Track Report - Sebring 4/15/06 - OK NOW I'm REALLY Impresssed
#1
04-17-2006, 07:52 AM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: FL East Coast
Posts: 75
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Track Report - Sebring 4/15/06 - OK NOW I'm REALLY Impresssed
This car is simply amazing.
I drive a Seal Grey 2002 996 Turbo. The only significant performance mod in this car is a Porsche short shift kit that I had installed at purchase from Brumos.
Yesterday was a beautiful mid 80s severe clear skis day at Sebring. A perfect day for a Chin Motorsports event - the best track day formats I have found. Lots of open track sessions with opportunity to use the track nearly 5 hours during the day.
This was my first opportunity to get THIS car (or any other Porsche) on the track. This was NOT my first track day at Sebring and I have also done days at Moroso, Roebling Road, Road Atlanta, Virginia International and Barber Motorsports (so far).
I had picked up a set of Champion RG5 (18 monolites) for everyday with the intention of putting track tires on the turbo twists but the tires I ordered are back ordered and did not get here. I had considered what brake mods I should do. I have been looking through the web at suspension options. But, when it became evident that I was going to the track on street tires (PS2s), I decided to get a good baseline with how Porsche set the car up from the factory. The only preparation I made was a good brake bleeding, fresh oil, helmet and magnetic numbers.
With these limitations playing heavily on my mind, I set out with the goal for the day to be safe, smooth, precise, conservative and have a pleasant 2 hour drive home. I did all of those things but conservative in this car is at a completely new level.
Sebring is a 3.7 mile track. I always get a lot of laps at there. I am not sure exactly how many, but I can give you an idea. I dummied up and was so giddy about getting to Sebring Friday afternoon that I forgot to fill up. So I did the morning’s initial half hour recon session and then drove off site for gas. In the mid afternoon, I refilled from ¼ tank and returned for more. When I drove out of the gate at the end of the day I had added another 110 miles and used another ½ tank. So, conservatively, I must have put in well over 40 laps during the day.
Sebring is flat - but other than that natural flaw (the area around Sebring for 50 miles in any direction is flat) the track offers a bit of everything. A very long back stretch connected immediately after a sweeping BUMPY 180 turn (the famous #17) to a very long front stretch. A few nice twisty sections of varying speeds and five braking zones where entry speeds are at or over 100 and exit speeds are significantly reduced, 3 of which are in the 2nd gear range. All of this spells brake fade. So all day long I was amazed at the performance of the STOCK BRAKES. Sure they got hot. Sure I could smell them at a distance after each session. But they held up ALL DAY.
Acceleration and handling were beyond my expectations. Most of my experience was in a 3600 pound Twin Turbo AWD street car that I had significantly modified for the track. The 996TT, with just a bit less weight and STOCK suspension and engine felt a ton lighter into through and out of the corners. Even driving way inside the limits I was consistently putting in laps in the 2:40s and although not anywhere near competitive – that is a respectable lap time at Sebring for an OUT OF THE BOX STREET CAR.
I am a believer – There is NO substitute
I drive a Seal Grey 2002 996 Turbo. The only significant performance mod in this car is a Porsche short shift kit that I had installed at purchase from Brumos.
Yesterday was a beautiful mid 80s severe clear skis day at Sebring. A perfect day for a Chin Motorsports event - the best track day formats I have found. Lots of open track sessions with opportunity to use the track nearly 5 hours during the day.
This was my first opportunity to get THIS car (or any other Porsche) on the track. This was NOT my first track day at Sebring and I have also done days at Moroso, Roebling Road, Road Atlanta, Virginia International and Barber Motorsports (so far).
I had picked up a set of Champion RG5 (18 monolites) for everyday with the intention of putting track tires on the turbo twists but the tires I ordered are back ordered and did not get here. I had considered what brake mods I should do. I have been looking through the web at suspension options. But, when it became evident that I was going to the track on street tires (PS2s), I decided to get a good baseline with how Porsche set the car up from the factory. The only preparation I made was a good brake bleeding, fresh oil, helmet and magnetic numbers.
With these limitations playing heavily on my mind, I set out with the goal for the day to be safe, smooth, precise, conservative and have a pleasant 2 hour drive home. I did all of those things but conservative in this car is at a completely new level.
Sebring is a 3.7 mile track. I always get a lot of laps at there. I am not sure exactly how many, but I can give you an idea. I dummied up and was so giddy about getting to Sebring Friday afternoon that I forgot to fill up. So I did the morning’s initial half hour recon session and then drove off site for gas. In the mid afternoon, I refilled from ¼ tank and returned for more. When I drove out of the gate at the end of the day I had added another 110 miles and used another ½ tank. So, conservatively, I must have put in well over 40 laps during the day.
Sebring is flat - but other than that natural flaw (the area around Sebring for 50 miles in any direction is flat) the track offers a bit of everything. A very long back stretch connected immediately after a sweeping BUMPY 180 turn (the famous #17) to a very long front stretch. A few nice twisty sections of varying speeds and five braking zones where entry speeds are at or over 100 and exit speeds are significantly reduced, 3 of which are in the 2nd gear range. All of this spells brake fade. So all day long I was amazed at the performance of the STOCK BRAKES. Sure they got hot. Sure I could smell them at a distance after each session. But they held up ALL DAY.
Acceleration and handling were beyond my expectations. Most of my experience was in a 3600 pound Twin Turbo AWD street car that I had significantly modified for the track. The 996TT, with just a bit less weight and STOCK suspension and engine felt a ton lighter into through and out of the corners. Even driving way inside the limits I was consistently putting in laps in the 2:40s and although not anywhere near competitive – that is a respectable lap time at Sebring for an OUT OF THE BOX STREET CAR.
I am a believer – There is NO substitute
Last edited by g8rbob; 04-17-2006 at 09:45 AM.
#4
04-17-2006, 03:52 PM
bob, glad you had a great time! I am usually at every Chin and PCA Sebring event sorry I missed you at this one.
Let me know when you will be back and we can talk. I am doing the Chin event on May 6th and the PCA event on June 10th.
Hope to meet up at the track some day!!!
Let me know when you will be back and we can talk. I am doing the Chin event on May 6th and the PCA event on June 10th.
Hope to meet up at the track some day!!!
#5
04-17-2006, 04:01 PM
I am a believer – There is NO substitute[/quote]
Bob:
I first experienced getting my TT on the track more than 2 years ago! My only dissappointment was the STOCK suspension! The handling was worse than my Boxster with STOCK suspension. I quickly fixed that by installing PSS9's. This is a heavy car for track use, and let's you know it going into corners! The braking and acceleration is superb. As a dual purpose street/track car, it can't be beat.
Bob:
I first experienced getting my TT on the track more than 2 years ago! My only dissappointment was the STOCK suspension! The handling was worse than my Boxster with STOCK suspension. I quickly fixed that by installing PSS9's. This is a heavy car for track use, and let's you know it going into corners! The braking and acceleration is superb. As a dual purpose street/track car, it can't be beat.
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