Volume 21 • Edition 13.3
PCA CLUB RACING NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA Northstar_Suit_1pg_Color_Layout 1 2/14/13 2:08 PM Page 1
R Vol. 21•Edition 13.3 July - September 2013
Visit us on the web at Inside http://www.pca.org/Activities/ClubRacing.aspx
Features 24 22 Mid-year Rules Changes 24 Michelin PCA Cup Series Podiums 26 SP Competition Heats Up 28 In Praise of Practice and Racing with Friends 26 Columns 4 Chairman’s Corner 6 Lorem Ipsum 10 View from the Tower 12 From Start to Finish 16 Rules Change Proposals 28
Volume 21 • Edition 13.3 Remnants PCA CLUB RACING NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA 8 2013 Club Racing Schedule 30 2013 Hard Chargers 32 The Classifieds 34 Advertiser Index 34 National Committee On the Cover
Photo by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC © 2013 Laurent Verstreken (PAL) heads downhill toward the esses at COTA Deadline for article submission for the next issue is October 25, 2013 Photo by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC © 2013
Club Racing News (CRN) is the official publication of the Porsche Club of America, Club Racing and is published quarterly. Written contributions and photographs are welcome and can be mailed to the editor. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Porsche Club of America, Club Racing National Committee, its officers or members. Permission is granted to reproduce any material herein provided full credit is given to the author and PCA Club Racing News. PORSCHE®, the Porsche Crest®, CARRERA®, TARGA® and Boxster™ are trademarks of Porsche AG. The editor shall reserve the right to edit and publish only those articles felt to be in the best interest of the members of the Porsche Club of America. Commercial advertising inquiries should be directed to the CRN Advertising Coordinator.
c Postmaster: Address Change to: PCA Club Racing News, /o PCA Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 6400 Columbia, MD 21045
July - September 2013 3 CHAIRMAN’S CORNER
BRYAN HENDERSON, CHAIRMAN PCA CLUB RACING
under the car. I am referring to the pan- about the high cost for repair when els that start near the front of the car things like walls were damaged by race- he scrutineers have been look- and cover the bottom all the way back cars. I have received information that ing closely at the safety of our to just in front of the engine. The panels we are indeed invited back to COTA. cars. We recognize the safety increase the aerodynamic efficiency and The information also indicated that Tequipment that is prescribed for each reduce drag. The panels also provide they were very pleased with our racers car in our rule book is required equip- protection for very fragile aluminum and our operations. The cost of repair- ment and it must be properly installed power steering and fuel lines and ing the walls actually worked out to in the car. However, have you thought tougher water lines. I have seen modifi- around $2400 per hit into the Tech Pro about the general safety of the chassis, cations that position a power steering wall. Several racers indicated to me that suspension, engine, transmission and cooler fully exposed in an opening cut the reduced damage to the car versus a other items? The rule book gives the hard wall more than made up for the race steward the responsibility to cost of wall repair. That is, the car repair exclude your car from the event for any- including the soft wall was cheaper than thing deemed unsafe, and “anything” The car repair the repair of the car alone if the wall had includes the whole car and not just the including the soft been a hard wall. safety items specified in the rule book. wall was cheaper I had the opportunity to drive a At a recent event our scrutineers version of most of the 2014 Porsche found several items that were unsafe to than the repair of the models on a small track a few weeks the driver and other competitors. It car alone if the wall ago. We discussed performance seems that several 944 racecars had improvements created by the new elec- rather large holes in the floor near the had been a hard wall tronic wizardry Porsche has developed. spare tire area. In a 944 those holes are The latest PDK tranny appears to be open to the passenger compartment. I quicker by about a second and a half guess the idea was that it increases the in the panel. A simple off, running over over a six speed on a typical track. Other air flow through the inside of the car debris, or running over a curb in just new items include Torque Vectoring but airflow does funny things some- the right manner could easily break a (PTV) which will give asymmetrical times. If the car were parked in the grid line. Losing power steering attempting a thrust when turning by changing the or hot pit with the engine running it pass in close quarters or spinning in differential performance and adding would easily be possible for carbon someone else’s power steering fluid or brakes on the inside rear wheel, monoxide to enter the cabin. In at least coolant could end your weekend. I don’t improved Adaptive Suspension Man- one case the exhaust pipe end was clearly even want to think about breaking a agement (PASM) which manages shock visible through the hole. Carbon mon- fuel line. Use common sense and do not settings and Dynamic Chassis Control oxide poisoning can sneak up on you leave these items exposed when it is not (PDCC) that changes sway bar preload and start with loss of concentration and necessary. during a corner. The 2014 models also lousy decision making. That can be A couple of interesting things came have improved traction control and Sta- dangerous for you and others on the out of the race weekend at Circuit of the bility Management (PSM). All of these track. Use common sense and close up Americas (COTA). Before the race the things together make the newest cars those openings. speculation was this might be our only much easier to drive quickly and the Similarly, it has come to our atten- race there - ever. Rumor has it that sev- cars are faster. Obviously we will need tion that racers in some classes are leav- eral organizations will not be able to ing off or modifying the plastic panels return. There was also lots of discussion Continued on page 7
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don’t watch much television, but when I do I typically choose some- thing to make me laugh or some- thingI educational Thus, I was interested when the Science Channel introduced the new series How It’s Made: Dream Cars. The trailers for the show looked interesting, including episodes featuring Morgan, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and of course, Porsche. I enjoyed the first epi- sode of the series which detailed the making of the Morgan. From the tradi- Photo by F & S Enterprises tional wood frame, the wood bending Photo of the majestic VIR oak tree used for the cover of CRN 12.3 jigs still in use after over 40 years, to the hand crafted aluminum body panels the in the 911 production interesting. This pointing. Gone is the shade and that show was both entertaining and educa- Porsche automation was in stark con- massive trunk that obstructed driver tional. I looked forward to episode two, trast to the manual assembly shown the visibility. Unlike the intentional removal the Porsche 911. following week at Ferrari, and later at of the Billy Mitchell Bridge at Road Lamborghini. Whereas Porsche had America to make a safer and more visi- robots aligning and welding parts with ble corner, this was unintentional. A long standing digital mechanical precision, Ferrari had However, as Tola Adamson1 reports, racing icon is gone master welders align the parts with jigs VIR has not forgotten the tree, but is and weld by hand. Lamborghini used still in the process of planning how to hand cut and formed carbon fiber com- best memorialize the tree. When asked Unfortunately, I guess someone at ponents. Each technique produced fas- about replacing the tree in the turn, the cable company has difficulty with cinating monocoques. Mike Rose, marketing director at VIR the word Porsche. Granted, many peo- On a totally different topic, a long said, “Putting another one here, it ple have a hard time with the pronun- standing racing icon is gone – the oak wouldn’t have been the same, you know ciation, but in the case of my cable tree at VIRginia International Raceway it couldn’t have been the same, so it was provider the problem was with spelling. (VIR). A storm on July 1, felled the an opportunity to move everything for- When I went to view the episode, I was ancient tree. If you never saw the iconic ward and we will again memorialize the surprised to see that it featured the oak tree, you missed a part of racing tree in a proper fashion.” “Porche 911” in both the show title and nostalgia. I have been fortunate to have Similarly, Kerrigan Smith, Director the narrative of the episode. Does no circulated VIR on several occasions. of Track Operations at VIR pointed out one proofread at the cable company? Rounding the oak tree corner, arguably how the track is making the best of the Do they not have any Porsche aficiona- the slowest corner on the circuit leaves loss of the icon. “If you were building a dos among their ranks that could have an impression on a driver as that mas- track today and getting the FIA license spotted and corrected the error? sive tree canopied so much of the track that we have, people would not build a Typographical error aside, I did at that corner. Where else in racing does track today and then plant a tree into find the amount of automation involved a track navigate so close to a tree? I con- the apex of a turn.” The turn now has sider myself fortunate to have FIA curbing. Gone along with the tree seen the tree on so many occa- is the corner station gazebo, the tire bar- sions, and equally providential rier, and the guard rail. Of these changes, that I used a photo of that tree on Smith says VIR worked closely with the CRN issue 12.3. The beautiful rolling green hills remain at VIR, 1 Adamson, Tola (2013-08-02). but I expect navigating oak tree “VIR Updates Oak Tree Turn”. WSET-TV. corner will be somewhat disap- Retrieved 2013-09-15
