10/28/01 The Coupe is on its way back to Portland. Naturally I timed the trip to coincide with a track day in the Bay Area, this one at Sears Point raceway. It's an excellent track, in terms of layout and challenge probably the most fun one I've driven on so far. A LOT of elevation changes and turns.

I once again met some of the fellow Coupe owners and fans whom I've only known through the Internet till now. Before my first session, I got a ride in an extremely well-driven Coupe, to learn the line and get a feel for the track. This made a huge difference and I was able to get some degree of comfort on the track very quickly. Was even able to keep up with a Z06 Corvette (video is 12M), which on paper is a faster car with 100 more horsepower..

Also had a lot of fun chasing a 650-hp Viper (12M), and generally passing nearly everyone (8M) in group 3. There were 4 groups, 1 being novice and 4 being most advanced. I would have been ok in 4 after my first session, but it being my first time at the track I figured 3 would be most prudent. It was. Alternating with our track day groups they ran some races for everything from Sports2000 to NASCAR-style Stock Car Challenge. I've never seen this arrangement before, and while interesting it did significantly limit our track time.

I only got three 20-minute sessions, as I would have had to wait two hours for the last one, and I had a 600+ mile trip home ahead of me. Still, it was a great experience. Next year I hope to get a trailer and bring one of the more extreme toys to this track.... This would be an interesting track on a bike!

11/03//01 The experiment of using R-compound tires on the street is going less than satisfactory. They are disappearing far too quickly. Compare the Kumhos on the Coupe after 1300 miles, one track day and one autocross (left) with supposedly 'race' Yokos on the Elise after 3500 miles, 12 track days and one autocross.

I have therefore ordered a set of street wheels and tires for the Coupe, due to arrive in about a week... Certainly wouldn't want to face the rainy winter on slicks! On the other hand, the Elise is going to get a set of 'super-soft' compound Yokos in the spring.

11/04/01 The final track day for the season, a Porsche club event at PIR. This track is HARD on brakes! I expected the Coupe to be a bit faster than the Elise, but only managed a best of 1:33 (though was quite consistent at it over many laps), mostly due to having to brake way too early. Even so, I nearly caused an accident going into the chicane when I could not slow down fast enough. Good thing the guy I was closing in on saw me and was able to avoid, otherwise it would have been a choice of hitting him or a wall for me. Below is a photo of the brake rotor with discoloration and chunks of pad material melted to it.

A few interesting cars showed up, the most unusual being a BMW Isetta with its entire front swinging open as a door for the driver to get in and out. The car only did a parade lap, of course :)

A couple Ferraris showed up also, but the yellow F355 didn't participate on-track, and the red 308 ran in a slower group.

A full-race Porsche 928 was there and was reasonably quick, but I still passed him in one of the sessions.

I am now awaiting the arrival of the street wheels and tires I recently ordered, and will probably get the suspension upgraded as well.

12/01/01 Finally got around to installing the new shorter springs on the Coupe. The springs themselves (red ones are new) don't seem that much shorter, but because of different rates they drop the car about 1" front and rear.

The difference is subtle but I really like it. Before the car looked like it sat a tad too tall, now it's just about perfect. It also feels more planted and sporty in the turns, while ride quality was not significantly affected. It's just a little bit 'livelier' than before.

The Coupe now moves over under the Elise so that I have room to work on the Westfield. The new height reduction gives a bit more vertical room, too...

12/24/01 First sunshine after many weeks of solid rain, decided to organize a drive with a couple fellow Coupe owners. The three cars running together (sometimes rather ...uhm... enthusiastically ;) certainly turned a lof of heads. It's cool to watch other Coupes on the road ahead blasting through the twisties. And of course took a few obligatory pictures at rest...

In the picture at my house above it is easy to see the difference the new springs make. I also drove the other two cars and must say that I'm pleased with all my modifications. Cool.

01/14/02 Finally received and installed the new wheels on the Coupe. This has been quite an ordeal, with the original wheels being unavailable, then different ones being shipped from two locations, then receiving spacers that were machined incorrectly... But now only the center caps are on back order, which is not TOO terrible.

The rear wheels are larger than the fronts (18" vs 17"), which I think works pretty well with the car's shape. It also offsets the fact that the rear springs dropped the car more than the fronts and balances things out a bit. The ride on the new tires is noticeably softer than on the race ones, and turn-in is slower. A little less fun but more civilized.