HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,788
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From: USA
HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca
A couple of years ago I did a whole bunch of work on my crx then after autocrossing for awhile I got to do my very first HPDE at Laguna Seca. I had dreamt of driving on this track since I was a little boy.
Anyway, I dabble in writing so after the event I wrote a story about and I posted it in the Kills forum to which it got good reviews. Being that most of us don't visit the Kills forum I thought I'd cross-post it. Since it is the "slow" season for the Road Racing/Autocross crew I thought I'd provide some good reading material:
Warning: This is a 4 page story in MS Word so sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee. If it sucks I'm sorry I won't ever do it again!
Anyway, I dabble in writing so after the event I wrote a story about and I posted it in the Kills forum to which it got good reviews. Being that most of us don't visit the Kills forum I thought I'd cross-post it. Since it is the "slow" season for the Road Racing/Autocross crew I thought I'd provide some good reading material:
Warning: This is a 4 page story in MS Word so sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee. If it sucks I'm sorry I won't ever do it again!
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,788
Likes: 0
From: USA
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (rice_classic)
The last half is the best half but it is WORTH IT to read the WHOLE THING!
.
.
.
.
.
My First Seca
This story begins with family, friends, and one little Honda CRX.
I sat back in front of a 21” computer screen checking e-mails and researching future avenues of racing adventures. At the time I was an avid auto crosser but I would come home on Sunday evening, after doing 2 hours of course-work and a total of four and half minutes of racing, feeling unfulfilled. Auto crossing was great fun at first, and is still a great enjoyment, but the briefness of it always left my racing appetite just dripping with salivation. I needed more than just the weekend appetizer…. I needed, craved, the full course meal. That’s when I found it. There, right in front of my eyes, was the invitation of a lifetime. An outfit was offering a lapping day at Laguna Seca Raceway in sunny Monterey California. A lapping day, for those uninformed, is where you are allowed to run your own car around a race track. For 275$ I was allowed a chance to spend a whole day testing every limit of my car on one of the most famous and technical tracks on U.S. soil. I had just over 2 months to plan.
I called my father and told him about the opportunity that awaited me as well as all of my friends. I requested the time off work and started researching. Thus, Pandora’s Box was opened. My 1988 CRX Si already had a barrage of modifications done to it and was outfitted with more Acura Integra parts than CRX parts so I realized there was little that needed to be done. All I need to do to make it “open lapping” ready was: change in synthetic oil, install an oil temperature gauge, and upgrade the front braking system. I had previously upgraded from drums to disks in the rear of the car, so I invested in upgrading the front brakes. I contacted the outfit known as “FastBrakes Enterprises”. I told them what I was doing and they listened to every questions and concern and then presented me with the perfect solution. Thanks to their help I was able to affordably upgrade the front rotors from 9.5 inches to 11 inches and make use of the Acura Integra calipers. I contacted Carbotech for the race pads and was treated just as well there as I was at FastBrakes. Once all the parts had arrived I spent the next couple days pulling out my hair trying to make them work right. To offer up any advice to the reader considering the same thing; I just want to add, make sure you don’t install your pads backwards! After taking the calipers off for the third time and bleeding the brakes for the fourth time I finally struck gold. I had achieved a firm pedal and increased stopping ability. I began to clean up my tools and myself so I could get packing for the trip the next day. It wasn’t just a trip but a great adventure.
I didn’t venture alone, however. My lifelong friend, Casey, who was my roommate at the time, offered to join me and drive his car as well so that I would be able to take all my tools along with my other set of wheels that had my track tires on them. In fact, I must be so bold as to say that I couldn’t have done this trip without him. The trip destination was 932 miles according to internet. We were traveling from Seattle, Washington to Fresno, California to meet up with my parents at my grandpa’s house. Every time I travel to or through Fresno I become extremely grateful and thankful that I am fortunate enough to live somewhere else. Anyway, we arrived and gave many hugs to the family that are seen all too rarely and spend the rest of the night catching up on the times. The next day we changed the oil, put on the race pads, advanced the timing, and bled the brakes one last time. I think my dad enjoys working on my car more than I do. When he “helps” me do something I always find myself watching. At that point it was O.K. with me. Watching someone else scrape their knuckles and bleed on the car in the name of high rev’s and high speeds is more fun to watch than do, in my opinion. After the work was completed and the car once again sat on it’s own four legs, or wheels, we spent the rest of the evening playing cards, arm wrestling with Grandpa and trying to think about anything other than the following days. The next morning we are all packed and head off to one final breakfast with the whole family, drinking our coffee and orange juice. As my Grandpa never let me forget, “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” We filled gas and headed out for Monterey to fetch the hotel room. At this point I was VERY frustrated with California because I found myself filling up with Premium which was only 91 octane. What respectable race car uses 91 octane?!
