[200q20v] Trip Report: QCLUB at Road America 2001

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

September 23. 24, 25
Road America  Elkhart Lake WI
Conditions:  Monday: lower 50's cloudy 35-35mph wind gusts
Tuesday:  Lower 50's 20-25 wind gusts
Eventmaster:  Larry Boyer, Esq
Cars:  ~125

Ok, boys and girls, by popular demand, the Best Of format continues.  For 
those of you that haven't been to this track with your audi, you should this 
is one of the best in the world.  For those of you that haven't been to a 
track event, you should, Qclub runs some of the best.  For me personally, 
some last minute scheduling (and alternator swapping) issues made my arrival 
most poste haste.  After my scolding from Larry for my lack of q-com, the fun 
begins.  Here's the best as I can remember:

*  Best Preflight data acquisition:  Fellow lister Bob Dupree sighting of me 
pushing the 87 qwagon (22psi, Big Reds, "mods") the last 100yards to his 
garage.  My type 44t btw, runs at 6.1 volts (3 blocks away), but not at 5.9v. 
 Timing is everything.  A very humbling moment for this audi tweekster, dying 
audi, no tools.  Thank god for best friends.

*  Best Preflight acquisition:  Fellow lister David Hackl, looking for ways 
to improve his visual flight rating (91cq, 93 90cs, 4k, 75 911S), stopping in 
Detroit on Friday, picking up a 79 930t, checking the oil, then off to RA.  
Black/Black, any officianados' clear definition of Lucifer hisself, all of us 
praying for no wraths of audi gods for the blasphemic intrusion.

*  Best last minute:  Wasn't me, it was Ingo Rautenburg (ex v8, 91 200tq), 
driving straight thru Detroit to Elkhart Lake Sunday night, arriving just in 
time for track time Monday morning.  Somewhere in Ingos scrambled ramblings, 
we heard some story of stud conversions gone array (stripped), and dremel 
tool fixes of said studs.  I believe Ingo is now ISO dremel certified down to 
14x1.50.  Cool.

*  Best Preflight check:  Taking the family wagon to the track can be 
humbling, emptying juice containers and Mickey D's milk shake leftovers (half 
full still) from the rear map pocket.  Thankfully, I managed to hide the nail 
polish and lipstick before anyone saw.  Some kidsmeal varmit still found it's 
way onto the rear floor, wondering what was up with the wild ride, I'm sure.

*  Best of Show:  Tie between 2 classics one beginning an era, one ending.  
David Hackl's '79 930t and Dean Treadway's stock euro 90 20v urq (abs and 
all- yep that one we all saw on mentioned on these lists).  Both black, both 
classics, both set apart from the all the rest in engineering and design 
visions, one forshadowing, one reflecting.  I stared a long time at both.

*  Best ride:  Tie again, both non audis too.  David Hackl allowed me the 
pleasure of piloting his machine, a higher honor would be tough to recieve 
from any friend.  I explored well below the limits of this beast, and fully 
understood the boldface 911 rule book quote:  Don't lift in a 930.  I tried 
to just test this in Turn 1 (wide safe sweeper), even a slight lift of the 
throttle brought quick signs of how close those dark shadows breathe within 
this beast.  The close second, and ironic comparo, was my right seat ride in 
the tweeked 993tt.  The limits of this car are certainly higher than most 
could ever possess, and it was quite evident, even from the right seat.  A 
raw but kinder evolution of the marque.  Just the thought of being car sick 
from acceleration g's crossed my mind, thankfully I got over that feeling.  
Jeezes!

*  Best enthusiast award:  Kent Anderson, in back brace from a carting 
mishap, directing the students in the exercises, as well as driving.  I 
believe it was only on Larry's insistence that Kent couldn't instruct in car. 
 Kent's story of the carting incident was rather harrowing I might add, but 
good to see him well and helping out as always.

*  Best troop deployment:  The very strategic identification of a potential 
security risk (of life, limb and fun) by both Mary and Larry, when 2 rogue 
Porsches showed up piloted by two very competitive and excited brothers.  A 
bit of shuffling, and a fellow 911t driver got the 993, I got the 2001 
carrerra 2 brother.  After tearing down some of the ego and testosterone, and 
building back up the basics, I found both these guys to be eager to learn, 
albeit trying harder than the laws of physics might accord.  After constant 
warnings of building speed, not carrying speed on a new track, Newton managed 
to grab my Carrera 2 driver in turn 12.  Which leads to...

* Best Quote of the Day:  As Sergio and I awaited rescue in the gravel, we 
went thru all the specifics of how and why what happened did (your basic 
violation of rule 1 in the 911 chassis handbook - see above).  After we 
pulled into the pits, he asked me to sum up the off.  "Well," I said 
(thinking how he had just taken me out the run group before in his bros 993): 
 "Thank god it wasn't in your brothers car".  His face got ashen, "Oh, god, 
he would have killed me!"  Yup, a lot to learn yet.

*  Second Best Quote of the Day:  After Dave's generous offer of the controls 
to the 930, a look at A008P tires (recalling a very arduous snow journey with 
them years ago), a look at the sky.  "Thanks davey, I'll certainly take a 
pass if it rains tho".  The automotive definition of a "rain check" quattro 
guys don't understand.

*  Best Advice at the time:  After a disallowed pass by my student between 1&
2 (an incidental pass from sheer speed differential chasing a 90q thru turn 
1), the flagperson at 2 stood and was on the radio quickly advising the 
others.  My student asked what he should do.  I said, "Well at Road America, 
you want to "get small", drive like your car is 2 inches tall, maybe they 
won't see us."  He eased his way around the course, solid looks, no flag.  
Whew.  Steve Martin would proud.

