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Activities
Nor'easter News
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Porsche
Club of America
By
Win Perry,
wperry@winbro.com
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May started out pretty well as a driving month. I went to a BMW CCA autocross on April 30 (well, that’s almost May). This was the first BMW club autocross that I had attended. Arriving at my usual time for a PCA event, I was startled to find the parking area at Devins almost full. The turnout was certainly impressive, the event was well organized, and the course was challenging and fun. Despite nearly 100 drivers, we got in seven runs (and really had enough time for eight). Apparently the Boston chapter of BMWCCA runs one of the best-attended autocross series (co-chaired by PCA member Fred DiNapoli), and it shows. I think I prefer the somewhat less frenetic PCA autocrosses, but the BMW AX was a worthwhile experience. Next came our NER DE and novice day at NHIS on May 5. I’m sure there is a detailed write-up of the event elsewhere in this NOR’EASTER, so I don’t need to say much. The weather was fine, the turnout was great with a lot of first time track drivers, and it was great day of driving and socializing with fellow NER track enthusiasts. I bet that Bruce Hauben and the track committee “hooked” a lot of novices on the DE program. Following right on the heels of NHIS, I attended my first “advanced DE” hosted by Hudson Valley Region at Watkins Glen. The format for this DE was certainly different than I was used to. There are two classes: faster and slower. However, as long as you are driving appropriately, you can drive in either or both classes. In reality, the track is open, and one can drive all day. Despite over a week of rain and an iffy forecast, dry weather prevailed and the track surface was excellent. This was like being a kid in a candy shop. The first day, I must have driven seven or eight 30-minute sessions. Then nemesis appeared, since having too much fun violates the Greek ideal of moderation. I noticed a few drops of oil on the garage floor where I had been parking the Boxster. These appeared to be coming from the general location of the Rear-Main-Seal, an outcome dreaded by all owners of Boxsters and 996’s. My first thought was to pretend it wasn’t there. After all, it was only a few drops, and I had an on-track driving lesson with pro Dave Murray booked for the first session next morning. Safely in denial, I enjoyed a congenial dinner with NER members Bob Cohen and Bruce Hauben, and looked forward to another fantastic day. The weather stayed dry, and I didn’t see any oil puddles after I parked in my Glen garage bay. Driving with Dave Murray was an eye opener. I had him drive my car for about half the session. The smoothness of his driving was awesome. He has an intimate knowledge of the Glen and probably dozens of other tracks. He showed me faster lines through the bus stop, the carousel, the toe of the boot and the off camber. He demonstrated throttle steering. In every instance the car was in perfect balance. On top of this, he is a great teacher and seemed to be unpretentious and a genuinely good guy. I can see why one driver had signed up for three sessions! I drove an additional two sessions before lunch and was all pumped up for the afternoon. Unfortunately, rainsqualls started blasting through the area, and after my morning sessions, the garage floor under my car was indeed looking oily. Acting the part of father wisdom, NER member George Skaubitis, reminded me that I had to drive my car for six hours to get home. Did I really want to take a chance on blowing the seal? Father wisdom prevailed in the end, and I took off the track tires and serviced the brakes. I’m happy to report that the drive home was uneventful and I arrived with most of my oil still in the sump. However, the two days of DE with NCR at NHIS scheduled for three days hence were obviously not going to happen. I have driven almost 40,000 miles in the Boxster, change the oil annually and never had to add any in between changes. I had thought my rear main seal wasn’t going to fail early. Like they say: when your neighbor is laid off, it’s a recession. When you are laid off, it’s a depression. Before, rear main seal failure was an interesting problem. Now (especially since my warrantee is long since expired), Porsche should obviously have recalled every Boxster and 996 and fitted an improved seal design (or even new engines!) at no cost. Well, dream on. Fortunately, unlike many situations in life, problems with a car can be solved by just adding money. My car should be healthy again in a week or two. One theory about Porsche’s engineering boo-boo is that the 28 lb. dual mass flywheel is too heavy for the crankshaft support. Testing this idea should be all the excuse I need to have a lightweight flywheel fitted. It only hurts when you write the check. The interminable rains seem to be gone; summer is almost here. Have fun and keep driving. |
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