We end up staying at a Motel 6 on Reservation Road a couple miles from the track the night before the event. As the sun set into the California coast I decided to switch out wheels so I would be ready to go for the next day. The tires I used for the track were Falken Azenis, which were DOT legal so I bolted them to the car, filled gas, and ran it through the carwash. No self-respecting racer would head out to the track with a dirty car. I prepared myself for bed and surprisingly, I slept like a baby but Casey stayed up and worried for me, how nice.
My phone alarm just about stops my heart at 6:30 am as the beeping grows louder and louder. It’s a sunless morning in Monterey as Casey and I moved all the loose items from my car to his and prepared to head off to the track, we noticed that even Monterey California can feel like a meat locker in February. We stopped at a gas station, on Reservation Road, to buy some junk food to help get me through the day. We arrived at the track around 7:20 a.m. I handed Mr. Hunpin, the organizer of this event, my technical inspection sheet, I registered, and then checked in. I couldn’t believe that I was on the other side of the track, surrounded by racing fuel, ball bearing turbos, and “R” compounds. I was giddy to say the least. I looked around to find BMW M3’s, Audi TT’s, an NSX, and several Porsche’s, including one with a license plate that read, “RUFian”, how clever. I saw another CRX there and couldn’t believe my eyes. His car had the same setup but a couple steps further. He had a b16a1 engine swap with a fairly large turbo attached. He said his CRX produced in the neighborhood of 250 ft/lbs of torque. Turns out he was an instructor so of course, being the opportunistic man that I am, ask him to be my instructor. He rode with me for my first and second sessions and I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor because he was driving with the same chassis and same tire compound, Falken Azenis.
I had my front tire PSI at 31 and rear at 29 cold, my gloves were on, my helmet strapped tight, and my gut a good 12 inches up into my throat, I was ready for my first lap at Laguna Seca. The flagman waved me by and I was off.
I was only driving at 5/10th’s for the first lap to warm the tires up as well as listen to what Chris, (instructor), had to say and also I took that time to memorize the corners, apexes and braking points. I got around to the corkscrew and as I breached the top of the hill and made my left hand turn. I didn’t turn hard enough and came down the corkscrew on top of the shark teeth, (or rumble strips). Since nothing bad ensued from this I wasn’t rattled at the least so I stepped it up to 6/10th’s. After the second lap I approached turn 11, the last hairpin before the straightway and start/finish line. What rattled my bones was the BMW in front of me had a greater feel for his braking capabilities than I. Heading into the hairpin all the cars were on their brakes heavy, as was I. Being this the first time on my new brake setup I was a bit ignorant on exactly how they were to work and ended up pulling out to the side of the 2001 328i to keep from leaving bent metal and red paint all over the back of his car. Because of this I made one more lap and entered the pits. At this point I was unaware that the “race only” pads I had chosen don’t work to the best of their capability until they are hot! Oh well, I had another 80 minutes of track time ahead of me not to mention my own personal support group.
My break was over and it was time to “grid-up” once more, this time without an instructor but I still had a passenger. As I was in grid there was a cute Asian girl who asked if she could ride along for that session. Who was I to argue? I did one solid lap at 5/10th’s to warm up the oil, brakes and tires. I made it a point during this “slower” lap to practice perfect technique and use all the brake points, use all the apex and cornering cones and use the racing line to the fullest, which included the rumble strips. I started by feeling things out, like steering too hard in the “Andretti Hairpin” to test the grip of my tires and cutting over the shark teeth to feel my suspension. My heart began to race as I stepped up the pace, 6/10th’s then 7 then 8. I had my fingers wrapped around precision and rigidity, and 9000 rpm’s under my toes. Turn after turn I said the same thing to myself, “I can go through there much faster,” and did exactly that every lap. My lap times dropped consistently from 2:15 to 2:13 down to 2:03. The braking distances became shorter, my right foot became heavier and instead of hugging the turns I groped them. I watched the corner workers as they waved the “passing” flag at another BMW informing him that I was coming by. My passenger was thoroughly enjoying herself or scared for her life, either way, she kept quiet which aided my concentration.