6 Club Racing news ONLINE ORDERING NOW AVAILABLE
Oak Tree corner today, sans the legendary oak tree
FIA, the organization that holds the where somebody can clip the end and safety standards for racing, to make this roll over a car.” decision. “You don’t have a guard rail or Yet, I will miss the oak tree corner. a tire sitting right up against the track
TC Racing’s quick release Chairman’s Corner were not now nor had ever been PCA mechanism makes it easy to Continued from page 4 Club Racing racers. insert and remove the The original poster thought that steering wheel from the hub. to revamp some of our current classes the rules are not consistently enforced. I Simply pull the twin pins. based on these performance improve- disagreed with that position. Situations Direct bolt-on installation to ments. Look for that to start this year are seldom identical. What I hear in the Momo, Sparco and other with some adjustments for PDK cars. If paddock about incidents seldom agrees steering wheels. you have ideas let’s hear them. with the actual facts that I see after the I don’t usually look at any of the event, which includes racer video. We • Hub: $76 internet forums that are related to club spend a lot of time and effort getting all • Quick Release and Hub: $275 racing. The uninformed opinions and of our stewards on the same page. We • Complete System: QR, Hub and downright untruths found there just look at lots of videos from incidents steering wheel: $423 make my job harder and raise my per- over the year. • NEW: Quick Release for MOMO sonal temperature. Occasionally, some- I actually have thought several steering wheel and hub one will send me a private email that times we should put passing rules in the suggests I might want to look at a par- rule book. They are so simple that it ticular thread. gets overlooked. They will be included In one such occasion recently I in the 2014 rule book. Here are the found a racer started a thread about passing rules in my words. The rules put PCA Club Racing not having our pass- in the 2014 rule book will be developed ing rules in the rule book. I made a with input from the stewards and our comment that we talk about the passing racers. rules all of the time, including all orien- tation meetings and some drivers meet- 1. The car making a pass has the ings. I also mentioned that over the responsibility to complete a
years I personally have written many clean pass. Quick Release Steering Wheel Hub articles in Club Racing News and went 2. The car ahead at turn in has the into detail about passing concepts and I corner. included these “rules” and a short expla- That means if you are not at TC Racing nation in my post. I had several people least even, you should back out tell me how wrong I was and how wrong and follow the other car Order online at www.tcracing.org the rules were. I didn’t recognize many through the corner. If you are Tel: 901-821-9235 of the names complaining so I looked even then you must leave rac- them up in our data base. Not too sur- ing room. Email: [email protected] prisingly, most of the folks complaining Continued on page 15 July - September 2013 7 2013 CLUB RACING SCHEDULE Dates Event Region Region Contact
Otto Silva 801.889.3511 Sep 21 - 22 Miller Motorsports Park* Intermountain [email protected]
Fred Pfeiffer 301.729.2407 Sep 27 - 29 Summit Point Motorsports Park* Potomac [email protected]
Florida Crown Allen Shirley 904.338.2324 Oct 4 - 6 Daytona International Speedway* Florida Citrus [email protected]
Jon Jones 918.740.7951 Oct 5 - 6 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit Cimarron [email protected]
Bill Scarbrough 803.600.6704 Oct 25 - 27 Carolina Motorsports Park* Carolinas [email protected]
Pat Heptig 214.649.7909 Oct 26 - 27 Eagles Canyon Raceway* Maverick [email protected]
Greg Philips 619.395.7506 Nov 16 - 17 Buttonwillow Raceway Park* San Diego [email protected] *Includes an Enduro Photo by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC © 2013
8 Club Racing news JOIN US FOR The INTERMOUNTAIN REGION’S nd PCA CLUB RACE 22 & High Performance Driver Education Sponsored by
Photo by Eric Schramm
Race Registration opens Aug. 5th Miller Motorsports Park http://register.pca.org SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2013 FRIDAY Test & Tune & HPDE HPDE Registration opens Aug. 5th SATURDAY 1 hour Enduro & HPDE http://www.motorsportreg.com SUNDAY Sprint Race & Super Sprint Race (40 minutes) & HPDE
Region, Event & Hotel Info. TOTAL 6 1/2 HOURS OF TRACK TIME!!! http://www.irpca.org
Race Chair - Otto Silva [email protected] 801 899 3511
Registrar - Kay Koellner [email protected] h) 801 359 5997 c) 801-870-0463
Driver Education - Jeff Bogaard The IRPCA has hosted races for 20 years in 4 states at 5 tracks. [email protected] The Miller Motorsports Track, the longest track in North America, 801 712 9211 is 4.5 miles long with 24 turns, elevation changes and 12 straights. MMP includes a huge paved paddock with amenities, garages, covered trackside facilities and is less than an hour from downtown Salt Lake City.
July - September 2013 9 VIEW FROM THE TOWER
VICKI EARNSHAW, CHIEF NATIONAL STEWARD
t is an exciting time for PCA Club tion. The lead car should not pass the of you allows other racers to resume any Racing! We experienced two new pace car until the pace car is off the races they may have been engaged in tracks, NOLA Motorsports Park track. The lead car will continue the before the double yellow flag. andI the Formula One track at Circuit of pace set by the pace car until the green the Americas (COTA). The first half of flag is displayed. It is important that GIVE A PASS BACK? the season had great competition and you do not change your position before Have you ever blown past a slower car the Championship Points battle is in the green flag as that constitutes passing and had that sinking feeling that you full press mode. If you’re looking to under the yellow flag. If you advance missed a double yellow flag? There are a drive a new track or one of your old your position prior to the display of the few things that drivers should not do favorites, watch your email for informa- which can make this situation worse. tion on upcoming events or visit the Do not give the position back to the car PCA Club Racing website. Would you rather you passed. We saw this at COTA and it Mid-season rules changes have been spend green flag resulted in a one lap penalty to the car released and are published on the PCA that was being given the pass back. I Club Racing website and in this issue of time in the hot would never accept a re-pass from a rac- CRN (page 10). Speaking of rules, your pits arguing with a er under a yellow flag condition. Rather, car must always run compliant to our give that pass back as soon as the track current race rules throughout any ses- scrutineer or on the returns to green flag racing. sion at any event. Our rule book is track racing? If you pass a car when the field is small, and in many ways simple. PCA not under a green flag, your car number Club Racing has adopted the stance, “If will be displayed along with the black it is not in the rule book, it is not green flag, you can expect to see a black flag at the black flag corner station and allowed.” Walt Fricke, Technical & flag waived for you and your car num- at start/finish. This is a stop-and-go Rules Chair, is your source for rule clari- ber on the number board. You will re- penalty. I hear stories from the scruti- fications. If you choose to come to an ceive a stop-and-go penalty for this in- neers all the time how racers will come event with an unsafe or illegal car, the fraction after the field receives a green in and try to argue the penalty. Seri- scrutineers will identify the infraction flag. ously, this is your choice. Would you and bring it to the attention of the stew- Under a restart without a pace car, rather spend green flag time in the hot ard. The steward will then decide if your such as the second and third start of the pits arguing with a scrutineer or on the car is eligible to race. Following the three practice starts or after a double track racing? When you see a black flag rules theme, I would like to review some yellow flag, the lead car is charged with and your number on the board, giving procedures which cause issues at races. bringing the speed down to pace lap an acknowledgement to the corner speed. When we have all classes in a race workers that you saw the flag is impor- APPROACHING STARTS group, such as an Enduro or small tant. After your acknowledgment, the When the pace car is leading the race event, the leader needs to drive with an corner worker will work with race con- group, all cars need to stay close to the appropriate speed so that all race classes trol to remove your car number from car ahead. When approximately 80% of can be in the formation. Remember, the board so that the next violator may the pace lap is complete, the pace car some spec class cars need to spend more be summoned. will slow down and the starter should effort to catch the field than the GTC expect a rectangular two wide forma- classes. Staying close to the car in front Continued on page 15
