The site you are about to enter was originally built for a performance driver education event at Putnam Park Road Course (central Indiana, June '01) as hosted by Randy Faunce for the Porsche 928 Owner's Club (explains the 'shark' logo created above). This site is being updated now to also support the biannual events being hosted by the Central Indiana Region (CIR) Porsche Club of America (PCA), for which, as of '07, Randy is serving as event co-chair.

 

While SharkFest itself is now past history, much of the information here is of general purpose, applicable to most car club operated driver ed events (BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Mustang, Porsche, Saturn*, Viper, Saab, Mercedes, etc) including CIR's Spring Brake and Fall Back to School (April & September) performance driver schools.

You'll find links to car inspection forms, helmet requirements**, passing rules, corner flag descriptions, lists of suggested items to bring along, etc.

Under development is the 'Virtual Classroom' - an introduction to some of the information you are likely to encounter in the required classroom sessions of most performance driver ed events.

Some information is specific to Putnam Park, though details / videos of several other tracks are here, too (including Hot-Lap clips of ten different tracks).

Plan is to develop a corner by corner breakdown of the track, with sample video clips to demonstrate a line through each corner.*** In the meantime, be sure to attend the traditional Sunday morning track walk (7:15a) CIR (among others) offers during their driver ed weekends.

On-track video clips (and background music) require QuickTime Player 4.1 or later - a free download for Windows or Macintosh from here

If you can see this QuickTime logo ()

down here -> you're all set to continue

 

 

* - Yes, I said Saturn. There IS a legitimate Saturn Performance Club. I know most of you performance car guys are snickering right now, with reason, but these guys are serious. Sure, they burn through front wheel bearings like we do brake pads, and their quarter mile times are measured with a calendar, BUT, given proper equipment and a decent driver, well, I wouldn't want to be one of many who placed behind a Saturn in a recent One Lap (they were in the top ten).

Point is, ANYBODY over 18 with a valid driver's license can drive ANY CAR that passes a safety inspection. I've been on track with guys in 12 cylinder exotics to Grandmas in their Dodge Neons. Performance Driver Ed events are for anyone who really enjoys driving.

** - required / suggested items include but one D.E. specific purchase - a helmet. And, no, a motorcycle helmet usually won't do (most are rated for a single impact and are not fire retardant). While it's VERY RARE that anyone really needs to use these SA rated capabilities, many sponsoring insurance policies require it anyway.

If you're just trying out a driver ed event and are not sure you are ready to purchase a helmet ($200 and up), contact your host club to see if you can borrow one (they may have loaners available).

*** - that's A line through the corners - there rarely is THE line. The line taken by a light Porsche 914 or a BMW 2002 will often be different than one by a heavy Porsche 928 or a BMW M5. Even cars that weigh the same will approach differently based on balance and setup (a 968 compared to a 911 or the 928 to a Viper). Or different drivers in the same car due to driving 'style' and experience level.

Try several line variations as taught by several of your instructors and use the one that works best for you and your car (even the cartoon movie guys had that one figured out - "find the groove that works for you and stick to it": Paul Newman as Doc Hudson in Cars).

 

18 Year Member Central Indiana Region

Porsche Club of America

 

This site, both web development and it's content, are by Randy Faunce - a seventeen year veteran of performance driver ed events as hosted by numerous car clubs at a variety of road courses (15 different tracks to date). While having participated as the student, in-car instructor, classroom instructor, chief instructor and even event host, this level of driving experience does NOT mean I'm good - it only means I'm experienced. This site is simply an attempt to share some of that experience (and hopefully the enthusiasm) with those who enjoy really driving.

Please feel free to forward comments and suggestions to sharkfest@mac.com - as is true of most all websties, this one will be continually under development, and your input is appreciated.

Unless otherwise noted, all video clips (in car and outside rear view mirror) are of the line taken in my '88 Porsche 928 S4 5-speed LSD all season, daily driving, family road cruiser. Be aware that the shift pattern you watch is based on:

All offers for sponsorship on this site will be considered - Thank You !!

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