This past couple weeks has been a crazy amount of motorsport.
Racing MX5s in Timura. Working on the Toyota 86 E-Cup. Then racing down in Invercargill.
Topped it off with driving the Radical and go karting at Highlands Motorsport Park. Seriously cool experience
After racing in Invercargill Dad and I made the motorhome road trip back to Christchurch. All part of the plan as we’d arranged to stop in to Highlands Motorsport Park on the way and use our vouchers for the Radical U-Drive.
The Radical is a “wings and slicks” type car. That is high downforce and high grip. Dad has never driven anything like it. He was absolutely buzzing when he got out of the car hyped by how quick it was and how late you could get on the brakes. Dean the instructor eased us into it but with each lap that we weren’t idiots he would have us pushing deeper into the braking zones going faster round the lap.
My first experience with wings and slicks was the Juno many years ago so I had some idea what I was getting myself into. With the small racing steering wheel and paddle shifts I felt right at home like I was tucked into my sim rig. I immediately wanted to find how much the car could do and locked the brakes on the first fast lap. Great instructions from Dean had us carrying plenty of speed everywhere we could. Around the banked corner I could feel the G forces especially. So much fun getting on the gas early and letting the banking and aero pull me round while I held on tight fighting the forces.
While we could only race around track c it was still an awesome experience to get to drive Highlands. It’s the only NZ track I hadn’t driven on so was special to get some laps in. Hopefully I can tick off racing here one day.
We also had a blast on the go karts which are so much fun. And the game of mini golf couldn’t have been closer. Tied after 18 holes we saved a ball and took it back to hole 1 for a playoff. With a staff member waiting for us we drew the first two holes then agreed the third would be the last even if we tied. On that 21st hole Dad got it in two then I managed a hole in one to take the win! Of course we also explored the museum with all the incredible cars they have on display.
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