It was hot out that weekend. Not your average kind of hot, but a new type of hot altogether. How I got this assignment, I know not. Oh, I remember now, I love racing and I love tuna fish (Of the rotting variety-Staff). Every now and then Hotchkis Tuning puts on an event that allows average Joes (and Janes), like you and me, the opportunity to take our daily-driven (and sometimes not so daily driven) street rides out for a day at the track to see what they can do. The field consisted of everything from Toyota Celicas and Datsun 510s to Porsche Turbos, Ferrari Testarossas and 360 Modenas, and we were there to witness it all. Amongst the field of participants was Eurotuner staffer, Philip Royle, piloting our Miata project car through the twisties.
I had the opportunity to ride along with the man, John Hotchkis himself, in the company's race-prepped Toyota Celica GTS, and I tell you, riding with this guy gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "E-Ticket." Taking 90-degree turns at 90-plus mph in a front-wheel-drive car isn't usually the most confidence inspiring thing you could get me to do, but John made the whole thing seem like child's play. Decreasing radius, off-camber, hairpin, they all seemed like straightaways in the hands of an expert in a finely tuned driving machine. This car has been tested to almost 1.04 Gs on the skidpad-more than an '02 Corvette Z06-and it slaloms faster than an '01 Porsche 911 Turbo-a testament to the tuning prowess that this company possesses.
Many other major manufacturers were representing as well. James Chen and Axis Wheels were there with the company's yellow 360 Modena and Porsche 911 Turbo as well as its silver Lancer. Yokohama Tires was there as well showing off its '03 Honda Civic Si shod in 19-inch Axis wheels and, of course, Yokohama rubber. Todd Gartshore and the crew from Baer Brakes were out with their Corvette sporting 14-inch brake rotors behind its hoops. And even Hobby Products International (HPI Racing) was there with a host of radio-controlled gas and electric vehicles for me to play with all day. The food was great (though I missed lunch; He always "misses" lunch.-CM) and the track was in pristine condition. There was even a record set by the Celica All-Trac crew as this event brought out the most Celica All-Trac Turbos ever seen at any event to date.
There were no real incidents as everyone there tried their best to adhere to the rules and get their cars around the track as safely and quickly as possible. The Axis Lancer took one turn on three wheels, nearly flipping over, and Shawn Ireland, VP of HPI Racing took his silver M3 for an off-road excursion. The only vehicular casualty was a lonely blue Celica that tried the off-road route without its rear tires. But, all in all, the day went well and I look forward to the next time I can head out into the sweltering heat of the desert to flog some cars around the asphalt.