10 Club Racing news Porsche supplies the horses.
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Official Sponsor FROM START TO FINISH
MICHAEL WINGFIELD, CHIEF OF NATIONAL TIMING & SCORING
ometimes our race organizers would eliminate any pit stop time diately prior to the red flag, namely wonder why T&S asks for several served for any competitor that made a Gatlin who had led every lap until he volunteers to work as spotters pit stop on the red flag lap or the lap pulled onto pit lane at the end of lap 12. duringS a race weekend. The incorrect prior to the red flag. Effectively, the pit stop time for Gatlin assumption is that T&S uses computers By Enduro Protocol Rule 15, the stared when he entered pit lane, but his for scoring and that the computers will cars on pit lane prior to the red flag pit stop time ceased to accumulate when capture everything that occurs on track must stop their pit stop time at the dis- the red flag displayed. The volunteer during a race. In a perfect world, this play of the red flag, and can only resume spotters kept record of cars entering pit would be true, as in a perfect world, a lane, and also noted the stoppage of race would start with a green flag and Gatlin on pit lane immediately when end with a checkered flag, and there the red flag displayed. Gatlin did not would be no incidents between those In a perfect world, continue to his pit stall, but rather fol- flags. Alas, we do not live in a perfect a race would start lowed the red flag rule of stopping safely world. This imperfection was dramati- as soon as possible, albeit within sight of cally demonstrated during the Clash at with a green flag and his pit stall. This was critical informa- the Glen this year. By having spotters in end with a checkered tion when the red flag condition T&S, many complications from this flag, and there would occurred. imperfection were eliminated – but To further complicate the scoring, more on that a little bit later. What was be no incidents four cars crossed the start/finish line preserved was some great racing for the between immediately before the red flag was dis- overall win, and battle between Bill played, including Peluchiwski, who Peluchiwski (CHO, #762) and Glen effectively just took over the race lead Gatlin (MAV, #911). from Gatlin when Gatlin pitted. The During the white group Enduro of the pit stop time at the display of the remainder of the field managed to stop the Clash, a sudden unexpected rain green flag. This preserves the time before the start/finish line, and subse- storm caused havoc in turn-1 and a sub- already served by cars on pit lane during quently pull onto pit lane when directed sequent red flag situation at the start of a red flag. Likewise, the cars on track are to continue without crossing the start/ lap 13. This red flag lasted almost 46 re-gridded based on their last green flag finish line. Allowing those four com- minutes, or half of the planned 90 min- lap by on-track running order. Note petitors to keep that lap would effec- utes of race time. Normally, a red flag that this is not a lap roll back, as the cars tively allow them to circulate the track during a race does not present a scoring are re-gridded under the red flag by run- freely under the red flag, and thus gain a concern. The typical scoring approach ning order, and any car that crosses the lap advantage on the entire field. Thus, to such a drastic on-track incident, is to scoring loop under the red flag does not the last start/finish scoring lap for those roll back the results to the last green flag receive credit for that lap. The re-grid of competitors was deleted, but the com- lap, re-grid the cars, and resume the the cars excludes those cars that were on petitors were placed at the front of the race. Unfortunately, during an Enduro, pit lane serving their pit stop when the re-grid for the resumption of the race. where cars are on pit lane making man- red flag was displayed. This preserves the on-track running datory pit stops when the red flag This is where those T&S volunteer order, keeping Peluchiwski as the overall occurs, rolling back a lap is an unaccept- spotters become so important. During race leader without allowing him and able adjustment. The lap roll back the Enduro, cars entered pit lane imme- the other competitors to gain an
12 Club Racing news Potomac, the Founders Region, Announces
The 22nd Annual Summit Point PCA Club Race and Advanced DE Event
September 27, 28, 29, 2013
Please join the Potomac Region for their twentieth annual PCA Club Race and Advanced DE at Summit Point Motorsports Park’s Main Circuit, presented by Tyson’s Porsche. Summit Point Motorsports Park is located in Summit Point, West Virginia, just west of Charlestown.
Racer registration will be Thursday evening.
Race activities start on Friday, the 27th with warm-up sessions, practice starts and fun races later in the afternoon.
Saturday will feature practice, qualifying and two sprint races. Saturday night we will offer a delicious barbeque at the track for racers, family, friends and race volunteers .Join us as we welcome back many of the members who are responsible for Club Racing as we know it today. All participants will receive a ticket for the Saturday night barbeque, with extra tickets available for purchase.
On Sunday there will be Sprint and Enduro Races.
Lodging and dining accommodations are available in either nearby Winchester, Virginia or Charlestown, West Virginia. Overnight camping is also permitted at the track.
Registration is now open. To register go to: http://register.pca.org or www.clubregistration.net
The Potomac Region’s Club Race is the oldest continuously held PCA Club Race event and is the actual birthplace of Club Racing. Plan now to join us and help us celebrate the Potomac Summit Point Club Racing tradition. Meet many of the folks who started the Club Race program in 1992.
For more event information contact: Race Chair: Fred Pfeiffer: 301-729-2407 [email protected] Racer Registrar: Starla Phelps: 703-354-5833 [email protected] or [email protected] DE registrations available online at www.motorsportreg.com or email [email protected]
unearned lap over the field when they However, Audet also did not have a time exclusion. The DQ of McGehee were allowed to pass the field on pit lane valid pit stop, failing to spend the passed the win to Kim Estep (CTV, during the re-grid. required five minutes during his pit #17). When racing resumed under the stop. While Audet did begin his pit stop Like Audet, Estep had entered pit green flag, pit stop times resume for almost two minutes before the red flag, lane about three minutes before the red those competitors on pit lane. This he did not stop his pit stop timing dur- flag. Also like Audet, Estep did not stop includes Gatlin, who moved into his pit ing the red flag. Audet rolled off pit lane the pit stop time during the red flag and stall and continued pit stop. Meanwhile with the re-grid field to resume the race rolled off pit lane with the re-grid, hav- Peluchiwski continued as the overall giving him just a two minute pit stop. ing only a three minute pit stop. The race leader until he made his pit stop at The invalid pit stop and DQ for Audet, short pit stop resulted in a DQ for the end of lap 14. When Peluchiwski moved Mac McGehee (FCR, #97) into Estep. made his pit stop, he handed the race the winning position. This brings us back to Gatlin and lead to Normand Houle (REN, #226). McGehee did not use the red flag Peluchiwski, who had closely battled Houle would stay out front until the time for his pit stop time, but rather after Peluchiwski’s pit stop. Peluchiwski checkered flag – but that is not where attempted his pit stop later in the race. re-entered the race after his pit stop six this story ends. Alas, McGehee’s plan to make his pit seconds behind Gatlin on lap 15. The Unfortunately, Houle did not make stop near the 45 minutes elapsed race chase was on as Peluchiwski closed the the required green flag pit stop during time (half way), was foiled as the Enduro gap on Gatlin with every subsequent the race, making his only journey down was shorted to 47 minutes due to the 46 lap, and both competitors set their fast- pit lane during the red flag to re-grid. minutes of red flag. McGehee rolled off est laps of the Enduro with one lap to go The absence of a pit stop for Houle pit lane after the checkered waved, but in the race, with Peluchiwski taking the resulted in a DQ, and promoted Jean well short of the required five minutes fastest lap of the race by 0.3 over Gatlin. Audet (REN, #701) to the overall race for the stop and having begun his stop However, Gatlin would reach the start/ win. within the last ten minutes of the race finish line 0.2 seconds in front of July - September 2013 13 Peluchiwski. With the DQ of Estep, firmed by computer scoring, but the Club Racing News Gatlin became the race winner. computer can not tell if competitors The valuable notations made by the have ceased to work on their cars during Editor T&S volunteer spotters confirmed Gat- the red flag - that is the task of humans. Michael Wingfield lin had ceased to work on his car during The notations made by the volunteer 3805 Clearwater Court the red flag, stopped his pit timing spotters for Gatlin and all the competi- Plano, TX 75025-2094 clock, and managed to spend the the 46 tors on pit road during the red flag 972.491.2766 minutes of red flag time plus the made finding the eventual race winner [email protected] required five minutes for his pit stop on possible with complete certainty. pit road. Yes, Gatlin’s time was con- Advertising Coordinator Susan Shire 1897 Mission Hills Lane Northbrook, IL 60062-5760 847.272.7764 847.272.7785 (F) [email protected]
Printing Press Tech 959 Lee Street Des Plaines, IL 60016-6545 847.824.4485
Copyright 2013 An isolated look at the lap times between Gatlin and Peluchiwski illustrating their Porsche Club of America battle, beginning on the lap after Peluchiwski completes his pit stop
14 Club Racing news View from the Tower Finally, if during an event you expe- there by your position at turn Continued from page 10 rience or see any situation that you in (See rules 1 and 2). It means think needs the steward’s attention, when the other guy does get THE BLACK FLAG IS NOT please let us know. This includes block- even with you at turn in you USED TO BRING A DRIVER ing or reckless driving. The stewards can’t hit him. It does not mean IN AFTER CONTACT want the event to be fair, fun, and safe you will not get a 13/13 sanc- The PCA Club Racing Rules state un- for you and all racers. tion if the guy you are passing der Driver Requirements, rule 4-b: Enjoy the race season! hits you when you continue to Vicki push a pass when you have not Drivers involved in an incident earned by being even or better must immediately exit the track at turn in (See rules 1 and 2). It during the session and must report means that in some situations to the Black Flag Station and then it is possible for two or more to the 13/13 impound area, as di- Chairman’s Corner drivers to get a 13/13 sanction rected. Continued from page 7 for the same incident.