Out of turn 11, I shifted just under 9,000 rpms again and again as I left drivers right to drivers left and back to the right so that I could graciously pursued my speedometer to fall back down to double digits. Fourth to third and third to second, I mashed the brake pedal with the ball of my foot and massaged the gas pedal with my heel. Lap after lap I began to challenge the corkscrew as if it had offended my mother. I glided through turn 6 in third gear at 7,000 rpm and headed up to 9,000 as I played with fourth up the hill to turns 8 and 8a. The excitement of driving up a hill into the unknown at full throttle made me feel like I was running from the law. I never looked back for the sirens but ran as if they were there as I brought it from fourth to second in rapid succession only to turn left and fall back to the right cleaning the tartar off the shark’s teeth. The adrenaline in both of us finally worked its way up as we both vocalized our excitement in freefall, midway through the corkscrew. I pitted after one cool-down lap and received some compliments on the few skills I had at this stage in my development, mainly heel-toe.
“How do you do that? You downshifted while braking and everything was very smooth? How many times have you done this before?”
These were the questions I heard after I entered the pits and nobody seemed to believe me when I told them this was my first HPDE, (High Performance Driving Education). My passenger got out and headed off to join someone else for another session, which was no surprise as I made a fool of myself by actually using the term “Asian Persuasion” in her presence while trying to be suave. Casey was mortified for me as his face was in his palms. Clearly any talent I had was strictly behind the wheel. It was time for lunch and a good time to let the car, and myself, cool off a bit.
Friends, family and I all enjoyed a good lunch break and during it, Casey and I took the opportunity to go check out some of the other cars. There was a nice Audi TT that looked fast. There were a few M3’s and M5’s but the ones I had the most fun looking at were the Acura NSX and the “Rufian”. The NSX was enjoying the day using Bridgestone Potenza Se-03’s, which perform similar to the Falken Azenis. I also took the time to go and check out the garages and cars that are used for the Skip Barber School of Racing. My feet are wet from this experience but I think the racing school is what I need to learn how to swim.
Loud and clear I heard, “Green group please grid up in 5 minutes.” I grabbed my helmet and started the car. I sat in the front of the grid with just myself and waived to my parents as I prepared for a run all by my lonesome. These last 2 sessions were the best time I ever spent with my car, so far. You can really let yourself open up on the track when you don’t have to worry about the life of a passenger. It was just my car and me, the car that I built. I did my warm-up lap at 6/10th’s and when I came around turn 11 and headed for the start/finish I stepped up the tempo once more. Down the straight away at 9,000 rpm, then again and again from 40 to 60 to 90 to 100+mph, then on the brakes hard. I approached the corner cones with such fervor, I’m sure they would have been terrified if able. I was on the gas earlier than ever before, as I left the turns, and I was no longer using the rumble strips for technique but because I had to. The car felt neutral for the most part but with a 20% understeer, which was understandable considering it’s front wheel drive. Every turn I went through and every shift I completed I recognized what I could do better, where I could go faster, and I did. The last session I truly capitalized on this, braking at the latest I could without locking up the tires and leaving rubber on every set of rumble strips. I leapt from 7/10th’s to 8 until I driving at 9.5/10th’s. I found myself, on every lap, heading up to turn 6 with such momentum that I would turn in my wheels just a bit before I should because I knew the car would push itself through on the perfect line. I was shifting to fourth earlier, heading up the corkscrew and not getting on the brakes until after I was on top of the ridge, just like in Gran Turismo 3. Every time I dropped through turn 8a at full throttle I was relieved of all my sins. My times dropped once more from 2:03 to 2:00 down to my best of 1:57. Once, during every one of my 9 laps that session, I was reborn. I came around turn 9 at full throttle pushing the car to the very edge the track. My focus was tuned to the tires and suspension but I still felt my heart scratching at my ribs. Soon, all I heard were rpm’s, tires, and my own symphony of cardiac drums and breathing rhythms. I ran my last cool-down lap for the day and thought to myself, “If Thoreau had done something like this, his life’s work might have been significantly different.” Perhaps his definition of ‘living deliberately’ might have involved a racetrack.
