The Big Day Has Finally Arrived!

Continuing from the 911DAYS Fuji Speedway Track Day Participation [Part 1] article from the day before yesterday, here is the second part.

911DAYS主催の富士スピードウェイ走行会に参加【前編】 ー 自宅〜山中湖着まで

The morning after arriving at the hotel near Lake Yamanaka, I woke up at 6 a.m. and nervously opened the curtains to see…

Wow, there’s a ton of snow (*_*)!!

My husband also looked worried and said,

“This is bad… If we use the toll road, we might just make it to Fuji Speedway, but will we even be able to drive once we get there?”

I felt sorry, thinking it might have been better if he had come alone… But then, around 8 a.m., the weather suddenly started to clear up rapidly.

Mount Fuji became clearly visible.

Additionally, since the chain restrictions were lifted, we decided to leave the hotel immediately. Although the Boxster and Panamera in the parking lot were covered with snow, thankfully there was no sign of ice.

For a while, we enjoyed a smooth drive while admiring the beautiful Mount Fuji.

This was the first time I had ever seen Mount Fuji so clear and beautiful. Despite the heavy snow, we got to see this stunning view and the chain restrictions were lifted—so all’s well that ends well (even though the main event wasn’t over yet, lol).

After about 30 minutes, we arrived at Fuji Speedway.

(We initially went to the West Gate by mistake.)

There was still quite a bit of snow, so I wondered if it would be okay… but when we got there, the 911DAYS track day registration was already underway, and many Porsches were preparing.

Also, on this day, the SuperCar Club Japan was holding the ALL Japan Supercar Meeting 6th, so the parking lot was lined with prestigious sports cars like Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Aston Martins.

Later, we were able to meet WRP President Mr. Suga and his wife safely. While chatting, he said, “It’s the first time we’ve had snow at this time of year, but thankfully it cleared up.” My husband then started preparing for the track day.

However, there was still snow on the course, so we couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious about whether driving would really be possible…

At 10:30 a.m., the briefing began. Since it was my first time participating (or rather, just observing), I had no idea there would be a briefing before the track day.

The briefing covered explanations of flags like the red flag and yellow flag, an introduction to the course, and a lecture on circuit driving etiquette from a driver who had won the Carrera Cup. It was also announced that due to snow, the track day schedule would be delayed by one hour.

One hour delay…

So the start planned for noon would now be at 1 p.m. I wondered what my two daughters would do during the wait…

At that moment, I realized I had completely forgotten to buy lunch at the convenience store, even though President Suga had kindly advised me to bring lunch from a convenience store (I was only thinking about the chain restrictions).

So we went to the restaurant, but everyone had the same idea, and there was a long line stretching outside the entrance. We reluctantly settled for CalorieMate and snacks sold at the shop as lunch.

If it had been just adults, we could have walked over to the grandstand side to check out food stalls, but moving around with kids and a stroller was a hassle. I firmly vowed, “Next time, I’ll definitely buy lunch at the convenience store.”

Still, the kids were delighted, treating it like a snack party, so all was well, haha.

Boxster GTS on Track!

For the first session, it was allowed for passengers to ride in the front seat for the first few laps. President Suga’s wife kindly said, “I’ll watch your kids, so please, go ahead and ride along.”

I was thrilled and said, “Yay! I’d love to!” but then, our 2-year-old daughter suddenly said she wanted to ride too, so she made her circuit debut instead.

I wondered, “Is this really okay?” but put her in the passenger seat, and my husband waited at the designated spot near the course. Since this was a 911DAYS session, a lineup of classic and modern Porsches was gathered.

It was breathtaking… The shot of Mount Fuji with the GT3 was absolutely stunning.

Before long, just before 1 p.m., the Boxster GTS with our daughter on board started its run.

However, after just one lap, the Boxster GTS immediately returned to the pits.

I wondered if something had happened, and when I asked, my husband said, “Our daughter fell fast asleep just before the circuit run and wouldn’t wake up no matter what, so we decided it was best to stop early.”

Her circuit debut ended up being a full-on nap, haha.

What a waste of a great opportunity… I should have forced myself to ride instead.

