First autox with the 914

I sort of feel like this is my first autox experience. The last time I went was 2003, 2004, something like that. I took a different car, and I really only went on fun runs. I never went to really compete or do any serious driving. It was neat at all but definitely nowhere near the level of what a competitive autocross is.

Mind you I did not go to compete. I simply went to have fun and learn my car more.

But what I learned about my car was absolutely priceless. The people that pointed out things to me, even the simplest of things was all in it's own worth the entry fee and worth going. People so eager to show each other how to drive, how to learn. It was really a thrilling experience. Completely different than when I went "for a fun run."

I guess I should say "Today I autocrossed for the first time" is how I see it.

Not only did I get to take people along for the ride and appreciate my car for what it is stock, my dad showed up and I got to take him to his first autocross. I feel like he really had a great time.

It was kind of funny because I could tell he was interested and that he was getting a really big kick out of watching the cars run, but he was reluctant to actually try it.

I said "Tell ya what... you go on ONE run with me. If you don't like it then I won't ask you again. I promise." and got a "well.... okayyyyyy..."

So there we were. Lined up, black 2002 corvette in front of us. This is in the later half of the day. I'm dead set on beating my previous times. I ran a 65, a 61, then a 59. The corvette in front of me has been getting faster and faster. I realize that at this point I am not the fastest driver there but I was dead set on beating this corvette.

Finally the corvette goes. He's off. I'm making sure the 914 is running right because it's been running rich from the altitude and dying on me. Corvette... halfway through the track.. he's almost done.

This is it! I get the rpms up to about 2500-3000rpm and get ready to launch. Flag goes down, we are OFF! GREAT LAUNCH! Hard right, 1st gear, nailing it out of the corner. 1st gate is up, 2nd gear, perfect shift. Off we are to the first corner, brake hard, smooth left, come out of it HARD, into the slalom! We're not getting up there, 3500rpm, BRAKE BRAKE! Ease to the next left. Out of it we come, just a little wide, not bad. HARD on the throttle, this is the big straight away.

4500rpm.. we can do it, we can do it... 5000rpm... here comes the first come for the high speed slalom, off the throttle, late brake, left, get on it and hit the next cone. Into the slalom, stay on it if I can... make it through the cones without much off the throttle, on it on it on it... go go go! I am trying to concentrate and make sure I'm being precise as I can be!

Almost completely out in 2nd gear and BLAMMO right onto the brakes, next left into a snail shaped right and back into a straight. Hit 2 chicago boxes, and then the final stretch! HARD LEFT! DO IT! DO NOT LET OFF! AND we hit the timer. 56.417! Fastest time of the day for CSP!

I had 2 other runs after that. All of which were mid 57 times. But I did it. The vette had a 57.34 as his fastest run. I did a 56.41. I DID IT! I set my goal for the day. I finally learned the course enough to push it to my newbie limit.

But what was my first time of the day you say?

63.419+10 - but what is the +10? That is a 10 second penalty for missing my first gate.

I adjusted tire pressures, took pointers, rode with the pros and let them set in with me for my next 3 runs afterwards and the advice I got was priceless.

"Take this set this way, go wide here, enter here, take this apex like this.. adjust your tire pressures to this. Here is how you measure roll on your tires."

It was like a new entire form of being introduced to my car all over again.

Have you ever drove on the street and had fun in the twisties? Go for a cruise in the mountains before? Get a little bonkers on the throttle? You know, have a little fun! OF COURSE! We all have! But how many of us can really say "I know my car will do this... if I do that." or "I know at this throttle, at this rpm, on a corner like this that my car will behave like this." - Not a lot of us.

I learned how my car pushed, where it let go at. I had to learn how to smoothly brake, enter and exit just to get those times. I realize I am NOT the best driver in the world. I feel like I did a very good job though all things considered. Realistically, in a car that is around 2200ish lbs, with about 70hp, no swaybars, super primitive suspension, and more roll than a bakery... having to learn to drive the piss out of an underpowered car around a car just as fast as others was interesting.

The reason I feel the 914 was a good learning experience for me was the following:

- Super skinny tires. Previous owner has "original" profile size on the car. He went out of his way to find the original profile and tire size for what it came out of the factory with. These are VERY SKINNY and VERY TALL tires. LOTS of flex! I learned a lot about tire pressure, scrubbing, heat, expansion. Only reason is because other drivers pointed it out, drove with me and pointed out variables on them.
- Very primitive suspension. No swaybars = lots of body roll. Primitive setup = basic variables.
- No power brakes, this means that the brakes require MORE FORCE to come on hard. This also means small pressure is of course a LOT less pressure. So learning my brakes and the finesse of where it needed to be taught me a lot of respect for smooth braking on the 914.
- No power steering. I have no power steering on ANY of my cars not even my 911 or the 924. I like this because you get a much better feel for what is going on, bumps, weird cornering and other variables. I feel much more in touch.
- Mid engine, REAR WHEEL DRIVE - I'm not going to go say "RWD is the best setup." because there were FWD cars there kicking the holy crap out of everyone else and their time. Realistically it comes down to what you like, what you prefer and what you are COMFORTABLE with. What I REALLY liked about the mid engine setup is the respect it taught me for the handling characteristics. Come off the throttle high rpm in a corner? Back end wanted to start losing grip. Get on it? It wanted to stay planted. This taught me a lot about how to use this to my advantage AND to recover when things got a little bit strange in the middle of cornering.

All in all... it blew my mind to take a car that is almost entirely bone stock, factory original from 1970 and to be able to run faster times than some 21st century cars. I also got my butt whooped by some of the most unlikely of cars, however, again, I realize that it comes down to the driver. I also realize that in terms of my $.02 that my $.02 is really only worth $.02 in pesos and whatever that is worth in $.02 USD. So in other words, take my $.02 with several grains of salt as I am no professional race driver.

I can tell you how to work on things. I can tell you how to take things apart, put them together, how to tune them and probably do a clutch replacement almost with my eyes closed. I love working on Porsches. But in terms of being a professional driver? I've only started to get involved in racing.

It was an awe inspiring experience to be able to watch the good drivers drive, let them teach me a thing or two and be a sponge and soak it all up. I humble myself in knowing that I have so much to learn and that I have cars that are so much more capable than myself and so much time to get acquainted with them.