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| BREMERTON WEEKEND May 2007 |
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As always the Oregon region were gracious hosts and the friends we made at
Parade 2006 plus Ernie's old racing buddies gave us a warm welcome ensuring
that we had a great time. The event was well organized and everything ran
smoothly ensuring lots of track time.
Ernie was in an Advanced Drivers group due to his past racing
experience......and his experience showed as he wheeled the "#26 Eagle"
around the track in record time, passing some of the other cars at over 150
mph on the front and rear straight......the "Eagle's" power and its
distinctive roar was a pleasure to see and hear every 88 seconds or so, as
Ernie passed the grandstands and reeled in another competitor.
The "Eagle" with its level of preparation and detail garnered a great deal
of attention both in the pits and on the track, few car that look this
good actual "go" this good. It performed so well in fact, that Ernie was
Black Flagged for getting within a car length of a competitor outside of the
passing zone. Ernie took his scolding from the steward and quickly resumed
his position on the track..........GT 3's, Ferrari's or track prepared cars
were no match for Ernie on this day.
Carl, with only one previous DE under his belt was in the Novice Class.
After completing 2 sessions with the instructor was told that he can
solo.......I not sure whether the instructor didn't want to ride in a
Porsche 914 that was burning up the track in all the corners or whether Carl
was actually improving.
Carl too was black flagged......once because a cornerworker thought that the
car had a problem........the chief steward later determined that it was
merely aggressive driving as the car was merely being pushed to the limit
and the REV Limiter was cutting in........the second time was for apparently
trying to pass in a no-pass zone.....it was determined that the car ahead
was way off the race line for the Festival Corner and with Carl maintaining
his racing line, gained sufficient distance on the competitor giving the
"appearance" of an overtaking maneuver.....the steward quickly let Carl back
on the track.
The highlight of the event for Carl was the numerous other drivers at the
event that came and expressed their admiration for his 914-4......it was the
only 914 at the event.....and truly an underdog.......yet able to keep up
and pass newer and faster cars. Best of all, on the final session of the
day, due to time constraints the organizers decide that they would run the
intermediate and novice groups together.
Of the 30 cars that started, Carl was mid pack.......by the end of the 10
laps or so Carl was in a position to overtake an Intermediate Driver in a
355 Ferrari just when the Checkered Flag was waved........oh, oh, oh... what
a rush that was........Ernie was forced to listen to Carl's exploits...over
and over and over again for the next few days as they went on to Bremerton
for another 3 days of Autocrossing.
Ernie and Carl truly had a fabulous time and an experience never to be
forgotten. Plans are already underway for at least 2 more track day sessions
before year end 2007. Because of the enthusiasm that these two had for this
event other Porsche Club members are thinking of joining them on their next
adventure.
Call them and come along........you will have a GREAT time.
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