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    Feb 28, 2006 2:20:19 PM

    Ed J
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    Ed J
    Loc: London
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    How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Just wondering if I'm in the minority by not taking my car to a race track. It's something I would love to do having enjoyed go-karting for years, but the worries about damaging the car plus the ridiculous costs associated with insurance and tyres put me off totally.

    Feb 28, 2006 2:58:27 PM

    JMShrink
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    Reply to: Ed J

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I have no plans to track my 997C2 once it arrives in April. If I really wanted a 911 for track use and weekends, I probably would've ordered the 997GT3.

    Feb 28, 2006 6:04:42 PM

    Alex_997TT
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    Reply to: JMShrink

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    No I'm the same Ed, it's seriously tempting but I just had a blow out on a rear tire that cost me 320 quid (they found a rusty Stanley-knife blade in it)! Replacing all 4 tires due to track wear is a bit much for me, not to mention insurance.

    I hope to do a track Porsche Experience Day at some-point where I get to use a 997 demo car, but for now I will live with driving round the quiet twisty English countryside back roads here in the Chiltern's with Sports Mode switched on. SO happy I moved out of London!!

    Feb 28, 2006 6:35:42 PM

    chili
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    Reply to: Alex_997TT

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I'm planning on taking mine this summer.

    Feb 28, 2006 6:56:49 PM

    vtach88
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    vtach88
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    Reply to: chili

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    What about autocrossing? Is this less damaging to your tires? I'm considering this avenue - so that I can better understand the characteristics of my car - without fear of hitting someone!
    It seems like a bit of a waste not to explore our cars beyond simple backroads and freeway onramps...doesn't it?

    Feb 28, 2006 7:06:07 PM

    Stephenkng
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    Reply to: vtach88

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I used to do road racing with SCCA. Road racing is fun but not autocrossing. Autocorsing is the same as Sole II with SCCA. You spend a whole day in the fairground for 5 mins of run time. Personnally, I don't think is worth it. If fininally you can afford racing, just do the road racing (tracking if you want to say it that way). Do keep that in mind, it is expensive but it is fun. For the mean time, I will keep my 997 on the street.

    Feb 28, 2006 7:13:03 PM

    ResB Offline
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    Loc: Yorkshire, where roads are twisty... , United Kingdom
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    Reply to: Stephenkng

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I don't think I'll be taking mine. Unfortunately, I cannot afford the consequences should something go wrong...

    Feb 28, 2006 7:50:53 PM

    nberry Offline
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    Reply to: Ed J

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Quote:
    Ed J said:
    Just wondering if I'm in the minority by not taking my car to a race track.



    You are in the SUBSTANTIAL majority in not tracking your car.They are a number of reasons for not tracking a car and with a Porsche there is an additional reason...they void your warranty if repairs are a result of track events.

    Enjoy your car on streets and highways so long as you are armed with a V1, know where the speed cameras are, find roads that will allow you to explore the limits of your car and know where police hide. Isn't great to own a sport car?

    Feb 28, 2006 7:58:52 PM

    dhayek Offline
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    Reply to: nberry

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    no track in beirut unfortunatly , otherwise i think i would have tracked my car...

    Feb 28, 2006 8:09:34 PM

    SrfCity
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    Reply to: dhayek

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    No way. Not worth the risk of wadding it up and insurance saying, sorry. I'm with Nick on this one

    Feb 28, 2006 8:24:41 PM

    madadd
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    madadd
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    Reply to: nberry

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Quote:
    nberry said:
    Quote:
    Ed J said:
    Just wondering if I'm in the minority by not taking my car to a race track.



    You are in the SUBSTANTIAL majority in not tracking your car.They are a number of reasons for not tracking a car and with a Porsche there is an additional reason...they void your warranty if repairs are a result of track events.





    So hard if not impossible to prove you've damaged it on a track! How are they going to know thats where the damage/failure occurred?

    ...Add

    Feb 28, 2006 9:28:27 PM

    Rafael from Spain
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    Reply to: nberry

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Quote:
    nberry said:
    Quote:
    Ed J said:
    Just wondering if I'm in the minority by not taking my car to a race track.



    You are in the SUBSTANTIAL majority in not tracking your car.They are a number of reasons for not tracking a car and with a Porsche there is an additional reason...they void your warranty if repairs are a result of track events.

