THE PORSCHE BUCKET LIST
TRY A HILLCLIMB
1 If taking to a circuit seems a bit daunting, then hillclimbing might just be for you. The 911’s superb traction and agile handling make it ideal, and this can be a very affordable entry into competitive action. It’s less intimidating because you’re competing against the clock, rather than against other drivers, and you can just focus on getting the very best from the car and yourself. In fact, these events tend to be a little less frantic than circuit racing, which means that you’ll have more time to concentrate on perfecting both the setup of your car and your own technique. Watching other drivers tackle the hill also means you can pick up hints on the best cornering lines to take, which will help you improve your own times. And just as importantly, there should be more time to socialise with other competitors, which is what enjoying a 911 is all about. Then there’s the matter of cost, something that may well be a factor if this is your first experience of competitive driving. Signing up to a full season of a track-based championship can be an expensive commitment, so being able to pick and choose which hillclimbs you tackle will be easier on the pocket. This approach will also reduce the potential for wear and tear on the car and the regular outlay for fresh tyres and brakes. Make no mistake though, this is no poor relation to circuit racing – it’s rather addictive and there are lots of great venues in the UK (including the historic Shelsley Walsh, in use since 1905) and further afield, so no matter where you live there is probably somewhere you can give this a try. Some venues offer tuition for beginners, and there’s lots of help and advice when it comes to getting started (the Hillclimb and Sprint Association in the UK, for example).
DO A TRACK DAY
Peruse our Living the Legend pages and you’ll notice how many of our contributors enjoy spending time on track. When it comes to really learning about your car’s abilities, and fully experiencing the towering performance in a safe environment, there are few better ways to do it. That point about safety is especially pertinent. Unless you have access to one of the unlimited stretches of Autobahn, then speed limits – both the 70mph UK limit and Europe’s 130kph maximum can easily be hit in third gear in a water-cooled 911 – will rightly
