A Chance to Drive Fast

[BY Bob]

That is awesome! What an amazing experience with a great car! I got to test drive an Alfa Romeo around a parking lot of a dealership a few years ago, can't remember the model, but I got to play with the settings, wow, it was fast and sounded great! They already had it reserved for someone else though, so I ended up with a Legacy XT Touring, 2.4L turbo, it's a great road trip car. Just doesn't have the sounds and feels of the Alfa Romeo, lol.

You have a super cool car, I'm glad you got a chance to see what it can do! Speed limits, limiting the fun for all

Thanks. She loved it.

Interestingly enough I never got her all the way to the edge. Over 25 laps I kept going faster but I never felt like she was about to let go. There is some limit on that car.

 

[BY Bob]

Nice to see Gulia in the environment she was built to run in. So many people don't track their Alfas. Glad you got the chance!

It was perfect that the club organized it for us. Only 25 cars participated. I was kind of surprised by that.

 

[2ndTink]

Thanks. She loved it.

Interestingly enough I never got her all the way to the edge. Over 25 laps I kept going faster but I never felt like she was about to let go. There is some limit on that car.

That's awesome, it would be cool to know her limit, but pretty dang awesome to know you did the 25 laps, constantly improving, and STILL hadn't found it! What a car

 

[BY Bob]

That's awesome, it would be cool to know her limit, but pretty dang awesome to know you did the 25 laps, constantly improving, and STILL hadn't found it! What a car

They really are something special. I have never regretted choosing that car over the other possibilities.

 

[Ponypoor]

We had 2 hours of classroom instruction before taking to the track. I also got lucky and my second time out I had a race car driver ride with me and give me pointers. I was consistently topping 110 mph (177 kph) coming out of the first high bank curve. One of the guys next to me topped 140 mph (225 kph) on the same curve but he destroyed his brakes trying to slow down and that ended his day.

Oh I am envious I have to do a defensive driving course every 2 years for work and it so much fun doing the evasive maneuvers and all.

But there is no speeding allowed - darn

 

[Ponypoor]

Ever since I was a small boy I have wanted to be a race car driver. Sadly it seems opportunities to do so never really came my way and my need to be responsible drove me to another career.

I figured I would never get a chance and then I purchased an amazing car, a 2018 Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrifoglio. The car has a 505 hp Ferrari derived engine in it. When I bought the car I thought some day I need to track that car on a race track.

Well that was over 5 years ago and finally the opportunity to track the car arrived.

This year's Alfa Romeo Owners Club convention was in Concord, NC and they were offering a chance to drive Charlotte Motor Speedway. I jumped at the chance.

So this past week, on Thursday, I had my chance. Below is the video I shot of the first 15 minutes on track. I was able to do 25 laps before I had to retire the car because a piece of the undercarriage had come loose.

Video

The #10 car in the garage waiting to head out.
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Heading out

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Lined up to head out.

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I brought my Lucky charm, Daisy along for the ride.
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I think she felt like this during the track session.

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A little melted rubber on my tyres.

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It was a blast and a total success as both the car (Giana) and I survived the day intact.

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I want to know where you got the chicken I think I need it for Ol’ Blue when I am on those crazy ice roads

 

[Ponypoor]

It was perfect that the club organized it for us. Only 25 cars participated. I was kind of surprised by that.

I would have thought there would be hundreds of enthusiasts - but better for you to get more personalized attention.

Fastest I go is a buck 40 (km/hr) when I am out in the prairies - that highway from Brandon to Regina is straight and flat and wide open no trees just flat prairies- and no Mounties to haul my butt over for speeding!

I don’t even feel I am speeding and Ol’ Blue just toodles along smooth like…. Nice

 

[kcan2]

Inspiring! Great work making it happen - and sharing with us, too!

 

[Ponypoor]

It was perfect that the club organized it for us. Only 25 cars participated. I was kind of surprised by that.

Will you go to the next one? Do they hold them every year? Do they go to other countries? Like Italy !

 

[BY Bob]

Inspiring! Great work making it happen - and sharing with us, too!

Glad to share. It was such an amazing thing to be able to do.