I went to my first Auto-X today that the local Porsche Club was sponsoring. It was a lot of fun, and if you haven't done one before, I would highly recommend it! The Porsche guys loved the Z, and I ended up answering a lot of questions about it.

I took an instructor on my first run which helped a lot because the course was pretty tricky. I think remembering where to go was probably the toughest part, and even a lot of the experienced guys ran off the course on their first few runs. After a few runs, I was running about 2 seconds behind the Boxster S's and 911's. I think the Z is probably almost as capable as those cars since I am a novice and I even had the VDC turned on (accidentally) on my best run. I noticed the same traits as other people have mentioned about the Z's handling. It does push a lot during the turns and understeers unless you are really pushy with the gas. There were some turns I could use the gas to spin the back end around with, even in 2nd gear. The brakes on the car (I have a track model) are very impressive, and I wasn't even putting them to full use, even in my last run. I wasn't getting on them hard enough until my last run, and then I was braking too early. The Z was a pretty easy car to drive fast, but it still takes some getting used to how quick it stops and how much you can push it through the turns. I also would have liked to try different tire pressures, but I didn't have a pump with me. I was running 30 on all corners cold, so I think I would have done better with more air. It is too bad this was the last one of the year, it was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again (and take down some Porsches too)!

 

I did my first a month or so ago. I read and was told that you should up the tire pressures from their normal settings. Since 35 is normal, you were way low on yours.

 

I posted about my first AutoX last week, and it sound like our experiences were very similar. I too, and a first time racer, and did pretty well all things considered. I also noticed the front end pushing a bit, but I was running on 35 psi cold all the way around. By my last run the tires were around 37-38 in front and 36-37 in back. Some of the people told me to lower the pressure in the front tires in the hopes of reducing the understeer, but I didn't really want to play with the pressures without really having any baseline to go off of. I'm wondering if the 30 psi you were running helped a bit?

Well, congratulations on a good first time racing, and I hope you have the opportunity for many future events. I know that I'm addicted now!

-D'oh!

 

here is a good link:

http://www.rogerkrausracing.com/overundr.html