Well, I had a fantastic time at PDE - some of the world's most fantastic vehicles and certainly some of the best instructors you can 'rent'. Great track, great food, spectacular program overall.

Now, on to the 997's - I was VERY impressed with these, and the technology is a gigantic leap forward for Porsche over the 996. PSM allows more 'fun' with sliding but also is more effective, the balance of the car is just beautiful, the speed is noticeably faster, the exhaust note (particularly on the S) is worlds better, and of course the interior electronics are superior. What I was most impressed with is the new generation tiptronic - no longer does it shift you to the next gear even when you are in manual mode - it really lets you get to the rev limiter before it does that, and the shifts themselves are faster and with much less lag. You can hear the rev matching when you downshift, and if you keep it in 'auto mode', it has a more agressive shifting map than the previous tiptronic had.

I started the experience in a 6-speed, but when I tried the tiptronic the afternoon of the first day, I never went back. I know it's a torque converter, and it's not as good as a sequential gearbox, but since less than 1% of drivers with 6-speed are good enough to shift as well as a computer, and I'm certainly among the lower 10% of those 99%, I'm sticking with tiptronic, particularly considering all the improvements that have been made.

I was shooting for a GT3 as my next car, but PSM and tiptronic have lured me in - GT3 is not for those of us who drive and the PSM goes off occassionally - it's for those who never miss a shift, never understeer or oversteer without complete control, and maintain the correct grip balance the entire time.

Maybe in a few years, but for now, I'm gonna chase the 997 S tiptronic.

 

Nice write-up - best of luck in your upcoming 997!

 

Yeah, thanks Darren - I know you have the bug too...

 

nice! so they update to all 997 now?

 

cool, how many miles were on the car you got to drive?

 

Nice write-up, thanks!

Who were your instructors?

 

Ben, lj - each car that I recall looking at the odometer had less than 2000 miles, so I'd say so much for the break in period...

 

Nice write-up. Best of Luck in your new 997.

Just please make sure that you post the First Pic. ONLY on 6speedonline

 

Great writeup. I'm going in June. Any suggestions on what to bring, where to stay? How many in the class and how was it broken up?

TIA
Bernie

 

baboo - stay at the Wynfrey, no question! They have a special price there, everybody meets there with a free shuttle at the beginning of the day and end of the day, the meal after the first day is there, and the beds are fantastic. It's connected to a mall, so if you bring your wife, she'll be happy.

I brought my helmet, but was the only one. Bring clothes for all kinds of weather, bring a camera, but pretty much everything you need is provided, including breakfast and lunch during the day.

The class typically has 20-23 participants, and it is broken into 4 groups - A, B, C, and D - broken up by experience level. I was in the one group that had drivers who did other events - the class itself was a bunch of rookies for the most part, but everyone did really well, it was amazing. For the track time, they break it up even further, as they don't want groups of 5 or 6 on the track since that puts too much space between the instructor's car and the end car, so they have 'sub groups'. I was pulled from mine and put with 2 from another group and we stayed a group the entire time. It's amazing, I can still tell you exactly the way each of my group drivers drives and know what's going to happen at certain turns - where Cris will fall back, where Gary gets a little nervous, how Cris has a great exit speed at turn 5, where I get ahead of both of them, etc. You stay with your group unless there is an issue with driving ability and they need to make some changes to keep the groups even.

It's best described as a well oiled machine, the event itself, as the instruction is perfectly balanced with the driving instruction, and the reviewing of the techniques and track - it's all so well arranged it's amazing.

I have three POC events yet this year I plan to attend, and I want to go again, so I'll probably do the Masters program next time, provided I finished at least 2 more of those POC events first. You really learn how to work with your skill AND comfort level, and they keep preaching 'the speed will come', and it does - once you get comfortable at the track and learn your skills, you just naturally start gaining speed and it all feels natural. We had rain the entire 2nd day so that sucked for knowing how much faster we could be, but I could really tell that we started flying through the S curves and chicannes so if the track wasn't wet, those straights would have been crazy fast.

 

Thanks Todd, great info. BTW did you pop for the additional insurance? Do you stay with the same instructor the entire time? From the sound of it looks like your rotate through instructors.

I'll probably be driving my 997S since I'm like 640 miles from Birmingham but for sure will stay at the Wynfrey.

Thanks again for the info
B

 

Yes I took the additional insurance. Spending $3400 on the event and not springing another $200 for the insurance is just stupid, in my opinion. Taking one of those cars off the track, even in the grass, could run you $15k in suspension costs. $200 well spent, and luckily not needed.

You get the same instructor for the track time, for the most part, but you do get swapped out now and again. Different instructors teach the different events - autocross, skid pad, slalom, high speed lane change, classroom instruction, etc.

Have fun - it's a fantastic time. Good on you for already being accustomed to the car. You'll still have a ton of fun learning what it can do on the track and also driving the Boxster in the autocross (not to mention the Cayenne!)

 

Very nice write up...I'm glad I'm signed up for late May, and staying at the Wynfrey. I was planning to bring my helmet, but I'd rather travel light, thanks for that. I'd guess from that, that I also do not need my drivers suit? Was it a jeans and t-shirt drive?

Glad to hear they've got 997's too.

 

Rich, if you bring your drivers suit, get ready to feel out of place. Even the instructors are doing jeans and a t-shirt. I am glad to have brought my helmet because I'm not big on sharing head sweat, but it certainly is bulky to travel with.

 

T,
Glad to hear you enjoyed the PDE. I did the Cayenne program last year and am doing the 2 day HP program in the fall.
Was Doc Bundy or Hurley Haywood at your session?
We had Doc and he was great.