KeriBlog

Cars, Security & a Peek into my Life

Driving Shifter Karts at Mosport

Best driving experience!  

130 km/h, inches off the ground, G-force = 5, want more.

Wrote a column about it.

My favourite line in the article:

… “It also serves as a wake up call to what 100 km/h actually feels like. With the technology in today’s cars, it’s easy to become complacent and forget that driving is really piloting a large, fast moving weapon.”

That above line is why I love driving so much.

The footage came out great eh; it was my first time using a GoPro.

Thanks for the duct tape security, Luke.

This is at the Mosport track.  Come on, I’ll show you.

Make sure to chew gum when you go; your teeth will try to smash themselves together.

Above is the end of the longest straight-away, braking and

downshifting hard, going into a hairpin, turn 5.

The owner and your host, Mike Salmon of SalmonShifters.com – 0 – 200 km/h in 6 seconds.  Welcome to my blog, Mike!

You will be bruised, because there is no suspension, you are the suspension.

My lower left back was blue. I’d have posted a photo, but there wasn’t time, because I heal like Wolverine :|

The engine is a 6-speed Honda 125cc.

Only place I know of in Ontario where you can do this.

If ever the opportunity arises for you to go karting, shifter kart or not, say yes – you’ll emerge a better driver.

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

Remove the License Plate Brackets

Those plastic, flimsy things emblazoned with a dealership’s name… they have to go.

Favourite line:

… the worst offenders seem to be exotic car owners. Play a game today: spot an exotic withOUT one.

Looks sloppy and unfinished.

 

See how much better it looks when removed?
Clean, polished, finished.

Author of this week’s column, hi hi.

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

Spent Saturday Driving Shifter Karts

Hands down the best, most exhilarating track experience I’ve ever had.  I was at the Mosport track via Salmon Shifters.

This is a “shifter kart”:

It’s like a super-charged go-kart. You don’t normally shift gears in a go-kart; this was a pretty rare opportunity.

Basically: it’s a Honda 125cc engine, the gas can is between your legs, there’s no suspension, you sit in a plastic seat inches off the ground, and go 130km/h while experiencing a G-force of 5 around corners.

The most pure form of driving, really.

I have a video to edit, and will write an article for the newspaper about it, so that’s it for now.

 

 

The New 2013 Ford Escape On the Track

That something, with that centre of gravity, would corner so well surprised me.  Technically it’s a cross-over vehicle, but it drives like a car.

(worst YouTube thumbnail luck for a track video, ever)

The gentleman in the interview is Nick Lacasse, Product Marketing Manager for Ford Canada. Very basically, he manages all the SUVs that come to Canada.  Welcome to my blog, Nick!

The interview is from the LA Auto Show 2011, they had kindly invited me along. Click to watch the video, ‘Exploring The 2011 LA Auto Show’.

That’s Ryan Durrell, my partner in the video above, we’re a good team.

Click to watch when we experienced for the first time, a Ford Focus parking itself.

I think the look of the Escape will always be in vogue, because it’s not really in vogue to begin with.  I mean that as a compliement, it has classic lines, so it’ll always be in style.

Check out the previous version of the Escape, 2012 or earlier,  I think you’ll see what I mean.  It’ll be easy to spot them, because the Escape the been the best selling SUV in Canada.

Ford put its heart into this car, and it shows.

My favourite feature.

Click here for a 15 second driving tip video, “Cross Your Arms When Turning”.

Congratulations on your beautiful new machine, Ford!

 

PS – that will be the last video I’ll ever film with that camera, so grainy. I declare it officially retired forever.

PPS – click here to watch a green-screened video of me riding a mountain bike.  Fast forward to 0:15 and 0:30.