My Bucket List Track Day At Laguna Seca

 As a lifelong fan of motorsports, I always longed to drive on the same race tracks I saw on TV and in video games. But I regarded those aspirations as hopeless because I didn't have pockets deep enough to be a race car driver. So imagine my shock when my friend in the auto industry invited me for a track day at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA.

I'll be completely honest, I was nervous at first and came up with a dozen reasons not to go. "I'm too far" "I might crash" "My car isn't meant to be on the track" et cetera. But when he invited some of my other friends, I ended up feeling peer pressure and agreeing. And I'm glad I did because memories like these aren't made with a videogame controller, or commuting to school.

The day finally came. Saturday, October 5th My friend and I left for Monterey in my modified 2011 Ford Mustang GT, and we took turns driving up the 5 freeway. Eventually, we made it to a hotel in the area to crash for the night. In the morning we entered the race track grounds and met up with my friend. Later we were briefed by track staff on topics such as etiquette and safety. All very exciting stuff for someone who's never done this before.

The famous "Cork Screw" corner

After the initial novelty wore off, I was antsy and itching to drive on the track. When it was my turn, I was put in the novice class so I had an instructor drive with me in the passenger seat giving me pointers and lessons on the basics of what to do. Truth be told, I was very nervous and was not used to driving at that rate of speed while also turning left and right, braking, and accelerating all while listening to someone tell me vital things. It was an absolute rush.

Finally, it was my turn to drive without an instructor, with a dozen or so other cars on the track at the same time. The stakes were quite high, as I opted out of track insurance (the track event + trip was pricey enough) and I needed to drive seven hours home. I went out there and gradually progressed in skill, with each lap going quicker and quicker, shaving off tenths of a second each time. However, I was no match for my track-seasoned buddy, who promptly left me in the dust with his BMW M4. Oh well. I couldn't be mad because I made great memories with my best friends.

Me in the #6428 Ford Mustang