So, Tsukuba. Yeah, that Tsukuba. You see it everywhere, don’t ya? In games, those old car videos, all that stuff. It always looked kinda… manageable on a screen. So, I figured, why not actually go and see what the fuss was all about myself? Had a free weekend, some spare cash burning a hole in my pocket, so I just went for it. Didn’t really plan much, just showed up, pretty much.
My First Tangle with the Track
Getting there was an adventure in itself, but let’s skip that. The track itself? It’s, well, it’s a racetrack. Not as shiny or massive as some of those newer places. It’s got a bit of a worn-in feel, kinda gritty, which I actually liked. Felt more real, you know? They sort of herded us folks doing the “experience day” into this little room for what they called a briefing. Standard stuff, mostly. “Don’t be a hero,” “watch for the flags,” “this is the brake pedal,” all that jazz. I was trying to pay attention, honest, but mostly I was just itching to get out there. My palms were already a bit sweaty.
Eventually, they let us loose. Well, not entirely loose. They put me in a car, nothing too wild, thankfully. Probably for the best, considering my actual skill level versus my imagined skill level. Strapped in, got the thumbs up, and off I went. And man, those first few laps… I was all over the shop. Tsukuba is short, right? That’s what everyone says. But because it’s short, there’s no time to catch your breath. It’s just corner after corner after corner. That famous Dunlop corner, leading onto the back bit? Looks wide and inviting on videos. Lemme tell ya, when you’re actually trying to hit an apex, it suddenly shrinks. A lot.
And the sequence after the first turn, that sort of S-bend complex? I swear I took a different line through there every single time. Sometimes too early, sometimes way too late. Felt like I was wrestling the steering wheel more than driving. The instructors were patient, I’ll give them that. Lots of hand signals I only half understood. Then there’s that last hairpin before the main straight. Oh boy. Felt like I was trying to do a three-point turn in a phone booth. I was so scared of spinning out or looking like a total beginner. Which, let’s be honest, I was.
What I Actually Managed to Do
You go in thinking, “I’ve played the games, I’ve watched the videos, I know this.” Then reality slaps you in the face. Everything happens so much faster. The car doesn’t magically stick to the road like in a sim. You feel every bump, every little twitch. It’s proper work! I wasn’t trying to break any lap records, obviously. My main goal was not to bend their car. Or mine, if it was mine. And also, not to be that guy who holds everyone up.
So, what did I actually get done? Well, I managed to complete a bunch of laps without ending up in the gravel. That, for me, was a win. I think, maybe, by the end of my session, I was a tiny bit smoother. Just a tiny bit. I started to feel the rhythm of one or two corners, instead of just reacting in a panic. The biggest thing I took away was just the raw feeling of it. The concentration needed is immense. I was knackered by the end of it, truly. My brain felt like mush.
It’s not some super glamorous experience like you see on TV. It’s noisy, it’s a bit stressful, and you’ll probably feel a bit silly at first. But it’s also incredibly rewarding when you get even one corner just a little bit right. Tsukuba’s got that character, you know? It doesn’t forgive much if you’re sloppy, but it sure teaches you quick. Would I go back? Yeah, I think I would. Need to save up again, though. And maybe practice not stalling it when I pull away. That was a bit embarrassing.
