Jim Russell Adventure as seen on MCO

[ae86_240SX]

Day one and arrival,

I start tomorrow but I thought I`d start on the story tonight. I`ll be updating it for the next three days with some pictures and hopefully some videos. So for now I can only say, WOW Tremblant in the fall is wicked, mind you there is a huge amount of tourists but that doesnt take away from the overall expirence. I was even able to enjoy the drive up in my 97` Astro van (which no longer has a stabilzer bar up front ). I was really hoping to get some course walks in however the gates were closed when I arrived. I guess im gonna have to wait till tomorrow, I can also add some drama to this adventure by saying that I yet have no idea when I need to be there. So far ive tried calling and checking the site but its fairly useless, I was given a letter and have yet to check that. I have more to add to this story because I`ll be able to kill two birds with one stone, I have testing lined up with Compass 360 Racing on Oct.25 and I`ll be able to get my SCCA license and CASC license from this school to be able to test with the team. It seems October is my lucky month.

Well im off to eat soon and I`ll update tomorrow around the same time.

See y`all next time!

[ae86_240SX]

Day 2:

My back hurts! So yeah..... WOW very fun and very fast and easy to drive. Our only seat time today was braking points so speed wasnt heavily involved. But thats all good cause you gotta take things slow with these guys. My favourite thing about these cars is the tiny size of the shifter its very easy to get a mish-shift but if you take your time you can get some seriouslly smooth shifts in. They like to lock up when you mash on the breaks too but they`re very easy to unlock. Now as for picutres and videos I have no idea how to work this computer im using so you`ll all have to wait till I get back home to Ottawa.

The real driving begins tomorrow....Cya`ll next time!

[ae86_240SX]

Sorry for the long wait but I finally have some pictures available for viewing.

So yeah Day 3 and 4: The Finals!

Not that it was competitive in any way. Day 3 saw some fun lapping of the north course and applying braking downshifting and cornering (more review for me). Still good fun and a blast later in the afternoon once we started full lapping. It was very nice to slowly have the engine opened up higher in rpm after each session. It could make corners much easier and faster. There was no added drama for day 3 only smooth driving and further understanding of car control.

Day 4: Drama!

It started early too, everyone was on edge after completeing the written test (which I scored %100 I thank you :D ) and were afraid of the early morning lapping session of which there was still frost on the grass. We did our usual 3-4 laps to warm up the engine and the tires only driving around %80 of the yours and the cars ability. However the other student at my age (19) was way off line in the morning, I was following him up through the bridge turn (the one that goes under the service bridge) I knew right away his line was such an early apex that he would be in serious trouble up at the blind top. I backed off and sure enough I saw the grass start flying, when I came up through the bridge he managed a full 360 and hit the side of the car on the wall and slowly rolled back on track. I simply asked if he was good then drove to the pits and told them to red flag the session. Shortly after his car rolled in and his day was done. And then there was 3, the day warmed up quickly and I was able to start some serious lapping and some serious speeds. I got the greatest enjoyment in being able to take turn 1 flat out and turn 11 as well into the bridge turn. I managed only one small incident in the same deadly corner, I late braked into the turn and didn't blip my throttle enoguh locking my rears and putting me sideways into the middle of the road. No major issue I drove back to the pits asked if I did any damage then was off and back to my pace in no time. I found a good reference point for that turn and had no problems for the remainder of the day. By the 8th session and the engine limiting at 5,000rpm I set my best lap time at 1'15.562 (North Course). For our 9th session we were given a little gift and the oppurtunity to drive the full course, at which i set a 1'57.151. Nothing impressive but I'd be dammed if I was gonna push myself on the un-familiar south course to go home early without my certificate. Not only that but on the straight away holding at 5,000 rpm wasnt gonna set any lap records (the full limit of the engine is 6,000rpm if your wondering). I recieved my certificate and the expirence and left with a giant smile on my face that has yet to go away.

Come back soon when I'll cover my next story, "Compass 360 Racing Adventure on Oct.25"

See ya'll next time! :D

P.S. The pictures ->


http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v362/147/88/847420053/n847420053_4504989_6602.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v362/147/88/847420053/n847420053_4504994_8249.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v362/147/88/847420053/n847420053_4504995_8576.jpg