The 6th of 7 Ferrari Challenge races for 2008 landed at Laguna this weekend and through the help of a friend at a sponsoring company I spent two days watching this rare event from the hospitably rooms above the pits. The Ferrari Challenge series allows amateur F430 race drivers to compete in a structured, dealer backed environment. This event was made even more amazing by the inclusion of Ferrari’s Corse Clienti, in which privately owned F1 and FXX cars get a chance to stretch their legs on the track but are supported and maintained by Ferrari. While nothing beats the shear acceleration and deafening pitch of an F1, the FXXs were spectacular to see in action. At $2.5M each, these cars serve as development platforms in which drivers are required to give the manufacturer feedback after each Ferrari operated track session. 2,500lbs, 800hp, and an all carbon fiber body which can only be described as pure sex. Simply a spectacular piece of engineering.

Unfortunately both Challenge races spent most laps under yellow as car-to-car contact seemed to plague the weekend. At one point 5 of the leading F430s hit each other noise to tail as they were moving slowly under caution on the front straight when the lead driver suddenly braked. It was like watching a sadistically expensive fender bender chain reaction on 101.

Clearly an accomplished race driver, we rooted on our host Henri Richard as he stayed clear of contact and on course (with the exception of one slight detour at the corkscrew, see photo #34 ) and finished 3rd overall. Amenities at the track and at the Clement hotel in Monterey were excellent. My compliments to Freescale, they sure know how to put on a show.

After years of spectating and virtual practice at one of the most dynamic tracks in the country, I finally had my shot at the 2.2 mile course. Xbox may “just be a game” but having at least some idea what to expect around the next turn really paid off. Memorization of any course is paramount and any edge helps. Proven by my first lap of 2:26, which only two laps later dropped to a 2:00 and mildly improved from there the rest of the day. I had one significant limiting factor all day - my clutch decided to continue it’s obstinate behavior, this time in the form of sticking to the floor. This, even after installing a brand new master and slave cylinder last month. I had run the first session all in 3rd gear, but during the second session it was clear that I was in need of 4th. I’m not sure what the issue was, if it was heat build up reducing the flow of hydraulic fluid or something else, but the peddle was HARD and stuck to the floor. After pulling it up with my toes it would work again for one or to more engagements…then back to sticking. So 3rd gear it was for the day. You can hear me in the video bouncing off the rev limiter between turns 11 and 1, and 4 to 5.

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Welcome to the Marina Airport, local home to sky divers and the words smallest autocross course. At least it seemed that way the day we joined the Tiger Owners Club for an event. All due appreciation to the Club for putting on a well organized day, the course was so narrow and tight it surpassed fun and became a claustrophobic experiment.

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Round number 2 with Thunderhill proved to be much more rewarding. After a slow session with B group I got signed off to move up to C group and had a lot less traffic to contend with. Read the rest of this entry »

I drove about 3 hours north to reach the town of Willows, Ca where I found the rolling hills that make up Thunderhill Raceway. Read the rest of this entry »

Last weekend I attended the 2006 American Le Mans Championship race at Laguna Seca. The weekend included a GM sponsored Corvette Corral in which approximately 250 Corvettes gathered. Little did I know… Read the rest of this entry »