Track day or garage

[lee fulford]

Chaps

During a Track day yesterday with Mercedes it sudenly dawnwed on me the reason why I bought an RS.

5 years ago I went to Germany with the view to buying a 964 RS. It wasnt till I returned with the car and cleaned it etc that I realised the car was actually a bit of a find. I knew extremely little about RS's except that I have always preferred the stripped out basic approach to motoring.

To date I've only managed two track days in the car. The first time at Brands the wheels came loose after the doughnuts that refurbed them painted the hub facings which subsequently melted. The second time at Donnington with rather too much red mist spun and just hit the gravel.

The car is a genuine 17000 mile car in lovely condition having had no previous accident damage furthermore Des keeps reminding us all they are going up nicely in value. (and the wife knows it too)

So there you are I need HELP. Do I track it and use it for what it was built for with the prospect of breaking it and more importantly not being able to replace it?
Or
Do I keep it immaculate put it in the garage and just use to go to the Club nights and Porsche events?

If its the answer I think you're all going to give me then I need to know what tyres I put on my spare set of wheels. Not slicks as I would want to drive it to the circuit and back if I'm lucky.

Lee

 

[TISPKJ]

Sell the old nail and have a swiming pool and barbie built for your mates this summer !!

Both of us will probably be free .............

 

[Melv]

Track it Lee -you know it makes sense.......

Or flog it to somebody who will use it for what it is intended for!!

Mel

 

[Guest]

Strike a happy compromise, pencil about six dates over the next twelve months and include, Bedford Autodrome about the only track you can't bend the car (well unless you are very unlucky!) & Brands Indy well suited for the RS, and take it easy Lee, your car is mechanically unbreakable (watch those shifts) and thrives on a good hard drive on the cam. You have to admit that the RS comes into full glory when being pushed hard on the smooth black top. Any decent set of tyres will do to start with unless you want to start breaking lap records.

Book in for the club track day 27th August (stick it on your entertaining account). Club days are normally like minded well behaved fellows with all levels of experience.

If you don't use it you will lose it![]

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: tispkj

Sell the old nail and have a swiming pool and barbie built for your mates this summer !!

Both of us will probably be free .............

You fancy a swim and Barbie TISPKJ?[]

 

[lee fulford]

Good to see you're all so sympathetic...........

Des I've done many many track days over the years and the last one at Donnigton is a prime example of me making a conscious dicision to "take it easy" I spun...I just can't take it easy, I get out there and the old red mist comes down.

Still having said that how do I get booked in for the Bedford aerodrome and Brands.

As for tyres I do want some proper tyres to put on those mag rims.

lee

 

[Guest]

Good to see you're all so sympathetic

Surely you didn't expect sympathy when you have an RS ?

Just drive it, and as often/hard as you can - else they are a bit of a waste of time.
It's only a car - enjoy whilst you can !

 

[Guest]

Lee are you Man or Mouse? Get out there boy and strut your stuff or get a Boxster! Track days are easy to book, have your credit card in one hand and your b***s in the other, plenty of RMA and Club days at Bedford and Brands just click the old mouse on the icons and hey presto..........Meinen Kommandantenhurer Mit der Cuppenwaggen has every track day in town on his hard disc, I'm sure he will give you as many dates and contacts as you want.

18" Essex Boy Racer Wheels, would think the Michelin Pilot Cup Sports would go down a treat or the Brdgestone SO2's on the 17".....

Sympathy is beside syph in the dictionary.............[]

 

[Kevin Cooke]

Des,

I'd suggest that a Boxster S is quicker than a standrard 964RS in the hands of the average track day nut. I know mine was.

 

[oliver]

Reminds me of the often asked question, "Which is the best variant of the 911?"

Of course the answer is the one that best suits the expectation, requirements and intended use of the owner.

The 964RS is fairly uncompromising. I drove one in 1992, and was bitterly disappointed with it as a road car. Of course that was before the emergence of the Track Day industry. On track, IMO, it is probably the best choice 911 after the GT3. However, if track days are not your priority, you may get more enjoyment from an alternative variant. The choice is enormous. How about a late varioram 993?