In the pit area, at the end of the day, I put my a/c belt back on, packed up the car and said goodbye to the family. Casey and I were to stay the night in Sacramento at his brother’s house before the drive home the next day. Big hugs all around and maybe a couple tears but they soon dried in the fading Monterey sun. I was exhausted and very thankful. This was the single greatest accomplishment of my life, so far. I learned to build the car myself, I funded it all myself, I organized it all myself and I built it with my father. I had my best friend and family there cheering me on. I may not have been at Walden’s Pond but in this moment I did “suck the marrow out life.” This wasn’t the greatest experience; it was the perfect experience. This defined the one thing, that thing that could always make me happy; being on track. I had plenty of time to smile on this and etch it upon my memory on my 932-mile trip back to Seattle.
I hope you enjoyed it!
.
.
.
.
.
My First Seca
This story begins with family, friends, and one little Honda CRX.
I sat back in front of a 21” computer screen checking e-mails and researching future avenues of racing adventures. At the time I was an avid auto crosser but I would come home on Sunday evening, after doing 2 hours of course-work and a total of four and half minutes of racing, feeling unfulfilled. Auto crossing was great fun at first, and is still a great enjoyment, but the briefness of it always left my racing appetite just dripping with salivation. I needed more than just the weekend appetizer…. I needed, craved, the full course meal. That’s when I found it. There, right in front of my eyes, was the invitation of a lifetime. An outfit was offering a lapping day at Laguna Seca Raceway in sunny Monterey California. A lapping day, for those uninformed, is where you are allowed to run your own car around a race track. For 275$ I was allowed a chance to spend a whole day testing every limit of my car on one of the most famous and technical tracks on U.S. soil. I had just over 2 months to plan.
I called my father and told him about the opportunity that awaited me as well as all of my friends. I requested the time off work and started researching. Thus, Pandora’s Box was opened. My 1988 CRX Si already had a barrage of modifications done to it and was outfitted with more Acura Integra parts than CRX parts so I realized there was little that needed to be done. All I need to do to make it “open lapping” ready was: change in synthetic oil, install an oil temperature gauge, and upgrade the front braking system. I had previously upgraded from drums to disks in the rear of the car, so I invested in upgrading the front brakes. I contacted the outfit known as “FastBrakes Enterprises”. I told them what I was doing and they listened to every questions and concern and then presented me with the perfect solution. Thanks to their help I was able to affordably upgrade the front rotors from 9.5 inches to 11 inches and make use of the Acura Integra calipers. I contacted Carbotech for the race pads and was treated just as well there as I was at FastBrakes. Once all the parts had arrived I spent the next couple days pulling out my hair trying to make them work right. To offer up any advice to the reader considering the same thing; I just want to add, make sure you don’t install your pads backwards! After taking the calipers off for the third time and bleeding the brakes for the fourth time I finally struck gold. I had achieved a firm pedal and increased stopping ability. I began to clean up my tools and myself so I could get packing for the trip the next day. It wasn’t just a trip but a great adventure.
I didn’t venture alone, however. My lifelong friend, Casey, who was my roommate at the time, offered to join me and drive his car as well so that I would be able to take all my tools along with my other set of wheels that had my track tires on them. In fact, I must be so bold as to say that I couldn’t have done this trip without him. The trip destination was 932 miles according to internet. We were traveling from Seattle, Washington to Fresno, California to meet up with my parents at my grandpa’s house. Every time I travel to or through Fresno I become extremely grateful and thankful that I am fortunate enough to live somewhere else. Anyway, we arrived and gave many hugs to the family that are seen all too rarely and spend the rest of the night catching up on the times. The next day we changed the oil, put on the race pads, advanced the timing, and bled the brakes one last time. I think my dad enjoys working on my car more than I do. When he “helps” me do something I always find myself watching. At that point it was O.K. with me. Watching someone else scrape their knuckles and bleed on the car in the name of high rev’s and high speeds is more fun to watch than do, in my opinion. After the work was completed and the car once again sat on it’s own four legs, or wheels, we spent the rest of the evening playing cards, arm wrestling with Grandpa and trying to think about anything other than the following days. The next morning we are all packed and head off to one final breakfast with the whole family, drinking our coffee and orange juice. As my Grandpa never let me forget, “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” We filled gas and headed out for Monterey to fetch the hotel room. At this point I was VERY frustrated with California because I found myself filling up with Premium which was only 91 octane. What respectable race car uses 91 octane?!
