Porsche 911 Driving Techniques: Track Lessons with Dirk Dekker 🏎️💨

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Porsche 911 track driving and air-cooled handling techniques at Watkins Glen with instructor Dirk Dekker...What does it take to master an air-cooled Porsche 911 on one of America's most iconic road courses? For Dirk Dekker, a driving instructor with over 25 years of experience at Watkins Glen International, it takes patience, precision, and a lifetime of racing obsession. 🏎️🎓In this episode, we sit down with Dirk to explore his incredible automotive journey, which began not behind the wheel of a Porsche, but by rebuilding a rare 1958 Berkeley B.95 that he bought for just £15. We dive into his past life as a helicopter pilot and how those skills translate to high-performance driving education (HPDE).Dirk also shares spine-tingling stories from his time living at the Silverstone Circuit in the UK, where he rubbed shoulders with Formula 1 royalty like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, and Sir Jackie Stewart—and reveals why the "good old days" of racing were just as dangerous as they were glamorous.In this episode, you’ll hear:🏁 The Silverstone Years: What it was really like to live at a world-famous F1 track and meet legends like Jim Clark before safety was a priority.🏎️ Mastering the 911: Specific tips for driving rear-engine, air-cooled Porsches on the track and why "slow in, fast out" is a survival strategy.🚁 The Pilot Connection: How Dirk’s experience as a helicopter pilot influences his teaching style and risk management at Watkins Glen.🛠️ The £15 Race Car: The story of rescuing a basket-case 1958 Berkeley B.95 (a microcar with a motorcycle engine) and turning it into a passion project.🎓 HPDE Insights: Why everyone—from novices to pros—needs a driving instructor in the passenger seat.🎧 If you loved this episode, check out: The Intermittent Windshield Wiper Patent Battle: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17461644-windshield-wiper-invention-story-timothy-kearns-dr-robert-kearns-patent-battle-legacyWhether you're a track day junkie, a Porsche purist, or a fan of golden-era Formula 1 history, this episode is a masterclass in speed and safety.🔗 Links & Resources:Find our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carslovedCheck out our Guest Road Trip Playlist on Spotify📢 Join the Conversation: Have you ever driven on a race track like Watkins Glen? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbeforeConnect with Us: Got a great car story? Email us at [email protected]. Find all our content and social links here: linktr.ee/carsloved.Podcast News:Our co-host, Doug was a guest on the Driven Radio Show Podcast to share the origin story of our podcast and connecting with his late father through his DeLorean project.Check out the amazing article about the podcast by Elevate Society and Tal Gur, author of "The Art of Fully Living"Feedspot selected To All The Cars I've Loved Before in their list of Top 100 Car Podcasts and 31 Best Road Trip Podcasts For Your DriveOur co-host, Doug was featured in this magazine article along with his DeLore...