Planet 9

**Kestrel** · #1 02-26-2009, 06:39 AM

I'm signed up (listed as car #642, but I'll be #94 at the event, confirmed by Joel)... anyone else?

As it will be my first Driver's Education with PCA, I'm in the green (rookie) group, but I hope to move out of that group pretty quickly as I've done open-lapping days before, and have autocrossed a ton.

FriscoCayman · #2 02-26-2009, 02:59 PM

Hey Kestrel! I'll see you out there. Depending on your instructor, they'll move you up to the blue group after a few sessions.

You'll enjoy ECR.

**Kestrel** · #3 02-26-2009, 03:43 PM

FriscoCayman, good to hear from you again. I missed you at the last "Frisco" PCA Happy Hour (actually at the Z Grill in far NW Plano).

I'm looking forward to getting back on a track. You've driven both Motor Sport Ranch and Eagle Canyone Raceway... which one do you like better? I've only done MSR and the road course inside the Texas Motor Speedway Oval.

**consolidated** · #4 02-26-2009, 04:57 PM

Hey guys, I just signed up. If you park together please save me a space up top if possible, I may not get to ECR until Sat. morning. See you all there.

JML42 · #5 02-26-2009, 05:28 PM

why when I saw Maverick I thought I would find a picture of an alaskan governor?

**Kestrel** · #6 02-27-2009, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by consolidated

Hey guys, I just signed up. If you park together please save me a space up top if possible, I may not get to ECR until Sat. morning. See you all there.

I definitely won't show up until Saturday morning, and will probably drive home that evening rather than stay in a hotel -- heck I live less than an hour away.

Or is everyone staying in a hotel somewhere because of evening parties or something? Sorry, this is my first DE with the Porsche folks, and my first time at ECR. I don't even know what "save me a space up top" means...

**consolidated** · #7 02-27-2009, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Kestrel

I definitely won't show up until Saturday morning, and will probably drive home that evening rather than stay in a hotel -- heck I live less than an hour away.

Or is everyone staying in a hotel somewhere because of evening parties or something? Sorry, this is my first DE with the Porsche folks, and my first time at ECR. I don't even know what "save me a space up top" means...

Mav PCA throws the best meth, gin and hooker parties of any Texas chapter. Wait, I'm thinking of BMWCCA, sorry.

Out of towners stay in Decatur.

Top of hill is the top pit area usually reserved for instructors but not always, the rest park a short walk downhill from the clubhouse and staging area.

I'm in a grey CS #379, see you there.

moralem · #8 02-27-2009, 11:12 AM

There are upper parking areas and lower parking areas. The lower is larger but the upper is more convenient closer to the starting grid. No real close by places to stay the night unless you drive back down to Decatur. I live about an hour away and will be commuting myself. Just plan to get there real early. Read the handbook on the Maverick PCA website and you should be good to go.

FriscoCayman · #9 03-01-2009, 08:49 PM

Went out to ECR today with a member. As many know, the track had some issues last year. They patched most of the rough areas, the surface isn't consistent. Still some bumpy areas within the braking zones. Make sure you have ample brake pad thickness, ECR is hard on brakes.

Consolidated, PM me if you need a place to stay.

**Kestrel** · #10 03-02-2009, 06:45 AM

So other than the patches and uneven surface in some of the braking zones

, how's the overall track condition? Dirty or clean? Good grip, or a little "slippery"? Good run-offs (not that I'm going there

) or limited margin for error?

I've driven MSR a couple of times, but never ECR. Sounds like you've driven both -- what are the differences I should be aware of? I think I will get lots of practice on double-apex corners...

**consolidated** · #11 03-02-2009, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by FriscoCayman

Consolidated, PM me if you need a place to stay.

thanks for the offer FC.

I hope to get a check ride on Sunday and perhaps drive with you, Glenn and Blondurant.

moralem · #12 03-02-2009, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Kestrel

So other than the patches and uneven surface in some of the braking zones

, how's the overall track condition? Dirty or clean? Good grip, or a little "slippery"? Good run-offs (not that I'm going there

) or limited margin for error?

I've driven MSR a couple of times, but never ECR. Sounds like you've driven both -- what are the differences I should be aware of? I think I will get lots of practice on double-apex corners...

