Lapping Rocks! July 1
Yesterday evening marked my first ever track outing and believe me when I say “I’m hooked!!” The two-hour session took place on Shannonville’s Fabi layout, which had a decent straight and some nice tricky turns. As a first-timer, I rode shotgun for a few laps with an experienced driver who then rode with me on my first outing to make sure I wasn’t going to be a hazard to myself or others (thanks, Don!).
The layout had some really neat double-apex turns, which could be taken on a variety of lines. Turn 2 was the toughest to figure out. It had a huge, wide entry, which made it hard to pick-up reference points and see where to turn in. You could apex early and go wide on exit to create a swooping line into the next full-throttle left hander, or apex later and have a straighter acceleration path to that left-hander. I executed neither option cleanly, except for maybe once, but it was a blast trying. Speaking of blasts, I had the most fun in turn 1. Braking from anywhere between 140 and 150 kph and then going through the fast right-hander was a rush, particularly when you discover you’re going a wee bit too fast. Don’t worry, all four wheels where on pavement through the fast turns, though condor888000 still thought I was going too fast.
While the session was event-free, I did drop a couple of wheels in the slower corners when I let my attention for only a blink of the eye, reinforcing the importance of 100% concentration. That concentration was the best part: Once you get a rhythm going, your mind clears and you just keep getting quicker — kind of like skiing on one’s personal ragged edge.
Ginger handled herself with aplomb, and for the first time, her turbo showed its worth by allowing me to inhale the other two Miatae in the acceleration zones. Following Don and Kevin taught me the line, and by the end of the session, Ginger’s power was allowing me to turn faster laps. I’m not kidding myself though, as the minute that either Don or Kevin let me by, I would botch it up, as I wouldn’t then have them to show me the braking and turn-in points. Don also helped me figure out the knocking noise from Ginger’s front end — anti-roll bar hitting upper control arm — a diagnosis I confirmed this morning (see pics below) while bleeding Ginger’s brakes, checking the pads, and rotating the tires.
Thanks to David who organized the outing, James for hooking me up, pedwar and Tracey for coming out and flagging, Don and Kevin for the tutoring, condor888000 and Phil for driving home together, and everyone else who came out for the camaraderie. Lastly, for the guy in the ailing SiR: Hang in there, dude, I feel your pain.
Almost forgot: Division Street & 401 in Kingston, to the track, the track session, and the drive back to Division Street & 401 consumed over 33L of 94 octane fuel!!!