Page 54 - KCRPCA July Aug 2020

FATHER DAUGHTER DE SEAT TIME EMMA VOSSLER TAKES TO THE TRACK JR MEMBER EMMA VOSSLER The tires were howling as the car exited the corner. I was back on the gas and then slamming on the brakes before turning again as my instructor laughed over my headset. “You like those corners, don’t you?” I couldn’t help the smirk that appeared beneath my helmet. The week before had been full of excitement and nervous anticipation for this moment. I had been wanting to drive on a racetrack ever since my dad had let me participate in local PCA autocrosses. My first track weekend had arrived. Like any eighteen year old, I was eager to get behind the wheel on a racetrack, but quickly learned that starting by riding a few laps with my instructors was the best idea. After all, it’s one thing to talk about how to approach corners, look out for braking landmarks, and checking for corner stations, it’s another to actually see them on the track. I even got the privilege to tackle a good old fashioned stick shift in my Dad’s GT4. Today I would get to line up amongst the handful of other new drivers and head out on the open track to go as fast as I wanted, or as fast as I could control. I wasn’t alone of course, I had an instructor riding passenger with me the whole time and I was grateful. Being a novice meant I had lots to learn about what lines to take, what gear to shift into, and what corners to be cautious of spinning out. Like my fellow novices, I started out in the classroom, learning about passing zones, how to watch for corner stations, and how far ahead to be looking. My first session was yellow all around and being naturally anxious, I was all gungho about starting. After a first few laps my instructor, Angie, suggested that she take me for a ride and 01 54 Der Sportwagen YEARS