Progress of my 3.0 build.

[333pg333]

Just thought you may be interested as I have just got my car back last week and it feels superb even in it's current mild guise. By that I mean it has the stock head/cam setup while I wait for the new racehead to come back from the US having sustained cam damage after the engine failure. We think some metal particles got up into the cambox. Anyway I went to the track yesterday for a casual drive day and there were some nice cars there. Aston DB9 which was surprisingly quick through the curves, a couple of 996's and a new 997 turbo, an f355, a few BM's, a very quick black Lotus Elise and some local muscle. Well I pretty much comfortably drove away from them all (except the Lotus) and I didn't reach over 1 bar so there is plenty of torque with the combination of the Vitesse stage 5 turbo, S2 crown ring and pinion, and 80% lsd. Amazing low to mid range grunt and I'm sure there's plenty more up top as well once we run it in some more. I surprised myself by doing a 1.46 with the suspension not working quite right and not really pushing it too much either. The quickest guys in our club who are in GT3's were doing 1.45's last year so it looks like we may have another 944 creating some havoc with the big boys and their 'Real Porsches' (or so they refer to them[]). Can't wait to sort it out some more and really give these guys something to think about. Funnily enough I'm jumping on a plane over to London next week so won't be able to drive the car after just getting it back. Quite frustrating but something to look forward to come back to.
I have to say that once you have tried the extra capacity and the associated tq levels that this is really a very good upgrade if you want something extra from you cars.[]

 

[sawood12]

Good stuff Patrick. It would be nice to see some in-car footage of you schooling the other guys in their 'proper cars'.

 

[peanut]

man I'd love to see a 944 leaving that sort of machinery standing .[]

 

[333pg333]

Yes I could kick myself but it was all a bit of last minute yesterday. Some guy took some pic's if you want to check them out. Go to www.jpmphoto.com.au then go into the Gallery, then Eastern Creek drive days, then the last date which is 10.08.07 Some nice machinery as you'll see. The Aston was driven by some guy in his 30's who behaved like a bit of a rich ponce. Either that or he hired the car and you know what they say "Nothing handles like a hire car". Anyway it was nice to pull up behind him and wait for him to signal me to overtake which of course he didn't so I waited until the straight and just pulled past him and his mate in the 996. Would have loved to see their faces. The guy in the black Lotus pissed me off though. We were all stuck behind some newbies out there and were waiting for them to signal us to pass (very hard when they have their windows up!!) and he just shot under us all to speed off past. Well I gave chase and we raced around for a couple of laps until my suspension tricked me up and I had a little moment. That was enough for the day but much fun was had and a nice glimpse into the future of the little beast.[]

 

[Guest]

Strueth Patrick!!!!
Somebody took a Honda Picnic SUV to a track day!!!
Could noit believe that!!!
Some lovely machinary down there mate

 

[SimonP]

Patrick
Will you be able to come to sunny Bournemouth to visit us???

 

[333pg333]

Ha, yes Tommo I couldn't believe that either? If you check out some other days in the Gallery there's a Ferrari day with some pretty fine cars on show.
Not sure what the power to weight ratio those Lotus' have but occasionally I would see a flick of his brake lights when I had been on mine for what seemed like minutes before, during, and after. They must be so light. Very impressive and he was very quick in a straight line too. Which model has the turbo or supercharged Toyota engine in it? Maybe it was one of them.

 

[Diver944]

Nice one Patrick, I didn't even realise it was actually built, let alone ready for a small trackday [8D]

WE must organise a bit of a get together when you are over. How long will you be here for and will you have any transport to get around the country?

The next Ace Cafe meeting in London itself is Wed 29th August if you are around that long

 

[Hilux]

Not sure what the power to weight ratio those Lotus' have

220-250 bhp/tonne standard, 300-400 when turbo charged (been in turbo`d one, awesome when it stopped trying to catch fire [] as the exhausts etc tried to fry the F/glass)

Thought about one when I was looking around but I didnt like the indiferent reliability and they all seemed to be selling on at about 24, 000 miles for some reason I belive to do with a v v expensive service requirement [] they also suffer from water hot spots and circulation problems which stuffs the engine so I went for the 951 but seeing them on track with the jap engine still makes me wonder.....................[8|][8|][8|]

 

[333pg333]

I may be able to wangle my way out of a dinner to make that meeting. It would be nice to catch up to a few of you. How far out is the cafe? We have a flat in Westminster for a few days. Not sure where that's in relation to the cafe? Maybe if someone can email me and then I can contact you when we're in London.
pgarvan@bigpond.net.au
As for the Lotus, I don't know which incarnation it was but he had a few racing shop type stickers and knew his way around a track. I was amazed at the cornering but not as surprised as I was by his pull down the straight. I could only just pull him in pretty slowly (at high speed if you will) down the long straight. Funnily enough I could get closer to him on some corners, while he didn't seem to have to brake at all on others. Not sure why.

 

[Fen]

I was toying with a special trip to the Ace this month if the turnout will be good. I'll make sure I do if you can make it Patrick.

It's not exactly next to Westminster but I'm sure someone can help you out getting there and back and it isn't massively far.

 

[333pg333]

Ok I'll have to act fast-ish. I'll confirm in the next few days. Damn, I wish I could pack my car in the luggage. I'm going to miss her having just reunited.

 

[333pg333]

ORIGINAL: SimonP

Patrick
Will you be able to come to sunny Bournemouth to visit us???

Sorry Simon, I'd love to have the time to do some more leisurely travel but my partner is English so we are doing lots of fun family activities...no it should be good but I'd like to see more of the people I've met on various sites and other Porshephiles.

 

[Diver944]

The Ace Cafe is only 8 miles out from Westminster according to this map site:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=westminster&daddr=Brent,+London+NW10+7UD&sll=51.540784,-0.278649&sspn=0.006473,0.019784&ie=UTF8&z=13&om=1

and there are detailed public transport and directions to get there at their own website:

http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/Find-us.aspx

I really hope you can make it and I'll definately take a trip down if you can. I don't think we'll be able to rustle up any big capacity 944s for you but I'm pretty positive Ricks 400 monster will be there and I'm sure we could try to twist MarkKs arm if we promise him a proper car parking space away from the Royal Mail trucks outside on the road []

 

[333pg333]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the thoughts. I'll try my best to make it. There is a degree of trickyness to it, but where there's a will there's a way.[]

 

[nick_968]

You can get to my place pretty quick from central if you want a ride there and back, the fast train is 18 minutes or thereabouts from Waterloo.

 

[333pg333]

Well I have just received the 'All Clear' so I shall be able to make it which is great. I was looking on the Google map that Paul posted and thought that it looked very close and I'll just hop a cab. Helen, my partner and the reason we're going to the UK (she's English) looked and said it used to take her 1 hour to go 5 miles! So she suggested catching trains some, or all of the distance. If I can get myself to Central I might take up Nick's kind offer. I'll just need to find how I get there but that should be easy enough.
I'll be wearing a pink carnation in my lapel. [] I've got Paul's mobile so I'll call once I know what I'm doing.
Thanks guys. I look forward to meeting those that turn up.

 

[Diver944]

Great news Patrick [] they do a pretty reasonable bar menu if you need to eat while you're there.

Good to hear that Nick spotted this so at least we should be able to get one larger capacity car there to counter all those powerful 2.5s []

 

[Fen]

Cool - 2 weeks tomorrow. I'll book myself somewhere to stay since I don't work close any more.

 

[MarkK]

I would have loved to come but can't make that date[]