How about trip to the track to start things off.
Its 6AM, in Buttonwillow. My first track day experience starts in an hour. (This story actually begins the previous day, where I made the three hour drive up past Bakersfield to stay the night before so that I could wake up early enough and be close to the track to get there in time). So yes, its 6AM, its really chilly out, but Im shivering more out of nervousness. I hadn’t got more than an hour of sleep the night before because I was so intimidated about the monumental thing I was about to do. I woke up to the sound of something loud firing up, most likely a Camaro SS. Then another, then another. The company “Speed Ventures” wants you to be at the track gates by 7AM sharp. A million things are running through my mind, mostly thinking about the checklist of items the company provides you and whether or not I brought enough…”stuff” for this thing. I made the trip happen even though it was sort of last minute, with Ryan who had previous track experience. There were other people meeting us there who I knew, and many I didn’t. After a very quick McDonalds breakfast, suddenly we are all rushing towards the track location a few miles away.
Pulling up at the track there are a series of events that happen. Once you are through the gates you find your people (if you went with a group). You check in at the designated bench. This is where you get your group wristband, timing transponder (to see how slow or fast you go) and any other information Depending on the company/track rules, you make your numbers out of duct tape, unless you are experienced, or properly prepared and have a set of neat printed out magnetic numbers. Some people are taking the time to add last minute fluids, torque lug nuts, etc. Speed Ventures requires all new drivers to attend a meeting before the first session, and after every session of the day (4-5 sessions total). The meeting before is to tell you essential rules about point by driving, what the different flags mean, where the flag stations are, and what direction the track is running, among other things, but most of it you inherently forget about the minute you leave that first meeting.
An instructor for the first two sessions was required for this event. Although this isn’t always the case, I was glad to have one with me. They pair you up with instructors that drive the closest to what ever you are driving. In my case it was an excited driver who had an E92 M3. It was neat seeing him on track with that car later.
Theres a certain whiff of competition in the air before the first session. people sussing each other out, sizing each other up. I’m still terrified at this point. There are all kinds of drivers, newbies like me, experienced track goers, and some in-between. Then theres the cocky bastards, which I’ll get to. I had just taken my car in for maintenance so I was feeling ok about my BMW M2 which at the time was less than a year old, but on crap tires. I didn’t think Id be particularly quick, but I felt safe (enough). Each Session was to be about 30 minutes so 10-15 laps. There are multiple run groups based on experience level. Each run group is scheduled to drive one after the next. This is how they efficiently keep the track occupied for the most amount of time possible. The experienced groups go on track first so that us new comers have a chance to attend that first driver meeting and have a look at the track, or maybe a last minute trip to the restroom, glad I had the chance to. Out of the multitude of sounds the cars on track were making as they zoomed by the front straight, I hear it, clear as ever… the call for the purple run group. My time had come.
I park at the grid, heart is POUNDING. I can’t look back now. the final few cars leave the track and I know shits about to get real.
Gridding is the process of organizing the run group into three rows of cars at the starting line of the pits which is parallel to the front straight of the track. Its where it all begins. A staff member directs the rows based on how they think you will perform on track (but its mostly the car you are driving and what HP they think you are working with). Im in one of the rows towards the middle with a bunch of cars around me idling loudly.
Every emotion up until this very point has been anxiety driven. Then it happens. In the mater of a couple seconds all of my fear, all of my stress is gone as the staff member points at my row to enter the track. My body and mind chose fight rather than flight, and I was quite excited it did. I instantly had an attitude of “hell ya lets do this”. The next few moments are a whirlwind and happen so fast I didn’t even realize everything that actually happened until the end of the day. On the first lap thoughts kept running through my mind, “wow I’m actually on a race track with my own car” to “wow these G-forces are incredible” to “wow my car can do that? Cars can actually, physically do this?” to “BRAKES!” “now full throttle” “Brakes again!” My instructor was pointing and shouting when to brake, when to turn, how hard to push, and the best part was when I’d pass somebody, he would point at the next car and say, “go get him.” I pushed as hard as I possibly could.
Its hard to pick a favorite part of a racetrack but if I had to, I’d pick the back end of the track where seemingly impossible things happen. Coming out of the “Grapevine” you go flat, holding it flat through “Club Corner” and go wide, a quick dab of brake then throttle again through “Bus Stop” (important to be on throttle through this turn to keep the rear of the car from being upset under the g-forces.) “Riverside” is a trip because you carry insane amounts of speed through this banked turn which isn’t as banked as you’d think, pushing through with a ton of momentum. It wasn’t until I overcooked “Phil Hill” that I realized how volatile of a corner it can truly be. I nearly lost all control here as I flew over the crest and steering got light. I kept it together but it was a pucker moment for sure. Its like the feeling you get of weightlessness on a roller coaster. I managed to keep my car on track for the rest of the day except for one time going into the “Sweeper” turn where I understeered a bit and two tires hit dirt. mental note to enter the corner slower next time.
Remember the cocky bastards I mentioned earlier? Well I met him coming out of “Sunset” onto the front straight. A loud and particularly aggressive Mustang 5.0 wanted to make quick work of my scrawny little BMW. The problem was, neither I or the scrawny BMW was having any of it. I caught him by the end of the straight and I fought to pass him the whole next lap. Coming through the “Esses” I was right up on him, and we meet at “Sunset” again. He points me by and proceeds to do exactly what they tell you not to do… hold full throttle while doing so. Im now in an all out drag race with a Muscle car in its element. About halfway down the straight I successfully pass the Mustang, him and I both in shock. The little M2 did it! A David vs Goliath moment. In the same run there were a couple hopped up Honda Civics that passed me as well. It just goes to show it doesn’t completely matter what you drive. Its how you drive it, and the level of experience you have. That being said the guy running his McLaren 675LT ( different run group, modded and oddly, extremely loud) probably had a bit of an advantage.
Throughout the day I eventually worked my way up the ranks to first in my run group. I was extremely proud of myself . The M2 took everything with ease. It rewarded every good input I made and helped cover up my sloppy mistakes (there were many). I felt like I was piloting a fighter jet with unlimited rules on speed and cornering. The car was amazing, the track was incredible, the whole experience was unbelievably liberating. Its the closest us common folk can get to motorsport. I wouldn’t trade my first track day experience for anything, it truly was one of the best days of my life.