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So this past weekend, I drove down to Watkins Glen International for two days of a HPDE (High Performance Driving Event). These schools have become an increasingly popular avenue for budding drivers to get real track time in a low cost, safety conscious way. Laps are not timed and in-car instructors are provided. Eventually, with experience, one is allowed to drive solo, and this can be a springboard toward competitive events like time trials or club racing.

The organizing body for this weekend was Trackmasters, and as a first event I could scarcely ask for anything more. The schedule was the same for both Saturday and Sunday; alternating 30 minute blocks of track time and classroom discussion. So each day: two hours on-track, 2.5 hours of class, plus a half hour as passenger in our instructor’s car. My instructor drove a ’99 Porsche 911 Carrera.

As far as experiences go, driving on the track is one of those things that can’t be conveyed in words or images. I studied track maps and watched plenty of WGI in-car video in preparation beforehand, but still spent much of Saturday flubbing braking points since I was never sure of the corner I was entering (or approximately how much speed I could carry). But by Sunday I was able to relax and actually enjoy myself lap after lap. I even began to appreciate the view of Lake Seneca, as you hurtle toward turn 1 on the front straight. For a moment…

My instructor came away impressed with my initial abilities, and that of my car. He began our first session by explaining that he had never instructed in a MINI Coop, but stressed the short wheelbase point (which can really bite you in the ass, should you do something dumb like lift off the throttle suddenly mid-corner). Coming into the weekend with 3 years of autocross experience, and understanding most of the fundamental concepts in driving on the track, I had an edge over some of the other first-timers. I wasn’t fast, but I picked up a consistent line, found my braking, turn in, and track out points, and demonstrated an ability to realize and correct mistakes.

This isn’t to say that everything I learned autocrossing was applicable. One of my first issues to deal with was braking smoothness. Specifically; lifting up, as you turn in, settle the car, and prepare to add throttle back in and apex. I’ve gotten used to using my brakes as an on/off switch autocrossing, which actually isn’t best there either. But it’s a downright dangerous habit on-track, so we fixed that right off the bat.

But concepts like creating the widest radius arc, and looking ahead into the corner, and how we’re best able to use the grip that god and Falken Tires gave us… All of this was a great help.

So I had a blast, right up until I started experiencing a horrible shudder in the steering wheel under heavy braking. It happened five minutes before the end of the last session on Sunday, so I limped the car in, and eventually found my driver’s side outer CV joint boot torn apart, with grease splayed throughout the inside of the wheel.

I tried to limp the car the 250 miles home, but curiously only made it 100 miles before the joint gave out, leaving me temporarily stranded on I-88. Fun fun fun. I called family, and we were able to rent a dolly and get the car home on Monday. I’m now working on figuring out the best replacement option for the half axle, and plan on doing the work myself. Guess you have to pay to play.