5.00am & the alarm goes off & as I drag myself out of bed I can hear rain outside, not just a little sprinkle but a downpour. Cool, this will make Oran Park GP circuit even more fun!
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It's freezing as I drive down the F3 from the Coast & the oil temp tells the story, it won't go over 50d & the head temp gauge is no better. Armed with a beanie on my head & several layers of clothing I finally arrive at Oran Park with cloudy skies above. CT arrives shortly after & we deliberate wether or not to change the Falkan Street tyres on Fusch's over to Yokohama race rubber on Cookies on his Oval.
After some coffee & Pastizzi's we decide to leave his street rubber on & see wether or not it clears up after lunch for our timed sessions.
Standing next to a supercharged 911 having an admiring look, one of the GT3 drivers says to me whilst walking past, forget about it Jak,whatever your thinking about, it won't fit on the VeeDub, besides u guys are fast enough as it is.
I was hoping to have at least 6 beetles this time with the Porsche club but unfortunately Deiter & Paul just missed out on having their cars finished in time, Barry was in the same vote I believe, there was also talk of some hillclimb champion coming out to to try his hand at scaring Porsches but it didn't eventuate. I hope the thought of a wet track wasn't a deterrent.
Peter was supposed to bring out his Replica 550 spyder with a turbo 1.8 scooby motor but got a little enthusiastic with the boost switch the night before & blew the turbo. Most people would have given up on having a drive the next day but not Peter, instead he just grab the keys to his 1916cc powered 356 speedster replica & brought that out to the track instead........as u do!
It was funny to see the Porsche crowd around it trying to figure out wether it was real or not.
Apon entering the track for the first driving session it was evident right away that the track was very slippery, it was as though there was black ice on the track, oversteer & understeer was happening all over the place. CT & I were having a ball. Peter was a little more nervous being his first track day , but what an introduction hey Pete! Seeing the little 356 with just a big white helmet sticking out of it & the rear tyres desperately trying to find traction was a sight to be seen.
After lunch the timed sessions had begun & there was now a definite dry line on the track so it was decided to change CT's wheels over to the race rubber.
In our group for the timed sessions was a 1720cc 912 Porsche , 968 club sport ,a 3.0L 911 & a 2.7L 911, CT & I managed to lap all these cars in 4 laps. We were absolutely flying, the long circuit at Oran park also known as the Grand Prix track is fantastic, u hit 5500rpm in top just before the kink at the end of the straight, back off for a split second then hit the accelerator again before jumping on the brakes slamming it back into third. It's a major, major buzz. Stay in third up over the bridge at about 5000rpm, just enough to lift the inside front wheel , slice through the curves that lead up over the legendary 'dog leg' then back down hill for the final turn onto the straight to do it all over again.
After 4 timed sessions CT ended up with a best of 1:32.4, & I had a 1:31.4 but with one more timed session to go before we called it a day, (mainly since we were both out of fuel) & with very dark rain clouds hovering overhead one more shot to get some faster times was on the cards.
We both gave it everything on the last run , so much so I had a sore foot from pressing the accelerator so hard! With CT following me over the dog leg on the last lap, absolutely flat strap in third , CT said that I had the inside front wheel in the air & there was almost daylight under the rear as well! We really have to get the video set up in the cars for the next event, it would make for great viewing. All our hard work paid off as CT posted a best of 1:31.4 & I mustered a 1:30.8, 4 seconds quicker than last year!!!
The driver of a Nissan GTR (aka Godzilla) asked us as he was leaving what times we posted, CT says 'I got 1:31 & Jak got 1:30" The driver of the GTR says 'Really, I got 1:30 as well....................Guess he won't be telling that to to many people at the pub tonight!
We were shattered, the long track definantly takes it out of u & by the time we had packed up the cars & changed CT's wheels back over we were the last ones to leave the track.
On the way home we even gave up our usual stop light drag races we were that tired, instead we just drove side by side practically all the way home. The looks on peoples faces are hilarious.
It's funny, I've been with the Porsche club for 3 years now & this is CT's second year & when I first started racing with them, the porsches just refused to let me pass them, they would hold me up on the corners & then try & blast away on the straight, now they see u coming & they wave u through before u get even close to them.
The tides are turning my friends, & CT & I are getting quicker.
Stay air cooled, Jak Rizzo