Tech Inspection this Sat at IMA.
 

The tech session for the Mid Ohio driver’s education event will be one with some firsts. The first first, this tech session will be held at IMA Motorsports in Merrifield VA and although this will be Potomac’s first tech session at this facility hosts Ivan Arzola and Chris Prack have been long time supporters of Potomac events. Ivan is a long time DE instructor and Chris has just become one as well. IMA Motorsports is well known for high-end performance work on Porsche track cars as well as quality regular service and repair. When you come by take a look at the top-notch milling and machining tools this shop is stocked with. Good tools help make for good work.
The second first, for this tech session, we will be trying something a little bit new. For the last year the on track grid inspections have been done using a staged inspection and it has worked well. At this tech inspection we will hopefully bring the same improvement to the tech inspections by splitting the inspection into two stages. The first stage will encompass all that can be inspected with the car on the ground and the second will be all of the remaining elements requiring a lift.
As you pull into the parking lot a tech inspector will direct you where to park and where the ever-present insurance waver and sign up sheet are. In turn we will call you to your car for stage one and after we perform the first stage of the inspection you will move to a lift and we will complete the inspection.
This event is open to all members and everyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. Even if you don’t plan to go to the event in Ohio, come and get a checkup for your car. We can check it out top to bottom for you and go over some of the important care points for your Porsche. This is a great way for those of you that have a new or new for you Porsche to get acquainted with your car. With three lifts to work from, work lifts will only be available after 1:00 p.m. and only if lifts are open with no inspections waiting.
The demo will be for our 914 fans. 914s handle very well but as you add HP the unibody tends to flex. One of our Potomac instructors has recently had some frame and suspension improvement work done to his track car. We will demonstrate what was done to his car and discus some of the many things that can be done to stiffen the unibodys of 914s. We will also go over suspension and brake upgrades for 914s. The demo will start at 11:00 a.m.
Questions or comments? Please contact Kurt Mickelwait at tech@pcapotomac.org or call (703) 534-8153

EVENT INFO:
NOTE THE DATE! This tech is 3 weeks before the DE event.
When. April 10th from 9:00 a.m. Until 2:00 p.m.
Demo at 11:00 a.m.
Where. IMA Motorsports 2928 C Prosperity Avenue Fairfax, VA, 22031
Phone # (703) 849-9590 on the web: www.imamotorsport.com

Directions. From 495 in Virginia take Route 50 West and then turn right onto Prosperity Ave. IMA Motorsports will on the left across from the Merrifield postal facility.

Ivan & Chris put on a good tech session. I don't think I have ever seen more track FEWCs gathered at one shop. Some SERIOUS horsepower under the hood of those 3S 951s. I really wanted to find a stealth way to abscond with Ivan's Motons from his 968 / hybrid :lol: Can you imagine tripple adjustables on my tub? Wonder if that is vintage legal ... :wink: Once again, thanks to the tech guys for selflessly donating their Saturday. Perhaps someone will post pics.

I thought Ivan's "homegrown" 935 was an interesting car looking for a home... perhaps a Dorki home ...

Jase

I'll check with Lu to see if she wants it, since I've pretty much taken over her car. :P

Ivan and his crew at IMA were the hosts for the tech session and they did a great job. Thanks for the pizza!
Interesting story about the 935 lookalike. Car belongs to Bob Williams, former chief driving instructor, past pres, ax chair, club racer with a 944T... but Bob wanted a little faster car so he bought a 911 track car from Cali. He found the car basically undriveable. He started on the car and fell into the while I'm in there trap decided to rework the cage. He cut the main support by the door pillar and the cage pulled apart 3 inches. That started the slippery path that is sitting at IMA. Ivan and Chris are fabricating the headers as there are no headers available for a twin turbo 3.6 in a early car.
Bob did all the body, frame, and cage fabrication in his garage. This project has taken him a little longer than planned as he has just finished a complete redo for his early 911 for ax and just completed a suspension upgrade on his turbo look Carrera. The 935 style car should be running this summer. So many projects, so little time... :D

No kidding...

I sneaked a peak at the engine ... looked like modified 3.2 intake manifolds. Is it a "custom" 3.6 (off of a carrera / sc case) that has been twin-turboed or a series correct OEM job?

Thanks for the background.

Jason

Don't know about the case nor manifolds. I seem to remember Chris saying that they had to have the intakes custom made because of the turbo's and injectors they were going to use.
Ivan and Chris get all goofy when the word "turbo" is mentioned. :roll:

Wish I could have made it but I was out of town :(

Please post when the next opportunity for tech inspection might be. Need to prepare for May DE.

Thanks!

Stand up, Bob

Pete Kauffman and I were walking toward Bob's car when Bob noticed that the wheel studs were missing from the rear hubs. Bob asked Chris why they removed the studs (Chris told him they had longer studs that they would install). I asked Chris why they removed the little 2 X 4 Bob had on the gas pedal? For some reason Bob got a little excited. :roll:

Man, you guys are just plain COLD...


A big thanks to the gang at IMA and to the tech team members that suffered trough a warm sunny day teching, tinkering and talking cars.

It was good to see Bob W and I am looking foward to seeing his new ride on the track. I spent some time poking around in it and saw some interesting idea generators.