    Enjoy your car on streets and highways so long as you are armed with a V1, know where the speed cameras are, find roads that will allow you to explore the limits of your car and know where police hide. Isn't great to own a sport car?



    Are you sure about that?
    Because in Spain and Europe Porsche organizes track days for the owners with their own car. It would be fun after paying for the trackday they claimed if something went wrong no warranty.

    What they are not going to cover are brake pads and rotors if you show them worn-out in 2000 miles. But thats it.

    Feb 28, 2006 9:49:45 PM

    Dan L
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    Reply to: Rafael from Spain

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I used to autocross my 911 turbo many years ago and went through a BUNCH of tires, etc. To really race these things properly you need a lot more money than I have. That's another reason I ordered a cabrio,--to avoid the temptation.

    dan

    Feb 28, 2006 9:55:23 PM

    Mithras
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    Reply to: Dan L

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I don't know how I could own a Porsche and NOT track it. Tires and brakes are disposable items, you don't ask your dealer to replace them because they are worn out from the track...

    It's between you and your insurance co. weither you are covered. A Drivers Ed. event is much easier for them to stomach over a normal lapping day, but even then it can be hard.

    But where esle can you explore the limits of your car safely?

    Feb 28, 2006 10:38:22 PM

    Trundle_GT3
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    Trundle_GT3
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    Reply to: Mithras

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Don't want to take your own car to the track?
    If you live in North America seriously consider attending the
    Porsche Driving Experience, located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Al.

    The Two Day High Performance Course will allow you feel what the 997 is capable of in a safe and controled environment, on the race track, autocross and skidpad. It is an arrive and drive program where a 997 is supplied to you.

    http://www.porschedriving.com

    Ask anyone who has attended, and they will give it

    It's just that good!!

    Feb 28, 2006 11:41:17 PM

    JL13
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    Reply to: SrfCity

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I have heard a guy down in Atlanta crash his GT3 on a track and pay the toll truck driver to toll it out side of the track. After that, he called the insurance and BS about him hitting something else and of course its not on the track. The insurance really believes him and pay him for a new car

    Mar 1, 2006 12:00:42 AM

    jlr
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    jlr
    Loc: Birmingham, Alabama
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    Reply to: JL13

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    That sounds like fraud to me, not simply an aggressive reading of the policy. Anyway, tracking your car or attending a driving school may be expensive, but I think it is very difficult to have any idea of what the adhession limits are if you don't do some kind of trackday/autox or driving school. Think of the expense as a peformance modification -- probably the best one you'll ever make. I agree that autox events are boring, mainly because you are standing around 95% of the time, but I try to do some events of some kind (track, autox, school) every year to remind myself what the car can do. I'm no track junkie by any means, but every time I refresh myself I realize how much there is to learn, how little I know, and how the street is no place to learn how to control a car.

    Mar 1, 2006 12:19:23 AM

    Stephenkng
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    Stephenkng
    Loc: S.F., CA , United States
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    Reply to: jlr

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    jlr, I really think you have the right attitude toward driving. Can't not agree more.

    Mar 1, 2006 1:42:19 AM

    Avantgarde
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    Avantgarde
    Loc: City State
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    Reply to: Stephenkng

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I always thought Porsches were built for the track
    My local dealer supports regular trackie events too

    Mar 1, 2006 3:23:29 AM

    MrBonus
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    MrBonus
    Loc: Delaware
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    Reply to: nberry

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Quote:
    nberry said:
    Quote:
    Ed J said:
    Just wondering if I'm in the minority by not taking my car to a race track.



    You are in the SUBSTANTIAL majority in not tracking your car.They are a number of reasons for not tracking a car and with a Porsche there is an additional reason...they void your warranty if repairs are a result of track events.

    Enjoy your car on streets and highways so long as you are armed with a V1, know where the speed cameras are, find roads that will allow you to explore the limits of your car and know where police hide. Isn't great to own a sport car?



    There is no such thing as a road that allows you to explore the limits of a car safely, thus why we have tracks.

