4:30 AM EST, my bed's warm, everything else is freezing cold. Only one thing could get me out of bed now: my first track day! (Well, other things could get me out of bed also, but we might have some minors reading this.) Yet another Ferrari event. Since I really got interested in Ferraris several months ago, I've had the incredible good fortune to be able to attend a number of Ferrari events, and each and everyone has seemed better, more fun, and more exciting than the previous event. This has to stop somewhere, doesn't it? Well, not yet! This was to prove another fantastic day!

Back to the story, it's cold, it's dark, but I'm psyched! I do, however, have a 3.5 to 4 hour drive ahead of me. As I get ready to get out into the cold, I notice that it's snowing. Great! I'm heading on a road trip, and Knoxville decides to have it's first snow of the year. Not that I don't like snow, mind you, it's just that snow seems to bring out the worst in drivers down here in the south. Point in case: As I pull onto the interstate, there is like a dusting of snow on the black top, just enough to cover it. I can tell that it's loose, since the wind keeps blowing it around. So, no problem, it's been dry, so there won't be any ice. In the left lane, there's a car, with it's hazard lights blinking, doing a neck-breaking speed of no less than 40MPH! *argh* I hate to pass on the right, but this is ridiculous! Fortunately, the snow vanished after a few miles. Not much other excitement on the way down. All the directions I had were "20 minutes south on route 21 from Anniston".

It's about 8:00 AM CST when I cruise through Anniston on 21. I spot the Victoria Inn which Mike Charness had recommended for people to stay at. I knew that Marc Kilburn and Beth Johnson were planning on staying there, so I decided to circle around the parking to see if I could spot the black TR. I didn't find the TR, but did see a black 911 which turned out to belong to Richard Grayson who was also at the track. I figured Marc and Beth had already left for the track and started heading south on 21 again, keeping an eye out for exotic cars.

Of course I missed the track on the first fly-by, but when retracing my steps, I saw a sleek black NSX waiting in the driveway to what seemed to be a farm but what later turned out to be the track. The NSX was Bob Hogan's. We waved at each other, but both decided it was too friggin' cold to get out of our cars just yet. Soon, George Blodget (black NSX) and Gary Milgrom showed up. Gary was driving his Mercedes CRV carrying the track tires for the two NSXs. While introductions were made (I already knew Gary, of course), Tom Turner showed up towing his track prepped RX7, it looked pretty impressive. We didn't have to wait long before we saw and heard the three red cars coming down the road and turning into the driveway. There were Mike Charness (308), Victor Englert (328), and Greg Smith (Mondial). As more introductions were made, Greg picked up a stick and walked over to his car muttering "road kill".

Now that Mike was here, the gate to the track was opened, and we all drove up to the pit area. While we were waiting for others to show up, the NSXs switched their tires, others changed tire pressures, and everyone complained about the cold! But at least it was sunny and dry. Bill Hawkins muttered something about his 944 being outclassed amongst all these other exotics, but hey, it's better than a corolla! Finally, everyone who we're expecting has arrived (as you have read, unfortunately Charles Perry couldn't make it), and around 9:15, the drivers' meeting was held, and Mike made sure we were all aware of safety issues and had signed waivers. Then Tom (who knows the track intimately) explained the lines of the track. Since I was (am) a novice at this sort of stuff, most of what he said went over my head, but the other drivers seemed to understand what he was saying.

Once the track was cleared of some debris, Mike started to take the drivers out for orientation runs on the track. As Marc gets out of the passenger's seat of the 308 after his orientation run he grins: "I can do this!" and climbs into the TR and off he goes.

After awhile no one else seems to take up Mike's offers for an orientation ride, so I step forward and accept. My first time in a 308 and my first time on a track! This should be fun! Mike waits at the end of the pit lane for all cars currently on the track to pass and then we're off! Before I know it, we're at the first corner, and g-forces are yanking me to the right. I have barely time to recover, and we're whipping around the next turn onto the top straight. We must be going a million miles per hour heading for the "hairpin". Mike brakes hard, and we're going around more turns than I can count, and we're on the main straightaway flying by the pits "wwwhheeeeeee!!" Mike takes me around the track once more, and I have a much easier time finding my bearings this time. What an awesome sensation! As we pull back into the pits I decide one ride will most definitely not do, and I will have to get some more rides! Most drivers stay out on the track for four or five laps before needing to cool down a bit in the pits, so there are never too many cars on the track.