We end up staying at a Motel 6 on Reservation Road a couple miles from the track the night before the event. As the sun set into the California coast I decided to switch out wheels so I would be ready to go for the next day. The tires I used for the track were Falken Azenis, which were DOT legal so I bolted them to the car, filled gas, and ran it through the carwash. No self-respecting racer would head out to the track with a dirty car. I prepared myself for bed and surprisingly, I slept like a baby but Casey stayed up and worried for me, how nice.
My phone alarm just about stops my heart at 6:30 am as the beeping grows louder and louder. It’s a sunless morning in Monterey as Casey and I moved all the loose items from my car to his and prepared to head off to the track, we noticed that even Monterey California can feel like a meat locker in February. We stopped at a gas station, on Reservation Road, to buy some junk food to help get me through the day. We arrived at the track around 7:20 a.m. I handed Mr. Hunpin, the organizer of this event, my technical inspection sheet, I registered, and then checked in. I couldn’t believe that I was on the other side of the track, surrounded by racing fuel, ball bearing turbos, and “R” compounds. I was giddy to say the least. I looked around to find BMW M3’s, Audi TT’s, an NSX, and several Porsche’s, including one with a license plate that read, “RUFian”, how clever. I saw another CRX there and couldn’t believe my eyes. His car had the same setup but a couple steps further. He had a b16a1 engine swap with a fairly large turbo attached. He said his CRX produced in the neighborhood of 250 ft/lbs of torque. Turns out he was an instructor so of course, being the opportunistic man that I am, ask him to be my instructor. He rode with me for my first and second sessions and I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor because he was driving with the same chassis and same tire compound, Falken Azenis.
I had my front tire PSI at 31 and rear at 29 cold, my gloves were on, my helmet strapped tight, and my gut a good 12 inches up into my throat, I was ready for my first lap at Laguna Seca. The flagman waved me by and I was off.
I was only driving at 5/10th’s for the first lap to warm the tires up as well as listen to what Chris, (instructor), had to say and also I took that time to memorize the corners, apexes and braking points. I got around to the corkscrew and as I breached the top of the hill and made my left hand turn. I didn’t turn hard enough and came down the corkscrew on top of the shark teeth, (or rumble strips). Since nothing bad ensued from this I wasn’t rattled at the least so I stepped it up to 6/10th’s. After the second lap I approached turn 11, the last hairpin before the straightway and start/finish line. What rattled my bones was the BMW in front of me had a greater feel for his braking capabilities than I. Heading into the hairpin all the cars were on their brakes heavy, as was I. Being this the first time on my new brake setup I was a bit ignorant on exactly how they were to work and ended up pulling out to the side of the 2001 328i to keep from leaving bent metal and red paint all over the back of his car. Because of this I made one more lap and entered the pits. At this point I was unaware that the “race only” pads I had chosen don’t work to the best of their capability until they are hot! Oh well, I had another 80 minutes of track time ahead of me not to mention my own personal support group.
My break was over and it was time to “grid-up” once more, this time without an instructor but I still had a passenger. As I was in grid there was a cute Asian girl who asked if she could ride along for that session. Who was I to argue? I did one solid lap at 5/10th’s to warm up the oil, brakes and tires. I made it a point during this “slower” lap to practice perfect technique and use all the brake points, use all the apex and cornering cones and use the racing line to the fullest, which included the rumble strips. I started by feeling things out, like steering too hard in the “Andretti Hairpin” to test the grip of my tires and cutting over the shark teeth to feel my suspension. My heart began to race as I stepped up the pace, 6/10th’s then 7 then 8. I had my fingers wrapped around precision and rigidity, and 9000 rpm’s under my toes. Turn after turn I said the same thing to myself, “I can go through there much faster,” and did exactly that every lap. My lap times dropped consistently from 2:15 to 2:13 down to 2:03. The braking distances became shorter, my right foot became heavier and instead of hugging the turns I groped them. I watched the corner workers as they waved the “passing” flag at another BMW informing him that I was coming by. My passenger was thoroughly enjoying herself or scared for her life, either way, she kept quiet which aided my concentration.