    Mar 1, 2006 3:35:41 AM

    TT Surgeon
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    TT Surgeon
    Loc: Long Island, NY , United States
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    Reply to: MrBonus

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    The track is where it's at boys. Please don't sign up, there's too many cars in the lower run groups as it is now, less track time for everybody else.

    Mar 1, 2006 3:39:05 AM

    vtrader
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    vtrader
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    Reply to: MrBonus

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    It use to be easy to track your car. With the Porsche Owner's Club, minor modifications like a 5 point harness and a fire extingisher was all that was needed. With the Porsche Club of America, it was even less. Now the regulations are more severe with the two clubs and it is more difficult. Plus tires every 5,000 miles and brakes every 10,000 miles can make it expensive. Did I mention that if you crash, no insurance will cover it? I will settle for the track tour at the Speed Festival at the California Speedway on March 25th.

    http://www.pca.org/zone8/new/speedfestival.htm

    Mar 1, 2006 5:14:04 AM

    AndrewSS
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    AndrewSS
    Loc: columbus, OH
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    Reply to: vtrader

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    tracking is awesome as long as you have your head on straight, autox is good because you can push hard and it will be extremely rare to ever do any damage. My dad has tracked his 997s once and will a hand full of times this summer/spring. I have done 2 so far in the STi and a lot of autox'ing then this summer/spring I will be doing around 5 more trackdays and a lot of autoxing I cant wait!

    ps. It DOES get pricey!!!

    Mar 1, 2006 5:48:06 AM

    Hollli82
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    Hollli82
    Loc: Las Vegas, USA
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    Reply to: AndrewSS

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I WILL track my car 1-2 times per year. I never knew what my 944T or my M3's could really do until I took them to the track. Yes, there are risks with going to the track but in my opinion, it is still safer than trying to explore the limits of your car on a public street. If you are worried about wear and tear on your car go to Alabama and attend the PDE.

    Mar 1, 2006 10:43:06 AM

    FutchM
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    Futch
    Loc: EU , United Kingdom
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    Reply to: Ed J

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Quote:
    Ed J said:
    Just wondering if I'm in the minority by not taking my car to a race track. It's something I would love to do having enjoyed go-karting for years, but the worries about damaging the car plus the ridiculous costs associated with insurance and tyres put me off totally.



    Not at all Ed.

    I'd say about 90% of Porsche owners don't and don't want to track their cars. And rightly so, the Carrera is not a track car. It's fit for fun trackdays and that's what some of us do from time to time.

    The only cars in the line up fit for the track are the GT series and still, they'd need some heavy mods to perform very well.

    Regarding your concern (Damage, insurrance, etc.) that unfortunately depends on each of us and our insurers.
    I made it clear to my Porsche dealer and my insurer that I would track the car regularly (no more than 10 times a year though) but not for racing, only for pure fun between gentlemen drivers and they were totally fine with it.

    Re costs associated with tyres, brakes, additionnal checkups at the dealer after a few trackdays, etc.
    Well, it's the price you have to pay I'm afraid.
    Indeed, hefty bills but that's the way it is.

    Definitely worth it in my opinion!

    Mar 1, 2006 11:33:01 AM

    Ian C
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    Ian C
    Loc: UK
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    Reply to: SrfCity

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Think Porsche would have difficulty turning down a warranty claim because of track-day use when they sell the Sports Chrono Pack with lap-timer function!

    Mar 1, 2006 12:24:29 PM

    MMD
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    MMD
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    Reply to: SrfCity

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    No track for my car; I got it just for show and to blow lesser cars off at stoplights.

    Mar 1, 2006 2:11:02 PM

    SonOfStig
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    Reply to: vtach88

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I will, but not yet. Bit tight on the dosh - don't want to shell out loads from new tyres

    Mar 1, 2006 2:28:13 PM

    Rafael from Spain
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    Reply to: SonOfStig

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    Tracking the car, at least once is a very good (and safe) way of getting to know you and your cars limits. Better with some instructors if it is for the first time.

    I think I will track the car once it arrives 5 times a year maximum

    Mar 1, 2006 3:13:04 PM

    Matt C
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    Reply to: Rafael from Spain

    Re: How many people DON'T take their car to the track?

    I do (rather will) track it 2-3 times a year. Did that also with the Boxster (next stop: 3 days Nürburgring Nordschleife in May )!
     
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