SAR Chief driving instructor, Dave Radmacher, instructs a student at Arroyo Seco Raceway in Deming, NM. If you look carefully at the attitude of the car you can see that the suspension and tires are working hard, at the limit. Put yourself in this picture, first as a student, then as a graduate! Photo Credit: Rick Barrett

At selected events, Taste of the Track is available those aged 18 and over, who wish to experience a ride with one of our Nationally Certified PCA Instructors. For novices, it is a real eye opener to see how one can negotiate a race track at speed, not only repeatedly placing the car within inches of the same reference points, but to do it while carrying on a conversation and instructing.

After signing our standard PCA waiver, paying a nominal fee and attending a drivers meeting, you strap on a helmet, and buckle into the passenger seat. You will be provided with, and use, an electronic communicator so you can talk without shouting and easily listen to your instructor. You may ask questions while negotiating the track and have them answered by the instructor's actions. You will experience continuous lapping during a special Taste of the Track session set aside specifically for this purpose. Should the ride be too exhilarating, you need only ask and the driver will either slow down to your comfort level or exit the track to let you out of the car.

Passengers are allowed ONLY with instructors. Safety and liability issues prevent us from allowing passengers with non-instructors. Anytime there are 2 people in a vehicle, our track Marshall will verify one is an instructor.

Click HERE to email our Driving Events Chairman for more information.

Dancing With The Cars

Sunday, November 9, 2008. Going to theme parks and daring to take on the so-called "thrill rides" has never been much of a dare for me. You see, I never felt the rides truly lived up to their descriptive term; I was rarely "thrilled". However, this past summer I visited Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, home of the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster. Suffice it to say, that with a 0-128mph time of a face-flattening 3.5 seconds and a climb almost straight up to 456 feet, I was finally thrilled. But now what? What could possibly match that? I thought I would have to wait for the next generation of roller coasters to find out. I was wrong.

SAR Instrutor Jim demonstrates the application of a 914-6 to the challenges of the twisty Central Arizona College track. Photo Credit: Kevin Purdy

I was wrong because I was the lucky winner of a silent auction that my parents bid on, knowing how much I love cars and would enjoy this early and unique Chanukah gift. The prize was a ride-along at a Porsche autocross event. While no road-going Porsche that I know of can launch from 0-128 in 3.5 seconds, this was a thrilling event in a different way. While anyone can mash a pedal to the metal and go fast on a highway, I learned that an autocross, of which I had never been to before, is a beast of a different nature. I likened it to a dance. Now, I've never much liked dancing, but now I know why this was the case- because I never had the right partner! I was amazed with Dave, my instructor, as he flung his car down the track. Actually, flung is probably incorrect terminology because that brings up a mental picture of lack of control and recklessness. Finesse would be a more accurate term; finesse that I have only witnessed watching the couples on some lame dance show on T.V. But, here it was an adeptness, sophistication, and subtlety from the melding of man and machine. A true enthusiast and his or her car form an intimate bond, knowing exactly how your partner will react, but also knowing her limits. Dave demonstrated this relationship completely and fully, and therefore why so many people love a good autocross (and Porsche for that matter).

I will never forget this event, and neither will my wallet. I caught "the itch" for autocrossing. If I thought I had it before, I was wrong. This event taught me what I have been lacking in my driver-piloting skills and the desperate need I now have to remedy that shortcoming. The friendly nature of the Porsche drivers, as opposed to the chest-thumping, meat-head mentality of owners that I have met driving "other" fast cars, left me impressed. Thank you to the Southern Arizona Region of the Porsche Club of America for a truly mind-bending experience and thanks to Dave for the great nausea-resistance tests. If you have never participated in an autocross event, I leave you with six little words...so you think you can dance?

Sincerely,

Mark