The PCA Suncoast Region publishes a monthly magazine called "Profile". The below article was written by me and is appearing in the January 2015 issue. I thought y'all would like to read my experience while taking a potty break. Just print it out and enjoy reading it.
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What drove me to participate in the PCA Drivers Education program?Please don’t make the same mistake I did back in Y2K. I purchased my first Porsche which was a Boxster S. About twenty new Boxster owners got together and took the BSR Training Course at Summit Point Raceway in WV. It included understanding vehicle dynamics, skip control, recovery practice on a skid pad & on a slalom course, threshold braking & progressive braking on curves during the morning session in their 1975 Chevy’s. In the afternoon we were driving our own cars on the road course. We were in two groups doing class room for 30 minutes and track time for 30 minutes, on and off. We had just completed classroom session learning what to do if we should early apex and end up with two wheels on the track and two wheels off the track. Do not use the brakes, just drive off or drive back onto the track. A friend of mine must have been day dreaming in the classroom as he early apexed a turn, two wheels off, and two wheels on and hit his brakes. He spun into the tire wall with his new Boxster. Luckily, not much damage. From then on, I was afraid to do DE’s. I just was horrified of crashing my very first Porsche at the track. So, I continued to do autoxing with the new Boxster as I had been doing for the previous five years with my BMW. Fast forward to 2008 when I updated to a 997 and continued autoxing until I retired and moved to Florida in the fall of 2010.
I was a member of the PCA Chesapeake Region for years before I moved in September. While attending my last autox in Maryland, I was talking with Manny Alban, PCA National President, to say my goodbye. He asked me where I was retiring and I told him Sarasota, FL. He said to me, “since you will be living so close to Sebring you need to participate in the PCA Suncoast DE program”. I responded that I was way too old for driving high speeds at a track. He responded by saying there is a member of PCA Suncoast which is in his 80’s and still doing DE’s at Sebring driving a 911. I did not even give this a second thought. No DE’s for me.
Shortly after arriving, I began to continue autoxing with Suncoast. Candi and I then started to attend the many social events. One event we attended was date night at a BBQ restaurant in St. Pete. We got there a little early and sat in the middle of the only long table. Within a few minutes the place was filling up quickly. Directly across from us an older gentleman and his wife joined us. He introduced us to his wife and himself. He said his name was Art Stemler. It always comes up during a conversation with fellow PCA members the question….what kind of car do you drive? He said he drove a 911 turbo. No second thoughts again. However, on the way driving home, my brain came alive and I said to Candi….”I bet Art drives at Sebring”. As soon as I got home, I emailed Manny and asked him…”Is Art Stemler the guy you were talking about who is in 80’s and is still doing DE’s at Sebring”. Being late in the evening, I did not get an answer till the following morning. Manny replied by saying “yes, it is Art Stemler I was talking about”.
As a result of mutable related common events, I decided to try doing a DE to see what it’s all about. I live about 75 miles from Sebring, so why not. At the PCA event I attend class and was assigned an instructor while on the track. I was over whelmed with all this new information I was receiving and was nerves to drive on the track. I remember the instructor saying to me, “why are you holding the steering wheel so tightly, you are driving a Porsche, have fun and enjoy yourself”. With the help of many good PCA instructors, I was able with time to become confident in my driving skills in the 997 and grew to like DE’s very much. I did have one problem after about three trips to the track. I was over driving. What I mean is for example, I allowed a faster car to pass me because I was slower in the turns. As soon as he or she passed me, I would try very hard to keep up with them and began to drive beyond my current abilities. My instructor noticed what I was doing and told me to slow down, only be concern with myself and speed with come with more seat time. I finally cleared this mental problem and enjoyed myself much better.
So, I missed out on about eleven years of doing track time. I’m now an old fart who with proper training is finally enjoying a Porsche the way it can be driven, that is, on the track. I can only make a few suggestions. Drive a few DE’s to see what it’s all about. Have fun and obtain confidence in your driving ability and your car. Further you’re driving experience by participating at different venues. And most important, only drive as fast as your ability will allow.
Speed and ability will come with more seat time.I have so far only driven at Sebring and have obtained the status of a solo driver. Since my solo milestone has been obtained and having made friends with fellow PCA members, we are planning different track venues for 2015 and beyond. So far, we want to travel together to Homestead, Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, VIR, and National Corvette Museum.
At the end of each driving event you will be walking away with a very common problem called “permagrin”. That’s a good problem to have.
I’m looking forward to driving DE’s well into my 80’s just as Art has.