Joined
·
2,137 Posts
After last Saturday, tracking my Lotus Elise at Buttonwillow I have some extremely positive thoughts about it. Actually, I'm elated! I was the slowest driver :huh:in the group (lap time-wise) but not slow enough to make a problem. I could keep up with the Ford GT40 and Lamborghini and passed the Ford during the second session. The lap times are fairly close, and with only 5cars on the large track (wow), only one car lapped me (a GT3 Porsche)
This is not the first time tracking (HPDE) the Elise. Usually I do this four times a year on the average. I extremely enjoy this and highly recommend this.
My Elise usually sits in the driveway, covered and safe. I'm nervous to drive it in crowded streets with poor drivers around me. I save the Lotus driving for weekends on the canyon drives nearby my home. But I keep trying to justify this large investment with little use. Sometimes I think about selling it.:sad: Until I drive to the nearby track. There is the justification! This is one of the highlights of my life!
There are a few tracking limitations for me. I don't enjoy a crowded track, with ego-inflated drivers tailing me and ready to pass. I'm NOT a racer. I'm here to learn the skills and soak the thrill of the performance of my Lotus. I seek out track sessions that limits the cars on the track. Of course this makes the experience more costly, but for me it is well worth it.
With a small group of drivers, a great part of the experience is sharing the the driving skills and advice with others. Most all there are friendly, great attitudes and have the same goals: driving!
I use a vid cam (hero) on the dash to capture the sessions. I have a small lap top computer to replay the session while I wait for the next session. This helps tremendously. Sometimes there are professional photographers that shoot spectacular still images that you can buy to save the day in pictures.
Next time I'll get a ride-along-instructor for one session. I always look forward to another day on the track.
I never take chances. I follow the rules, follow the messages in the flags and learn from the experienced drivers.
I'm there for fun, while sharpening my skills. I leave my ego at home. When my Lotus is back home in one piece and has performed flawlessly, that is my trophy!
Improving the lap-times takes patience and practice. And more practice. I admire the racers into wheel-to-wheel racing and spec drivers. Although it's exciting it's not for me for now.
Hope to see you at the track next time!:coolnana:
-Hal
This is not the first time tracking (HPDE) the Elise. Usually I do this four times a year on the average. I extremely enjoy this and highly recommend this.
My Elise usually sits in the driveway, covered and safe. I'm nervous to drive it in crowded streets with poor drivers around me. I save the Lotus driving for weekends on the canyon drives nearby my home. But I keep trying to justify this large investment with little use. Sometimes I think about selling it.:sad: Until I drive to the nearby track. There is the justification! This is one of the highlights of my life!
There are a few tracking limitations for me. I don't enjoy a crowded track, with ego-inflated drivers tailing me and ready to pass. I'm NOT a racer. I'm here to learn the skills and soak the thrill of the performance of my Lotus. I seek out track sessions that limits the cars on the track. Of course this makes the experience more costly, but for me it is well worth it.
With a small group of drivers, a great part of the experience is sharing the the driving skills and advice with others. Most all there are friendly, great attitudes and have the same goals: driving!
I use a vid cam (hero) on the dash to capture the sessions. I have a small lap top computer to replay the session while I wait for the next session. This helps tremendously. Sometimes there are professional photographers that shoot spectacular still images that you can buy to save the day in pictures.
Next time I'll get a ride-along-instructor for one session. I always look forward to another day on the track.
I never take chances. I follow the rules, follow the messages in the flags and learn from the experienced drivers.
I'm there for fun, while sharpening my skills. I leave my ego at home. When my Lotus is back home in one piece and has performed flawlessly, that is my trophy!
Improving the lap-times takes patience and practice. And more practice. I admire the racers into wheel-to-wheel racing and spec drivers. Although it's exciting it's not for me for now.
Hope to see you at the track next time!:coolnana:
-Hal