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ThomasM
[PuristS]
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Lamborghini Track Day - Fontana, CA AAA Raceways

Lamborghini Track Day - Fontana, CA AAA Raceways

Lamborghini owners know that owning a Lamborghini is not just about empty bragging rights. They tend to be younger, for sure young at heart, and tend to be more true to themselves - they know what appeals to them and care less about what others think. Automobili Lamborghini recognizes that Lamborghini owners tend to live life to the fullest, seeking out experiences and products that are soulful, where design and performance are inextricably intertwined.   

Keystone to this philosophy, of course, are cars that are both extreme and raw in design, with performance to match. No empty promises here.

Lamborghini Gallardo 570-4 Superleggera: combining old school big horsepower and torque with the modern pursuit of weight reduction, the current Superleggera moves performance to an entirely new level - it looks fast, sounds fast, feels fast, and IS fast!

I care very much about "feel" and too frequently finish time in the driver's seat with the conclusion that modern models have lost much of their "soul" - 4WD and electronic stability and traction controls ("e-nannies") have taken away much of the engagement between driver and machine, reducing much of the challenge, and attendant satisfaction, of taming the wild beast.

Not only have the e-nannies made it easier for drivers of modest experience and skills to achieve performance previously reserved for pro shoes and the daring (there are several issues with this, to be discussed another time) but the current state of the art does NOT allow the e-nannies to perform their work undetected and "imperceptibly in the background."  This is not a Lamborghini problem, of course; it is a problem across the board, a limitation of the current state of the art in available technology. McLaren; Ferrari; Bugatti; even the big boys M-B AMG, BMW M; and Audi RS face this limitation and problem.

Chip controlled e-nannies like rev limiters and auto fueling modulation, wheel braking and active suspensions today operate in a way that still noticeably adds an additional layer atop raw natural feeling, causing a desensitization of engagement and throwing off of driver timing and reflexes in response to nature and the basic laws of physics.  I am sure there are many that would challenge my view on this, but let me put it this way - one can enjoy and climax while making love with snow mittens on. But I challenge anyone to honestly tell me it is the same as making love without the snow mittens (on the hands or anywhere else...) Part of this is due to the speed of electronics today - the circuits and chips and processors - and part of this is just the nature of the beast - layers are layers, no matter how thin the lamb skin.

Which is a long roundabout segue to my conclusion about the 570-4SL: before experiencing the current Superleggera, I was in love with the 550-2 which, though it also has a whole battalion of e-nannies to assist and protect its driver, the 2WD drive train is so much more pure, allowing so much more of the natural characteristics of the engine and power delivery to come through the assometer and right foot. Its lighter weight relative to the previous 4WD versions also contribute to feel and dynamic responsiveness.  After seat time in the 570-4SL, the 550-2 finally has competition for favorite baby bull...

Now if only Lamborghini will do a 2WD Superleggera...!  (a Lambophile can dream, right?)

Automobili Lamborghini, in collaboration with their dealer network, arranged a track day on the AAA Raceways circuit in Fontana, CA, for owners, prospects and friends of the marque, and this session was the first ever in the US with the recently launched Aventador supercar among the track fleet.

Being a Purist, I have to note that the Aventador has been part of track day experiences in Asia since 2011 (reported on ThePuristS and PuristSPro from Kuala Lumpur's Sepang track, Malaysia, and the F1 Circuit in Shanghai, China, in 2011 and 2012) - maybe that's why, in 2011, China surpassed the US as Lamborghini's largest market in the world? Today, in 2012, the US has regained the title as largest Lamborghini market. It will be interesting to watch as both markets continue to grow and develop...

Such beautiful, wicked lines...menacing, urgent, successfully combining sensuous curves and sharp, biting lines - it hurts so good! The Aventador successfully carries on the dream inspiring tradition of the Big Bulls, the Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago, all descended from the groundbreaking and legendary Miura.

Hey, wait a minute, I see a friend, the lovely Kimberly H...anyone who reflexively dismiss lady drivers, watch out!  You will be schooled and spanked by Kim if you ever mix it up with her behind the wheel...oooh, baby! 

The format for the day is lead - follow: a Gallardo driven by the resident Lamborghini hot shoe (and potential supercar model - Elite Modeling, are you paying attention?) Richard Antinucci - do you know how many lady friends ask me while swooning, "Is he still available?" He modestly says his brother is the good looking one...a hunk, humble, and a great driver!  If I ever was looking for a son-in-law...

back to the tracking format -

Gallardo lead car driven by Richard, followed by 4 guest drivers in 2 Gallardo 570-4SL's and 2 Aventador Coupes.

The guest cars are supposed to maintain 6-8 car lengths between vehicles, but depending on the group, it can range from 1.5 to ...well, how many car lengths is 14 seconds after the lead car comes to a rolling stop for the changeover?

After the initial familiarization lap, the first follow car pulls over on the home straight and allows the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th follow cars to move up, and this changeover is repeated on each subsequent lap. This allows for every guest car to follow directly behind the lead car and thus get a chance to explore the limits of the model they are driving.

Yellow Gallardo 570-4 SL pulled over for the changeover.

Aventador LP700-4 coming in to pitlane.

Gallardo 570-4 Superleggera on the track

Thank you, Automobili Lamborghini USA, and Lamborghini Newport Beach, the largest authorized Lamborghini dealership in the United States, for your hospitality. It's experiences like these that help make the Lamborghini experience unique - more driving, less posing!

 (note: there is an equipment malfunction - the audio in the video clip is unclear and uneven, due to a faulty mic in the POV cam. WOT in the cabin is INSPIRING!)