A Lapping Day Pictorial at CTMP
If you are looking at your computer screen then it means that you cannot be out on the track. So here are some pictures of some beautiful cars that, while they may not win prizes at a Show and Shine, are outstanding on a race track. Then there are a few that have brought home First Place trophies from Show and Shines, proving that you can go fast and look good. Finally there are a few cars that even if you mortgaged your house you may not be able to afford. It is incredible to see these cars driven properly – on a race track and in a controlled manner. Why have an exotic car if you can never explore it's potential? Accidents are more likely on your local city street or parking lot than during an organized track day. First we will visit the corners of my favourite track, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (historically known as Mosport), and then you can enjoy some of the vehicles that have joined me at my lapping days over the last couple of years.
As you leave pit row at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, you begin a slight uphill drive. Cresting it you see the infamous Turn Two. An off-camber turn that is just waiting to suck you into the tire wall. Even more, it is a larger drop than any toboggan hill you sped down as a child. If you did sled down bigger hills, it was likely only once because you would be too tired to pull the sled back up again. The first two pics are my 1992 Nissan NX1600 which I have owned since 1992. It now has Pulsar GTi-R SR20DET drivetrain that puts down 300 WHP at 12 pounds of boost. This engine sat in Will Chan's garage unmolested for ten years until I bought it. It has now been thoroughly used but not abused. The temperature was freezing on the day of this picture with a skim of ice on my windshield. Pic by author.
Here is the bottom of Turn Two and looking ahead to Turn Three. Pic by author.
Turn Four may be taken flat, with momentum cars hitting their top speed at this section of the track. This is a 100 mph corner – if you are ready. Turn Four and Turn Five, at the top of the picture, may be the most photographed turns of the track. You have little room for error when you brake from 100 plus mph to about 50 mph needed for Turn Five. This is the only place at CTMP where you may actually need second gear. Pic by author.
Dasilva Motorsports' Cadilac looked awesome, sounded incredible, and was nicely planted as it rounded Five.