*  Best Impulse buy:  Larry's Mary talking about how she was going to buy 
Dean Treadway's sweet 91cq 20vt conversion at the dinner Monday night.  Er, 
Dean wasn't aware of any of this until Tuesday am, btw.  Touche Mary, don't 
let your "husband" drive that car.

*  Best Impuse act:  Werner Krause was revving up the crowd at the Osthoff 
Monday night, speaking of Ice Driving schools in WI, and another qclub in the 
region.  After paying a mispoken tribute to Eventmaster Larry Boyer and "his 
wife Mary", Larry gave a look to Mary I would have loved to have on film.  I 
decided that announcement needed some encouragement, so I led the fork on the 
crystal clink to the "newlyweds".  God if only Larry and Mary knew, Werner.  
Ah, details.

*  Best Food:  Unlike so many other events, it's so tough to beat the Ostoff 
itself.  I enjoyed a fine morsel of tenderloin that would rival the 
Stockyards in Dallas.  Dave, Ingo and I also enjoyed some fine breakfast 
there as well, the Potato pancakes with cold salmon was supreme.

*  Best Off:  Keith Anderson, went so straight on turn 1, that you could see 
the 4 skid marks, then sight the scope way out into the gravel.  So far out, 
that I had to beep and wave at Keith to make sure he was, er, ok :).  To his 
credit, he was so busy putting on brake pads that he only got a couple runs.  
Many of us must have forgotten to tell him, that despite his MN roots, it was 
indeed cold on that track.  I really doubt his tires ever got hot, always 
presents those problems in basic physics.  But hey, if you are gonna go off, 
might as well do it right (3 towstraps deep has to be some sort of record).

*  Best brag of Qclub:  Of some 3 trailer type totals (1 engine total - 944t, 
1 engine stress - C4 mishift , 1 Z06 er, subcompact), Non marque = 3+, audi = 
0.  Touche.

*  Best run what you brung:  I got to drive Gary K's turbo 4kq.  Interesting 
testoterone killer.  The first couple laps his race tires prevented fast 
laps, gave a bunch of S cars the pass signal.  Once the tires were warm 
however, trying to get those passes back, ended up being my take instead of 
their "give".  Spray can painted fender flares sometimes can just spoil a 
good party.  Great job Gary, spoil away!

*  Best of the Rally roots:  Susan Anderson (tweeked 1.8t) reeling the 87tqw. 
 As my engine temps started to rise, decided to resort to more creative 
tactics.  A bit of the dust smoke screen exiting the Carousel only managed to 
sway but not deter her gain.  I believe it was the very next lap that we 
trained by her husband, er, trying to prorally with R1's.  

*  Best kidding aside:   Hey Dave, that was a great shot of your 930 in the 
carousel.  Oops, but you're in the passenger seat.  Almost bought the pic, 
but I'd rather have another ride ;)

*  Best technical information:  Another 20vt guy fron colorado, boost 
controller cranked, getting cutout here at flood altitude.  After a long 
dissertation regarding boost, altitude, MAFS, etc, the frustrated guy said, 
"But what can I do TODAY".  Lifting my right arm grabbing that imaginary 
shrapnelknobben, with counterclockwise motion.  Damn, could have done that 10 
minutes ago ;)

*  Best Compatriot:  In deference to any license plate, Keith Anderson had a 
US Flag in said location.  Seemed a bit small from afar (all inuendos 
inserted here).

*  Best track train:  Porsche America, Porsche turbo, Larry Tyvie's Stock 
5ktq race car (?!!?!?!?!),  M3 lightweight, MTM, etc.  Zoom Zoom.  Sometimes 
nothing need be said.

*  Best Audi by Jake = $14.95:  Losing the PS belt on Monday.  Good quads by 
Tues night.  Aha.

Ok, that's enough, this won't fit on the 20v page as it is.  Lots of fun, one 
of my favorite events.  My usual thanks to Larry and Mary, a great team, and 
this time certainly a special thanks for graciously accomodating my late 
ante.  To the sponsors of the event, another thanks, a very complementary 
effort by some fine people.  To Bob Dupree for the last minute garage time, 
and I will say that it's just not the same here without the LT1 rousting the 
birds in Kettle Bottoms.   To David Hackl, for his pre event organization of 
the Chicao Corps, and for sharing an even better toy this time, I'll relish 
that drive for a long time my friend.  To Ingo R, for making the trip at "all 
costs" to share in a great reunion of old friends, as well as allowing me the 
drive of the 200tq.   Gary K, for the tossing of the keys to the toy, most 
fun. To the brothers Daniel and Sergio (my student) for really showing Qclub 
has a system that can pass the most interesting of self-tests, without 
upsetting either the event or anyone's enjoyment of it.  To my wife for the 
consistent tolerance of my q-enthusiam, and the trade of my 4runner for the 
wagon, I owe much more than the track fix of the pass window regulator.  My 
kids for showing how much hidden storage space really exists in an audi 
wagon.  And finally, to all those longtime students/enthusiasts, that take 
the time to come up and say hi and share a story.  It's great to hear them 
all, even if my memory fails to recall so many of the specifics in them.  
Just more great fun.  Way cool.

End of Report

Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ at aol.com
87 5ktqw
'84 Urq
'83 Urq






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