"The most fun you can have...."
Michael Dolphin Zone 8 Representative
It was said to me (and surely I had already thought it), that
autocrossing is "..the most fun you can have.." - with either of the most obvious
closing comments that you might personally think of. Over the last few years, I
can surely agree. And, now that my Carrera has been born-again, I'm looking
forward to another season of the same.
In the short definition, autocrosses are short-track events that challenge your
abilities to control your car through a course of turns and esses. You learn car
control over speed. You might do a 360 spin that somehow seems to occur in very
slow motion. You rarely have an opportunity to collide with objects. Tires take
more of the toll than any other part of your car. You are never wheel-to-wheel.
You grin from ear-to ear. This is a recruitment article. For those of you who have
not yet taken the plunge to your first autocross, let me extend the invitation.
Many years ago, when I thought I was a hotshot driver, I entered my first autocross
in San Diego. As I watched other drivers who actually seemed to have a lot more
finesse than I, the butterflies in my stomach took their toll on my personal ego.
Maybe my experience in drag-racing a motorcycle and speeding my Porsche on the freeways
of California weren't quite the skills I needed here.
Then this big guy, Paul Young, walked over and asked me if I
was ready to go. I stammered that I "forgot" my helmet and looked for
another excuse. Paul loaned me his helmet without yet knowing my name,
was very patient
with me in the car and probably sensed my ego was at stake. The short
version of the San Diego story is that my first instructor's
encouragement was enough
to generate this long-term enthusiasm. As well, over the years, I have
continued
to learn a great deal from drivers like Lars Frohm, Michael Hammond and
Steve
Vandecar. I hope that we can do for other drivers what they
accomplished
for me.
Michael Dolphin behind the wheel of his 1977 Carrera 3.0 (Euro-spec) at
Willow Springs Raceway in October 2008
Photo Credit: By Jimmie Mitchell
This is my first year as the Zone Autocross Chair and I was
very flattered to be recommended and appointed. I have a very simple
set
of goals for myself. The very first goal is to induce and excite more
drivers
to participate in these events. The second goal is to continue to
encourage
and support the Zone's high standards on driver education and safety.
There
are other goals of my office, including some standardization across
Regions,
but these first two are the most critical to an exciting and viable
autocross
season.
This isn't a technical article. There have been many very
well-written
articles within the pages of your local newsletters and other
publications
about the development of skills and automotive adjustments you can make
to
become a more competitive driver. Within each of the Region's, there
are
several members and officers with great encyclopedic knowledge in this
sport. Seek them out. From my personal experiences, I can tell you that
they
are always willing to share.
I surely look forward to sharing thoughts, ideas and
recommendations from you all.
Michael Dolphin
President, Grand Prix Region - Porsche Club of America
Autocross Chairman, Zone 8 - Porsche Club of America
Arroyo Seco Drivers Education event in Deming, NM
Lively discussions indeed! Don't be surprised to see some hand gestures
during the evening. Most likely they will be illustrating a loose or tight
condition, or possibly a spin. Photo credit: Barb Radmacher
|
