Anyone race a 944 Turbo? How did you do?

[SoloRacer]

I bought a 1989 944 Turbo S and just posted a kill on an ITR. I'm just wondering if anyone here has raced a 944 Turbo and if they care to share the story. Not looking to start anything - I just like reading stories. I already read one where someone witnessed a 944 Turbo kill a Z06. That would be impressive and I know that there was no way that 944 Turbo was stock. If you know which 944 Turbo (the 217 HP model or the 250 HP "S" model) you raced please include that. The only way to know for sure which model it is you would have to know the owner or the car because the S cars and non S cars look identical to each other.

On another note I have always been a big fan of the NSX and was going to trade my 951 on a red 1991 NSX. That was until after I test drove the NSX. It just didn't feel as powerful as my 951. I've since talked with some NSX guys and they say the power delivery is smoother in the NSX than a turbocharged car and it doesn't feel as fast as it is. I know that when my turbo spools I get pressed into the seat real nice in both my modified RX7 and my 944 Turbo and I didn't get that same sensation in the NSX. So if any NSX owners have raced a 944 Turbo I would love to hear about it. Ciao!

[IntoX]

If you want to read some epic battles between a highly- modified supercharged NSX and a highly-modified 944 turbo, you should check out

http://www.nsxfiles.com

[SoloRacer]

I actually own all of Dougs video's and watch the website religiously. I've e-mailed him a few times and asked a few questions. He seems like a good guy. I'm looking to go to the Virginia City Hill Climb this year and meet all the guys I read about. Too bad they sold the F355's - I would love to go for a ride in one. Thanks for the reply!

[ghoust]

I have done freeway runs with both NSX's and 944 turbos...I have beaten them both on the freeway but I dont know if it was just the drivers chickening out or if it was the power from my car...we top out around 135mph or so.

I have lost to an NSX off the line once..but I have beaten a number of porsches off the line, just dont remember if they were 944 turboes or not....

[Slo5.0]

I raced a 944 Turbo (dont know if it was an S) when I had my '91 GT w/ 3.55s, full exhaust, and 130,000 miles. Raced from 2nd through 3rd, beat him by a few cars.

[Ricespotter]

the TRUE power of a 944 turbo is not "off the line" but once you get to 60mph and above. that acceleration is something that most $80,000 cars TODAY can not match half the people i know with 944 turbos had to sell them becauser of too many speeding tickets. they are FAST FAST FAST.

[scourge]

And they suffer/benefit from the image of not being a real Porsche.:) So, you can lay the smackdown on unsuspecting punks - ahhhahahahahahahahaha! Ain't that right Ricespotter?


Scourge:(

[Ricespotter]

i've never heard that one. that must be a rumour started by people that get sick of reading 944 Turbo tailights from their 4x as expensive 911 ;).

[IntoX]

Oh my, the cars that visit the hill climb are quite something (i have the third of doug's videos so i have seen some of the heavy artillery that comes out). I wanted to go last summer but i couldnt find out when it was going to happen. In the end, i think it was postponed from the usual date, so I am happy i didnt trek up there for nothing. When is it exactly? I would love to check it out.

[SoloRacer]

Ricespotter: I've had the pleasure of showing one of my friends who owns an early 80's turbo body but n/a engine 911 the booty of my car on one occaision. He pulled up to me at a set of lights one day. He hadn't seen my 944 turbo yet and said she looked pretty nice. He revved a little and asked if I wanted to run. I said sure. The lights turned green and we took off. His car sounded awesome and probably looked awesome too - I wouldn't know how it looked for certain though because he never got closer than my passenger door on the launch. By second gear I was pulling away quickly. In my excitement I hit the rev limited in second, causing the car to sputter, before shifting to third. I pulled at least a car length or two on him between lights. At the next red light he pulls up to me and says "You gotta like that torque" I just smiled. We drove side by side to the next light and noticed a bright red Ferrari 512TR pull into the street right behind me. It was gorgeous! It was wider and lower than my car. My friend looked over and said "I think he wants to run you" and then laughed. I laughed too and said "Sure, anytime". The light turned green and I gave it a little gas but the guy in the Ferrari wasn't interested. I was stopped at the next red light and he sedately pulled into the turning lane. Damn, I would have loved to hear that 12 cylinder sing - even if it meant getting my Teutonic ass handed to me. :)

Intox: I read on Doug Hayashi's site that the hill climb is scheduled for the fathers day weekend. I'll be keeping a close watch on that for sure. Are you waiting for the 4th video? I know I am - can't wait to see some of that F355 footage. :)

[IntoX]

Is he definitely making a fourth? Damn, I hope so. I never bought the first two because I figured that since he had most of his mods done in the third video, the others might be a little less exciting. However, I did read that there are a number of crashes and such in the first two, so maybe I am wrong about this.

I want to read his opinion on the S2000. That should be interesting, especially after he buys that comptech supercharger!

[SoloRacer]

I've enjoyed his first two as much, if not more, than the third one. Partially due to the learning curve he makes plus I was experiencing each one in order. Sort of like how even though Terminator 2 was a better made movie I enjoyed Terminator 1 more because it scared you more due to the fact you never really knew just how much more the Terminator would take - he just kept going and going. In the second one you expected the new Terminator not to stop so it was less frightening. In Dougs first video him and Wayne both had NSX's and they compared the two (modified and unmodified) plus they had more non track related video. Also there was a really nice ultima kit car that wrecked at the hill climb. The second video had more racing footage - similar to the third tape without the supercharger. If you are a car nut like me get them all and have a laugh - they are all entertaining. Naturally I just wish he had more 944 Turbo footage.....*lol*

[ryans]

I dont know if you saw our coverage of the hill climb. when we had the video section up we had it all on video too.

I met doug, he seemed nice. Andrie Drove up that hill in his nsx, he said it was a hella wild ride. Dougs buddy has the 951.

http://www.streetracing.org/events/hillclimb/061800/

[SoloRacer]

I just took a look at your Virginia City Hill Climb footage. Very nice. One note though - I don't think I have ever heard of anyone killed at the hill climb. There have been a few wrecks (most spectacular being an optima kit car) but as far as I know nobody has been killed. If it is like other race events that I have participated in even one fatality is enough to cancel an event. I could not imagine that an event would have "a fatality every year" and still be allowed to run. I think your spectator was badly misinformed and I don't know that you are doing any good by quoting him on the SRO website. I'm sure that if you asked any of the racers out there they would say that safety is of the utmost importance and that last thing they would approve of is glorifying something as a death defying feat. Perhaps you might want to consider cutting the comment about a fatality every year because even if it is true it probably is not something that needs to be publicized.

[2Kaccord]

No I've never raced a 944. I had an 87 porsche 944 a long time ago, bought it at an auction for $1500. The engine was all fucked up though. I used it for $500 trade-in. I didn't know much about cars at 16, (I'm 23 now {old})so I wound't have known what to have done with it. I don't race now that often, mainly because my accord is slow (V4, intake, I'm guessing 1/4 -- 15.8, 0-60 -- 7.2), but I'm usually willing 2 street race, but not at the races -- it's not worth it getting my ass handed 2 me. If I can get the ITR i've been trying 2 get, then I'll race stock -- I don't care if I lose.
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