Out of turn 11, I shifted just under 9,000 rpms again and again as I left drivers right to drivers left and back to the right so that I could graciously pursued my speedometer to fall back down to double digits. Fourth to third and third to second, I mashed the brake pedal with the ball of my foot and massaged the gas pedal with my heel. Lap after lap I began to challenge the corkscrew as if it had offended my mother. I glided through turn 6 in third gear at 7,000 rpm and headed up to 9,000 as I played with fourth up the hill to turns 8 and 8a. The excitement of driving up a hill into the unknown at full throttle made me feel like I was running from the law. I never looked back for the sirens but ran as if they were there as I brought it from fourth to second in rapid succession only to turn left and fall back to the right cleaning the tartar off the shark’s teeth. The adrenaline in both of us finally worked its way up as we both vocalized our excitement in freefall, midway through the corkscrew. I pitted after one cool-down lap and received some compliments on the few skills I had at this stage in my development, mainly heel-toe.
“How do you do that? You downshifted while braking and everything was very smooth? How many times have you done this before?”
These were the questions I heard after I entered the pits and nobody seemed to believe me when I told them this was my first HPDE, (High Performance Driving Education). My passenger got out and headed off to join someone else for another session, which was no surprise as I made a fool of myself by actually using the term “Asian Persuasion” in her presence while trying to be suave. Casey was mortified for me as his face was in his palms. Clearly any talent I had was strictly behind the wheel. It was time for lunch and a good time to let the car, and myself, cool off a bit.
Friends, family and I all enjoyed a good lunch break and during it, Casey and I took the opportunity to go check out some of the other cars. There was a nice Audi TT that looked fast. There were a few M3’s and M5’s but the ones I had the most fun looking at were the Acura NSX and the “Rufian”. The NSX was enjoying the day using Bridgestone Potenza Se-03’s, which perform similar to the Falken Azenis. I also took the time to go and check out the garages and cars that are used for the Skip Barber School of Racing. My feet are wet from this experience but I think the racing school is what I need to learn how to swim.
Loud and clear I heard, “Green group please grid up in 5 minutes.” I grabbed my helmet and started the car. I sat in the front of the grid with just myself and waived to my parents as I prepared for a run all by my lonesome. These last 2 sessions were the best time I ever spent with my car, so far. You can really let yourself open up on the track when you don’t have to worry about the life of a passenger. It was just my car and me, the car that I built. I did my warm-up lap at 6/10th’s and when I came around turn 11 and headed for the start/finish I stepped up the tempo once more. Down the straight away at 9,000 rpm, then again and again from 40 to 60 to 90 to 100+mph, then on the brakes hard. I approached the corner cones with such fervor, I’m sure they would have been terrified if able. I was on the gas earlier than ever before, as I left the turns, and I was no longer using the rumble strips for technique but because I had to. The car felt neutral for the most part but with a 20% understeer, which was understandable considering it’s front wheel drive. Every turn I went through and every shift I completed I recognized what I could do better, where I could go faster, and I did. The last session I truly capitalized on this, braking at the latest I could without locking up the tires and leaving rubber on every set of rumble strips. I leapt from 7/10th’s to 8 until I driving at 9.5/10th’s. I found myself, on every lap, heading up to turn 6 with such momentum that I would turn in my wheels just a bit before I should because I knew the car would push itself through on the perfect line. I was shifting to fourth earlier, heading up the corkscrew and not getting on the brakes until after I was on top of the ridge, just like in Gran Turismo 3. Every time I dropped through turn 8a at full throttle I was relieved of all my sins. My times dropped once more from 2:03 to 2:00 down to my best of 1:57. Once, during every one of my 9 laps that session, I was reborn. I came around turn 9 at full throttle pushing the car to the very edge the track. My focus was tuned to the tires and suspension but I still felt my heart scratching at my ribs. Soon, all I heard were rpm’s, tires, and my own symphony of cardiac drums and breathing rhythms. I ran my last cool-down lap for the day and thought to myself, “If Thoreau had done something like this, his life’s work might have been significantly different.” Perhaps his definition of ‘living deliberately’ might have involved a racetrack.
In the pit area, at the end of the day, I put my a/c belt back on, packed up the car and said goodbye to the family. Casey and I were to stay the night in Sacramento at his brother’s house before the drive home the next day. Big hugs all around and maybe a couple tears but they soon dried in the fading Monterey sun. I was exhausted and very thankful. This was the single greatest accomplishment of my life, so far. I learned to build the car myself, I funded it all myself, I organized it all myself and I built it with my father. I had my best friend and family there cheering me on. I may not have been at Walden’s Pond but in this moment I did “suck the marrow out life.” This wasn’t the greatest experience; it was the perfect experience. This defined the one thing, that thing that could always make me happy; being on track. I had plenty of time to smile on this and etch it upon my memory on my 932-mile trip back to Seattle.
