Our second autocross came on a very busy Porsche weekend for us. We had the Valley tour the day before, and even though we dodged rain for that event, we did get a soaker Saturday night and it threatened all day Sunday. With heavy clouds and rain all around us again, we managed to stay dry in Verona. Some thought we would cancel due to the liquid stuff, but we never do. We might delay for lightning or heavy winds, but the show goes on. Some of my most memorable events were in conditions that were at best poor. I figure you might as well learn how to drive in the stuff, and it is a great equalizer for equipment and lets the talent shine. Needless to say, we didn’t get wet on Sunday.

We did have a major mechanical failure with my 914. During the track set up, I popped a driveshaft in the CV area next to the transmission. This was the same mechanical failure that Bobby Smith had a few years back when I slipped by him for FTD at Southside. I guess I was due. Erik was able to finish up the track layout, and I ran home to pull some parts I needed to put the thing back together. It was raining less than five miles south of Verona when I rushed home, and Sunday was also a major speed-trap day on 81, so the trip seemed to take forever. I did get the new shaft in and was up and running in less than two hours. With more than double the HP the car’s driveline was designed for, these shafts and the transmission are the weak link. I will wait to put the 600 HP shafts in until I get a 915 built transmission in the thing. Shafts are cheaper to replace. The car did well, and we continue to dial in the suspension.

We had 26 racers who took the challenge on a new design we had not run before. It was technical and didn’t have a long straightaway, but I found myself slipping into third gear three times during my 56 second run. That tells me it was a faster course than normal. Ray Schumin and Mick Seal helped me with some of the course, and I think it was a winner. We also had some fire extinguishers donated to us from our local SCCA. We were due to replace ours and we appreciate their gift.

Many of our Porsche members came out and ran hard. Emmett Richardson pushed hard with some new rims, Howie Dunbrack moved to the upper part of the pack with his 944 Turbo, and Jeffery Elmore’s Boxster always looks good running around the course. Caleb Briggs moved up from last place, with his experience behind the wheel doubling from last month (he has been driving for a few months now) he was only a few spots behind his father. Watch out Ben. Howie, Erik, and I are still working on the top spot, but Gary once again slipped past us and with a little engine work, Mick Seal’s Miata took top time with Ray at the helm. I was closer though, and as I relearn how to drive the car, I hope to lock this down by the end of the summer. There are decades of experience in the top six spots though, so 0.3 seconds doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is.

Next month we run at Southside during the RPM weekend, and it looks like July will be a normal autocross on July 19th to tie into Phyllis and Weldon’s event. Keep an eye open for more details. Enjoy your sun between the raindrops…