What a difference a year makes. While the fall of 2020 mostly kept us at home, this year has been a season for driving.
It started in September with a trip to Luft 7. It was rescheduled from ‘20 and while a bit farther from home than North Carolina, we thought it would be a great drive. The trip to Indy would give us a chance to really test the “T” in the 2016 GTS, and work in a run on the Schweinefiletring on the way.
The road conditions on the ‘ring were good. It reminded us of our favorite North Georgia runs with smaller elevation changes. Ultimately we only did the east side of the circuit as the traffic was moderate and the area was fairly residential.
We had planned to run the west side of the ‘ring after Luft, but called an audible and attended the Porsche Togetherfest at Indianapolis Motor Speedway instead. Not knowing what to expect at IMS, it actually became a high point of the trip with racing, fun, and free stuff for all.
The ‘16 GTS lived up to its billing as a touring car. We had a couple of 7 hour days on the drive; it was comfortable and performed flawlessly. The same trip just seems out of reach in the 997 mainly because of the centerlocks. You are either carrying the tools with you or hoping that tire shop in the middle of nowhere has them. Since the 991 was spec-ed with 5 lugs, it’s just not an issue. The 991 cabin also feels a bit bigger and is better appointed with touring options like ventilated seats and improved Bluetooth support vs. the 997.
We had a few other minor car events in September and October, but the next major outing was the Rennsport Dragon Rally. We opted to take both GTS cars to the event so we could switch between them over the three days where we logged over 700 miles through TN, NC, and GA.
The RDR is intense. The terrain and pace favor the 997. As I’ve mentioned, between the two cars the 997 is more sport than touring. I find it instills more confidence when carving through the mountain roads. Still as much as I prefer the 997 for a spirited drive, the 991 just looks better doing it.
The event introduced us to a few great routes like Wayah Road south of 74 and 28 south of 74 into the Highlands. Although we enjoyed the RDR, it’s probably not a repeat event for us. Ultimately it’s hard to beat the roads in our backyard. Early November gave us a chance to share them with our friends soon after they took delivery of a new Corvette.
It’s hard to beat the 60-180-19 loop in North Georgia. It has something for everyone: tight corners and sweepers, climbs and descents, two lane sections for easy passing, relatively light traffic, beautiful scenery with ample look out points to stretch the legs, plus convenient stops on the route for food and gas.
It’s certainly fun to get out and explore new terrain. It may even help you appreciate home even more.