The scrutineers have the job after the 3. Everyone must leave racing The rest is just common sense. On session of finding any and all cars in- room. a straight a blocking maneuver that volved in the contact. Drivers who do That means you can’t hit peo- results in contact is going to generate a not come in and report to the Black ple on purpose or run them off 13/13. Driver errors like a money shift, Flag Station after being involved in a the track. It means if you know loss of control, spinning, etc. which contact incident will have their “race or should know the car is there, result in damage to other cars are going clock” stopped at the time of the inci- you can’t hit it. It means you to earn a 13/13. dent. The steward will have timing ad- can’t keep pressing when you BE SAFE just the results to confirm this situation. have not earned a right to be July - September 2013 15 RULES CHANGE PROPOSALS
WALT FRICKE, TECHNICAL & RULES CHAIR
that these race based systems pro- stand the same forces an FIA seat vide a performance advantage (they can withstand. are a full race ABS, and thus do Here is the proposed rule, to more than just prevent “ice” mode) take effect in 2015 if approved (so ellow racers: Here are the changes and are quite expensive, and that everyone has plenty of time to make to the Club Race Rules which class competitors, even if they have a change). have been proposed by you and not had the “ice” pedal, will feel the In order to race without a com- Fthe National staff, and have been deter- normal competitive pressure to plying seat back brace or other mined to be worthy of putting out for spend the money on their cars to do exception, all the following condi- comment. Note that this does not mean this. It should be noted that Stock tions must be met: that the Rules Committee favors any class cars may change the ABS as a 1. An FIA approved race seat, particular proposal. Our job was to prepared modification, along with within six years of its manufac- eliminate those which simply would not all the other Prepared allowances. ture, and installed in accor- be approved. Example, the proposal to This is not an issue in GTB, where dance with the manufacturer’s identify who suggested a change in this brakes are free, or in GT. instructions. listing. What survives to be adopted will 2. A metal seat mount, with each be heavily influenced by comments • CHANGE SEAT MOUNTING separate side formed from a received, and the comments will, in a REQUIREMENTS FOR NO single sheet of steel 4 mm thick proper case, affect the views of the com- SEAT BACK BRACE minimum, or aluminum 5 mm mittee’s members. The current system is cumbersome thick, commercially available as to enforce, and assumes that all a race seat mount, and mount- SAFETY makers of FIA approved seats also ed in accordance with the FIA’s make a seat mount and a slider. specifications and the manu- • ABS However, most do not make both, facturer’s instructions. Several owners of cars with PSM and the FIA does not approve 3. If a slider is used, it must be the proposed that aftermarket race ABS mounts or sliders. The FIA does slider used on the Porsche Cup should be allowed in Stock, point- have a specification for the mounts. cars (part number to be added), ing to “ice” mode problems with And the current rules require the and the mount attached to the what Porsche provided to the street purchase of a new mount and slider slider with at least two 8 mm cars for these models. The Rules when a new seat is purchased if the bolts. Committee is of the mind that it driver wishes to continue to race 4. The seat mount, or the slider if previously was on this issue, and is without a seat back brace. Only used, must be attached to the not changing the current rules. This those who use a slider have a need chassis by at least one 10 mm is not a common occurrence, and it not to use a brace, but where two diameter bolt at each end of the is not clear that a sensor glitch or drivers vary greatly in size, or where mount or slider. The chassis something similar is not at the root a containment seat and roll cage mount must be modified if not of this. The consensus is that it ap- members make exiting from the made to take a 10 mm bolt, pears only after unusually hard driving position very difficult, a and in any event must also be (even for racing) brake application, slider can be important. The slider reinforced by additional steel and some say they can avoid it by used on Porsche’s race cars is robust, welded around the mount so it feeling its onset and releasing brake and has stood the test of years of cannot flex, and the sheet metal pressure a bit rather than pressing professional racing. No testing is holding the chassis attachment harder. The biggest strike against known to be done on any other is reinforced to prevent pull opening this up in Stock is the fact type of slider to ensure it can with- through.
16 Club Racing news Presents the 7th Annual PCA Daytona Club Race
ktoberFAST at Daytona International Speedway October 4-5-6, 2013 Race Registration opens August 19th http://register.pca.org PCA Club Racing License Candidates are welcome. Advanced Solo DE registration is currently open at www.clubregistration.net Check for updated information on pcafcr.org
STOCK CLASSIFICATIONS cussion, of course. But here might pounds (without driver). In 1996 be a way to deal with this. It starts that changed to 2750, and in 1998, • MOVE 2.5 LITER E CLASS with the RSA weight, which is it was 2760, which equates to BOXSTER TO D wrong. The Club Race Rules allow today’s weight with 150 pounds The proponent points to the fact the RSA to run at the C2 weight of added for the driver. that other cars in E, which do not 3181 in F. This was a 2004 com- One way to give RSA drivers have OBDII, are allowed to change promise to allow heavily optioned some class relief would be to drop chip settings, or otherwise increase RSA cars (mainly, with air condi- the RSA equals C2 weight in F, and their horsepower in ways not avail- tioning) to run in that class, be- include the RSA in F at 3104 able to the 2.5 liter Boxster. Those cause the RSA motor is the same as pounds. The power to weight dif- in D might want to look at race re- the C2. ference is modest, and there are a sults and lap times from events to Then it gets complicated, number of other models at a 12.57 see if such a class change would be because the RSA can also race in G ratio in F. This would require add- unfair. at 2910 pounds, a whole 270 ing about 200 pounds to a fully pounds lighter. The RSA in H may optimized current G/H Prepared • H CLASS 964 CARS add bigger brakes and other pre- RSA, but it would put the prepared Several drivers of G class 964 RS pared options, but run at this cars in G, away from the 06-08 Americas (RSA) progressed to H weight. The problem is that the Cayman S in I, or the various pro- have noted that the advent of Cay- Porsche factory curb weight for the gressed Cayman and Boxster from mans in that class seems to mean RSA is 2954 pounds. Adding the G. they can seldom expect to podium driver gives 3104 pounds, but that Adding weight to go to a lower no matter how well driven. They has never been the rule book class seems the only fair way of suggest a reclassification of some weight. It seems that, back when, treating those in F, and corrects sort to allow the old gang to race for an RSA was weighed at an event, what seems like a mistake from podiums again. How accurate this and that weight was used. The 1994 years gone by. Or would the H class assessment is will be part of the dis- rules give the RSA weight as 2875 Caymans be competitive in I? July - September 2013 17 Please comment if you race an RSA, hex drives, replacement of the owner and a certification of or in F or G, or otherwise have use- oil to water cooler with an oil weight compliance. ful ideas here. to air cooler and fan, allowing any Porsche internal oil pump, ◊ One approach would be to • MOVE CARS WITH A PDK UP allow additional oil scavenge have the Rules Chair approve ONE CLASS pumps with allowance of an specific aftermarket rod models Currently, the only offset to the electric brake booster, allow for weight compliance, to back PDK increased performance is the any deep wet sump and baf- up paperwork specific to a par- extra 50 to 100 or so pounds these fling, any drain plug, any ther- ticular engine. The same could cars are required to weigh because mostat, and additional oil fil- apply if aftermarket replace- stock class weights are mainly based tration. ment pistons are allowed for re- simply on Porsche’s listed curb sleeving. weight plus 150 pounds. Some be- ◊ It has also been proposed that lieve the PDK is the functional these motors can be converted Owners of cars with these equivalent of more horsepower. to an external dry sump sys- motors are invited to comment, as tem, which uses some of the are those with special knowledge of • MAKE 7” WIDE RIMS ALLOW- first set of modifications and the parts and procedures involved. ABLE FOR CARS WHICH more, and separate comments CAME WITH 5.5” RIMS OR on this would be welcome. • NO LONGER AVAILABLE LESS PARTS This affects only the 914-4, and ◊ Allow these motors to be re- Allow the Rules Chair to approve most of the 356 cars. 6.5” rims are sleeved, as long as the stock pis- aftermarket parts for Stock class hard to find and expensive. tons are used. Please indicate cars generally when factory and who is able to do this work. If OEM parts become unavailable. • OILING AND OTHER RELI- no re-sleeving process is avail- Such an allowance would be an- ABILITY AND REPAIR OP- able which is compatible with nounced, and included in the next TIONS FOR THE STOCK SIX the stock pistons, allow after- year’s rule book. But it would avoid CYLINDER WATER COOLED market pistons to be used pro- waiting up to a year for approval ENGINES vided they remain identical in where a convincing case was made Historically, every Porsche was suit- weight, dimension, and