Page 38 - KCRPCA MayJune 2021

Little did I realize the slippery slope of modification that I had entered!
Later in 1997, I became
aware of Driver’s Education
at Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka, KS and attended an event one Saturday. I soon signed up and purchased a helmet. My first DE occurred in April 1997 and I learned so much that first weekend. I was amazed at what I didn’t know. I was new to road courses and Euro type driving
as I had been a straight-line guy without knowing it. I cooked
the brakes the first day as I did not know I needed DOT4 brake fluid rather than stock fluid. With that taken care of, I was released to solo the last part of that first Sunday.
During the course of years 1997-2001, I slowly embarked on engine and suspension upgrades to change the 951 to keep up
with newer and faster sports cars. Turbocharged Porsche engines have room for additional boost with aftermarket chips, intake and exhaust modifications, and other external mods such as replacing the OEM airbox with a mass air flow unit. Horsepower gains on the 951 can be significant.
In 1999, my prized possession received a polished intake and
a special valve job. The engine was tuned for 100 octane and horsepower had increased to about 300 hp by then. Several DE events were quite incredible with the new power. Did I say
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Der Sportwagen