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!!!

I just wish I had been there to see the reactions.

We stopped there however as I still need to pick up the mounting hardware from the bar’s previous owner — hopefully, we’ll get that done this week. In the meantime, I need to pick up a 3/4″ hole saw to reroute the ABS wiring, and make a new 1/4″ hole for the evap system vent. While at the store, I’ll also be picking up some rust inhibitor spray to protect the new holes that I’ll be punching into the MSM.

I hope to complete the work within a week or two at most.

In a recent RANT, Rick asked how someone intelligent enough to have a job that allows him to afford a $59,000 car can’t be smart enough to admit he needs snow tires when his car is wrapped around a telephone pole (a question for the ages). Seeing the RANT, an MCO member contacted the show and invited Rick to one of the MCO’s now famous, Winter Driving Schools.

Not only did Rick and crew come, but they did some drills and even had a fun race around the snowcross track. Of course, Rick got the all-wheel drive, snow-tired car while his adversary drove the Toyota Corolla rental that  Rick had earlier driven into a snow bank.

It was a blast, with a great spectator turn-out, and great weather (cold and sunny). We even had some of the OMC crowd mingling with MCOers — amazing how many autocrossers are also snowcrossers.

Some pics for your enjoyment…

PS – Rick doesn’t know how to work a clutch and manual gearbox.