Track Event #1 (May 16, 2008) at the
California Speedway (which was recently renamed as "Auto Club Speedway") was an awesome experience!!!
Speed Ventures did a wonderful job organizing the event. The event was a joint-event with
Porsche Owners Club (POC) so our sessions ran between their events. We were given five 20-minute sessions for the day.
I have been to several different types of events at the California Speedway, but finally getting on its famous "ROVAL" (road/oval) course was very exiting.
When I arrived, it was a beautiful morning but it was already starting to get warm. The news was forecasting 100+ degrees (F) of weather, and I knew it will be one hot day. I was looking forward to putting on my new track suit (matching color as my laser-blue Elise), but there was no way I could wear the suit.
There were several hyper-performance cars, including Ferrari 599GTB (Lubomir Visnovsky of LA Kings), 550 Maranello, Noble M400, and several BMW M5s, M6s, Porsche Turbos, GT2s, and Corvette Z06s... I knew it will be a tough challenge for the Lotus on the fast part of the track...
After the driver meetings (with POC and Speed Ventures), I met my instructor William Chen. Since it was my first track day, I wanted to get an instructor who can help me to learn the lines and also help to me to come back in one piece. He asked me about my previous track experiences, and conversation pretty much went like this...
William:
"... so is this your first time on California Speeway ROVAL?"
Me:
"Yes, I've been on a parade lap once before in a Ferrari, but first time tracknig a car on the ROVAL course"
W:
"What other track events have you been on?"
M:
"Well... I've tried a couple of auto-cross events, but never on a track"
W:
...
M:
"...but I'm looking forward to it."
W:
...
M:
"Is this a hard course...?"
W: "
You know... 
This event was only for the experienced drivers only..."
M:
"OH..." 
Well, he was definetely concerned, and that got me a bit nervous.
Soon later, it was our time to get on the track. Waiting in the pit lane was an experience on its own. Woah... the butterflies in the stomach...
We went out and had a wonderful time. Generally, most people used the point-by-passing rule well. One of the Subarus that was somewhat misbehaving blew its motor and retired.
The first session was fun, and William (my instructor) told me that I did very well considering it was my first time. The car ran good, the tires were doing good and I was having a blast!
During the second session, I began to push the car a bit harder and harder. Now I could see the race lines and the true handling capabilites of the Lotus. The car really stuck to the ground well and the tires were providing a wonderful grip. I started to push the harder and harder, and finally...
I spun the car at a tight turn. I felt the car drifting a couple of times in that tight corner before, but this time, I couldn't save it... That was actually a great experience, because now I knew where the limit point is, and how the car feels before losing control.
The rest of the day was really fun. The spin during the second session helped me to learn better car control, and during the third session, when something similar happend, I could control the car.
[Here's a video of Jason in a Dodge race car chasing, then passing my Lotus...]
It was an awesome experience, met many wonderful people and had a GREAT time! I can't wait to the next track event!!!
My game plan is, participate in a few more track events with instructors (having an instructor was extremely helpful), and learn this right. Once I learn how to track well, I'll have to joined you guys in the
Lotus Challenge series!!!
