Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/673867
March / April 2016 31 MEMBER STORY By Dan Barks Hooked On RACING then I didn't have a race car and didn't know anything about it. "You should take your car to a DE," Bob said. "What's that?" was my re- ply. Through the course of the next half hour, Bob ex- plained what a DE event (Drivers Education Event) was and how my car is per- fectly suited for the event. "It is safe, fun and you will really learn more about driv- ing than you ever have," he said. They call it a slippery slope; racing that is, and in retrospect I wasn't on the slope yet. But I was cer- tainly standing next to the starter at the top of the hill. "Really?" I thought. I can take my car out on a real race track, with real corner workers and real pits and real crowds cheering? OK, no crowds cheering, or pit crews, but it sounded pretty exciting. I learned that the next DE event for the KCRPCA was scheduled for October at Heartland Park. I quickly logged on and tried to reg- ister. "Oh no, the system won't let me register, I won't be able to go!" I called Bob and explained my, at best, desperate situation. "Reg- istration doesn't open un- til August," he explained calmly. It is only the first of May." Fast forward to Saturday morning, the first day of the DE. I depart my Overland Park house at daybreak and head west. It is raining. Re- ally raining. I have carefully loaded the Boxster with ev- ery recommended DE day piece of equipment; tools, jack, brake fluid, tire pres- sure gauge, lunch packed and the list goes on and on. I even have a rain poncho and tarp for covering all the gear while it sits on the ramp while out driving. I have my signed forms, waivers, membership card, registra- tion and proof of insurance. After the registration scare, I am prepared, I am not taking any chances. There is a great turn out, even given the rain and I find myself listening to Bob go over the DE day rules in a pretty large crowd of driv- ers. I meet my instructor, Chris McIntyre, and after introductions, I head over to the ground school session. I was one of the first to arrive, so I didn't realize the parking lot had been filling up when I went inside. On the walk over to the classroom, I was amazed at all the different Porsches assembled. Every make and model imaginable were present. That is really part of the fun for me, just being able to see all the cars. It is still something I look forward to between runs. I am familiar with ground school and pre-flight brief- ings, so the class work was pretty interesting but un- eventful. After class, I meet up with Chris and he drives my car for the first couple of laps, so I can learn the course a bit. When I get behind the wheel, we take it easy and I try to stay coordinated and learn the lines. Then it is back to class to review and discuss. "Really?" I thought. I can take my car out on a real race track, with real corner workers and real pits and real crowds cheering? OK, no crowds cheering, or pit crews, but it sounded pretty exciting.