Porsche Track Car – VIR September 2015

Posted by newhillgarage ⋅ September 16, 2015

I made a conscious effort to skip track days this summer, due to a number of other commitments and also getting a little tired of track days in very hot weather. I signed up for an event last weekend with the Tar Heel Sports Car Club (THSCC). I have run with them since the beginning and am always pleased with the way they organize a track event. I was not disappointed this time. They did their usual great job.

For my first time with THSCC I ran in the solo group with passing anywhere on the track with a point by. If this had been my actual first experience like this, I would have been intimidated. But mixing it up in the last 2 years at the Chin Motorsports “Happy Hour” has gotten me used to open passing. I find it to be challenging and a lot of fun!

I had a great time on the track but unfortunately had to stop early due to battery problems. I have a lightweight Braille battery. It was “weak” when I did my pre-event Tech Inspection but I convinced myself that everything would be fine. But things went from bad to worse at the event and even with jumper cables hooked up to my truck, the car would not crank enough to start. I’m only guessing at this point but I suspect I have some corrosion on the cables from the battery to the starter, such that adding 2nd jumper battery did not help. I will have time to diagnose this soon but it defeated me last Sunday.

One fun thing about this event was that they opened up the wet skidpad. I had not done skidpad work before. It will wear you out in a hurry. I was surprised to find that when the car did anything at all it understeered. In my actual wet track experience I find that the car tends to oversteer. Hum. Something to ponder.

Anyway, it was a fun weekend, although shortened. I’ll leave you with some pictures I took during my “pit walk”.