Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!!

[yamanatic]

Are you tired of watching your rear-view mirror every time you "blow out the carbon" in your favorite ride? Well, here is your chance to let the Stallion unwind without fear. This weekend (May 7th & 8th), the N.A.S.A. Sports & Racing club is having a track event at Phoenix International Raceway. There are a lot of drivers just like you and me who do not want to go out and play racetrack bumper-car with the big boys, but truly appreciate a "No Speed Limit" day with lots of corners and long straightaways for the weekend drive. NASA has a program called HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) that is held at every event so we can take our pride and joy out on the race track without fear of the law, photo radar, or the 4 wheeled battering rams found on the streets of Phoenix. To get started, there is a Performance Driving School that gives you comprehensive classroom instruction and four 20 minute track sessions (a full hour + 20 at speed) with a certified instructor to learn the finer points of performance driving. The cost is much less than a single speeding ticket, and a whole hell of a lot more fun! The track is clean, clear, well marked, and everyone is going the same direction.

The HPDE program sees quite a few exotic and special interest cars, and the biggest rule is "stay clear of other drivers, and no crashing". Safe courteous passing is only allowed on the main straightaway between NASCAR 4 and the entry to the infield track, and there is a full safety and flag crew to keep everyone informed of track conditions at all times. Some of the cars found in the Driver's School and HPDE are much like what you see at sportscar shows and rallies; McLarens (OK, just one so far, but it was a 2004 F1), Ferrari's, Lotus', Maserati's, numerous late model Porsches and Corvettes, and the like. This is a much safer and very well controlled platform to enjoy your car, and to learn real world tactics to keep out of trouble - especially on the street.

This is not intended to be an advertizement for NASA, but to let other enthusiasts know about some of the options that are available to drivers with cars worthy of a controlled course. You can bring your "other" car if you would rather, or just come out for the drive and see what you are missing! Track admission is free, parking is abundant and secure, and BS sessions abound. Check the following link for more information: http://www.nasaarizona.com/
I will have the "Black Bomber" there on Sunday for sure (possibly Saturday too, but I have a relocation Real Estate client scheduled), and hope to see you in MY rear view mirror ;-O

Cheers,
Warren P. Warner

[Ingenere]

Thanks for the heads up. I love track events but I swear..........every weekend this year that there was an event.......I was out of town. This weekend is no exception...Palm Springs for a wedding......yuck!

Have fun....

[yamanatic]

Hi Dino,

Thanks for the follow-up. The next event is on May 21st & 22nd, so there may be hope yet. I will definitely be there, and this time try for both days. You probably know of what I speak in the following description, and is intended mostly for those unfimiliar with track days.

Last weekend at PIR was great; no less than TWO Ferrari's graced the High Bank for a spirited romp around the track (Enzo would have been Proud!) I was not present on Saturday so did not get to meet the other Ferrari affectionado, but I want him to know that I was there Sunday enjoying the Stallion. Having been a Motorcycle GP racer and fowl weather rider for an excessive number of years, and a car fiend of similar intensity, I infrequently experience a sort of "dance" when the Racer's High kicks in; my carbed 308 is a formidable and worthy partner. When the top comes off and the helmet goes on, little else matters.

Pulling onto the track is the beginning of the transition from Man (or Woman) Vs. Machine, to Man (see above) & Machine. At first the Ferrari is cumbersome and twitchy; the weight is apparent. The initial journey through the infield is mostly a wrestling match until you get through the carousel and onto the short straight before turn 9; then the old girl gathers her skirts and everything starts to lighten up. A couple heel-toe shifts & firm braking gets you solid in the middle of 2nd for the sharp left at turn 9, then down the back straight and through the gears into NASCAR 3/4. My particular partner likes to go fast, and handles much better (depending on who is in control) when driven agressively. The ride down the long front straight is most enjoyable, and it hardly seems like 3 figure motivation.

Turn 1 is a sweeping left down the banking onto the infield portion of the track with a variety of possible lines into a tight 'S'. The following turns 4 & 5 are quite fun with rumble strips to play on, and then a tabletop right (the carousel has both tarmac and cement), and you can squeal your tires all you want before getting full on the gas for the short straight coming out of 7 & 8. By now the tires are just starting to work well, and with any luck you get to lead the lady through 9 and out onto the main track. Pulling hard on the wheel through NASCAR 3/4 gives way to the sensation and sound of a few too many Webers feeding the Stallion. A quick tap of the brake to load up the front end, and you both drop into the infield again; the tires are working, and the dance begins...

You realise that oddly enough, everything has transitioned into slow motion (it is best experienced - the description is lacking). At this point it is You & Machine; the attachment is complete. The trick is to know when to lead, and when to follow. Every Ferrari has it's own personality and it takes some time at the limit to appreciate the unique feel of communication. When it is right, each turn becomes more and more effortless, and the car seems to 'fly' along it's own line. Just be sure to listen carefully.

On lap 3 just as the 308 seemed to start working with me, she decided to give me a slap on the wrist. Just as we started to apex turn 9, she swayed her hips into a gradual but sudden slide; the attempt to correct started an increasing understeer that ended in a full 180. Strangely, it was in no way frightening; the Ferrari must be the only car on earth that can inspire confidence when completely out of control. This was the second track-survey experienced in the Stallion, and identical to the first in occurance and sensation. I just released in the clutch, selected neutral, applied the brakes to keep the skid in a straight line, and waited to stop before checking traffic and sprinting back onto the high-bank. After that, we got along famously with no further arguements (well maybe a few, but they were slight).

Time for a confession here: my regular track car is a Mazda Miata. It handles like a slot-car and can hold off most anything in the twisties, but it does not have the 'personality' of the Ferrari. You drive the Miata, you pilot the Ferrari. Another thing is you don't have to beat a Ferrari to make it go fast; they like to go fast, and with plenty to spare. It is what they were made for, and do a very nice job (except when the carbs burble in hard turns, but it worth it).

Cheers,
Warren