[Hal Copple]

I have a few thousand track miles over the past 10 years. I am a good novice at best, and usually run with our local Porsche Club, who also let other makes run, in different classes. Most often CMP, or "Kershaw" here in Upstate SC. I have run a variety of tires, and have had my car set up with proper gearing and suspension by Dennis Olthoff. In my track class for DE (no passing in turns, that sort of club driving, so it certainly isn't "racing") i think the other drivers are pretty much of similar ability.

On a short 2.3 mile track, part straight twice, and otherwise technical, i have found that the key to going quickly is to maximize one's corner exit speed. So lesser power cars which can maintain a more consistant speed, and get on their "power" sooner get out on the straights with an edge, wich can be hard to make up with sheer power.

I rarely spin, so I am leaving something on the table, as the organizers frown on grass excursions, as they can be dangerous for others. The "lesser" cars in my class are likewise set up for track time, with race tires, often suspension tweaks, and perhaps power upgrades.

I am often finding smaller cars, prepped MINI's, BMW's, older 911's, coming up in my rear view mirror, and must wave them by on the early straight-aways. But i can easily run them down, but since they have caught me, it would be foolish and impolite to pass them, only to have them run up on me in the next corner.

The driver disadvantage i have is mainly because i have to be very judicious and careful with exit throttle, whereas lesser engined cars can put their pedal to the floor at the apex. It is just much harder, even in a wonderfully stable Replica as mine, to avoid too much power, whereas they can use all they have. I can't, until i am pretty well straight. Too risky for me.

The modern track prepped cars, like GT3's, can pull away from me just about everywhere on the track.

If my track class were a race, with only race rules, then what i think would happen is that the lesser cars would gain on me in the corners, and i would run them down at the end of the straight. Who could out brake and turn in better would win. It would make for very interesting racing.

Raw power excess is only part of competion against dissimilar cars. Corner exit speed, often from a lesser power car, is a huge factor in lap times.

I have a real fear factor when i try to push it on a track, i think because my car is so open, and often wonder if closed cars somehow give a sense of safety that lets their drivers just push the corners harder. In the back of my mind is awareness that if i spin, and dig in a wheel and go over, i could be killed. Having a hard roof over ones head might allow more courage than i can muster.

I read some comment recently, that even World Class drivers can't brake each wheel independantly like a good stabilty system can. To think any Cobra, replica or otherwise, could out run something like a Nissan GTR, or Blue Max Vette, or ACR Viper at the 'Ring just isn't realistic.

While i am not the fastest in my car in my class (my son is appreciably faster in his top class than i could ever be), i do note that more track enthusiasts walk over to watch my car on the track than they do for much more expensive, modern cars.

One thing i am proud of is that i am a master at heel and toe braking and downshifting, such that i put no thought into it at all when the hairpin at the end is coming up.

All the best from Upstate South Carolina....