form. of unavailability, and where substi- able to be a race car. However, with tute parts posed no performance the advent of the water cooled six ◊ Allow aftermarket connecting advantage. cylinder wet sump motors (specifi- rods of equivalent weight to cally, the M96 and M97 motors), stock. These motors use frac- PREPARED this lineage has been somewhat tured face rod cap technology, eroded. These motors are subject to and thus rods cannot be reused • ALLOW RAISED SPINDLES failures not found in the earlier mo- on rebuild. In addition, some For some models, this is a fairly tors, due in part to the inability of competent engine builders be- simple modification, and allows the oiling system to sustain the G lieve that these stock rods will cars to be run lower without delete- forces which track suspensions and not hold up as well as the rods rious effects to shocks, suspension track tires can produce. Alterations of previous generations of geometry, and ball joint reliability. to deal with the IMS bearing and Porsches under the rigors of Spacers for adjustment of the tie rear main seal issues are already al- racing. Lighter rods are a per- rod angle are already allowed in lowed under the general provisions formance advantage (though Prepared. at the beginning of Stock in the rule how much can be debatable in book. It is proposed to allow the a car limited to the stock rev SPB CHANGES following additional modifications. limit), and aftermarket rods Some are simple, but some carry would require determining the • ALLOW ANY REAR TOE LINKS other implications and need to be weight of the various stock rods Since less expensive links are avail- weighed carefully. used in motors from 2.5 liters able, the proponent questioned to 3.8 liters, and paperwork why a specific part needs to be ◊ Modifications which do not from a vendor or manufacturer called out. serve as a performance advan- showing their sale to the car tage are: aftermarket oil pump
18 Club Racing news • FRONT ROLL BAR • ADOPT TOYO RR AS AN AL- ◊ Allow a Gurney flap on the Allow the Tarett front roll bar TERNATIVE DRY SPEC TIRE Getty spec 996 wing with a #996FSBK. TO THE TOYO RA1 height not to exceed 1” Allowing both the Toyo RR and • EXHAUST SYSTEM RA1 will allow comparisons, and • WHEEL/TIRE WEIGHTS Allow the exhaust system to be depletion of current RA1s (which Lower the minimum wheel/tire wrapped. would remain the rain tire) if the combination weights to 40 lbs for RR proves more popular. fronts, and 46 lbs for rears. • FRONT BUMPER COVER Allow any boxster or 996 style front • HOOD PINS GTB bumper cover If hood pins are installed, allow re- Some of these are believed to be moval or disabling of stock hood • WINGS less expensive than the bumper latches ◊ In addition to the wings cur- cover currently specified. rently allowed, allow the ITC • WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM wing. There is no reason to • ALLOW 500 LB SPRINGS IN Allow the windshield wiper arms fence out cars prepared for a THE FRONT, AND 450 LB and blades to be removed, as long as different venue but with the SPRINGS IN THE REAR AS AN they are available in case of rain. same basic approach of mostly ALTERNATIVE stock bodywork, and factory Proponents believe this will im- SPEC 996 power trains. prove the balance of the car, and there are no additional parts costs • GETTY SPEC 996 WING ◊ Allow cars running the allowed by swapping springs end for end. ◊ Disallow the “optional top GT3 wing to raise it up to scoop” on the Getty spec 996
20 Club Racing news Friday – practice, practice starts, and fun race. 2 0 1 3 Saturday – Two (2) Sprint Races; Sunday – 90 minute Enduro Race This is the last Club Race of the year, east of the Mississippi so come get Come join us for some good ‘ol Southern some of those much needed points for the National and Zone Champion- Hospitality and experience what Club ships!! Racing is all about! Saturday Night Social – open to everyone – Food, Fun, Music and Awards. We will also have two DE Run Groups (Solo Registration opens September 9, 2013 @ 10pm and Instructed) and Multi-Marque Charity Car Show! Registration for the Club Race and Drivers Ed is at http://register.pca.org • CMP is one of the more challenging Got questions? Contact Bill Scarbrough (Club Race Chair) at technical tracks in the Southeast [email protected] • Day Garages Available (contact track directly for rental) • New, faster track layout • Many corners, as well as entries and exits, recently reground
Carolinas Challenge 2013 10/25- Carolina Motorsports Park Kershaw, South Carolina 10/27/2013
July - September 2013 21 Mid-year Rules Changes
WALT FRICKE, TECHNICAL & RULES CHAIR
hese changes are effective imme- 3. The safety rule requiring a window may be made to the block to im- diately. They relate to safety net includes a requirement as to prove the block to cylinder head issues, codify interpretations, coverage of the window opening. seal, but the pistons must remain Tdeal with omissions and oversights, and The net must cover all the portions stock/OEM. expressly allow minor, non-performance of the driver’s door window open- modifications. ing through which a hand or head SP2. of the driver, with the seat in the 1. Maximum rim width in SP2 Stock SAFETY driving position, is likely to pro- is 9”, and in Prep is 10”. 1. 944/968 steering knuckle rein- trude outside the car in a crash. forcement. This knuckle attaches to This does not allow use of arm re- SPB the peg sticking out of the lower straints as a substitute for a comply- These changes conform to practices ball joint with a pinch bolt assem- ing window net. which have been allowed and relate only bly. Over time, the pinch portion 4. FIA 8860-2010 specification hel- to safety or reliability, but were not spe- can crack, leading to sudden frac- mets are allowed. cifically called out previously in the ture, causing the A-arm to discon- 5. Plastic connectors for lines which rules. nect from the strut and axle. To pre- convey liquids may be replaced 1. Aftermarket throttle pedals are al- vent this from happening, the base with metal connectors. It appears lowed. The stock pedals are prone of the knuckle below the strut at- that only the quick flush radiator to failure after hard use. tachments may be machined, mod- line disconnect in 996 and later 2. Hood pins are allowed. ified, gusseted, and otherwise Cup cars have a plastic connector, 3. Steering wheels and shift knobs are strengthened to integrate the pin but this safety rule covers all Porsche free, and quick release steering which attaches to the spherical models should they incorporate wheel hubs are allowed. bearing in the A-arm ball joint into anything similar which might break 4. Any inside rear view mirror is al- the knuckle, as long as there is no and spill liquids. lowed. dimensional change between the 5. The immobilizer box may be relo- lower ball joint center and the STOCK cated inside the car. knuckle attachments, attachment 1. The Stock engine modifications in- 6. The driver’s foot-well fuse panel plane, and spindle. clude allowance for an oil pressure may be relocated inside the car. 2. In addition to the general safety re- accumulator (e.g., an Accusump ©) 7. GT3 or aftermarket shift cables quirement that there be a firewall for all engines which were not sold may be used, as long as they are of between the engine and the passen- with an external oil sump tank. stock length. ger compartment, there must also 2. The 914 may use aftermarket rear be a separation of the passenger brake bias adjusters and relocate GTB1 compartment and any components them to a more convenient position 1. The 3.4 liter Cayman R is allowed exterior to the passenger compart- for bleeding as long as they cannot in GTB1 as if it was a Cayman S. ment (e.g. fuel tanks, exhausts, or be adjusted by the driver while driv- Since the flash is free in this class, just the ground under the car) ing. Stock adjusters are no longer and the extra 10 hp of the R comes equivalent to a firewall to prevent available. from the flash only, this does not the intrusion of fire, fluids, gases, or 3. Damaged 944 and 968 engine give this model an advantage. debris into the passenger compart- blocks/cylinders may be re-sleeved 2. The 3.4 liter Cayman through ment. to the stock ID, and modifications 2013 are allowed in GTB1
22 Club Racing news The weight chart is amended to Rules Change Proposals GTC make both corrections. Owners of Continued from page 20 GTB1 cars with PDK may see a rule • MAKE CONSUMABLE ITEMS change for 2014 to reduce the advan- the performance index formula FREE tage these transmissions provide, but would place them? If so, what is the Consumable items includes fluids, those without PDK will have to grin appropriate boost limit to restrict filters, seals, gaskets, general hard- and bear it for 2013. their horsepower? ware, belts, hoses, spark plugs and wires, brake lines, seals, wheel bear- ENDURO • DISCONTINUE THE R VER- ings, and other parts which can be Reversible hand crank refueling pumps SUS S TIRE DISTINCTION obtained from general auto parts screwed onto plastic fuel jugs no larger Some discussion about this can be retail outlets for replacement be- than five gallons are allowed over the found in the previous issue of CRN. tween engine and transmission re- wall in the hot pits during refueling. If There seems to be scant evidence builds. In no instance shall such pumps from larger containers are used that the R tires produce so much of parts be allowed if they serve to in- from the cold side of the wall under the an advantage compared with driver crease the car’s performance. existing allowance, the person cranking skill and car preparation to warrant the pump must wear a fire suit in ac- continuing the distinction. If driv- cordance with refueling rules. ing in GT, please indicate your views. If you would agree to this only with a weight penalty for R tires, what should that be? 50 pounds has been suggested.