We're chatting in the pit area, and Marc decides to get on the track with the TR for the second time. As he walks over to his car he says "Come on, let's go!". No one is quite sure who he said it to, but I ain't waiting for someone else to volunteer and immediately accept! I strap myself in the seat and hear the flat 12 jump to life behind me. I'm feeling pretty confident that I know what's coming, and am looking forward to it! Little did I know... once out of the pits the TR blasts away. "Whoa!" This time it's G-forces with a capital `G'! Power surges through this stallion on all sides! I frantically grab on to the handle on the door, forces are pulling on me left right forward and back. This is better than the worst roller-coaster from hell! Through the straights, I'm pushed deep into the leather seats, right before the corners, I'm hanging in my seat belt! In one of the turns, the back end of the TR comes loose ever so slightly, sending an extra infusion of adrenaline through my veins, and Marc grins: "That was fun!" A couple more laps, and we're turning back into the pits. I catch my breath, and slowly get out of this fantastic machine. Everyone's looking at me as I slowly stagger away from the car. My hands are shaking, and my brain is in need of oxygen. It takes quite a while for the adrenaline rush to subside. A while later, after Marc comes back from another run, I notice his hands are shaking also, so I know he's having an excellent time as well.

Throughout the day everyone's having a great time. Drivers are driving each other's cars, and us spectators are getting lots of rides! While taking some pictures, I suddenly hear squealing tires from the far end of the track. I look up and see a large dust cloud enveloping the Mondial. Fortunately is was just a run-off, no damage whatsoever. Whew...

Around lunch time the NSX group surprises everyone by producing a grill and cooking hot dogs! Warm food! We'll love 'em forever now! After lunch, just as everyone has gotten used to the lines on the track, the driving direction is turned around, we're now going clockwise. Much confusion, of course! Marc and Beth have other functions to so they take off. Thanks for the ride, Marc, that was... memorable. ;)

A little later in the day, I'm riding with Mike again. After a few laps we pull into the pits. He leaves the engine running and asks if I want to try driving the 308 myself. A rhetorical question, I presume.. :) I make sure he realizes I've never driven a 308 before, much less on the track. He says: "The track is the best place to get a feel for a car!" Okay then! I'm relieved that apparently everyone decided to take a break from driving, there's no one else on the track. Now that I think about it, they probably thought: "Uh-oh, newbie on the track, time to leave!" So, I leave the pits, taking it very easy around the first curve. The second curve goes by quite slowly also. I notice though how much more relaxed I am driving the 308 than the TR, I feel much more in control. Soon enough, I'm picking up speed, and I'm getting into my element. I'm thinking "Hey! I can do this!", and stop worrying and start driving. After a lap or two, I'm just having an awesome time, trying to drive this magnificent car as fast as I can around the track. I feel totally comfortable, and the car does exactly what I want it to, and I don't even have to think about it! Four or five laps is of course nowhere near enough, but it's not my car, and I don't want to hog it. What an incredible experience! Thanks a ton, Mike!

I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised with the 308. What I really want is a V12 (don't ask why, I just do), but now I'm thinking maybe I should get a 308 or 328 first. Driving Marc's TR is quite a handful for someone at my skill-level. I should probably get my skills up in a V8 before getting into such a big and relatively heavy V12. I felt very much at home driving the 308, it was not nearly as intimidating. Like my high school tennis coach used to say: you need to learn to hit the ball right before you hit it hard. Thoughts?

Of course the day wasn't over yet! I hadn't had a ride in the Mondial yet, and as Greg got ready for another run, I went up to him and asked if he needed a co-pilot. Lots of firsts that day, my first ride in a Mondial. I had of course sat in Dave Steven's Mondial when we were up in Montreal, and that started this whole Ferrari business with me. As we're whizzing around the track, I'm telling Greg about my new found excitement about 308s. Greg pulls into pit lane and asks me if I want to drive the Mondial. "Whoa!" These Ferrari people are TOO cool! Of course there's no way I can refuse. So we're off again, this time it's me driving. Once again, I'm in my element real quick, driving yet another fantastic Ferrari as fast as I can. As I type this down, I can hardly believe it! I would never have guessed six months ago that this were remotely possible! Going around the track, Greg compliments me: "Hey, you've done this before!" I joke: "Not really, just in video games." Of course just then the rear of the Mondial slides a bit, making my heart jump. But it's no problem, the Mondial catches itself nicely, and my ego deflates a little. :) (still plenty big tho.) Thanks Greg! Really loved driving your car!

After all these adventures, the track day was pretty much over. Time to head over to Atlanta and get my first view of Erik's new ride. Most of what happened that evening and the next day has been revealed in Charles' and Gary's stories, so I'll spare you all. I just want to mention Gary's NSX which is out of this world! Thanks for your hospitality Gary!

And of course thanks to Mike for organizing the track day!

Wow, this gets better and better.. does it ever stop? :)