Portland International Raceway...

[Dave Tabor]

Hey Folks,

I'm in California but I had 'business' up in Oregon (dropping my daughter off for her first year of college) so I trailered my Coupe up there.

This is an HPDE day with Hooked on Driving: 3 laps following an Audi TTRS, which from experince at other tracks is pretty closely matched to my car if driven well. Otherwise it was mostly passing slower cars or 'solo' laps which are sort of boring to watch. This was my first time at PIR- cool track- really fast: main straight is 125 and back straight is 130 mph. You can see how trail-braking makes up for power- running my quiet 'Laguna' pipes as the AM sessions had a sound limit.

https://youtu.be/5CyGqwHzb_I

The Coupe was good and I used it for 3 days of touring the Columbia River Gorge area after the track day- I did not even open the hood.

Pics on Instagram @davesdaytona


Dave
Gen III Coupe #17
FRPP x302b, carb'd
TKO600/IRS
13" Cobra R Brembos front and 2015 Mustang 13" rear
Hawk DTC60 pads all around

[Suzie coupe]

This is my home track! I may have heard you that day, I live close enough I can hear cars some days (depends on wind direction). I want to get my coupe out there sometime. What are the requirements for the car? I think I want to get high back seats anyway, but do they need head bolsters and stuff?

[Dave Tabor]

This is my home track! I may have heard you that day, I live close enough I can hear cars some days (depends on wind direction). I want to get my coupe out there sometime. What are the requirements for the car? I think I want to get high back seats anyway, but do they need head bolsters and stuff?

I was running my sub-90 dB quiet side pipes as the AM session was 90 dB (at least before 9 AM), so hopefuly you did not hear me, lol.

I'd check out the Hooked on Driving website and if you had any concerns or questions about car/safety requirements, email them.

You'd start in the 'A' group and they'd put an instructor in the car with you. They'd show you how to: get on and off the track, manage passing and being overtaken, driving the racing line, etc. You can rent a helmet if you're not sure you want to invest in track stuff. After a couple of these, you can move to 'A-solo' and drive by yourself if you prefer.

The next events up in Oregon will not be until March so you have some time to get the car figured out and get some seat time in it. I don't think that I was comfortable driving my coupe on the street even after 1000 miles.

I've recently done some autocrosses- these might be the best first step towards getting on a real racetrack.

Dave

[Suzie coupe]

Yeah car needs work for sure. Brakes are no good lol. That’s cool I can’t wait. Thanks. I have a good helmet but it’s probably not rated for the track.

[Rsnake]

Looks like a ton of fun. Great driving!
We need video from the Autocross on Saturday

[Sgt.Gator]

Dave and Suzie, I'm an instructor at Oregon Raceway Park. The next time you come up to PIR and want to take a cruise out the Columbia Gorge turn south at Biggs Junction and in less than 30 mins you will be in Grass Valley and Oregon Raceway Park. ORP is as different from PIR as night & day. I am an ORP Club member so can invite you to drive with us for a private track day if your schedule coincides with our Club track days. Hooked on Driving and some other vendors also host track days there.
Hope to see you there.
Gator

[Dave Tabor]

Hi Gator,

On that same trip I had a HPDE day at ORP scheduled two days after PIR- but the organizer cancelled it due to low car count.

I was really looking forward to ORP and had watched some track videos of it.

I just need an excuse to drive back up there- maybe at the end of the school year to move my daughter out of the dorms- or Spring Break or something.

I'll let you know for sure!

Dave

[Dave Tabor]

Dave and Suzie, I'm an instructor at Oregon Raceway Park. The next time you come up to PIR and want to take a cruise out the Columbia Gorge turn south at Biggs Junction and in less than 30 mins you will be in Grass Valley and Oregon Raceway Park. ORP is as different from PIR as night & day. I am an ORP Club member so can invite you to drive with us for a private track day if your schedule coincides with our Club track days. Hooked on Driving and some other vendors also host track days there.
Hope to see you there.
Gator


Gator- I see that you are in Bend, Ore- I drove home through Bend and spent one night there.

I live in San Mateo, CA.

Dave