Going to the track can be an emotional experience. It’s a way to connect with your car in a way that commuting can’t. Maybe it’s the feeling of hitting the apex, of your car’s body roll underneath and all around you, of the way the car responds to your inputs… Or maybe it’s crying from the cost of chipping your paint and shredding your tires. Either way, the track is full of excitement, adrenaline, passion, determination, and a bit of fear. And everyone has that one specific car that they can’t image a track day without.
The Lotus Club of Southern California recently held a track day at Buttonwillow and a pretty sweet variety of cars showed up to take on CW13. From the exhilaration of a top-down Miata to the power of a loud, aggressive Audi R8, I asked SoCal drivers what they love about their car when it comes to the track.
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
“I started tracking in my Evo 21 years ago. It’s not a good car to track – it eats a lot of fuel and it’s heavy. But there’s a ton of grip, a lot of usable power and torque. It’s easy to drive. It’s like a longtime friend.” – Frank Chu
2024 Lotus Emira
“The track is the only place to see what this car can really do. I’ve taken my M3 as well, but this is my first mid-engine car I’m driving on the track. It’s a great handling car and a lot lighter than the M3.” – Dale Shim
2012 Mazda Miata
“It feels like a go-kart. On the corners, it’s easier to take than typical cars. And I like driving with the top down to feel it all.” – Amy Bok
2016 Subaru BRZ
“I always wanted to track. This was my daily driver for years and I finally had the chance to make it my toy. I love this car because it’s low power and all about momentum. It feels like a good training car. I got about 25 track days on it now. I may get more horsepower later but it feels like an honest little car.” – David Peartree
2007 Lotus Exige
“I’m very particular about steering feel. This is the best I’ve found. Having no power steering is a big part of it. What Lotus did with steering is amazing.” – Andrea Ieri
2000 BMW M Roadster
“I had this car for a long time. Sam [Gao] invited me to my first Lotus event, and I started tracking it ever since. Before that, it was a weekend warrior. This is my favorite car because it matches my image. I got it because I saw it in a catalog back in colege and thought it had a cool shape. When I had the chance to get one, I got one. It’s sliding around on the track, and it’s not a track-ready car, but it’s fun.”- Vincent Wei
2024 Ford Mustang GT
“I like the visceral power and the way it makes me feel emotionally. It feels liberating. Here at the track, you are pushing it to the limit. It feels very freeing.” – Ray Codera
2021 Mazda Miata
“It’s affordable, predictable, and easy to drive. And not super slow like an NB Miata.” – Owen Dong
2017 Audi R8 Performance
“It’s fast, it’s fun. It turns gas into smiles. It’s just exciting.” – Jeff Meyer
1997 BMW M3
“It’s nostalgic, and I love BMW as a brand. The M3 is a lot of fun. It can get out of hand but it makes you work for it.” – Adam Martin
2025 Genesis GV70
“I feel safe driving this car. It has four-wheel drive, lots of power, heated seats, a massage function… I just feel safe.” – Sam Gao
2022 Porsche Cayman GTS
“It’s well-balanced and high-revving. Those are the two main things.” – Will Villegas