I hope you enjoyed it!
Last edited by rice_classic; May 15, 2012 at 10:18 AM.
a/k/a Jomo
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6,275
Likes: 0
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (rice_classic)
Well written. Worthwhile reading. 
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was shifting to 4th earlier heading up the corkscrew and not getting on the brakes until after I was on top of the ridge, just like in Gran Turismo 3</TD></TR></TABLE>
LOL!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was shifting to 4th earlier heading up the corkscrew and not getting on the brakes until after I was on top of the ridge, just like in Gran Turismo 3</TD></TR></TABLE>
LOL!
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From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (Jeff R)
Great story ... strikes a cord with me because I'm about to take my CRX to Laguna Seca for an HPDE in 2.5 weeks. My wife is coming with me and my parents are coming to the track to watch me for the first time. It's going to be in the neighborhood of an 800 mile tow behind my 4Runner. I didn't think I could get any more pumped up for the trip, but after reading your story I'm bursting at the seams!
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (FlyZlow)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FlyZlow »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Great story ... strikes a cord with me because I'm about to take my CRX to Laguna Seca for an HPDE in 2.5 weeks. My wife is coming with me and my parents are coming to the track to watch me for the first time. It's going to be in the neighborhood of an 800 mile tow behind my 4Runner. I didn't think I could get any more pumped up for the trip, but after reading your story I'm bursting at the seams!
Thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I feel sorry for you towing in a 4 runner. Probably won't be that bad going to the track, but if you've never been there the hill going into the track is one of the steepest things I've ever seen. Be careful going down it when you leave too. Hope you have trailer brakes.
Thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I feel sorry for you towing in a 4 runner. Probably won't be that bad going to the track, but if you've never been there the hill going into the track is one of the steepest things I've ever seen. Be careful going down it when you leave too. Hope you have trailer brakes.
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From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (ryan12321)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I feel sorry for you towing in a 4 runner. Probably won't be that bad going to the track, but if you've never been there the hill going into the track is one of the steepest things I've ever seen. Be careful going down it when you leave too. Hope you have trailer brakes.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, I'm a little scared towing w/ the Runner. I've been reading up on it. We'll see how it goes. I'm pulling a 16' open trailer w/ electric brakes. Still need to slap a tranny cooler on that bad boy before we go though. Thanks for the heads up about the hill. I'll keep it in mind as I'm leaving.
Yeah, I'm a little scared towing w/ the Runner. I've been reading up on it. We'll see how it goes. I'm pulling a 16' open trailer w/ electric brakes. Still need to slap a tranny cooler on that bad boy before we go though. Thanks for the heads up about the hill. I'll keep it in mind as I'm leaving.
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From: USA
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (FlyZlow)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FlyZlow »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Great story ... strikes a cord with me because I'm about to take my CRX to Laguna Seca for an HPDE in 2.5 weeks. My wife is coming with me and my parents are coming to the track to watch me for the first time. It's going to be in the neighborhood of an 800 mile tow behind my 4Runner. I didn't think I could get any more pumped up for the trip, but after reading your story I'm bursting at the seams!
Thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I can ONLY imagine your anticipation! Thank you so much for enjoying it!
Thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE>
I can ONLY imagine your anticipation! Thank you so much for enjoying it!
Suspetise...
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,287
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From: Burninating the peasants yo
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (rice_classic)
Ha ha ha, well done That's ok, mixing horniness and track time only distracts you. (Says Adam, thinking about that blonde NASA chick...)
That's ok, mixing horniness and track time only distracts you. (Says Adam, thinking about that blonde NASA chick...)
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Upstate, SC
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (sscguy)
Great read...I'm still loving auto-x but I have something to look foward too 
We towed a 90 B16 supercharged sedan from Clemson, SC to Topeka, KS and back no problems with a 4 runner. It does the job...just slows down up hills a little.
It's amazing what a Honda can do to your soul!
We towed a 90 B16 supercharged sedan from Clemson, SC to Topeka, KS and back no problems with a 4 runner. It does the job...just slows down up hills a little.
