I would have missed out on this great car show if it hadn't been for my friend Kurt (whom I met at my first Porsche DE weekend) asking me if I wanted to go. So Nicole and I followed Kurt and his wife Becky to the small town of Oxford, OH. The entire downtown area was blocked-off for Porsches and there were a lot of great cars to see.

Had I known my car was going to be part of the show, I would have washed it. It was still dirty from the track and still had the numbers on the windshield, Oh well.

My favorite cars included a silver 1955 550 Spyder (Beck replica), a newly resorted black 356 cabriolet, a black 1980s 959. Apparently the photographer agreed because all of these made it into the 2006 event photo album .

There was a new 2006 911 Cabriolet (type 997) that really caught my attention, as did every new Boxster and Cayman. I don't need a newer car, but it's nice to think about!

I was the lucky winner of a $25 gift certificate to Griots Garage (an event sponsor). So I can't say "I never win anything" ever again.

After my first Drivers Education weekend, I was hooked.  I loved the opportunity to take my car to a road course and push my own limits (if not those of the car), all while having an instructor in the car with me and not worrying about being faster than anyone else.  I felt safe and had fun, so I was back for a second time.

I was not surprised that I remembered the road course completely.  I didn't lose much from my previous time on the track, but it took me until the end of the first day before I was back to where I finished the first weekend.  However, by the end of the second day, I could feel a huge difference in my driving abilities.  I knew and expected the slight 4-wheel drift through fast corners and I was able to hit every point on the track the way I envisioned them happening.  I increased my corner entry speed to levels that were approaching the ability of the car and I identified portions of the track where I need some improvements.

I experimented with threshold braking, but it didn't work so well.  The time I gained around the track was marginal because I was braking for too long.  And because all of the brake applications were as late and as hard as possible, the brakes absorbed quite a bit of heat.  Enough that it boiled the brake fluid — a soft pedal is something you never want to feel!  Luckily, I could tell when it was happening and I had no problems safely driving around and exiting the track.  TJ and Christine helped me bleed the brakes and I was ready for the next session.

My wife Nicole come along this time.  I wasn't sure if she would enjoy it as much as I did.  It's a mostly-male group and I think she felt too much pressure to prove herself.  It wasn't until the last run on Saturday that she relaxed and experienced some fun on the track. 

As with my previous DE weekend, the people I met were every bit as great as the cars on the track.  I missed seeing some of the people that didn't make it back from my first outing, got to be better friends with those who did return, and also met some great new people.  Even if you don't have a car, the people alone are reason enough to return.

Setlist
Concert download

It's July and perfect July evening and Nicole and I meet-up Luke and Michelle Shiver for our trek to downtown Indy. Michelle and Nicole grab chairs to take out to the grass while Luke and I park at the Zoo and walk back.

We arrive fairly early but center section of The Lawn is already pretty well packed. No worries, we sit close to the front on the right hand side, with easy access to refreshments and restrooms.

The show is great. Being in the front row at an small indoor venue is my favorite way to see a concert. But relaxing in the grass and enjoying a nice summer evening has it's own advantages.

The best surprise of the show was the cover of Elvis Costello's Watching the Detectives. O.A.R. brings a great sound this song and the show download it worth it for that alone. The rest of the song was pretty much as expected and the crowd was obviously having a great time.

Luke was disappointed by the omission of Black Rock and we were both a little surprised with Poker was played and it wasn't the finale, but you can't expect a band to play ever song in the same order every concert, so who cares.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a showing by one of our favorite local performers, Aisle Dancing Dude. Yes, we've seen him more than once at local concerts we've attended. He's always dancing up and down the aisles. You go Dude!

It was a fun summer evening with a beautiful sunset behind the stage. An enjoyable performance from a great band made it a perfect night.