Aug 22, 2007 12:22:13 PM
- Porsche-Jeck
- Rennteam Master
-
- Loc: Rheinland , Germany
- Posts: 4856, Gallery
- Registered on: Jun 27, 2005
What we really do on a Sunday morning in Germany
Hi guys - just read the other thread on the 997 board, which got a bit heated. I'll spare my comments - I'm not always behaving like an angel myself on public roads 
(probably like most of us 
), but if I'm "in the need for speed" on a Sunday morning, there are better options than rushing through a tunnel 
Thought I post this on the Boxster Board though because I felt the need to praise the merits of our beloved Boxey again
Well, returning to the original topic - the speed-nuts do the Ring of course on a Sunday morning
It's still dangerous, but at least you don't put byciclists or pedestrians at risk.
I'm still a Ring-Rookie myself (after 7 weekend "sessions" only) but it's getting better all the time - meanwhile I can feel the flow of the track and I even "smoked" some Carreras last Sunday
Though the fun is not only about lapping the Ring, it's just great to meet up with the other addicted pistonheads (met-up with some 10 buddies, most of them driving all kind of P-cars - from 986 Boxster to 997 GT3), some of them still Rookies just like myself, some of them with > 1,000 laps under their belt.
It's wonderful if you join each other for a "taxi lap" as a passenger, so that you can see the differences in the cars and driver's skills/track experience
After my own laps I had the joy of being passenger in the 987S of a very experienced Ringer, who took some legs of the lap at (seemingly) crazy speed. The strange thing was, that his car was equipped with the stock suspension and it felt definitely more predictable/confidence inspiring than my PASM car. Maybe his car showed a bit more body roll, but in return it would not "jump" now and then like my own car. I never do the Ring in the PASM sport mode, but even in Normal mode the shock absorbers feel a bit too "stiff" in some corners (due to the adaptive nature of the system).
Though I never felt really uneasy with the PASM, the taxi lap in the car with the stock suspension was an eye opener.
Then I had the chance to enjoy some taxi laps with a buddy who equipped his car with an aftermarket suspension (I can't recall all the details, because it's really highly customized and even uses some parts from the GT3). The car felt fantastic - it sounds like a contradiction, but it felt more comfortable and better planted at the same time
He also equipped his car with the PSE recently, which added to the experience on the track
Bottom line: in the hands of an experienced Ring-driver the BoxsterS is really a "competitive" toy (south of GT3/Z06 and similar "weapons"), even more so with an optimized suspension. Actually the only legs where you miss "something" (read: more HP
) is on some uphill legs.
There are very very few corners where you feel the cab-structure to be a disadvantage compared to a coupé.
So here is what the speed-addicted Germans really do on a Sunday morning: o.k. I'm looking a bit pale as if I can't endure my own driving style
(probably like most of us ), but if I'm "in the need for speed" on a Sunday morning, there are better options than rushing through a tunnel Thought I post this on the Boxster Board though because I felt the need to praise the merits of our beloved Boxey again
Well, returning to the original topic - the speed-nuts do the Ring of course on a Sunday morning
It's still dangerous, but at least you don't put byciclists or pedestrians at risk.
I'm still a Ring-Rookie myself (after 7 weekend "sessions" only) but it's getting better all the time - meanwhile I can feel the flow of the track and I even "smoked" some Carreras last Sunday
Though the fun is not only about lapping the Ring, it's just great to meet up with the other addicted pistonheads (met-up with some 10 buddies, most of them driving all kind of P-cars - from 986 Boxster to 997 GT3), some of them still Rookies just like myself, some of them with > 1,000 laps under their belt.
It's wonderful if you join each other for a "taxi lap" as a passenger, so that you can see the differences in the cars and driver's skills/track experience
After my own laps I had the joy of being passenger in the 987S of a very experienced Ringer, who took some legs of the lap at (seemingly) crazy speed. The strange thing was, that his car was equipped with the stock suspension and it felt definitely more predictable/confidence inspiring than my PASM car. Maybe his car showed a bit more body roll, but in return it would not "jump" now and then like my own car. I never do the Ring in the PASM sport mode, but even in Normal mode the shock absorbers feel a bit too "stiff" in some corners (due to the adaptive nature of the system).
Though I never felt really uneasy with the PASM, the taxi lap in the car with the stock suspension was an eye opener.
Then I had the chance to enjoy some taxi laps with a buddy who equipped his car with an aftermarket suspension (I can't recall all the details, because it's really highly customized and even uses some parts from the GT3). The car felt fantastic - it sounds like a contradiction, but it felt more comfortable and better planted at the same time
He also equipped his car with the PSE recently, which added to the experience on the track Bottom line: in the hands of an experienced Ring-driver the BoxsterS is really a "competitive" toy (south of GT3/Z06 and similar "weapons"), even more so with an optimized suspension. Actually the only legs where you miss "something" (read: more HP
) is on some uphill legs.There are very very few corners where you feel the cab-structure to be a disadvantage compared to a coupé.
So here is what the speed-addicted Germans really do on a Sunday morning: o.k. I'm looking a bit pale as if I can't endure my own driving style
Is your car color Seal? That color looks killer! 
It will be even better, if you would show up in a Ringtool from Zuffenhausen until then 
and the 
And it's awesome to see you're still smiling even after many months with your beloved P-car. 
I guess it's simply because I'm becoming more familiar with the track. Hence any additional "communication" provided by the stiffer dampers are welcomed now, whereas for the very first laps it was just disturbing (my mental capacity was 100% absorbed by figuring whether the next corner would be a left or a right one 
