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Porsche Club of America
The Northeast Region

By Steve Boris, Boris@Porschenet.com
NOR'EASTER Online - August 2005

Q: First off what type of car do you drive, class, and what type of upgrades have you done throughout your Driver Education days.

A: 1986 944 Turbo / Race in “F” Class / Substantial work on the suspension system / lowered car/ stabilizer bars, shock / springs, flared fenders for “17” wheels (Rick Bye sent his specs for the cup car he raced to Rick Hetherington at Autobahn Performance), Kirkey one piece seat with airknit cover (very comfortable), cage, electric cut out, fire suspension system in engine and on driver, large mirror, lightweight wheels (my car is 103 lbs heavy without new lightweight wheels which I hope will save 10 lbs per wheel),transponder and lap timer, limited slip (big improvement), Castrol SRF Racing Brake Fluid, Pagid Racing pads (anything for better braking within the rules). Also the usual all new seals and pulleys and pumps, test pipe and the list goes on!

Q: How long had you done Driver Education before you decided to try racing? 

A: 5 years driver ed about 12 days a year, started in green and ran in black in “04”. Bruce Hauben suggested I spend a season in the Black Run group before Club Racing (he was probably right).

Q: Was the Chief Driving Instructor helpful when you approached him about your interest in racing? 

A:  When I called Bruce Hauben last winter for a recommendation I was not sure what he would say (in the past he had been a bit conservative about my ability to run in the fast lane). He surprised me by being very supportive and wrote a great letter to Susan Shire. I find if I push myself my skill level improves more quickly and could have started racing at the end of “04” and been ok.

Q: Between the time you decided to race and your first race did you make any last minute improvements to the car?

A: 17" lightweight wheels, net, mirror (I also have a digital camera in the cage – excellent learning tool).

Q: Did you do any reading about race strategies or techniques over the winter to get prepared mentally?

A: No. However Steve Keneally is a friend who races in GT1 has driven with me in private DE events and made suggestions. Also I attended a 2 day Skip Barber advanced racing school in “04” (had to talk my way in but it was well worth it).

Q: Did you find the licensing process straight forwards?

A: Susan Shire was terrific and made the licensing process easy and once I got started.

Q: How did the car do in your first race tech checkout?

A: Dave Maynard gave me a one Race Exemption at Lime Rock for my 2 piece Recaro seat and required a one piece seat for my next event (hence the one piece Kirkey seat). Aside from that the car checked out fine. Rick Hetherington is a good mentor and mechanic (he was my first driving instructor).

Q: How was the Orientation meeting that all rookies must attend?

A: The orientation meeting was necessary, long and comprehensive. Russ Castagna was my mentor and that helped.

Q: Sitting on the grid for your first practice tell me how big were the butterflies in you stomach? 

A: Once I got strapped in and put up the net I sort of went into a “quiet zone”, a bit nervous but calm – glad all the pre race hassle is behind me and it is time to go (I have raced a sail boat for many years and know when the 5 minute gun goes it is time to block out distractions and get focused). That is my “calm zone”.

Q: Not like Driver Education was it?

A: Driver ed can get pretty routine. In Club Racing when the green flag waves your senses go to an entirely different level – it is a rush like no other –it is the fastest 30 minutes I can remember in my life.

Q: Any close calls in any of the practices? 

A: The practices were on a dry track with no close calls.  I was pretty slow to start and the fast drivers behaved well when they passed. Rick Hetherington and one of his mechanics came as my pit crew which was very helpful. Rick critiqued my runs, made suggestions and I was able to cut my time from 1.125 to 1.07.65 in the practice race which they allowed to go on for 20 minutes because of the lousy forecast for Sunday. 

Q: How was your first pass? 

A: My first pass was coming down to the hill onto the front straight and it felt very good.

Q: How were the Practice Starts and Fun Race?

A: The practice starts were a bit confusing at first, but were less so once I knew what to expect (and started anticipating better) – the fun race was a great way to end the day.  I was driving more aggressively with some confidence.

Q: I hear the day of the Sprint Race was raining. How did you like racing your first race in the rain?

A: The Sprint Race, on a very rainy Saturday was a different story.  I never felt comfortable even with good rain tires and a softened suspension. I was driving to survive and not screw up.

Q: Next you did the Glen Race in perfect weather. Was it better?

A: The Glen was terrific Steve Keneally shared my car and drove competitively in E class until the third lap of the Sprint Race when the poppet valve failed and he lost the turbo (we found another and were all set for Sunday’s ). Steve was a good mentor and got me driving faster just in time for the Sprint Race. I started in 60th place and landed up in 44th.

Q: Your first Enduro. Did you split the drive with your friend? 

A: I gridded for the Enduro in 44 and split the time with Steve about 50/50, as you have probably checked the results you know we finished in 12th in F Class 17th overall. We both passed a lot of cars and it felt great. I received the Novice Driver Award although I am not sure for exactly what.  

Q: So any last thoughts on the Glen Race?

A: I learned a lot more about passing in the corners and how to manage the double yellow particularly in the Enduro.  I also learned that cars get bent in a hurry and there were more accidents on a good track than I would have expected. Tough competition sets good benchmarks, however some guys had racing gears (the video did not miss a shift) and I am not sure that is allowed under the rules.  I also wish “F” Class allowed bigger brakes.

Q: What other races do you plan to do this year?

A: I hope to get to Road America over Labor Day.  My application is in.