Took these out for a spin today

"Rico" (ricorich)
08/03/2014 at 21:26 • Filed to: None

Went out to Long Island to an event by Circuit 1. Paid $20 a lap for 3 laps in each car, plus 1 extra free lap in the Gallardo because the instructor was super cool. This was on a makeshift track in the parking lot of the Nassau Colesium.

The 911 Turbo S is insane, it was quite luxurious for the limited time I was in it. When you floored it, it wasted no time getting upto speed, braking was instant and the way it handled felt nimble. The steering was noticeable heavier than my C300 but I liked it a lot.

The Lamborghini Gallardo was pretty good. But overall it wasn't as impressive as I expected. First off both Gallados were beat to death, the driver side door handle on the yellow one was missing and the silver one sounded like it was misfiring at WOT.

The Gallardo was slower than the 911 and didn't feel as nimble. When it got going it really opened up but by that time I had to brake for a turn. The exhaust was really nice but the car really seemed better suited on a much larger track. Overall I think if I ever came into some money the Gallardo would be way down on my list of cars I would own, way way down.

The other cars that were there were out of commission. A Nissan GTR had destroyed a tire an hour before I got there and a Ferrari 599 was towed away before I got there for a broken clutch. Definitely would do this again and they're going to be there Aug 9th, same deal $20 a lap if anyone's interested.

DISCUSSION (42)

Roadster Man > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:29

How far out in Long Island? Looks like fun.

oldirtybootz > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:35

I could have done something fun today? Fuck. Me. Sideways.

Woulda been worth the drive out to Uniondale. Of course on the 9th I have a part to go to. However the party is out that way so maybe I can find the time to do it beforehand.

oldirtybootz > Roadster Man
08/03/2014 at 21:38

Uniondale, it isn't deep at all. It's the dump where the Islanders play.

Kinja'd!!!

Rico > Roadster Man
08/03/2014 at 21:39

Out in Hempstead at the Nassau Coliseum, surprisingly just 30 mins from my house with barely any traffic.

Manuél Ferrari > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:39

Wow that is a really good deal! $20 a lap? Steal!

Bummer there were no second gen Gallardos so you could compare them.

I can't tell what year those cars were but I know they were in the 2004-2008 range because they don't have the rear end of the 2009 and up cars.

Even in the 1st gen range the 2006-2008 cars are supposed to handle better. Only one I ever drove was a 2004 and I wasn't impressed either. It was just kind of meh for an exotic car, even though it had a gated shifter. It had basically the same HP as an F430 but didn't seem to handle as well and wasn't as fun to drive.

Rico > oldirtybootz
08/03/2014 at 21:41

Do it, I didn't even know you were out on the island. They get there like 11:00 AM and at that time there are barely any people. There were only about 4 people ahead of me for each car so I was in and out within about 2 hours total.

oldirtybootz > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:43

That timing works incredibly perfect. This should be sweet. Any age requirements? I mean, I'm 23 but I can't even legally rent a car yet so ya never know.

And yeah, I'm out in Suffolk on the North Shore.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:43

Let me guess you have to be 18? Wouldn't be surprised.

Rico > Manuél Ferrari
08/03/2014 at 21:53

Yeah I'm sure more recent Gallardos are way better to drive, this one had paddle shifters but you never leave 2nd gear because the track isn't that big. The handling was definitely good and probably better if I had been driving it a little longer through more curves and bends. All I'm saying is the Porsche definitely gave me a "WHOA!" feeling while the Lambo was more like "Hey this thing is is pretty fast and it sounds like I'm doing 200 mph."

A guy I met there told me he went to an event last year in Englishtown, NJ for $500 it was an all day event, breakfast and lunch served with 2 long laps in every car: Ferrari F430, Mclaren 12c, Ford GT40, Lotus Elise, GTR, Gallardo spyder, Porsche Turbo S hardtop on, and an Audi R8. I made sure to write this list down because I had never heard of an event with almost every car I'd want to drive and wanted to look it up.

Rico > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/03/2014 at 21:54

To be honest I am not sure, they just said bring a valid driver's license which they didn't even bother to look at, they just put my name down on a car and handed it to me with how many laps I paid for in each. You could probably get away with it.

Manuél Ferrari > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:55

That is awesome! Which cars did he like driving the most?

Rico > oldirtybootz
08/03/2014 at 21:56

Nope no age requirements just a valid license which they didn't even bother checking, they just handed me a card with the amount of laps I paid for checked off. I'm only 24 so you should be good to go man.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Rico
08/03/2014 at 21:57

Well I don't know if a learners permit would be considered a "valid licence"

Roadster Man > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:03

Holy shit what is that event called!?

Rico > Manuél Ferrari
08/03/2014 at 22:04

He told me the F430 was nice but couldn't handle for shit, the GT40 was one of the best cars he's ever driven and could take corners like a pro, GTR was as fast as he'd hoped, the R8 was better than the Gallardo and he'd seriously consider getting one over it, and the Lotus "was a god damn go kart, I could barely feel what was going on because it'd pull out of a turn at an instant and I'd be upto speed again".

