The last two events of the weekend were the Lapping Session for the Time Trial group and the Graduation Race for the Race group. Anyone who had a competition prepared car (e.g. 5-point harness, fire extinguisher, and other safety equipment) were encouraged to participate.

The lapping session was run on the same short track, only backwards. They had also opened up the front straight into the skidpad which would serve as a left hand sweeper of "Turn 1". The first two laps was a lead-and-follow with Brad Gray showing us the line in this new track configuration. It really is a very different track once you run it in the opposite direction!

In previous sessions, they were very clear on passing zones but unless I missed something, they didn't, or just plain forgot to mention where we could pass on this track. It was going to be slightly more than a lapping session, as it turned out.

Suiting up into the 75, I looked at the gas gauge and the needle showed empty and the warning light lit brightly. "Bummer," I thought, and started the car up anyway. I figured if I ran out of gas, they can tow me off the track, but I really wanted to chase down that BMW M3 in front of me in the picture.

After the warm up laps, the pace picked up and I found that while I can out-corner the M3, sniffing down his rear bumper with my front, I could not pass him. The 75's 3.0V6 is just no match for the M-Power 3.2 Inline 6. He would consistently pull away from me while I had my foot in the floor (2nd gear, 4500 rpm, downhill); it didn't matter what line I took! Frustrated, I waited for a mistake ... and on lap 7, it happened. Since we were both consistently quicker in the turns than those in front of us (a race-prepped GTV and a Mustang) we finally caught up to the GTV right before the straight.

The GTV driver drifted left on the downhill run and the M3 pulled inside of the GTV and made the pass. I was left a little behind, unable to match the pull of my Bavarian archrival. I did, however, catch up with the two of them as the track flattened out, managing to park myself next to the GTV's driver's door. At this point, I was in fourth gear doing about 100mph. I was pretty sure the M3 had a 10-mph advantage over both the GTV and myself; but now all three of us had to sort things out as the left hand sweeper was quickly approaching.

The left hand sweeper was part of the skidpad and for all intents and purposes, was completely camberless so it was going to be understeer city for all of us ... and the M3 had to take it first. He missed. It's a 60mph corner on street tires and he braked too late. He understeered to the middle of the skidpad, going completely off the line and opened up the track to the GTV and myself. I had not completed my pass, so in Time Trial spirit, I let the GTV take the line and tucked in behind him. The M3 driver had to recollect and rejoin a few cars behind us. Yea!!

On the next lap, the GTV let me by as we went down the front straight. I was ready to hunt down the Mustang when I was caught by a Lotus 7. He was just too quick in the corners and had to give up my fight and let him by.

The chequered flag came out at lap 11 and our lapping session (and weekend) was over. It was a great run, and I could not believe how well the 75 did on the track. Admittedly, the M3 was (is) a much quicker car - both in corners and on the straight - than the Milano/75. BUT since the driver is also part of the equation, I gained a little pride knowing that "in real life" there are no guarantees; you could be in the slower car but end up in front.