Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/565367
September / October 2015 44 Porsche purchase. I arrived at the secure en- trance at 8:30am and after checking my credentials I drove up to the gleaming glass and stainless entrance, where most all of the vehicles in the lot were, you guessed it - Porsches. I was greeted at the desk, by some very nice staff members, impec- cably outfitted in the latest Porsche gear, who checked me in, gave a brief run down of my schedule, had me sign the rudimentary paperwork (yes you can purchase insur- ance) and then escorted me to the Carrera Café, where I was greeted by many other guests anxiously waiting to meet their instructors and to head downstairs to the stag- ing areas. I was greeted by my in- structor (Chad) and after a brief introduction; we head- ed downstairs for a vehicle orientation. For this day, and for rea- sons that will become ap- parent later, I elected to take the Carrera 2 and Carrera 4 Course, which was designed to let the driver experience the driving and performance dynamics of the 991 2 wheel and 4 rear wheel drive cars, back to back. We first drove the Carrera 2S and then the Carrera 4S. Both vehicles were PDK cars, and expect- edly well optioned and the C4S had the PCCB option. Chad did a thorough vehicle orientation, and then outlined the various driving "mod- ules" we would be driving. First up we did some warm up laps on the road course, for the purposes of getting me acclimated to the vehicle and then moved progressively at speed, all the while watching out for other traffic. We then moved into the low friction (polished concrete) handling course where I explored the limits of adhesion and car control- on several occa- sions. We then headed over to the slalom course to learn about the handling dynam- ics with various PASM set- tings, etc. and then on to the low friction circle concrete pads: Simply put, learning how to drift in a new 991 is quite possibly the most fun I have had behind the wheel in years. Lastly, we entered into the kick plate-inclement weather course. The idea is to enter at just the right speed and then to provide the right amount of corrective steer- ing input so that you stay straight down the course. The kick plate senses your speed and then upsets the vehicle at various rates and in un- expected directions. I went from Drift King to Spin- Meister as I went careening down the course doing sev- eral 360's until finally com- ing to a stop. This happened several times, but after some speed adjustments and prac- tice I was able to control the C2S with a fair degree of ac- curacy. This was a bust -out -loud laughing, yet humbling experience to say the least. We then jumped into the C4S and did it all again. I will refrain from getting too I went from Drift King to SpinMeister as I went careening down the course doing several 360's until finally coming to a stop.