Wasn't really sure what the experience was going to be like today with the G1 Tour booking at Calabogie.
Their registration process seems unorganized, website is lacking and they weren't responding to emails.
Once I got them on the phone, they had quite the hard sell when booking, but I settled on 6 laps, no extras like photos or "VIP".
So today, I arrived with wife and son (took the FRS of course) and got there about 40 mins before my scheduled 10am slot.
I had booked the Ferrari F430. Unfortunately wasn't the long track, but the short East track which is the better of the 2 shorter tracks.
I registered and he started telling me about the pre-drive training, so I mentioned I knew the track already and instructed here so he says I can skip that part. Okay.
You basically wait at pit wall in one of 3 lines for the cars. Today was Ferrari, GTR, Lambo. GTR looked and sounded mental fast and twas was not a stock one either.
My turn came up and promptly got into the car, looked over the controls briefly, adjusted the seat and I was off with instructor in passenger seat.
I drive to pit-out waiting for entry call on instructor's radio:
"Ferrari go!"
"Wait, No! Ferrari hold!!! Lambo coming."
(Lambo Gallardo passes)
"Okay Ferrari, go now!"
Slowly get onto the track (watching blendline of course), tires and brakes are already warm, I take it easy as I start building speed and we catch that Lambo 4 corners in. Instructor radios ahead to have Lambo let us by and then we are gone.
This car wails and really opens up in 3rd and 4th gear, and oddly seems a bit docile in 2nd. Of course they leave all aids on, and you can really feel them kicking in and especially slowing the exit out of corners but once going is a blast. Car handles very well with a hint of understeer. Tubi exhaust from engine right behind my head sounds incredible as secondaries open past 6K to redline.
Car has paddles and found out the hard way that it upshifts automatically if you wait too long and gets close to peak rpms, so now I'm trying to time my shifts just right at around 8200.
I run up to top of 4th gear (about 190k) on short straight before right into T1/T9 and car holds ground pretty good around multi-apex right sweepers. Easy on brakes as car stops very well and turn into 10-11 before dropping down to 2nd for T12. Traction control is holding off power so smooth back up to T14 before sharp left and accelerating up Ridge, into 4th and back down hill to Spoon into the Quarry complex. A tap of brakes for "4Left" and then back down to 3rd for T17-20 before getting back onto front straight with engine howling behind me.
"That's it, your laps are up" instructor chimes in. Already?
"Yeah, was pretty quick for me too!" he says. He was very cool and local guy too.
Would recommend for your bucket list!
Kenny, you should have a blast with the GT3.