Ok I can see you just do not understand. This has nothing to do with driving on the street. Larry best of luck with your decision, I've tried to help.

 

+1


I'm a little suprised by the last few comments.

Who cares what one has done on the street. Its irrelevant.

Some drivers don't want to get off the street and try the track. They have to face the reality that they don't have the talent they think they possess.

The 997S will not be slow going around the track. It will be you holding the car back. You will run out of talent before the car runs out of performance.

 

Who says I think I have talent? I know my driving skills aren't race-ready but they don't have to be.

This whole thread is starting to take a nasty and unproductive turn. Drive your car how you want to drive, where you want to drive. The only person you have to answer to is your spouse.

 

Not speaking to or of you.

Speaking of those drivers who equate fast driving skills on a public road with those skills you need to drive at a high level of pefromance on a track.

I don't think thread is taking a nasty turn. I do think however that 3 or 4 threads started on the same topic is somewhat unproductive.

 

Taking a Porsche to the track (DE, not race) is the safest way to learn how to drive a car when those special circumstances arise (i.e. grandma cuts you off at 65mph).

IMHO, there is not other place where you will be able to make controlled repetitive attempts to find what the limits of the car are. The street is just a bad place for trying this and it can lead to very unfortunate consequences - to you and others. That being said, I truly believe that I am a better and safer driver on the road because I know what is possible (or not) with my car by going to these 6-8 DE events a year.

Now, if the OP doesn't want to take his car to the track, for whatever reason, that is his choice. I would, and this has been suggested before, recommend that he takes a couple of PSDS days. If he gets bitten by the track bug, he can then revisit his decision and/or buy a throwaway track car and have all the fun for less that it would cost to get a couple of mods on his turbo.

I know that Michael Schumacher in a Prius is probably faster than me around a track. But I am still having plenty of fun during DE events as they are not races - and I am definitively learning something. On the track, I just wave Schumi through and look at his line for a couple of turns before he disappears into the sunset.

T.

 

I agree with this to a certain point. I find it amusing that people can think that because they can drive fast on a highway, or take a few 'spirited' turns on their favorite street means that they know how to push the Porsche (or any other car) to its limits.

On my first HPDE, I learned exactly how little I knew. My eyes were opened, and I saw a whole new world.

 

I'll clarrify --
This wasn't a street or track comparison.
I did say the 997S was slow . I did say the Turbo was faster .
I feel this way whether I had all the skill in the world or no skill at all .. it won't change either car from being what they are .

I may be slow even if the car is fast .
I also may not be as slow as one may think just because i lack experience . At this point I look at unknowns for what they are --not known.

I do realize that some view the 997S as a more ideal track car .. in THIS section . Go to the Turbo section and you will hear some counterpoints too.

The only "street" reference is that if it's the ONLY experience one has --it's all he can refer to.
And if a DE is not a competive thing and just for fun why woild it matter if a Boxter passes ?
If a street is not a competive thing .. why would it matter if a 997S or gt3 can spend all day running circles on the track only to lose a challenge on his way home to a guy in a Turbo Cab?

I have openly said that i wold gladly let any car pass me if i felt he was taking unnecessary risks . He can have the street or the track . I would feel that way if it was a minivan .

But if it is competion -- then lets call it what it is .
If it's fun --then let it be just that.

 

+1 ^^ !! Wise words .

So very true. Anyone who does go needs to take a big bag of humility along with them as 99% odds on they are going find out that they arent nearly as good as they'd like to have everyone else believe.
Now the big question is, can they handle their moment of truth .

Its the ones that say they dont need to go that are always the ones that really need to go.

Get it booked!! Monday!! Even if you can't/won't do a P school event till its cooler. At least you are locked in....commited.. Use their cars too if you have doubts on your own but just get it booked and paid for and let us know the second youve done that.

Cant wait to read your post once you've done it .

 

I fully agree with you that the street is an unacceptable playground for high speed.
I feel that the 1 mile track event is quite a limit and not too much wear on the car .
I feel that mountain drives through twisty roads on a vacation is another way of enjoying this car .

I do feel that a track allows one to explore certain limits --but I question whether it's necessary and if the cost exceeds the benefit.

I've only opened up the topic of wear and tear on the car .. but a driver can get hurt on the track too . Just because it is a more controlled environment does not rule out accident or injury on a drive with no real purpose.

 

I haven't and wont track it. I've tracked many and driven many "superbikes" "supercars" and "supermods" to their limit, and in some cases beyond, both on and off the track. If I want something to beat on, there are many other rides that are less costly and more fulfilling. Yeah it feels cool to rap on a $180k car, but remove the ego and its just another work of art being beaten. I have nothing to prove. Flame away.

 

But I am observing on all these threads that the guys who don't track their cars have been very humble. Many have voiced that they won't track the car and that's that .
They are not claiming to be better, faster, more proficient .

If measuring ego was the title of the thread .. do you feel that the non track guys are displying a large ego ? I don't .

Most say they don't know, don't care, don't want to .
I am even saying i don't know .
I don't feel that I ought to concede that i suck at driving when I really have no idea how i would do or to edify someone else ideas about his driving ability .

 

Unless the purpose is to be schooled on your beloved P car then id agree at this stage in the game its a complete utter waste of time and money.

There will always be those that do DE events to compete and there will always be those that do it for fun. I do for fun. The P school is somewhat very different.

On DE's the competitive types usually push their cars much harder. I like to treat my car with the thought i will be driving the next day.

Its not compulsory to wring your cars neck just because you are on a track. Some can get caught up in the moment and think different....then think about it later on after something goes pear shaped with their car .

Get it booked!!

Then tell us all about it.

 

Larry,

I think you have a some predisposed thoughts about what DE's and Track Days are all about and I do not think you are going to understand unless you try it. Thats really all that can be said here.....

 

Im not asking anyone to concede they suck at driving. Youre being a bit harsh in your interpretations yrralis. What i was refering to is those that go to these P school events mostly come to quickly realize they have a ways to go and are prepared to accept their shortcommings gracefully. Then there is always the know it all types that come along with a view they knew it all beforehand and act like they are only attending to have a little look and see. I recall during my P schooling there was a few of these types and instead of listening and learning they were having "offs" in situations that didnt warrant that happening (had they been listening with an open mind). And getting a dressing down by the instructors at later de brief's.

Thats all. No offense intended to anyone and if i have i openly appologise.

Btw i knew you needed a push....just didnt realise how big.

Get it booked!!!!! No more talking please....actions only.

 

That's one hard concept of the track. If one really thinks about it .. and competition or profession is factored out -- the idea of taking my precious car , having to learn skills, to wear it out driving in a circle -risking my health -- and the cost --

It's a tough pill to swallow .

Then there's when the same track gets boring . Maybe some guys like to marry one track but most guys want to try a few of them . By then its more time, effort , money .. constant learning .. and the car is toast by then.

So -one day at a dinner party -- the topic of 'fun" comes up -- and in excitement jumps up a driver who says I drove 30K miles in giant circles everwhere , saw no real scenery , spent a fortune , had a blast doing it, but I can't buy my next car because no one wants to buy this one after it's toast .. sooo.. I will add even more mods .. drive in more circles .. and yes I am learning .. trust me .. I am learning . and education is expensive . Then the non driver says .. "oh man .. my 10 year old Civic get me to the supermarket" and you both look at each other and feel each doesn't understand.

I sit somewhere in the middle . Neither extreme sounds appealing to me and BTW whether it's the avid track driver or the point a to b non driver -- they can't phathoim that someone can actually try to find a healthy balance of the two.