He told me he used to own a Viper before the economy went bad and now has a Volvo C70 Inscription Edition that was slightly lowered and tuned to 300 whp.

Rico > Roadster Man
08/03/2014 at 22:05

No idea! But I'm going to try some google-fu to find it, Englishtown, NJ is where it was and he got the deal on Groupon.

Roadster Man > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:06

Yeah those awesome deals are always groupon things. I've been meaning to do one of these things for a while now, I hear if you get them on a good day (good cars), it's a lot of fun.

Rico > Roadster Man
08/03/2014 at 22:07

I had a good time and there were some nice people there, it was my first ever car event so good experience all around.

Newsboy > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:16

How did you get to drive for $20 a lap? The only price they list on their website is $300 for 3 laps.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/circuit-one-…

Manuél Ferrari > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:16

Bummer he thought the F430 couldn't handle worth shit. I haven't driven one on track but I've driven one on the street a lot because my old man has a spider. It seems to handle good on the street. But I haven't pushed it very hard because I'm scared to wreck his car.

And interesting the R8 was better than the Gallardo. I guess more size and weight was good somehow, haha

Newsboy > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:18

"Offering Formula 1 inspired autocross events across New England..."

How the hell is an exotic car autocross "Formula 1 inspired?"

Rico > Manuél Ferrari
08/03/2014 at 22:27

I feel that everyone's tastes are different, he might think it can't handle while others might feel that it handles beautifully. He said it was about the way it cornered and that the A pillar was obstructing his view. As for the R8 he said it felt like it handled better, I think it was likely that it was because it was more recent than the Spyder which was likely an older model.

Rico > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/03/2014 at 22:29

Lol likely not, but nobody checks for your information. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get someone with a license to pay for the laps and then walk over to the attendant and show them the card they give you and pretend you are them, they never ask you for anything I swear.

Rico > Newsboy
08/03/2014 at 22:30

Groupon! And they let you purchase additional laps there for $20 a lap with a minimum of 3 laps and a max of 7.

Rico > Newsboy
08/03/2014 at 22:30

Uhhh definitely not F1.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:30

Then I'd go there and it's going to be the one day they actually check everything.

Rico > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/03/2014 at 22:31

Luck of the draw, I'd risk it. It was really laid back.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Rico
08/03/2014 at 22:35

If only it wasn't 6 hours from me and just rechecking the date I'll be at Watkins Glen for the NASCAR race anyway.

oldirtybootz > Rico
08/04/2014 at 00:04

I was thinking the 9th is Sunday so unfortunately the scheduling doesn't work out. I'll definitely look into this further though.

Manuél Ferrari > Rico
08/04/2014 at 01:06

We need to get out on a track with all these awesome cars and experience them ourselves!

Rico > oldirtybootz
08/04/2014 at 06:57

Keep an eye on Groupon Circuit 1 isn't the only show in town, you might find something else on a better date.

Rico > Manuél Ferrari
08/04/2014 at 07:00

A man can dream! I'm going to keep an eye out for a deal like he had and post it here if I find one.

William Byrd > Rico
08/04/2014 at 08:35

Nice! I drove a Superlegerra out in Vegas at the Exotics Racing track and was similarly...well not quite "meh" but it wasn't nearly as good as the 458 I drove right after it. Looks like a fun outing, and yours was MUCH cheaper than mine was.

Rico > William Byrd
08/04/2014 at 09:55

I'm just going to chalk it up to not having enough space to really open it up. It was definitely not slow and sounded like a rocket ship when I floored it but the Porsche was just faster and more nimble through the turns, I'm sure flat out the Lamborghini would smoke it.

William Byrd > Rico
08/04/2014 at 10:06

Mine was more ergonomic. I'm 6'ft tall and with a helmet on I barely fit in the Lambo. And from an aural standpoint the Gallardo sounded good while the Ferrari sounded like a symphony.

Rico > William Byrd
08/04/2014 at 10:42

I got to try a Ferrari next time, damn who ever broke the clutch on the 599.

William Byrd > Rico
08/04/2014 at 10:59

That was the Aventador for me. Was signed up to drive that but someone took it off into the gravel trap that morning. I wish I had gotten to try it.

Rico > William Byrd
08/04/2014 at 11:17

I just read your guide to AutoX, I'm thinking about doing an event in Sept that's SCCA, it will be my first time.

William Byrd > Rico
08/04/2014 at 11:43

Nice! I don't know much about the NY region, but I'm betting they put on a good event. It's one of the best (definitely the cheapest) ways to learn vehicle dynamics, car control, etc.

Rico > William Byrd
08/04/2014 at 11:45

That's what I want, I want to be able to learn how to drive my C300 better.

William Byrd > Rico
08/04/2014 at 11:54

That'll do it. Make sure to post about how it goes.

Manuél Ferrari > Rico
08/04/2014 at 12:05

good luck!!!