996 Cab at DE/autocross questions.

I am a recent 996 owner, only 1 week. I sold my Boxster and 944 for a 2002 Cab, so I still have some questions, thanks again for all of your previous advice on my wheels. I autocross and plan to DE some this year. In the owners manual it says that extreme tilting can cause the roll bars to deploy. Has anyone had the roll bars deploy while at the track or autocross course? If so is it a big deal or just simply lower them back down? I guess my question is if it is like an airbag that will need to be replaced once dployed. Also, coming from a Boxster, the recommended tire pressure seems very high for the street. It is even higher than what I run at an autocross on the Boxster. Is everyone running less pressure than what is recommended? Thanks!

I track my 996CAB quite a bit and have never seen or heard of another CAB have this happen. But, the great thing is if your pop-ups come up they are there for a reason......the car thinks you may have entered into a situation that might produce a roll. Doesn't mean you will roll, but it is an a priori move to protoct you. Just come back into the pits when you are done with your session and reset them. Take all of 1 minute to reset them.

Forgot to answer your question about tire pressure. I run the S0-2 at the track and it is a great track tire (however I am moving to MPSC when these are done). I have been tracking quite a bit a been messing with tire temps quite a bit and have found that 38-40 all around is the perfect pressure. Less than 38 or more than 40 and I tend to loose the car easier. 38-40 seems to be VERY planted. Just remember, tires vary in the pressures they like best (different brands, compound, etc.) Here is a link that I posted over in the track forum and got many GOOD responses. https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/202387-rec-d-tire-pressure-why-so-much-conflict.html

Dell, I'm assuming those are you pressures when the tires are hot, correct? What do you set it at before the warm up laps?

Sorry, I forgot to state those are the hop temps I aim for. I usually start at about 31-32 psi cold when I leave the pits on my warm up lap. A session is about 6-7 laps and I get the tires and brakes up to temp by the end of lap 1 since it is 3.1 miles.

Thanks. No DE events for met yet, just auto-x in my Cooper S, so I'm nervous about the first time on the track.

I was too (nervous), but after the FIRST lap you are addicted immediately! Just nothing compares to drving your P-Car at speed in a controlled environment with no cops.

Dell, by the way, that thread you highlight about tire pressures was very informative. RedlineMan (John H) is a beast...and in my region to boot!

Glad to help

Dell, great link. There is a lot to it. The Boxster starting point is much different than the 996. I should just take that for face value. In autocrossing the tires do not get a lot of time to warm up, only 50 seconds and then cool off. I guess this is one of the reasons why I have always started off higher for AutoX. Different techniques, same principles though. The fun will be playing around with it. now after reading the post I will have a new challenge...new tires. I better get out there and break them in.

Don't forget, if you get new tires you will need to get about 500 miles of good drving on them before venturing out to DE or Auto-X. If not, you will be ALL OVER the place on the track or Auto-X course.

jsa, I run 36/40 on the street on my Cab. Did an autocross at 36/40 in cold weather and understeered badly. Next autocross, will prob start at 38/40 or 39/40.

If you pop the roll bars all you need is a long flat head screw driver to push back the latch in the well and then lower the bar by placing downward pressure on the bar. One person operation.