My 200Q, Thunderhill, and me (loooong)

[rao@pixar.com (Arun Rao)]

	Well, I finally managed to make it to Thunderhill to
	a performance driving school organized there. In summary,
	it was great fun, my car did me proud, and I came back
	with a little more skill. But ... I think it will be a
	little while before I do that again.

	There was quite a variety of both cars and drivers:
	the cars ranged from a pickup truck with a camper shell,
	to a brand-new Viper. Six Audis ran: a 5KTQ, 1 UrQ, 1
	'90 20V CQ, 1 4KTQ and my '91 200Q. There should have been
	one more UrQ, but it developed boost problems and left
	early. Other notables included a couple of 300ZX's,
	three BMW's, a '93 RX-7, a couple of Corvettes, a
	Lotus Turbo Esprit, two Vipers and an old Mustang Shelby.


	They divided us into three groups based roughly on expected
	speed -- possibly because of my car, I landed in the
	intermediate group (I expected to be in the slowest). After
	spending some time laying down ground rules, the rest of
	the day was spent on the track, in rotation, group by
	group, each car with the driver and an instructor.
	Each group got 5 twenty minute sessions on the track.

	There are seven turns in Thunderhill, and a long (0.9 mile?)
	straightaway. Turn 3 turned out to be the troublesome one
	for most -- a downhill off-camber right hander.

	With lots of power on tap, the straightaway was a blast --
	and the cool weather made it even better. Enter in second --
	redline -- third -- redline (oops, didn't know I had a
	rev-limiter) -- fourth -- time to slow down for the
	chicane, but I'm doing 105+ mph already! Amazing ... this
	car is nothing short of amazing! I caught glimpses of
	the boost gauge every now and then: it seemed to read
	1.7 a lot :-)

	The turns were a different story. I eventually managed
	to work up enough skill (and courage) to match or surpass
	the the 20V CQ that started next to me on every session,
	but it was a lot of work. Lots of unnerving tire-squeal
	(normal for street-tires, they tell me) and healthy doses of
	body roll were not helped by the lack of a five-point
	harness and sport-seats : I often found myself hanging on
	the steering with one hand desperately trying to shift with
	the other. For all that, I was comfortably holding my own
	in the group (passing was only allowed on the straightaway).

	On the last session of the day, a couple of Neons and one
	of the Vipers driven by instructors joined our group. I had
	learned something, but it was pretty clear that the Neon
	drivers were in a different league -- I would leave them
	almost literally half a mile behind in the straightaway,
	but they would be right on my tail by turn 5 or so.

	And then there was the Viper. I'm gaining on the CQ in
	front, already doing maybe 60+ mph in third, the K24 turbo
	in full song, and I spot the Viper in the mirror entering
	the straightaway. No way he's going to pass, I think -- not
	this time. Next thing I know, there's this deep rumble and a red
	streak -- he passes me like I was standing still!  Holy s**t,
	I remember thinking ... I later overheard the driver saying
	that he was hitting the end of the straight at 125. I don't
	doubt it.

	If I was to do it again, I think it would be a whole lot
	more fun in a smaller, nimbler car, even one with substantially
	less power. (Pulling away on the straights is a kick, but
	gets old after a while). On the 200Q, it always felt as if
	the car was capable, but reluctant.  "Now, why on earth do you
	want me to take this turn at 60, you silly man?", it seemed
	to say. Maybe a stiffer, lower suspension, better seats and a
	five-point harness would help, but there aint no defying
	gravity.


	-Arun

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Arun Rao
Pixar Animation Studios
Pt. Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 215-3526