Wow, I have never had SO much fun before. I'm sure if anyone else went to one of these they'll agree....it was a blast.
It was pouring down rain on and off all morning, so the track was wet but the V6 Mazda 6's held their own just fine with their Falcon tires.
Started off with the "chalk talk" where our group was introduced to the way things were going to work and such.... My fiance and I had met up with another S13/Saturn guy from here in Columbia and sat in front of some other guy who we later found to have a '94 BMW M3. We were all kind of talking and I made the comment that I'd at least be the fastest female for our time slot (I was the only one).
The M3 guy chuckled and then made a comment about how there'd really be something to talk about if I ended up whooping up on all the guys.
Off to the brake & turn clinic where we took a few runs in a 6. Full throttle acceleration to immediate ABS braking, get a review from an instructor, and do it again. Those 6's stop NICE. Very minimal effort required to slow those critters.
Soon it was 8:20 and time for our first run on the competition course. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and as a result I was WAY too timid with the throttle and ran an embarrassing 43 second lap. The pro-driver index was at a 31, most everyone else was in mid to late 30s. Stephen (the fiance) ran a 38, and our buddy Shaun took a 37sec lap.
We then headed off to the slolom clinic which truly was very beneficial. Running a 6 through two slolom setups as many times as you wanted. Definitely a huge help.
Next up was the practice course, which was kind of a miniature version of the competition course. Also timed, but it didn't count for anything but to give you an estimate of how you were doing. The focus with this clinic was to learn the racing line and figure out apexes of corners. Everyone was only allowed 2 laps to keep things fair. My first practice lap I tossed out a 33sec, second lap I shaved off 4 seconds and brought it down to 29.
This gave me great encouragement for my second competition lap, and I'm pleased to report that I took 8 seconds off of my first lap time. I wound up with a lap time of 35.6 seconds and 485 points....which was not only enough to thoroughly excite me, but I beat the best times of Stephen (38), Shaun (37), and the M3 guy (36) as well.
I was also temporarily 14th out of the top 15 in the novice class but naturally that quickly diminished as more classes went through and more times got recorded. Nevertheless it was extremely satisfying.
After we collected our certificates, Rev It Up hats, and bags of Mazda literature, it was off to the test drive center.
Available to take through the test course were the following: Miata 6-speed, Miata auto, Mazdaspeed Protege 5-speed, Protege5 auto, and the 6-S auto. I took all of them for a spin and I have to admit my favorite was the Mazdaspeed Protege. FANTASTIC torque off the line, pulls hard all the way through first gear with a very rewarding turbo spool and a happy 1-2 shift. Unfortunately the track layout never let you get out of 2nd, but damn, a good time indeed. Nice firm clutch and a great shifter, very tossable car especially for a 4-door.
6-speed Miata naturally was also a true delight....Miatas are the ultimate driver's car.
The Mazda 6 really is a fantastic car. They handle beautifully and the V6 models have some GREAT get-up. 220hp makes for a good time. The 4cyl models weren't all bad, either. Definitely enough power to get out of their own way.
Drifting go-karts is also a good time.
And perhaps the pinnacle of the day........ Seeing, fondling, and sitting in not one but TWO Mazda RX-8s. They had a red and a blue, and wow. Those are more amazing in person than I ever thought possible. Such a wonderful interior, a perfect shifter, and a backseat that really does have room to sprawl out and enjoy oneself. Backseat folks even get their own center console and cupholders.
We actually sort of saw them in action, too. The moved the blue one in and out of the tent a few times, and as we stood there, the guy cranked it up and revved it up to 6000rpm. VERY smooth motor, oh my god. Naturally we were all wishing they had an 8 to test drive. I wish so badly I had the money to pick up one of these cars. Dizzamn.
Anyway, sorry for a long post, but this was a VERY worthwhile event for only $39.
I'll have several pics of the RX-8 up tomorrow.