Just Been Round Laguna Seca
Discussion
Hi Guys
I am currently on the Carmel stage of my honeymoon and decided a trip out to Laguna Seca was in order.
Wow! What an amazing place! Many more undulations than the Gran Turismo version.
We arrived to see they were hosting a 24 hour mountain bike race around the perimeter of the circuit. I drove down to the pit lane area to gave a look around. There is a Skip Barber racing school there, so I popped in and asked if there was anyway I could get a passenger ride. To my surprise the lady said that if I went down on the pit lane and looked sad enough one of the instructors might take me round.
So I walked through the Skip Barber garage where they had loads of Porsches, Elises and a tasty JPS Esprit and loitered around the pits. I asked one of the instructors if he could take me round and he said sure.
He took me round for 2 laps in a Mazda 3 absolutely nailing it. It was a weird sensation going around the track for real after I had done it so many times on Gran Turismo. Even although the car wasn't very powerful, Robbie the instructor carried lots of momentum around corners- and nothing can prepare you for the Corkscrew! The change on g forces is so dramatic - at one point you feel as though you are about to be thrown through the windscreen.
It was an excellent surprise, and many thanks to the Skip Barber school and Robbie for taking me round (for free!).
As an aside, Hertz offered me the Corvette HR-Z but our bloody luggage didn't fit in! So we have an Infiniti FX35 which is a mini SUV based on the 350z chassis with the 303 bhp V6 and a 7 speed flappy paddle auto which blips on down shifts. It is a hoot to drive.
Better log off before I get an early divorce : ). Pics will follow.
I am currently on the Carmel stage of my honeymoon and decided a trip out to Laguna Seca was in order.
Wow! What an amazing place! Many more undulations than the Gran Turismo version.
We arrived to see they were hosting a 24 hour mountain bike race around the perimeter of the circuit. I drove down to the pit lane area to gave a look around. There is a Skip Barber racing school there, so I popped in and asked if there was anyway I could get a passenger ride. To my surprise the lady said that if I went down on the pit lane and looked sad enough one of the instructors might take me round.
So I walked through the Skip Barber garage where they had loads of Porsches, Elises and a tasty JPS Esprit and loitered around the pits. I asked one of the instructors if he could take me round and he said sure.
He took me round for 2 laps in a Mazda 3 absolutely nailing it. It was a weird sensation going around the track for real after I had done it so many times on Gran Turismo. Even although the car wasn't very powerful, Robbie the instructor carried lots of momentum around corners- and nothing can prepare you for the Corkscrew! The change on g forces is so dramatic - at one point you feel as though you are about to be thrown through the windscreen.
It was an excellent surprise, and many thanks to the Skip Barber school and Robbie for taking me round (for free!).
As an aside, Hertz offered me the Corvette HR-Z but our bloody luggage didn't fit in! So we have an Infiniti FX35 which is a mini SUV based on the 350z chassis with the 303 bhp V6 and a 7 speed flappy paddle auto which blips on down shifts. It is a hoot to drive.
Better log off before I get an early divorce : ). Pics will follow.
Cheers Guys.
I will get the pics up when we get home.
I totally recommend a visit to the circuit if you are in the area. There is a great informal and friendly atmosphere at the circuit, and the Skip Barber guys were only too willing to let me look around and get a passenger ride.
I will get the pics up when we get home.
I totally recommend a visit to the circuit if you are in the area. There is a great informal and friendly atmosphere at the circuit, and the Skip Barber guys were only too willing to let me look around and get a passenger ride.
Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Sunday 7th June 14:29
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