

All in all it's a rush. Not just the driving of, but the working on cars. Tweaking a few settings just a little... 5 more hp for an hour of work. One step at a time. Recently I helped a friend install a supercharger in his car. It wasn't easy, but it was fun. It's more than just talking some trash and peeling out at every red light. It's about the work that goes into your car and the friends you make while doing it. Everything contributing to this entire experience.
I'm not saying that driving isn't a rush. Especially when you get out on an actual race track.
My first experience was at a dragstrip. I took my Camaro out to get a feel for it. As I wait in the queue, my heart starts to jackhammer into my throat. My body goes a little limp from the anxiety. Suddenly, my adrenaline reaches it's redline. The official points me to my lane and I warm up my tires with a long, steady burnout. The smell of liquefied rubber fills the air as smoke billows from the car's hindquarters. Oddly, this otherwise violent display of torque actually calms me as I lined up at the staging lights. Two pair of pale yellow bulbs greet me. Without warning, the light tree comes to life: Red, yellow, yellow, (lay on the accelerator), green. Tires spinning. Struggling for traction. My right foot lifts for a half-second and suddenly I have grip. I'm pushed deep into my seat and my neck strains against the g-forces. The Camaro pulls hard through second. Entering third, it chirps it's tires in defiance of Newton's laws. Just as I reach 100 mph, I shift into fourth and I'm across the finish line. 13.82 seconds at 104 mph. I realize that I've just started breathing again and wonder how long I was holding my breath. I pick up the timeslip and verify my time. Good thing there's a wait before I can run again. Gotta pull myself together. Damn sweet.
Road racing is an entirely different experience. There's a lot of strategy involved. You have to know the limitations of the track, the car, and yourself. Then, add the chaos of a dozen other cars and mother nature (road racing continues in all conditions). More often than not, you will find yourself pushed into the side of your seat, instead of the back. Lateral G's are what this is about. Riding the razor's edge... stay on the track, but just barely.


Most importantly, think. If you're lining up with somebody at a school crossing, you're looking for trouble. Laws are there for a reason. I know that part of the excitement of the culture is to "get away with it," but be safe. Research your mods. A 3" exhaust with no cats might sound cool and up your horsepower, but you will loose low-end torque (in most cases). You won't realize any benefit until you ride it to the redline in every gear at the strip. Before you talk trash, consider who you're talking to. Why make an enemy when you have a chance to meet somebody that could teach you something?
Learning something new and trying something new will always be more interesting than doing the same thing and pretending to know everything.

Also Available: Part I
Further information and related links:
Milan Dragway
Waterford Hills Road Racing
Import Performance
Hot Rod Magazine