Drive baby, drive!

So, I've got the car that my wife bought me. I didn't deserve it - but she did it anyway. It's an old Porsche 911 that she picked up from a friend who had bought it himself from a guy on the west coast. Had it trucked to Illinois. After a few months with this thing came to the conclusion that it wasn't the most practical of machines to drive everyday to-and-from work, school, etc. - especially during the winter.

Anyway - he wants to sell. I am wishy-washy. My wife buys it for me and surprises (the absolute hell out of) me!

So, now I have another hobby. And this one is a doosey. Perhaps some other time I'll talk about all the work I've already had to do (most myself) to this machine to make it acceptable to me. But this post is about a "Drivers Education" (DE) event I attended June 10th.

For those who don't know, "Drivers Education" is an excuse to take your car out on a race track and go fast. Hopefully while under control. Hopefully with your fellow students (who are out on the track at the same time) also under control. This particular event was sponsored by the Chicago region of the PCA (Porsche Club of America). It was hosted at the Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Beliot Illinois (right outside of Rockford). This was my third time up there, and second DE. The PCA guys run a tight ship. Before you are allowed out on the track with your car, you must:

a) Pass a tech inspection - of both your car and yourself
b) Attend a driver's meeting to go over the rules, flags, etc.
c) Have an instructor ride with you until they are confident that you can handle the track alone.

Most people have an instructor ride with them for at least their whole first DE and most of a second.

This being my second time out, I figure I'll have a guy with me for the first (out of four sessions) and then boot him so I can do the next three on my own. Well, this guy is into this in a serious way. He's a bit disturbed I installed a "Hot Lap" system in my car so I can track my lap times. He's a bit disturbed I don't have a harness system in my car. Before we get in the car he tells me how nerve wracking it is to be an instructor. He's wearing a full-on racing suit. Oh - and he's attended "many" Skip Barber Racing School and became bored with them. He's the shit.

His first question to me is :

"How is your heel-toe?"

and without a chance to answer follows that with

"Do you double clutch on the down shifts?"

Uhoh.