July - September 2013 23 Carrera of the
® LIN PCA CUP HE POWERED BY SE MIC RIE MOTORSPOR S KSON TS GR JAC OUP Americas - Circuit of the Americas
PHOTOS Lynn Friedman, Zone 5 Representative (Lone Star region) GTC3 GTC4 GTC5
1. David Baum (WMI) 2. Doug Bielefeld (MAV) 3. Nicholas Ponder (CAR)
1. Mark McKenzie (HCT) (L) 2. Peter Collins (GCT) (R) 1. Chris Cervelli (RMT) 3. Billy Stevens (MAV) not shown 2. Ken LaBorde (MG) not shown SPRINT 3. Frederick Seipp (MAV)
1. Peter Collins (GCT) 1. Chris Cervelli (RMT) 2. Joe Cermin (HUR) & not shown Tom Long (CAR) 2. Corey Harbold (MAV) not shown 3. Ken Laborde (MG) 3. Mark McKenzie (HCT) not shown not shown & Patrick Lindsey (SBA) not shown
1. Denis Bouille (MAV) (R) & Nick Bouille (MAV) not shown 2. Doug Bielefeld (MAV) (L) 3. David Baum (WMI) ENDURO
24 Club Racing news Porsches GTC4 on the SprInt 3 SPRINT 2 High Bank - Kansas
Kristin Treager (CIM)
Speedway
PHOTO Karl Wilen (Kansas City region)
Red, White & Zoom - Mid-Ohio GTC3 Sports Car Course
PHOTO Bill Slone (Mid-Ohio region)
Scott Stapleton (MNY) SPRINT 2
July - September 2013 25 the word. All the hard work is coming to fruition, even as the U.S. economy SP Competition waxes and wanes. PCA absorbed the 944 Cup classes in 2006, creating SP1 for the West Coast spec 944, SP2 for the Cup mod- Heats Up els, and SP3 for the higher-horsepower Super Cup models. Grassroots Motorsports1 reported in February 2000, you could buy a front BY PATTI MASCONE, PCA Club Racer (Potomac region) engine water-cooled Porsche for the price of a “used Honda.” More than 100,0002 of these Porsches, including the 924, were sold in the United States here were hints that something Cup national director Dave Derecola. from the late 1970’s to the early 1990’s. big was brewing under the front “We started to see the SP3 numbers To keep costs down for “Super Cup/ hood at Roebling Road Race- grow near the end of 2012 and then SP3,” Derecola explains, “we did keep Tway last March - an all SP grid (SP1, continue much more dramatically in in place the basic concept that you get SP2, SP3) lined up, and the combined 2013. Maybe it’s just a momentum to run a stock engine for the model.” SP group made up almost half of the thing.” The 2013 944 Cup South stand- You can bet a WGI grid this full entire roster for the Florida Crown “Tri- ings (as of June) indicated SP2 and SP3 represents a good chunk of the country ple Crown” Club Race. Among those counts are nearly tied at 22 and 21 rac- and beyond, including Dennis Hiffman Porsches were a bevy of normally aspi- ers, respectively. (Chicago), Karl Poeltl (Smoky Moun- rated 944’s, something that is not The PCA SP1, SP2, SP3 classes are tain) and Randy Smith (Upper Can- entirely unexpected. However, nearly an outgrowth of the 944 Cup, founded ada), all drawn to SP racing at the 40% of the cars in the SP field were in 2002 by Derecola, who now lives penultimate WGI facility born from a labeled “SP3,” a class made up from near Charleston, South Carolina. The street race in 1948, cemented by road Turbo, S2 and 968 models. This was goal was to take the various 944 models racing with Formula One and Trans Am just the calm before the storm. running under a myriad of race organi- in the 1970s, and now a mainstay on the Grand-Am and NASCAR calendars. Dennis Hiffman, a longtime PCA member, came from a history of road racing in the 1970’s, only at another cornerstone of that era’s road racing - Riverside International Raceway in Riv- erside, California. He then went on to late-model stock cars as he puts it, “rac- ing every Saturday night at the short track,” in Wisconsin, where he learned to go deep into the turns. When the local track closed, Hiffman, owner of a commercial real estate firm, knew about Photo by Track Time Photo a key property in the neighborhood, Van Svenson (HCP) #171 and Chris Brady (DEL) #88 are two of the 33 SP2 this time a 968 Firehawk formally cars to take to the track during the Clash at the Glen driven by Boris Said. Hiffman jumped
By the time of the Watkins Glen zation rules and put them into 944 Cup 1 Pasterjak, JG (2000-02). “Porsche International (WGI, or The Glen) club and SuperCup groups, and level the 944 Profile”. Grassroots Motorsports. race, this all SP grid had exploded to playing field with weight. While devel- Retrieved 2013-08-26 over 60 entrants. Nineteen of those oping the rules and running the series, 2 Gross, Kevin (2009-07-15). “3.0 WGI pilots drove SP3 models. “For Derecola’s emphasis has been on keep- Production and Import Figures”. years I have tried to make this happen ing the drivers engaged, helping new “924/944/968 Frequently Asked Ques- and had nearly given up,” admits 944 drivers enter the series, and spreading tions”. Retrieved 2013-08-26
26 Club Racing news at the chance to buy it, take about 150 ment to their fellow SP2 drivers, too. As Canadian Historic Grand Prix at Mos- pounds out, and bring the yellow the drivers of heavier, but faster 944s on port, which celebrated the original Porsche to The Glen, along with a con- wide tires noticed, like Hiffman, the Rothmans Porsche 944 Challenge and tingent of other Porsche racers out of lightweight versions were handled quite Turbo Cup series. Thank goodness for the Eurosport camp. nimbly through the corners. what Smith says is a “stout car,” that Meanwhile, Racer’s Edge owner One of those SP2 pilots is Randy “requires very little to remain competi- Karl Poeltl was eyeing a 968 of his own, Smith, the 2012 944 Cup winner whose tive.” With the large number of cars at after owning two previously, along with history includes racing open-wheel For- The Glen and some apprehension due multiple S2’s and two 996’s. The holder mula Vees (another spec car with low to an incident last year, “it was more of numerous track records nationally, horsepower) in the late 1990’s. The race craft versus traffic,” relates Smith, five in SP3 and eight in I/GTB1 (as of Upper Canada Region member may or better yet, “patience.” In fact, this 2012), Poeltl was looking to rejoin SP3 have mixed emotions about moving on racer who still puts “fun” up there as a for 2013. The appeal for Poeltl lies in from the single seater, but it taught him, top goal tells newcomers, “No amount the SP rules that don’t lock down every “how to drive very fast competently, of mechanical preparation will ensure
Photo by Track Time Photo
