With a slew of corporate executives watching my every move and a pit crew speeding along to make sure every inch of the car's body is clean and pristine, the scene around me plays like a slow-mo Michael Bay scene as a wave of instructions from my professional racer co-pilot plays in muted silence, adding further to the intimidation factor as I buckled myself in for two laps around the race course. And who wouldn't feel the stress I'm in? This is a no bullshit car, with a price tag worth its weight in carbon-fiber materials and equivalent to that of a small house in Los Angeles. And with so few in existence, the list to drive one is understandably short.
So how the hell did I wind up on it?
But there I was, resting comfortably (albeit nervously) in the driver's seat of the super car the world has come to know as the LF-A. Dressed in matte black, it's a site to behold, like you've just been invited by Heidi Klum personally to stare at her naked. With my hands planted firmly on the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and with a quick tap of the paddle shifter, I was thrust off into nirvana. Exiting the pit lane, shifting upwards to 4th comes easy and buttery smooth; the roar of the V-10 winding its way up, melodious. A quick glance at the futuristic instrument cluster informs me I've just past the 90mph mark - and I haven't even warmed up. Scary
The instructor helps me navigate through a few series of turns as I become more familiar with the car's handling. It's nothing short of "wow" how the LF-A moves and reacts to the driver's input. Get on the brakes and it quickly prevents you from the mistake you were more than likely to create. Up at the front straight, I gun it - 140mph is pure cakewalk at this point. Gone are those nervous feelings because now it's time to enjoy the car for all its worth. I use my mental notes to complete my second lap and enjoy the good life for just a few minutes more. Who knows when I'll have another chance again, if ever? The end of my wild ride results in nothing more than a wide-eyed grin and major erection. Nothing could top this experience...
*Major shoutouts to Ming Jou Chen at Toyota for letting this lucky guy score in a big way.*
Jonathan Wong jdmwong@superstreetonline.com
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