A Sudden Trip to Fuji Speedway

In late March, the Porsche driving event hosted by the magazine 911DAYS was held at Fuji Speedway.

In my blog the day before, I wrote, “My eldest son was unwell, so unfortunately, my eldest son, my daughter, and I stayed home. Only my husband and youngest daughter went to the venue.” That was the plan.

My husband kept saying until just before departure, “Why don’t you come if you can?” but since I would be following his 911 in the GLB,

I thought, “If our son vomits in the car while I’m driving, I’d have to handle it alone, which would be tough (actually, on a previous trip back from Fuji Speedway, our son vomited several times in the Cayenne, which was quite a challenge). Considering the risk of him getting seriously ill at the circuit, it would be troublesome and dangerous for everyone,”

so I decided not to go.

However…

That morning, when only my husband and youngest daughter left in the Porsche to arrive a day early, our son at home burst into tears for a while. Then, strangely, his condition started to improve rapidly…

Later in the afternoon, while looking at photos my husband sent from the hotel, my excitement gradually grew. Around 5:30 p.m., I asked my daughter, “Shall we go to Fuji now?” and she immediately replied, “Yes, yes!!!”

I called my husband right away and told him, “We’re heading to Fuji now.”

“What!? You’re coming now…!? Are you serious?”

He was quite surprised (understandably so, haha) but said, “If you’re coming, please be careful and take your time.”

I quickly took a bath, hurriedly packed, and left home at 6:30 p.m.

I stocked up on coffee and gum at 7-Eleven to stay awake, then drove about 450 km on the highway through the night, arriving at the venue around midnight.

I was able to participate in the driving event the next day without any issues. Honestly, I thought to myself, I really do have a lot of stamina (laughs).

Circuit Debut in a Carrera T Next Year?

This driving event wasn’t just 911DAYS; many other events were held simultaneously, and the parking lot at Fuji Speedway was packed with sports cars, creating a lively atmosphere.

The weather wasn’t perfectly clear but held up just enough. I also got to meet blog readers I see every year, which was fun, and I thought, “I’m really glad I came.”

About 60 Porsches participated in the 911DAYS event, and it was a mix of first-timers and seasoned veterans, making it a very exciting event to watch.

By the way, my husband participated in a 911 (991.1) Carrera 4 GTS, and he said:

“Driving on the circuit is really fun. Plus, this time it was a Porsche-only session with all gentleman drivers, so I felt safe out there. But… the 911 Carrera 4 GTS was a bit tricky to drive. The Boxster felt faster, and its lap times were better. Because it’s all-wheel drive and very stable, it’s hard to sense the limits in corners. Since I couldn’t tell how far I could push it, I ended up driving cautiously in many places. I think I could actually go faster than I thought. Also, the car is heavy, so lighter cars are definitely quicker on the circuit. If I run again next time, I’d prefer to drive a different car.”

After the two driving sessions ended, everyone said, “Mina, you should definitely join next year in a Carrera T!” I quickly replied, “No way, I’ll have my husband drive the Carrera T…” and hurried home, but my husband said this:

“If you’re going to do it, you should try driving the Carrera T next year. The 992 is super fast, and the lightweight Carrera T is really fun. But if you’re going to the circuit, you have to practice on a simulator at least a month in advance and thoroughly memorize the Fuji Speedway course and racing lines. Don’t underestimate the circuit. It’s totally different from driving on public roads. Also, lately, I’ve been slower to turn the wheel in corners. It used to be smoother. If you buy a Carrera T, it might be a good idea to go to a driving school again after a while.”

Haha.

I see. This year I bought my first Porsche, and next year, I want to make my circuit driving debut. I’m not fully committed yet, but I’m thinking of giving it a try (though I’m still a bit scared).

Anyway, thank you so much to everyone who helped me at the circuit this time! Let’s definitely meet again next year!