Karl Poeltl (SMT) #237 and Michal Stach (CTV) #681 shared the front row for both green group all SP sprint races detail about the racecar chassis. “I am cleanly, intelligently, under constantly you finish any race successfully until not really a fan of a spec class that changing conditions and on a budget.” you are mentally prepared to have no doesn’t allow you to make proper Now piloting a 1987 944 racecar, expectations.” changes to the car’s suspension to make Smith’s heart seems to lie with Porsches. There were plenty of chances to test it work well,” Poeltl explains. “But we’re He drove an S2 right off the showroom one’s race craft and mentality at the lucky in SP2 and SP3 classes which floor and onto the track. Clash at The Glen PCA club race, as allow those types of changes.” Like Hiff- In “The Little Car that Could,”3 close quarters contributed to yellow man, he also relishes the lower curb Smith compares his Porsche rides then flags and in a few cases, red flags. None- weights allowed in SP. and now. “On old Dunlops with 130 theless, Poeltl broke his own class record The key for Poeltl, the 2010 SP3 horsepower (plus or minus) and 2500 in Sprint 1, at 2:10.95, on his way to champion, is not the fastest car techni- lbs. of 944, I had actually gone quicker the first of two overall wins. However, cally, but a car that is easy to drive. than my 220+ horsepower S2 on SP3 runner-up Michal Stach actually Poeltl explains, “It might be faster if R-compounds.” came out of the first half of the double- you tweak it here or there, but then it is During the short Canadian sum- header with the new official track record harder to drive, and your lap times may mer, Smith faced two 944 races back to at 2:10.75 and the pole for the second fall off as the race progresses.” back: the first at The Glen, and then the race. Even though Poeltl enjoys the Both 968 pilots came to WGI, rec- power afforded by SP3 and relies on a ognizing the large SP3 and SP2 grids. “I popular strategy to “get away as fast as 3 Smith, Randy (2013-05-25). “The generally look for the larger fields,” Little Car that Could”. Upper Canada Re- possible,” the final margin in Sprint 1 Poeltl says. Meanwhile, Hiffman admits gion Region of the Porsche Club of Ameri- between Poeltl and Stach was only 0.2 to get a good finishing position, “quali- ca. Members’ Riders May 2013. Retrieved fying is everything.” This pays testa- 2013-08-26 Continued on page 29 July - September 2013 27 In Praise of Practice and Racing with
Friends Photo by Bill Stolar
BY Alan Friedman, PCA Club Racer (Potomac region)
n CRN 13.2, the editor asked for number of practice sessions in some rac- cares and problems of the articles about recent Club Racing ing venues, in order to allow for more world, and get focused on experiences. Well, due to a combi- sprint races. This is hard for me for a driving and racing nationI of advancing age and an variety of reasons, and I’m sure that I’m 2. Check out the car, espe- expanded interest in all kinds of cars, I preaching to the choir here. Racing to cially if any changes have have moved most of my racing activity me is one of the hardest “leisure” activi- been made since it’s last to the vintage world over the past sev- ties, and always requires careful prepara- outing eral years. This includes an SVRA-spec tion. Look at the pros, even Formula 3. Learn or re-learn the track, RSR clone, and, as this article is being One has several practice days. Maybe to get back that smooth- written, a 1972 Chevron B21 (300 hp, the term “practice” should be replaced ness, and consistency one 1300 lbs, so lots to learn). I continue to by “preparation.” I have always felt that always remembers follow with great pleasure the evolution I want at least three solid preparation 4. Work on driving the track of PCA Club Racing. sessions to do some minimal activities. and work on speed in criti- Recently I had a couple of experi- These activities include: cal areas ences at vintage races that jogged my 5. With the availability of thinking and seemed worth sharing. 1. Get out of the everyday data acquisition systems, First, I’ve seen a tendency to reduce the groove, shake off the daily there is so much more information available from any on-track session. This leads to more to work on during the next session 6. Make car and tire adjust- ments as appropriate
Often the track will offer a “test and tune” session the day prior to the official race weekend. This is certainly good. Photo from Sportscar Vintage Racing Association - Jay Miller Photographer However, since it is optional, the race
28 Club Racing news organizing group must assume that only bigger events, people tend to socialize SP Competition Heats Up a portion of the entrants will take and pit with the people they already Continued from page 27 advantage of this extra practice day. The know. Often, the only time strangers race organization must still provide racing in the same race meet is if they seconds. In gaining the second victory, adequate practice sessions during the pit next to each other or if they’ve had a the Knoxville resident had to overcome race weekend. good battle and seek each other out a strange black flag thrown when the A second interesting thing hap- afterwards or, unfortunately, if they’ve stewards felt the front-row drivers fol- pened to me at a recent vintage race. I had something less than pretty happen lowed the pace car too closely when it stood on the podium for the feature during the race. sped up to exit for the start. sprint race winners (Okay - that’s pretty It’s hard to think of a way to get to Hiffman succumbed to a first-race interesting for me, but not the point), know your fellow racers. Perhaps there spin in a downhill corner that set him and found that I did not know two of might be a “social media” solution. For back in the pack, but he rebounded in the four people standing there with me, example, when you register you could the second round to finish fourth. and I’d been racing with them all week- opt to submit and share a recent photo Meanwhile, after successfully managing end. I had this “A-ha” moment. When and short bio. Then the organizer could traffic and expectations, Smith scored we race with people we know, rather collect the bios into race group bundles two class podiums against a 33 car first than just seeing a car and a helmet, there and distribute via email before the event race and 28 car second race SP2 field. can be a huge difference in attitude. I to the group members who opted in to Don’t look for the momentum to feel it myself all the time - personal ver- the shared bio plan. Then when you slow down anytime soon. “There will sus impersonal. At big events, with show up at the event, you know some- be more SP3s coming out of Chicago,” 30-60 cars in our race group, how many thing both visual and biographical proclaims Hiffman. Watch out GTB1, of these people do we really know, or about those other drivers in your group. as Poeltl is building a Cayman to add to even recognize in the paddock? It’s hard It could be a good ice breaker for get- his long list of steeds. The truth is, he as there’s little time to wander around ting to know your fellow racer. says, “I’d be happy in any of them as and meet people on a busy race day. At long as I get to keep racing.” July - September 2013 29 2013 HARD CHARGERS
2013
Name Region Class Description Start Finish Index Race
