OK, so now for the juicy details.....we have had the car on track
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So I skipped a whole bunch of details leading up to the weekend and I really wish I would have taken ALOT more pics of the build but it has been many many late nights just trying to get wiring harnesses rebuilt and run properly and running the tubing for the turbo, intercooler and everything else that makes a car run that didn't for some time.
So I want to share a story and give thanks where they are due. So this begins that on Friday March 5th, I felt strong enough that we would have the car ready that I registered for a track event at Road Atlanta. Chris T. at APR had fielded countless phone calls from me discussing the plumbing and emailing me wiring diagrams to replace/rework connectors that had not been used in the previous configuration. Considering that I was trying to go back to a somewhat stock using the Stage 3 kit which is based on the TT, I had to find some sensors that the ECU programming was looking for. I worked the whole weekend on getting the connectors run and ordered, returned and re-ordered from Brad out our local Audi dealership. These two guys put up with all my calls and even emailed and faxed over schematics and images. Thanks guys!!
So by Wednesday, we had the car coming together but it still was not running 100%. Figured I coudl either work on it at the shop or at the track but one way or the other, we were going to Road Atlanta! So we worked on getting the seat and steering wheel right, running the battery wires, cleaning up the wiring under the dash and generally getting things cleaned up and fastened down. The plan was to load the car on Thursday, drive to Braselton, GA (Town near Road Atlanta) and sleep there that night and get up early to go to APR in Alabama to have them check over the car.
I had also ordered a trailer but unfortunately, it had not shown up so I borrowed one from our local Porsche club prez, thanks Harvey! I went to get it Thursday night, and by 9pm, we finally loaded the car on a trailer. By this time, it started raining so we had to fashion some "windows" out of cardboard and trash bags. Don’t laugh, it worked.
We rolled into the hotel in GA at 2am Friday morning, set the alarm for 7am and crashed. Next morning, we got up and rolled out to APR. We arrived there at 9am their time and unloaded the S3. It was funny to see the mixed responses we got from the guys at APR. Since the car was sitting in a corner for so many years, only a handful had ever seen it run. The newer guys were checking it out and the guys started helping me get it running 100%.
We spent the day at the APR kicking around with the guys looking at new projects, grabbing lunch and talking about the S3. Since they all had things to do I tried figuring some things out but didn't get very far. Keith L. took care of us along with Johnny P. At closing time, Paul started helping get the S3 sorted. We tried a number of things and got the car running strong but then had issues with the transmission going into gear. And then the clutch creep started happening. Paul tried a few things but around midnight, resorted to the fact that the clutch slave may be bad and said the transmission had to come out. Without hesitation, Paul starts pulling it! He enlisted the help of Chaz and those two got to work. I took off to the store with Johnny P. for red bulls and Juenglings. Paul and Chaz went at it rocking out to Cake "Going the distance" while we stood around and offered moral support and wise cracks. Keith L and Chris G stuck it out with us and we all motored on.
By 4 am, the guys had the transmission back in and I took off in the car for a test run. PERFECT! Running strong and staying in gear. We buttoned everything up and loaded the car. I had a set of TT street wheels and tires and a set of old ass slicks on another set of wheels. The guys wouldn't let me go without rustling up a set of obsolete Hoosiers from last year’s race series. Rolling!
We set out for Road Atlanta at 5:30am and rolled through downtown Atlanta at sunrise. We arrived at Road Atlanta just in time for the first session, 24 hours after we had left Road Atlanta area.
So in warm-ups the car started overheating and rather than tear it up, we pitted and worked to try and get it resolved. We were checking sensors and piping to make sure it all worked. We limped around some sessions and by 10pm that night, after trying so many things, even staring at the car intensely, we called it a night. I left the track for the hotel room and the car was still not circulating water. A 40-hour workday was enough! I set the alarm for 6am and called it a night.
The next day, the alarm went off and little did we know but the time had changed. Shit! Drivers meeting was at 7:30 and instead of 6am, it was 7am. Hustled to the track and got there right in time for the first morning session. Jumped in the car and figured I would go out and turn some laps and get used to the car. To my surprise, the temp stayed at 180 the whole session. No more overheating! So in the next session, turned up the volume a bit. So much so that while overtaking offline in the wet, I had to brake late and the car started coming around. The S3 drives/brakes totally different from my previous S4 (haldex vs. Torsen I guess). I drifted it back straight but had no chance at the corner so I went off the track at one. I thought to myself, "after all this, this is how the weekend would end!?!?!" Drove it back on track and pitted to check everything. All signs are go and ran the next session changing onto slicks. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a "shake-down" weekend.
By the end of the day, the car was still running perfectly so a friend of mine loaned me a helmet cam from his motorcycle. We mounted (duct-taped) it to the side of my helmet but its only one way up so we had to flip it upside down. Nonetheless, we got some video of the last session. I jumped in with my brother in laws run group and we got to run around the track together. We had been talking about running together for months and it finally happened.
It was a perfect ending to an EPIC weekend.
This would not have been possible if it were not for the help of the guys at APR, the guys at GMP, my friends and family. I know it sounds cliché but it is truly a great big team effort and I am fortunate to know some very awesome people.
I cannot wait to see the progress of this build and the eventual results out on the track! 
Originally Posted by Anthony
it should be interesting. We have a few obstacles to tackle.
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