Cheering up, I watched the Porsche track runs from the second floor. Seeing Porsches, which usually only use a fraction of their power, running full throttle was incredibly cool. The engine sounds, brakes, and tires created an intense atmosphere, and since everyone drove like true gentlemen, I felt safe and enjoyed watching the whole time.

When my husband returned after the first run, he was visibly excited.

“Wow, that was so much fun! Seriously, it was amazing! The new tires made all the difference. The Boxster grips so well in corners, making it super easy to drive. And with Mount Fuji perfectly in view, it felt incredible!”

Hearing that made me want to drive a little too. Meanwhile, President Suga was busy adjusting tire pressures, checking brakes, and tightening wheels on each car.

There were quite a few first-time circuit participants, but with this kind of support, even beginners can enjoy track driving with confidence. My husband fully trusts WRP, saying,

“They’ve supported me since I bought my air-cooled Porsche. Before delivery, they even test-drove my 964 to check the feel and any unusual noises, then did maintenance and carefully explained and suggested any additional repairs needed. Most used car dealers I’ve dealt with only do basic visual checks or minimal maintenance to pass inspections, but WRP is different. They really understand car enthusiasts and provide thorough, honest support.”

On delivery day, they even brought Porsche keychains and famous sweets from Nagoya carefully chosen by Mrs. Suga, which made the kids (and me the most!) jump for joy. Such thoughtful gestures are truly heartwarming.

Meeting Yamaken for the First Time

The track day itself was a blast, but the long wait between the first and second runs was a bit of a challenge. I could manage alone, but the kids quickly got bored and started fussing, which was a bit tough.

During the wait, there was a supercar parade run, so I took some photos from above, but otherwise had nothing to do and just zoned out for about two hours…

Feeling extremely bored, I tweeted, “So bored I could die…” and soon found out that

Heisei Owners Club (HOC) president Yamaken was nearby. The Heisei Owners Club (HOC) is a community for car-loving owners born in the Heisei era, founded by Yamaken to show that young people still love cars despite the “car-decline” narrative.

Yamaken is also a member of the “Yusaku Maezawa Supercar Project” started by ZOZOTOWN CEO Maezawa. We had connected a little via Twitter.

Hoping to meet him, I wandered around the parking lot where the supercars were parked and spotted a Ferrari I recognized from Twitter!

I thought, “Could this be it? Then one of the people standing here must be Yamaken… (*_*)” I hesitated, but then a young man approached me.

“Are you Mina? I’m Yamaken!”

Yamaken was as charming as I’d heard (lol), and while I was taking photos of the Ferrari, he kindly entertained the kids. It was clear he has a strong ability to connect with people and high personal charisma.

After parting ways with Yamaken, my husband’s second run started. This time, we moved to a hill near the final corner to watch, which turned out to be a great hidden spot.

I thought I should have watched from here from the start. While letting the girls play on the grass, I turned into a full-on camera enthusiast, snapping away until the second run ended quickly.

As for the results… my husband finished 8th, and was the top driver in the WRP group.

Among the top finishers were cars like the GT3RS, GT3, 911 Turbo, and Cayman GT4, so the Boxster GTS did remarkably well. My husband said,

“Practicing every night on PlayStation really paid off. It was like ‘Real Gran Turismo,’ lol. But in reality, the G-forces almost lifted me off the seat, and since it was a manual, if I had a racing seat and PDK, I might have gone even faster. I’m aiming even higher!”

I wonder what exactly he’s aiming for, haha.

All in all, the track day ended safely without injuries, and it was a very valuable experience. The circuit felt like an adult Disneyland… Seeing serious adults, usually burdened with big responsibilities, smiling like kids made me feel so happy and enriched.

President Suga encouraged me, saying, “Next year, you should definitely drive too!” but my husband quickly replied,

“No way, she needs to practice on PlayStation first!”

He’s pretty tough on me in situations like this, haha.

Our 5- and 2-year-old daughters experienced the circuit for the first time, but I wonder how they felt about it. They probably won’t remember much when they grow up, though (laughs).

Anyway, a big thank you to WRP President Suga, his wife, and everyone involved! Looking forward to next year!