Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/375982
September / October 2014 41 an eleven turn racetrack most famously known for Corkscrew; a hard-left, hard-right combination with a 12 in elevation thrown in for good measure. Corkscrew drops 59 feet between the entrance of Turn 8 to the exit of Turn 8A—the equivalent of a 5½ story drop—in only 450 feet of track length. From Turn 8 to Turn 9, the elevation falls 109 feet, or just over 10 stories. GGR had some minor variations in the DE rules compared to events run by our own region. For example, the drivers had to supply their own car numbers, (requiring a quick trip to Home Depot for some masking tape), and passing on the straights was allowed on both the left and right as long as a point-by was given by the driver being passed. This second rule seemed odd at first, but once on the track it made perfect sense as the normal racing line on certain straights was on the left. My brother and I were in different run groups due to differences in philosophy on learning a new track. Terry preferred to get all his knowledge by watching YouTube videos, while I supplemented it asking for an instructor to ride along and sign-off once I learned the track. This has always been my preference as you can learn a lot from someone who has experience driving the track, and it's even better if they have experience in the same type of car you're driving. In my opinion this is the safest and fastest way to get up to speed on a new track. An experienced instructor can identify reference points for braking and turn- in, as well as anomalies in the track surface. Tips you just don't get watching a YouTube video. I could write an entire article just on my experience driving at Laguna Seca; however, I'll summarize by saying it is my new favorite track. Thanks to my GoPro camera, you can ride along for a session. However, the video cannot match the real life experience of driving through the Corkscrew. It's a blind turn. You crest a hill, turn hard left just past the crest as the car's suspension settles before taking a 5 story drop. You experience the feeling of falling as you turn left. When you hit the bottom of the turn (8A), the car's suspension is compressed. As you are falling you turn right, step on the gas hard, and gravity and horsepower shoot you out of the right hand turn for the remaining drop to Turn 9. Incredible! The drive home was uneventful with overnight stops in Auburn, CA, Rock Springs, WY (again), and Omaha, NE. It was a brisk, fun, 1,965 mile drive. As our two Porsches traveled down the road, it felt like Terry and I were fighter pilots buzzing past traffic as we flew down the left lane of Interstate 80. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but my Porsche always seems to run better after a weekend on the track. Maybe it's the cars way of saying thank you for driving it as it was intended. Hopefully this story will inspire you to attend next year's PCA Parade, the 60th, at French Lick, IN. If you belong to the Porsche club, you owe it to yourself to attend a PCA Parade. I guarantee it will provide a lifetime of memories. Cheers! - DAVID