ECR is somewhat of a more technical track and a little smaller than MSR. But overall it is a fun track. I have driven the track probably 3 times, twice with PCA and once with The Drivers Edge last spring. Last year at this time we had snow and ice and a lot of runoff on the track. If it rains, which I see it might the track has some spots where water runoff could be problematic. Most spots there is good run off and in others you just need to be careful. I take a look at the PCA handbook for the Maverick Region and you will get a good sense of the track. You might also want to check out the Drivers Edge website as they usually provide a turn by turn disection of the track that they provide in written form at their events. Look forward to meeting some of you folks. Black CS 593

FriscoCayman · #13 03-03-2009, 07:11 AM

Kestrel,

I recommend going out to youtube and watching a few laps. The track runoff areas are still pretty green. This growing season with do the runoffs some good. I know they've had a few SCCA "rock parties" there to pick up large stones in the runoff areas. As you noticed, there are quite a few double apex corners. The thing I also like about the track is the elevation changes. It's a fun track.

**Kestrel** · #14 03-03-2009, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by FriscoCayman

Kestrel,

I recommend going out to youtube and watching a few laps.

Good recommendation... and I've already been doing that! (Eagles Canyon Raceway 2008-03.29).

I'm not nervous about this or anything, I just want to be as prepared as I can be so I can concentrate on being smooth and going fast rather than learning the track. Of course, you can't learn a track by reading about it or watching videos, but if it helps me recognize the corners, the "pre-work" can't hurt!

Unfortunately, the weather is starting to look a little... "dicey"... AccuWeather.com - Decatur, TX - Weather Forecast - Local Weather Forecasts, particularly for late Saturday and early Sunday. Well, I'll see ya'll out there!

**consolidated** · #15 03-03-2009, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Kestrel

Unfortunately, the weather is starting to look a little... "dicey"... AccuWeather.com - Decatur, TX - Weather Forecast - Local Weather Forecasts, particularly for late Saturday and early Sunday. Well, I'll see ya'll out there!

Just saw that. Not looking forward to the drive back to Austin with treadless Nittos.

CaymanCope · #16 03-03-2009, 12:03 PM

Save me a spot as well. #381

FriscoCayman · #17 03-04-2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by consolidated

Just saw that. Not looking forward to the drive back to Austin with treadless Nittos.

I thought you put a tow hook on your M3?

Are you towing the CS behind it?

TonyB · #18 03-04-2009, 01:02 PM

If you have (or get) the rFactor racing simulator, all the Texas tracks are available except Harris Hill (sp). I run the rFactor track I will be on for the next DE the week prior to the event. It helps learn the track a LOT. The only problem is that I can't find a CS for rFactor so I have to drive a Ferrari for my mid-engine car and honestly, it is a bit faster than the CS.

**consolidated** · #19 03-04-2009, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by FriscoCayman

I thought you put a tow hook on your M3?

Are you towing the CS behind it?

Ha! I wish the M3 could take a receiver hitch. Looks like 30% rain chance on Sunday, hope to get tires in time. Wet I-35 + slicks = white knuckles*full diaper.

**glenn** · #20 03-05-2009, 05:08 AM

I plan to arrive Friday night, drop off the car, and eat at Sweetie Pies.
Anyone else spending the night?

The gang from my garage at MSR is planning to park in the second row in the bottoms. If you arrive Friday, look for our orange NVR-E-NUF cones. Welcome to park down there with us.

Its looks like a good turnout of Caymans. Steve, Micheal, Thomas, Jim.... please get your DE logbook signed off, you you can join me in white!! You just have to get enough of it signed that Keith Ochola will ride with you. Try to get Carl Amond to instruct you. If you get Randy Ault or Bryan Henderson you wont get approved for White until 2020. They are very good instructors, but also very precise on what they expect. The key is getting Keith in the car. He just bought a Cayman for his street car and after 10mins he put me in white.

Code:

Keesecker, Rich 94  	2007 Porsche Cayman (Black)  	    Green
Skelton, Steve 	331 	2007 porsche cayman (blue) 	    Yellow 
Copeland, Mark 	381 	2006 Porsche Cayman S (Basalt Black)Green
McCally, Bob 	335 	2008 Porsche Cayman S (Black) 	    Blue
Smith, Glenn 	989 	2007 Porsche Cayman S (Black) 	    White 
Morales, Mark 	593 	2006 porsche cayman s (black) 	    Blue 
Romanchek, Ron 	541 	2006 Porsche Cayman S (Arctic Silver)Blue
Jones, Thomas 	420 	2008 Porsche Cayman S (Grey) 	    Yellow 
Hsu, Michael 	379 	2007 Porsche Cayman S (Meteor Gray)Yellow
Lincoln, James 	329 	2006 Porsche Cayman S (Silver) 	    Yellow

This maybe my last event in the Cayman for a while, as I get my spec Boxster sorted out for racing.
check it out: