jm@tekid.UUCP (06/22/83)
This most recent friday and saturday, I attended a driving school
sponsored by Team Continental at the Portland International Raceway in
Portland, OR. Team Continental is a "racing club", and affiliated with
the International Conference of Sports Car Clubs (ICSCC or just "the
conference"). They sponsor 2 or 3 of these sessions each year, as do
SCCA and the Cascade Sports Car Club.
The friday session was in the evening, and held at Nissan Regional
headquarters in Tigard (OR). For about 3 hours we discussed track
safety, track flags, steering, braking (heel-and-toeing), survival,
etc, etc. Having never driven competitively before, most of it was new
to me, and what wasn't was common sense. It was time not wasted.
There were a number of people in the group (of about 50 total) who
were going to be real racers, so much of the discussion was oriented to
really racing. And how to get a conference (ICSCC) license.
Saturday we met at the track at 6:45am and were lined up on the
pre-grid for the tech inspection. I passed (well, actually my 72 240Z
passed) with a note that I needed to check out a new left rear axle
bearing sometime soon. There were three groups of ~17 cars each, so
only 17 cars would be on the (1.95 mile) track at any one time. Each
car had an instructor assigned to it.
There were all kinds of people/cars there. Several real racers
(an F440, D-Sports and some RS Rabbits) as well as real people.
A mother and son team in a beautiful 70 firebird (mom was one grooup and
son was in another), an husband and wife team in a new 944, a vega
wagon that arrived with mom and dad and the kids (dad drove, all others
watched), 3 RX-7s (one turbo), 2 911Ts, a 530i, a Datsun 1600 roadster,
a bugeye sprite, a lotus europa, a 73 chevelle, 2 volvos (one with no
brake lights) and so on...
After reviewing what the flags meant, we went on the track for about
20 minutes, with an instructor in each car, and were graded on out
initial performance (pooooooor). After the 3 groups had finished, we
walked the track to get a better look at the turns and the track
surface. This was most educational. Next came more track time, this
time without the instructor (instructor-less-ness was optional) with
those not driving, out manning the turn stations.
All told, there were 4 20-25 minute sessions on the track, the last
with the instructor grading seriously. Afterward, we tapped a keg and
enjoyed the cloudy skies.
Notes: It cost fifty bucks. Very cheap entertainment.
There was NO passing allowed. Slower cars were
waved thru the pits and then back on the track.
This is for insurance and safety purposes and
presented no problem.
Yes it rained. Yes the track gets VERY slick.
No, nobody wrecked or broke their cars. We
were advised to drive off the course straight
if we couldn't hold the corner. This way you
won't flip or tear up your suspension.
Yes, there were spins. The big loosers in the
road holding department were 2 old (70) firebirds,
a celica supra (HA!!!), a chevelle (73), and
a volvo. The winners were a datsun 200sx (?!),
a 944 (no suprise here), 2 siroccos, 2 mustang GTs
(one with a completely trick suspension that went
like crazy) and 3 RX-7s. And a propane 240Z (not
mine). I would recommend it highly to EVERYONE WHO OWNS A CAR
(check the track near you). If we all took these courses, it would do
more to cut the highway death toll than ANY SPEED LIMIT.
My data: best lap speed: 64mph
highest speed (before turn 1): 105mph
(before turn 7): 85mph
no spins
I'm doing again in july or august. If you have questions, mail to
me...
Sorry this was so long,
Jeff Mizener
Tektronix Inc., ID/ADG
Beaverton, OR
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