bumpy rutted two lane with an intermittent cross wind. wilbur hasn't even done it -- yet. maybe hamman will actually show up for the race on 318 in 2 weeks and he'll begin to experience this unknown but actual reality. it's truly a different world and it's more dangerous than you can fathom until you try it.

steve is for circles. he has no experience with open road settings above 150 mph. he is excellent i agree, we spoke: he said we'll experiment. the issue is developing the settings and he like everyone else hasnt done it, because there is a limited need.

and i agree andial is for aircooled motor work only but they were rec'd by my factory executive and i followed that rec. for liability reasons. he wont make that rec. again.

Ruf racer uses alarcon to set his suspension but only to set the settings ruf racer developed on his own. steve has NO input on setting development. and any competent vendor in which i include tom at wheel enhancement can set the settings i develop. and i am able to admit when i havent solved a problem and ask for help, but i know now from asking that the only answer is to solve it through testing and further experience, because no-one else knows either.

everyone look inside yourselves, and admit you don't have the experience or knowledge in this area [otherwise i would have met you at the finish line in nevada, huh], and support me in trying to develop the knowledge.

it sounds so easy L8, BUT maybe the ruf racer will care to comment and bring you up to speed -- thats sustained speed!!! and i will certainly try your vendors.

 

watt,

I had no idea the primary use for the car was open road racing. (Totally different ball game!) I don't even think Tony Callas could help ya! But it might be worth a call. www.callasrennsport.com.

Good Luck!

 

Watt,

In NO WAY did I mean to blame the car or call it evil... It is awesome. Merely wanted to remind some eager drivers that they can't get overconfident in it te way they might be able to in a car with PSM.

Lest they end up like your photo.

 

dean,
i know you miss it!! time to get another one!!! hey, bring the ferrari to nevada and run!!!

 

watt is right, he is charting into unknown territory. I was just messing around with him, because personally I think he is insane to be running a GT2 for hundreds of miles at those speeds. I don't think Porsche factory even had this in mind when designing the car.

Personally, I predict that watt will have to change his suspension settings all the time. Why? Because when you set your car up for high speed bombing, it doesn't really become a great canyon slammer anymore and vice versa. If I had to guess, the GT2 was more meant to be a road racing car than a high speed racer. However, it certainly comes well armed from the factory for a top speed battle!!!

As for his decision to use Andial, I think he did the prudent thing by following the factory's advice. Even PCNA makes mistakes!!!

Watt, have you contacted Manthey Racing yet? Seeing as how they are such a successful race team, perhaps they could give you some insight.

 

Oh by the way, the insanity is contagious. Watch out!

 

Watt,

You're right... I do miss it... Once bitten

 

Watt,

Check your PM.