Over two years have passed since my last race in 944 Spec. While I moved on for numerous reasons, the primary catalyst was the shrinking field. More often than not, I would find myself in fields of one or two other drivers, making the races feel like overpriced HPDE events.
That is why, like several others, I moved on to other series. I tried out Spec Miata (SM) for a season but had difficulty justifying the cost of a front-running build—think 30 to 40k. So, I moved the $5000 SM to Super Touring 6, where I built a competitive package on a minimal budget. I have always enjoyed building a car that punches outside of its class.
944 Spec Returns
But then, something unexpected began happening this year. Thanks to the diligent work of Shawn Taylor, the NASA Mid South regional director, and a few new entries from the Great Lakes and Southeast, 944 Spec is returning. Two to three racers per event have quickly become six to eight. And that number is looking to grow to a consistent ten-plus next year. This renewed growth will again make 944 Spec one of the largest race groups in the National Auto Sport Association.
The #901 Racecar
I have enjoyed my time in super touring, but just like in years past, this season, I have been racing in a field of one in ST6 more often than not. So I say, ‘If the gang is getting back together, I don’t want to miss the party.’ It is time to resurrect the #901 944 Spec.
This was no easy task. Because of a career change, a move, and dabbling in other series, the 944 Spec I campaigned for 5 seasons, 4 of which yielded championships, has sat in the woods for two and a half years, although I was kind enough to cover it.
To compound the matter and mention it yet another time, I have limited workspace. To get the #901 944 Spec ready for the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park, I need to work on it outdoors. It is not the end of the world, but it is also not the ideal way to replace a head gasket, repair the suspension, and inspect all miscellaneous systems that need attention. However, I put my head down and got it done.
Pink Isn’t Just for the Ladies
After the head gasket change and satisfactory engine compression numbers, there was no way I would reintroduce the #901 looking like this. I painted the car pink years ago because I wanted it to stand out. Red and yellow are dull, so eight cans of matte hot pink later, and the racecar is once again either the prettiest or ugliest 944 Spec you will ever see. YMMV.
Of course, I had to paint the car while it was on jack stands and the trailer, all while battling the elements. After two weeks of no rain, it showed up at paint time but we still got it done.
Racing the 944 Spec Again
There is more to the story. I put a lot of effort into the car to prep it for the race weekend. However, some things could not be done in the woods on jack stands—namely, the alignment. I got to work again when I arrived at Barber Motorsports Park Friday night. With my alignment kit in tow, I spent around two hours reviewing the entire suspension. Surprisingly, the corner balance was still very good at 50.15%, and the camber was not too far off, although not ideal.
This is why I was a bit surprised when qualifying and race one came around Saturday, and the car did not want to turn left. I suspect the thrust angle is off, and I could not test for that at the track. Regardless, I was able to work around the issue and podium the car in all three races, finishing third in race one, third in race two, and first in race three.
Although all three races were close, race two was the highlight for all racers. We had a four-way battle for first throughout the entire race. With all four drivers clocking laps within tenths of each other. Mixing it up like this again is precisely what I have been missing.
Race 1
Race one occurs in mixed conditions, with the track surface initially wet. As a result, we feel out the grip level throughout the race. Eventually, a dry line develops, and lap times drop significantly. I would take third in this race, finishing 1/10 of a second behind p2. Not bad for my first time back in the fray.
Race 2
Race two was the show, so to speak, with an intense four-way battle throughout. I also inhaled a bug mid-race, which caused me to gag and lose position at one point. It was nothing I didn’t recover from, but it was unexpected. In the end, the top four finished within 1 second of each other, making for an incredibly close finish.
Race 3
Two minutes before race three, it started to rain while we were sitting on the grid, making race three a rain race on slicks. I was able to take a commanding lead at the start and continue to extend it throughout the race, finishing out the season with a first-place result.
Final Impressions
I am super excited to rejoin a growing field with close competition. However, the #901 944 Spec feels tired. Although I ran toward the front this weekend, I compromised my lines around the left-hand turn resistance. Once I address this issue and a few others, I will feel significantly more confident in the car. But as I am optimizing, so too is the competition. This means victory in 944 Spec during the 2025 season will be hard-fought. And that is precisely what we all want … I can’t wait!
