I dumped a bunch a stuff into Chad's trunk and followed him to the track. We got to park in the campground section, about a mile closer than yesterday, and on asphalt to boot. We got there just as the World class race was getting underway. There was some good action on the corkscrew, but too many cautions made the race flow a little odd.
Porsche Cup GT3 racing was next, and Chad's mechanic Kevin Dobson had taken poll. This race again had too many caution periods, but we cheered when Kevin won the race handily. There was a cool spin in the lower section of the corkscrew during this race: the green number 10 car had been bumped, purposely, a few laps earlier, and the damage caused the fender to rub against the left rear tire. This tire finally gave out halfway down the corkscrew, sending the car into a flat spin that lasted five complete rotations. He was able to limp back to the pits, but his suspension failed soon after and he never passed us again.
I repacked my gear and suited up for the ride home, leaving the track a little before 2:00pm. From SR-68, I headed south on G-20, a fun romp up and down the Laureles Grade, with a bunch of fun twisties. Once I turned east on G-16, Carmel Valley Road, I had to bide my time through town, but things picked up soon after. More great scenery and high-speed fun, with plenty of technical corners to keep you focused. I cut down Central Avenue, with FJR-nominal speeds all the way into King City, where I stopped for some tacos.
I took US-101 south to Paso Robles, stopped quickly for gas, and headed east on SR-46. It's much more scenic to take US-101 all the way back home, but it adds about 100 miles to the route, so 46 is the way to go for the quickest way home. It's posted 55mph the entire way, but alertness and a V-1 make higher speeds possible. It's always prudent to ride in the far right section of the lane, in case one of the on-coming yahoos decides to make a pass long after the opportunity had expired.
I grabbed a bite at a McD's in Buttonwillow, then headed home on I-5. The moon was very bright, with patchy clouds from the storm coming up from the south. I stopped at the base of the Grapevine to add some warmth under my jacket - it gets cold going over the summit.
I pulled into the driveway at home at 8:45pm, wishing I didn't have to go to work the next day…
