06-04-2008, 05:44 PM
Don't forget that PCA events in general are much much cheaper than other groups. I think a major factor iin the lack of registration in the lower run groups is that we aren't getting the influx of new people buying Porsches. Nobody is now taking out home equity loans and buying Porsches!
All things being equal, believe me, I do DE with several clubs and our instruction is hands down better than most/all. I was at a NASA NE event last weekend, where HPDE group 2 (2nd highest level out of 5) is uninstructed. I had a great event, but there were guys soloing with a couple of events under their belt, and spinning whenever they had the chance. More than once I recommended that "X car" needs an instrutor with him. Please debate me on this, our instruction is just better.
We have the best value -- the restriction is you "need" a Porsche (well not really, but you know what I mean). These days there are many great options for cars to take to the track that are cheaper and perform really well. I drove my students' 335i last weekend, 386 hp, 454 ft lbs of torque!!!
As an instructor, the new students I get when I instruct at a NASA event are very very different than at PCA events. New people at NASA events are generally much younger, and they know turn in, apex, track out, sway bars, spring rates, etc....
Grassroots Motorsports (I think it was that magazine) did an article a little while ago where they matched a Mini-van against a 356, and the Mini-van kicked it's ass. These days almost any car you can buy handles really well compared to the old cars.
Our club is very friendly to non-Porsches, and we have drivers at all levels driving non-Porsches. I think we should be reaching out to people we know, who are good for the club, who may not have Porsches but who are people we want to have around, and letting them know what we have to offer.
All things being equal, believe me, I do DE with several clubs and our instruction is hands down better than most/all. I was at a NASA NE event last weekend, where HPDE group 2 (2nd highest level out of 5) is uninstructed. I had a great event, but there were guys soloing with a couple of events under their belt, and spinning whenever they had the chance. More than once I recommended that "X car" needs an instrutor with him. Please debate me on this, our instruction is just better.
We have the best value -- the restriction is you "need" a Porsche (well not really, but you know what I mean). These days there are many great options for cars to take to the track that are cheaper and perform really well. I drove my students' 335i last weekend, 386 hp, 454 ft lbs of torque!!!
As an instructor, the new students I get when I instruct at a NASA event are very very different than at PCA events. New people at NASA events are generally much younger, and they know turn in, apex, track out, sway bars, spring rates, etc....
Grassroots Motorsports (I think it was that magazine) did an article a little while ago where they matched a Mini-van against a 356, and the Mini-van kicked it's ass. These days almost any car you can buy handles really well compared to the old cars.
Our club is very friendly to non-Porsches, and we have drivers at all levels driving non-Porsches. I think we should be reaching out to people we know, who are good for the club, who may not have Porsches but who are people we want to have around, and letting them know what we have to offer.