 

[bones]

The one thing you must do is drive it hard. You only get one life (despite reports to the contrary by deluded individuals) and you can't take you money with you wherever that may be.

 

[Guest]

Lee - I would suggest that you do whatever makes you smile most and not to worry too much about what "the real men" tell you to do. Does seem a shame to have such a great car and not have as much fun as possible but you should determine what is fun.

 

[Guest]

Kevin is that with the Porsche Stability Management system off or on?

I hear where you are coming from Kevin, been round the Weissach Track with a factory Driver in a Boxster S very quick, but not exciting, you could just predict the manners, and peering at those cupholders and CD's...he even had the A/C on, we were holding a conversation over the distant drone from behind..........yes it was a very nice drive, which I'm always reminded when I park at the Gym.

In the hands of a professional driver a well driven and set up RS will sit with anything .....................I recall the hour session I had last year at Spa with the old boy from Siverstone, he loved it so much we kept going, passed everything.......and you probably recall the hardware that was on track that day. It brought the biggest smile to my face watching the 450bhp Porsche and other big stuff reluctantly pulling over all very confused having tried everything to shake off this lowly 964....... If only I could drive like that....can't do the car Justice, probably the hardest 911 ever to drive to it's max, but when someone can....I still dream about it.....

Hope to see you and Lee out there soon, and all the very best..............[]

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: oliver
How about a late varioram 993?

Yes Oliver the Mrs has one, very impressed. Horses for courses.

 

[Kevin Cooke]

Des,

W888BOX never had PSM.

See you at Spa next month

Best regards

 

[lee fulford]

Oliver

Not saying the RS is not the car for me. I've had the pleasure of owning most 911 variants over the years including 3 or 4 993's and the RS is my perfect car even before I'd driven it on track and even if I decide only to drive it on the road.

And the guy at Donnington in his track day GT3, race suit and boots couldnt keep up.

lee

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: lee fulford

Oliver

And the guy at Donnington in his track day GT3, race suit and boots couldnt keep up.

lee

Lee I think you have answered your own question......[]

 

[ClubSport 911]

Rumour has it, from my old racing chums, that the 968 CS is one of the best - bar none - track day cars out there. I have never driven one, but it seems that "balance" is a word used often.

And of course, the old adage "to drive a car fast, first, find a fast driver".

 

[Guest]

Just my tuppence re 964RS vs the rest (on track):

993 Varioram - lovely car, but not a track car and not that exciting overall really - good day to day proposition for people who need to keep their fillings in place

GT3 - best of the 996s for me, but not as EXCITING or characterful as a 964RS. The power steering removes a fraction of feel, and the chassis (of the Mk2) just doesn't feel as 'at one' with you as in a 964RS. It's also surprisingly lively at the back end - could be a badger express like the RS in the wet. That said, tremendous leap forward as a four wheeled vehicle, very modern, and sounds fantastic.

968CS - a great track car with performance that's much more ACCESSIBLE than the 964RS to an average driver. Sublime chassis balance and very friendly. But it doesn't perform as well as an RS in the hands of a good driver and doesn't have the character (flat six, 911 cues).

Boxster S - in the wet an average driver will be far quicker in a Boxster S with PSM on. In the dry, my opinion is that a 964RS would be quicker than a Boxster S, even with a merely average driver at the helm. A Boxster S is a great car with fantastic balance, but it isn't as race track competent as a 964RS.

My best of the rest would be the 968CS out of that lot, as it is cheaper if you bend it and you can access more of the performance, more of the time than in a 964RS. You will ultimately be slower, but your grin will be as wide and your heartbeat lower.

 

[oliver]

If grin per £ is a factor, then get a Caterham. Drive to the circuit, have an absolute hoot, embarrass most Porsches and drive home. Nothing is more fun (unless it's tipping down).