It’s not every day you get to say that you were among the first to do something. However, thanks to HookedOnDriving and GTM I can officially say that I, as well as 4 of my closest GTM family, was one of the first to take my little car and drive the newly paved surface of Watkins Glen. What an experience!
Now, I am still fairly new when it comes to this sport and I haven’t been to but a handful of tracks but I can say that going to a track that is as widely known and famous as Watkins Glen is an awe inspiring thing. This is the first time I was able to drive a track that I only would have dreamed of driving just a few years ago. A track I spent many hours on virtually through Forza but never really appreciated its stature. Just pulling up to the front gate had me speechless. Seeing the grand stands off in the distance, the mountainous views surrounding this little piece of motorsports heaven, really left an impression on me.
(Speechless)
Last November I had the opportunity to drive on VIR for the first time and that was special in its own right. But where VIR feels more like a private country club where car enthusiasts go on holiday to race their vintage Porsches and Ferraris, Watkins Glen is on an entirely different level. A real race track where real professional racers and race series come to test their might against the esses of turns 2-4, the bus-stop, 600hp hill, etc. NASCAR races here. NASCAR! Although they have a special layout just for them with the NASCAN’T section that cuts out turns 6-9. (Disclaimer, I am not trying to diminish the racers and series that run at VIR in any way, VIR is a fantastic track but I am comparing my feelings at one track to another). This was going to be the most exciting and memorable time I would have in a car to date.
(Ready for action)
Now, not only was I driving on a world famous race track, but also I was let loose on this track alone. I have advanced in my driving experience to the point where I am at the upper level of intermediate, on the cusp of advanced. This means that I can sign up for events and am trusted to go out on track by myself without being a danger to myself and others around me. For this event I signed up for the HOD B group. Intermediate solo, essentially. This was my first event where I was able to go out on track alone from the start. Now, I am not going to lie, the track was intimidating, so I went out my first session with a trusted friend and Instructor, Mike C, just to get my bearings. After about 2 laps (and two pit-ins, one when my numbers fell off and another where I thought my doors were open) Mike leaned over and said “Other than ballast, why am I here?”. It was at this point where I felt confident enough to be set free. I pitted in and let Mike out and then went back out.
WOW! What a freakin’ track. I played many an hour in Forza just acclimating myself with the track layout and turns (I know I can’t learn to drive a track on a video game like Forza but I can learn and memorize the layout at least) but I wasn’t expecting this. The track was fast! It was the first time I ever hit 5th gear in my car on track. And not only was it fast but it flowed really well. And the elevation changes… wow! For such a long track a lap certainly went by in no time (2:28 to be exact). After my first session I just came in to the pits and I couldn’t stop smiling.
(Coming around turn 11 to the front straight)
The rest of the two days would continue just as the first session. More driving, more experience, more smiles, a few pucker moments, and all in all just a blast. Mixed in there was a passing and situational awareness exercise on track where we were broken in to small groups and had to rotate around each other. I ended up breaking off with Eric M and working on some more advanced passing and maneuvers. I learned a lot.
At the end of the last session I participated in on Tuesday, it was time to head home. We packed everything up, loaded the cars, and made our way back to Maryland. We were all tired and I think we were ready to get home but we definitely had the time of our lives out there at the Glen. Next time I promise to take some more time off and see all the other sites that the area has to offer (park land, water falls, hiking, etc.). There are many tracks on my bucket list (Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Palmer, The ‘Ring) and I am so glad that I can cross the Glen off my list. On to the next one!
Side note: The trip home presented a few challenges with loose tow straps, deflating tires, tired and hungry individuals, and being hundreds of miles from home. The picture below shows John attempting to fill his car tire with what can only be described as some “white goopy stuff”. He said it came from his tire pump but I think we know better… Eww John, Eww.
(John was a little excited to fill his tire, was a little premature)
