0 to 60 in 3.5

photo courtesy of Clint Padilla Photography

     I have a secret passion... for driving fast. I don't know how to explain it, just driving can be the most relaxing activities ever. I have this need for speed. I am not really sure where it can from or how it started, but I think that driving is a talent and a form of art. I have so much admiration for talented, swift drivers. Now I have been in cars with people who can get you from point A to point B in seconds, but at the same time, you hold on to dear life and probably grow a few gray hairs in those moments. 
     Driving is about more then speed. You don't want to feel like you may just die if an animal decides to cross the road or the driver in front of you accidentally hits the brakes. There are people who are truly talented drivers. They know when to slow down, and when to speed up; when to pass a car, when to wait and etc. It is a talent. You need to know not only your car's capabilities, but also those of the car's around you. You don't want to be cutting off every car, pissing off just about every driver and getting lovely letters from the police department. 
     One of my goals for this year is to go down to a racetrack and really just polish up my driving skills. I have covered many miles over the past few years but there is still so much I want to learn. Fortunately, I got a new car this year which is practically my child (for now), so I am slowly but surely upgrading.


Heres a few of my personal best times:


-State street exit to shefield exit: 7 minutes
-Goleta to Thousand Oaks: 35 minutes
-Rancho Santa Margarita to La Jolla: 25 minutes
-Point Loma to Rancho Santa Margarita: 47 minutes
-State Street exit to Paseo Nuevo: 4 minutes
-Orange County to Santa Barbara: 1 hour, 50 minutes (with traffic on the 5 North)


.... I am so putting a cop radar on my christmas wish list :)


ps. if any of you have the time to teach stick shift or have tips or know of places to go for experience, I would love any additional feedback.