Buttonwillow Raceway Park Robert Murillo GG SP911 P 85 911 CARRERA 15 6 9 Sprint 1 John Seidell GG SPB P 99 BOXSTER 20 13 7 Sprint 2 Scott Fisher GG SPB P 97 BOXSTER 12 7 5 Sprint 3 Motorsports Park Hastings Chris Blazer KSC SP1 P 85 944 11 8 3 Blue Sprint 1 Alexandra Sabados RMT GT4R GT 74 911 RSR 7 4 3 Red Sprint 1 Julie Bailey WIC SP1 P 86 944 29 21 8 GPR Sprint 2 Chris Blazer KSC SP1 P 85 944 20 14 6 GPR Sprint 3 Watkins Glen International Teodoro Hoffmann GCT E S 87 911 41 21 20 Blue Sprint 1 Laurence Jitts LHN SPB P 98 BOXSTER 40 21 19 Blue Sprint 2 Mario Blanchette REN SP2 P 87 924 S 37 19 18 Green Sprint 1 Michael Strelbisky UPC SP3 P 89 951 25 14 11 Green Sprint 2 Kim Gutowski RMT GT3R GT 95 993 RSR 32 19 13 Red Sprint 1 Rick Fischer CHO GT3S GT 82 911 50 36 14 Red Sprint 2 Rick Goryeb NNJ H S 07 CAYMAN 49 27 22 Yellow Sprint 1 Scott Asplundh RTR J S 04 GT3 32 15 17 Yellow Sprint 2 John Bilikas REN SP2 P 86 ROTHMAN 944 34 14 20 Orange Enduro John Machul GCT E P 87 911 36 14 22 Purple Enduro John Uglum MNY GTB1 GT 100 CAYMAN S 36 8 28 White Enduro GingerMan Raceway Tyler Farner SCH E S 83 911 SC 17 11 6 Blue Sprint 1 Kurt Hipke CHO GT5S GT 70 911 S 19 9 10 Blue Sprint 2 James Leslie NST GTC3 GT 05 996 CUP 8 2 6 Green Sprint 1 Gary Knoblauch CHO GT4S GT 76 911 RSR 9 7 2 Green Sprint 2 * Photo by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC © 2013 Andreas Fischer CHO GT4S GT 87 911 12 10 2 Green Sprint 2 * John Crane CHO J S 11 997 S 13 11 2 Green Sprint 2 * Peter Fischer CHO GT4S GT 72 911 15 13 2 Green Sprint 2 * Philip Mason CHO E S 93 968 26 20 6 Orange Enduro VIRginia International Raceway Larry Hoffman SFL GT5S GT 74 911 RS 21 10 11 Black Sprint 1 Lenny Stann FST E S 81 911 SC 14 8 6 Black Sprint 2 TJ Larsen CAR H S 93 911 RS 36 24 12 Red Sprint 1 Scott Leder SCH I P 08 CAYMAN S 37 24 13 Red Sprint 2 Patrick Rhodes POT E S 86 911 41 21 20 Enduro
30 Club Racing news Name Region Class Description Start Finish Index Race
Kansas Speedway Brian Forsythe KSC E S 86 951 9 7 2 Sprint 1 * Bret Bailey NST E S 86 911 13 11 2 Sprint 1 * Sandy Steckman GPL D 79 911 SC Euro 13 10 3 Sprint 2 * Andrew Cox NST SP1 P 88 924 14 11 3 Sprint 2 * David Byassee RMT SP1 P 88 924 S 15 12 3 Sprint 2 * Mike Lyle KSC GT4S GT 75 911 5 4 1 Sprint 3 * Richard Bennett KSC E S 87 951 6 5 1 Sprint 3 * Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Chris Pedersen SDO GTC5 GT 10 GT3 CUP 8 5 3 Sprint 1 * Clemson Chan GG SPB P 97 BOXSTER 32 29 3 Sprint 1 * Randy Bergum AZ SP1 P 88 944 35 32 3 Sprint 1 * Bob Mueller SDO GT4S GT 85 911 23 12 11 Sprint 2 Canadian Tire Motorsports Park Paul Young SDO GT4S GT 78 911 SC 18 13 5 Red Sprint 1 Andre Belzile REN GTA2 GT 09 997 GT3 CUP 3 2 1 Red Sprint 2 Yanick Tremblay REN GT6S P 85 944 19 11 8 Yellow Sprint 1 Arthur Quinlan UPC E P 79 911 SC 17 13 4 Yellow Sprint 2 Rainer Beltzner UPC E S 94 968 18 14 4 Yellow Sprint 2 Marie-Josee Fortin REN GT6S GT 87 944 24 20 4 Yellow Sprint 2 Rainer Beltzner UPC E S 94 968 29 15 14 Enduro Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course George Tsantes POT K P 04 GT3 17 14 3 Blue Race 1 Craig Mahon NNJ H S 06 CAYMAN S 16 3 13 Blue Race 2 Dennis Hiffman CHO SP3 S 95 968 FIREHAWK 17 8 9 Red Race 1 * Brian Weathered CHO SP3 S 90 994 21 12 9 Red Race 1 * Dennis Hiffman CHO SP3 S 95 968 FIREHAWK 12 6 6 Red Race 2 * Jeff Pawlowski CHO E S 89 944 S2 21 15 6 Red Race 2 * Robert N Cohen NE SPB P 98 BOXSTER 32 21 11 White Enduro Brainerd International Raceway Ben Merriman NST GT5S GT 72 911 32 19 13 Sprint 1 Tyler Farner SCH E S 83 911 SC 36 25 11 Sprint 2 Bret Bailey NST E S 86 911 22 11 11 Enduro * Indicates a tie
Photo by Sideline Sports Photography, LLC © 2013
July - September 2013 31 THE CLASSIFIEDS BUY, SELL AND BROWSE
2000 BoxsterS 3.6L Racecar 2538lbs, MoTeC ECU, Dash, Harness, i2 Data, RMS, Design IMS, Motorsports Air/Oil Sep, x51 Oil Baffle, GT LSD, AASCO lightweight Flywheel, Moton 15-way Adj Remote Resovr, Eibach Springs, 2 sets 18 Enkei 8.5F 10R, AirJacks, Full Cage, Radios, Cool Suit, (2/2013)Schroth Belts, Window, Rightside, Fire Suppression, 6-Speed Trans rebuilt (5/2013) $49,900 Chad Knoerr 941.545.9688 [email protected] (13.3)
2006 GT3 Cup 3.6 Racecar 2012 six race winner. 4th in SCCA National Points, competed in Pirelli GT3 Cup - Gold, SCCA – GT2, & PCA – GTC4, 3 sets BBS, 6 sets of tires, radios, Motec all upgrades with laptop, Kelly-Moss prepped, 2 race seats, coolbox for helmet, carbon cool suit, over $280,000 invested. $95,000 OBO Jeff 713.822.7865 [email protected] (13.3)
02’ 993 Cup Exceptional condition. Podium finisher/ PCA Zone champion. Ready to race. Photos and more data available at http://tech7. shutterfly.com/pictures/80. $75,000 Randy Alexander 608.852.5615 (13.3)
993 Twin Turbo 450 HP, 2180 Lbs. 100 Liter Fuel Cell, Penske nitrogen shocks, Alcon brakes, Stack dash/data, fire system, CF/FG body- work, 3 sets Fiske wheels, fast, safe, reliable. Many podiums, 3 PCA lap records. Built by Eurotech in 1998 from 964 at cost of $265,000 PCA/POC, SVRA, SCCA, NASA eligible. Pics: www.dna-motorsports.com $89,500 Steve Keneally 617.838.4648 [email protected] (13.4)
1986 944 Turbo Metallic Grey. PCA Club Racing E-class prepared. Upgraded to 1987 specifications. Full Racers Edge suspension with Leda shocks. FABCAR control arms. AIM data acquisition system. HANS seat. 2 sets 17” Fikse wheels, one set 16” wheels for rains. No accidents. Meticulously maintained by CS Motorsports. $19,000 OBO. Chris 262.257.0678 [email protected] Steve 847.272.7731 [email protected] (13.4)
32 Club Racing news THE CLASSIFIEDS BUY, SELL AND BROWSE
911 Twin Turbo Race Ready 2012 GT-1R National PCA Championship car, numerous Podiums, Worker’s Choice. Low time 600 HP 3.4L motor, fresh rebuilt 930 4-spd trans. Built, maintained by Pat Williams Racing. 2.5 sets Fikse Wheels/slicks with numerous spare parts. Moton 3-way, Getty 996 body, Guard Trans/Diff gears. Contact for complete details, pictures. $87,500 Barry Bays 901.359.6542 [email protected] SOLD (13.4) 944 964
1989 944S2 Racecar 1992 964 US Cup PCA Stock E, well maintained with less Bought at 800 miles, now has 5000 than 10 hours on rebuilt engine, B&B miles. Non Andial converted. Cur- exhaust, two sets of 3 piece wheels (BBS rently in race trim with fuel cell. No & Forgeline), Recaro seats, full cage, body damage ever. Original paint, origi- Bilstein coil overs, Fabcar A arms, adj nal cup wheels. Titled and licensed. All swaybars, camber plates, quick release interior trim included. $110K. steering wheel, spare parts included. Ed Blais 801.209.3159 39800 miles, asking $21,000. Trailer [email protected] (13.4) available. Craig Ackerman 616.866.1905 [email protected] (13.4)
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July - September 2013 33 Advertiser Index
National Committee Apex Performance...... 5 Chairman Bryan Henderson Autometrics...... 8 2416 Bedford Circle Bedford, TX 76021-1822 Carquip...... 21 Phone: 817.845.2664 Fax: 817.345.6045 CupCar Solutions...... 14 Email: [email protected]
Forgeline...... 15 Program and License Coordinator Susan Shire Jackson Motorsports Group...... 11 1897 Mission Hills Lane Northbrook, IL 60062-5760 Phone: 847.272.7764 Northstar Motorsports...... 2 Fax: 847.272.7785 Email: [email protected] OG Racing...... 35 Chief National Steward Performance Racing Oils...... 19 Vicki Earnshaw 7161 South Lewis Street TC Racing...... 7 Littleton, CO 80127 Phone: 720.244.1532 Email: [email protected]
Chief National Scrutineer Mike Mulligan 1304 North Melrose Dr., Suite B Vista ,CA 92083 Phone: 760.672.9175 Email: [email protected]
Chief of National Timing and Scoring Michael Wingfield 3805 Clearwater Court Plano, TX 75025-2094 Phone: 972.491.2766 Email: [email protected]
Technical and Rules Chair Walt Fricke 4651 Huey Circle Boulder, CO 80305 Phone: 303.499.6540 Email: [email protected]
Sponsor Coordinator Steve Rashbaum Niels Meissner (LST) #06 drives on the carpet at the 1897 Mission Hills Lane Circuit of the Americas Northbrook, IL 60062 Phone: 847.272.7731 Fax: 847.272.7785 Email: [email protected]
34 Club Racing news 1.800.934.9112 | www.ogracing.com
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