BOXSTER AND MOTORSPORT
Every now and then it's nice to have something a little bit different in the monthly column. This month our attention turns to the Boxster and motorsport (see the Club’s webpage). Whilst it’s great to watch the Boxster Cup racing you may wonder how you start your journey into the world of motorsport, whether it be for trackdays, hill climbs, sim racing or racing in the Boxster Cup. Colin Garnham dipped his toe into the water, and he writes:
“There are moments in every car lover’s life that feel like milestones: for me, one was taking my first Porsche onto a race circuit for my very first time. I’ve had my 986 Boxster S less than a year and soon came the idea of stretching her legs on a racetrack - a ‘Porsche-owners-only’ day at Croft was highly recommended by Sam Lander.
Colin Garnham's first trackday
“The day came and I signed in, got my stickers and, after the drivers’ briefing, the pace laps gave me a false sense of ease, as I thought ‘this is quite tame’. Then we were let loose. Weeks of hot weather and racing followed by a good dousing of rain meant I found my limits quickly and that my traction control and ABS still work. Despite her age, my 2004 Anniversary 986 Boxster S always feels planted and responsive on the road but driving on the track revealed an entirely new side of my car. Corners that seemed tight on the street suddenly opened up at speed, and the car’s mid-engine balance inspired confidence, which I sorely needed. Feeling how the Boxster rotated through corners I started experimenting with how much throttle I could feed in before the rear end hinted at stepping out helped by a wet track. This, and roaring down the straights, were my favourite parts. By the end of the day, I was focused on consistency, smooth inputs and learning how to communicate with the car. The day taught me more in a few hours on the track than months of spirited road driving ever could.”
To read the full account of Colin’s experience clcik HERE.
Happy Boxstering,
Tracy