It's amazing what a Honda can do to your soul!
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From: AWFUL autocrosser from, RI
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (rice_classic)
Wow. Great read! Tackling Laguna Seca seems like no small feat. I'd KILL to drive there!!!
Too bad you didn't impress the chick, though
Tackling Laguna Seca seems like no small feat. I'd KILL to drive there!!! Too bad you didn't impress the chick, though
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From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (gamby)
Thought I'd post a follow up. So, like rice_classic said, Laguna Seca totally rocks the house. It was an unbelievable track and an awesome experience. I tried out my fancy new camera mount and got some decent in car video. If anyone is interested in hosting it, I can post a 10 min clip where I'm chasing down an Elise in my H4 CRX. Anyway, I got to take each of my parents out on track as passengers, which was a neat experience because they'd never seen me drive (on track) before. Also got a couple sessions in with the wife riding shotgun. She totally loves it.
BTW - rice_classic, 2 things:
1) I almost cried at the end of your short career summary video
and
2) Your quote in Travis' sig is one of my favorites of all time
If we ever meet up, I'll buy you a beer
- Scott
P.S. - The 4Runner totally kicked ***. It was a little sluggish on some of the steep grades on I-5, but for the most part it totally rocked. I got about 15 - 16 mpg w/ overdrive off. The only thing that pissed me off was the ~13 gal tank. That meant I could only go about 180 miles before having to stop for gas.
Anyway, I got to take each of my parents out on track as passengers, which was a neat experience because they'd never seen me drive (on track) before. Also got a couple sessions in with the wife riding shotgun. She totally loves it.BTW - rice_classic, 2 things:
1) I almost cried at the end of your short career summary video
and
2) Your quote in Travis' sig is one of my favorites of all time
If we ever meet up, I'll buy you a beer
- Scott
P.S. - The 4Runner totally kicked ***. It was a little sluggish on some of the steep grades on I-5, but for the most part it totally rocked. I got about 15 - 16 mpg w/ overdrive off. The only thing that pissed me off was the ~13 gal tank. That meant I could only go about 180 miles before having to stop for gas.
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From: CA, USA
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (ryan12321)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I feel sorry for you towing in a 4 runner. Probably won't be that bad going to the track, but if you've never been there the hill going into the track is one of the steepest things I've ever seen. Be careful going down it when you leave too. Hope you have trailer brakes.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Haha, yeah I have a supercharged Toyota Tacoma, towing my Mini. No problem on the 450 mile tow, but then I got to that driveway into the track, I was thankful for having the boost. I have no idea what people do going up that driveway when towing a 3200lb car with a small SUV. Probably take it off the trailer at the bottom of the hill!
FWIW, I had the Mini at Laguna early this year: http://www.kimini.com/Video/Laguna%20Seca.wmv
Not meaning to steal the thread, just sharing what a great track it is. A big thumbs up to anyone who ever gets to drive there. It's worth the tow... just be aware of the 92dB sound limit. That can ruin your fun if you're too loud.
Modified by kb58 at 9:49 PM 6/27/2007
I feel sorry for you towing in a 4 runner. Probably won't be that bad going to the track, but if you've never been there the hill going into the track is one of the steepest things I've ever seen. Be careful going down it when you leave too. Hope you have trailer brakes.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Haha, yeah I have a supercharged Toyota Tacoma, towing my Mini. No problem on the 450 mile tow, but then I got to that driveway into the track, I was thankful for having the boost. I have no idea what people do going up that driveway when towing a 3200lb car with a small SUV. Probably take it off the trailer at the bottom of the hill!
FWIW, I had the Mini at Laguna early this year: http://www.kimini.com/Video/Laguna%20Seca.wmv
Not meaning to steal the thread, just sharing what a great track it is. A big thumbs up to anyone who ever gets to drive there. It's worth the tow... just be aware of the 92dB sound limit. That can ruin your fun if you're too loud.
Modified by kb58 at 9:49 PM 6/27/2007
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From: NOR CAL
Re: HPDE Short story about Laguna Seca (kb58)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rice_classic »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">At this point I’m VERY frustrated with California because I found myself paying 2.25$ a gallon for 91 octane.</TD></TR></TABLE>
hahahahahahahaha, wow. i read that and said WTF. then i saw the date he posted
hahahahahahahaha, wow. i read that and said WTF. then i saw the date he posted
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