By N_Jay - Mon Jun 01, 2026 10:47 am
- Mon Jun 01, 2026 10:47 am
#343445
Had a fun Saturday.
It started last week with my nephew calling me to talk about "getting a faster car".
He has a BRZ, and has been talking about upgrading the engine (supercharger kit) and suspension and brakes.
Now he was talking about selling it and buying a Factory Five Type 65.
I talked him down and, in the process, found that there was a SCCA Solo event in Charlotte on Saturday.
So he drove up and we headed out.
I was mostly along for support, because the last time I put on a helmet it triggered my claustrophobia, so I figured my days of "organized" (meaning; lawyer induced safety rules) competition was off the table.
Well, when I got there, I saw the loaner helmets were not full face, so I went over put one on, and felt OK so I signed up with him. (F-Me, because since I wasn't planning on driving, I didn't bring the Cayman)
Now, I have not autocrosssed in about 34 years, I have been driving auto (and PDK) almost exclusively for about 30 years.
I have only driven the BRZ a couple of times, and never really hard or on twisty roads before Saturday.
Well, I quickly found out a few things.
A) It is easy to forget to shift when you haven't been shifting.
B) Finding the next gate, when it is of in your peripheral vision is a f-ing lot harder once you start wearing glasses.
C) BRZs turn-in a lot different than a Cayman.
D) It is hard to 'unlearn' shuffling the wheel, when you never autocrossed a "modern" small wheel car.
E) It's going to take a bit of practice to get back to "I'm OK", my previous level of competency.
P.S. Nephew understands he doesn't need a faster car, he just has to become a faster driver.
It started last week with my nephew calling me to talk about "getting a faster car".
He has a BRZ, and has been talking about upgrading the engine (supercharger kit) and suspension and brakes.
Now he was talking about selling it and buying a Factory Five Type 65.
I talked him down and, in the process, found that there was a SCCA Solo event in Charlotte on Saturday.
So he drove up and we headed out.
I was mostly along for support, because the last time I put on a helmet it triggered my claustrophobia, so I figured my days of "organized" (meaning; lawyer induced safety rules) competition was off the table.
Well, when I got there, I saw the loaner helmets were not full face, so I went over put one on, and felt OK so I signed up with him. (F-Me, because since I wasn't planning on driving, I didn't bring the Cayman)
Now, I have not autocrosssed in about 34 years, I have been driving auto (and PDK) almost exclusively for about 30 years.
I have only driven the BRZ a couple of times, and never really hard or on twisty roads before Saturday.
Well, I quickly found out a few things.
A) It is easy to forget to shift when you haven't been shifting.
B) Finding the next gate, when it is of in your peripheral vision is a f-ing lot harder once you start wearing glasses.
C) BRZs turn-in a lot different than a Cayman.
D) It is hard to 'unlearn' shuffling the wheel, when you never autocrossed a "modern" small wheel car.
E) It's going to take a bit of practice to get back to "I'm OK", my previous level of competency.
P.S. Nephew understands he doesn't need a faster car, he just has to become a faster driver.




