My parents bought me an Imagine Lifestyles Exotic Car Driving Experience as a birthday present. I chose the [base] Gallardo coupe from a great list of vehicles (F430, Vanquish, SLS, etc) and got to take it out to Autobahn Country Club's private race track.
The experience also included a quick intro to racing fundamentals course and time in the car with their professional. The track pro led us in an E63 pace car to make sure we all kept on a good racing line.
My street car is a pretty quick vehicle (0-60 in 5s flat) and I have even raced on this track before...but I was NOT prepared for this level of performance. The Gallardo's speed was staggering. Accelerating down the main straightaway was intense...35 up to 130mph, then back down to 35 again.
Everything about that car is "turned up to 11", so to speak. The noise, the acceleration, the handling, the braking...everything. The V10 sound behind my head is permanently burned into my skull. It is downright vulgar, and almost violent. The tranny just slams every gear, and the rev-matched downshifts are nearly instantaneous.
I don't even know what the limits of this car are. That's what's the most terrifying thing of all. I couldn't even get stability control to come on, despite hearing from them on the radio I had broken the 130mph barrier, something no one had managed all weekend.
Truly an experience to remember, and I will absolutely do it again next year. I may go for the F430 or SLS next time. So yes, mind = blown.
The experience also included a quick intro to racing fundamentals course and time in the car with their professional. The track pro led us in an E63 pace car to make sure we all kept on a good racing line.
My street car is a pretty quick vehicle (0-60 in 5s flat) and I have even raced on this track before...but I was NOT prepared for this level of performance. The Gallardo's speed was staggering. Accelerating down the main straightaway was intense...35 up to 130mph, then back down to 35 again.
Everything about that car is "turned up to 11", so to speak. The noise, the acceleration, the handling, the braking...everything. The V10 sound behind my head is permanently burned into my skull. It is downright vulgar, and almost violent. The tranny just slams every gear, and the rev-matched downshifts are nearly instantaneous.
I don't even know what the limits of this car are. That's what's the most terrifying thing of all. I couldn't even get stability control to come on, despite hearing from them on the radio I had broken the 130mph barrier, something no one had managed all weekend.
Truly an experience to remember, and I will absolutely do it again next year. I may go for the F430 or SLS next time. So yes, mind = blown.
