Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/673867
March / April 2016 32 After class, we are direct- ed to take our cars for some braking practice. We drive to about sixty and then prac- tice maximum breaking. This is a good idea. Most of us have never tried to break at the limit. Far from it; and to do so repeatedly was an eye opener. "The car can take it, it was designed for this." we were told. It be- came pretty clear why there is a rule about having a fresh brake systems flush prior to a DE. It became even more apparent later. Finally, the time had ar- rived. I picked up Chris and headed for the staging area. We were going to drive at speed for the first time. If you haven't done this before it is pretty exciting, sitting there, in your helmet, wait- ing to be waved onto the track while it is "hot". We pull out in line and ac- celerate. Down a slight hill and then back up hill in in a fairly tight turn. I am just learning the line and when to be on and off the gators. No way to remember what turns are coming next. They all look the same (I would Shifting at redline, second and then third, and then finally fourth, I see 100 MPH flash on the digital speedometer just as we crest the main straightaway hill. dream about the track that night and only after driving it in my sleep did I begin to have it memorized). On the back straight and then the final couple of turns before the big straight. Down shift to second, hard left and then on to the main straightaway. Shifting at redline, second and then third and then finally fourth, I see 100 MPH flash on the digital speedometer just as we crest the main straight- away hill. I soon realize that I can't see over that hill and that the car was getting light and I was going to have to brake really really soon. "Keep the power on." Chris says over the intercom, there is a corner worker there who will alert you if there is trou- ble ahead." Oh really? We are going triple digit speeds, can't see the other side of this hill and we are supposed to continue to accelerate un- less the corner worker waves a flag at us. Hmmm. And then, after we crest the hill, we apply maximum break- ing? While going this fast? Really? No time to actually get an answer from Chris, I just do as I am instructed. A second later we are over the crest, quickly coming up on turn one and when the weight settles, I brake hard, down shift to second, get back on the power and do it all again. And again. I am firmly on the slippery slope. - DAN Photos by Dan Barks