Feature: A Day in the Life
February 1, 2008
The understated driving experience ends when the Porsche 911
Turbo rolls up. The car’s all-wheel drive enables it to snake through the pylons
without drama, and once the turbo boost builds to its 480 hp peak, the flat-6
offers loads of propulsive power.
The supercar tour eventually returns to Italy, this time in a
red Ferrari F430. With the steering-wheel manettino set to "race" and its
mid-mounted V-8’s 483 hp hot to trot, the Ferrari offers yet another unique
driving experience. Turn-in is so crisp compared to the others in this group
that steering input must be severely toned down; the immediacy of the throttle
response demands a delicate right foot, and the car does everything you ask,
sometimes even what you’re thinking of asking.
While not all supercars are so clairvoyant as the Ferrari, they
each exhibit personality traits that lend character and charm. Back-to-back
driving also reveals insight into each car’s ergonomic and design peculiarities.
As car control exercises yield to California Speedway’s infield and banked outer
course, the cars invite yet another layer of analysis, this time via decreasing
radius turns, sharp left-handers, and the 130 mph straightaway. Laps alternate
between rides with professional instructors and drives following pros in the
same type of car, which enables participants to take in pointers before going
solo. Breaks in the action bring out the inevitable shoptalk regarding which
paddle shifters work best, which car’s handling is stickiest, and of course,
which of the supercars is ultimately the most desirable.
A day spent sampling exotics overloads the senses, and as the
driving sessions come to an end, participants gain an appreciation for the
nuances of each vehicle. Whether you’re here to comparison shop for your next
car, or revel in the lack of law enforcement or traffic, Supercar Life offers a
unique opportunity to drive at speed in the relative safety of a track.
Now this is living.
Supercar Life, 877.420.0090,
www.supercarlife.com
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