If you’ve ever thought about trying a High-Performance Driving School, but never “pulled the trigger,” maybe this article by Jessica Morton will help you decide to Just Do It! Jessica attended our first track day of the year in April. But she is jumping in with both feet, so to speak, as she takes advantage of the three-tier system the chapter offers. Tier 1 is attending a Car Control Clinic. Tier 2 is attending a High-Performance Driving Event on the big track. And Tier 3 is the opportunity to go racing our local amateur racing organization, the International Conference of Sports Car Clubs, better known as “Conference.” And the typical type of car to start racing in is a PRO3 car. Jessica is sort of accelerating the usual process, but let’s let her tell the story.

It was my first track day ever in the rain, and in my new BMW E30 PRO3 race car. It was also only my third track day ever in my life! I made the maiden voyage with my new race car, trailer, and all of the extra “baggage” that goes along with owning a race car, three hours north to Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA to attend the BMW CCA Puget Sound HPDE track day on March 15th. I was a little worried about doing sessions in the rain at Pacific Raceways where there are hardly any run-off areas.

But I put my rain tires on and made myself do it anyway knowing that racing in the rain would be a great experience to gain as well as getting to meet a few of the other PRO3 guys that were going to be there. Like normal, I was one of only two women total at this track day event. My father came with me to help with my first time trailering a race car and offering some trackside support. My wonderful instructor for the day, David Lightfoot, taught me a lot about the correct racing line at Pacific Raceways, specifically the fastest way to get through and out of turns 5a, 5b, and 6!

Jessica in Turn 3B at Pacific Raceway. Photo by Christian Bouchez

I learned that you really need to focus on setting yourself up for the longest and fastest straightaways on a track. Go a little slower at the beginning of the turns leading up to a straightaway so that your car is in the best possible position and line to get on throttle the earliest for the straightaway. I also learned a bit about driving a PRO3 car in the rain with no power steering, ABS, or traction control by spinning out twice, both due to oversteer. Luckily, it was just a HPDE day, so it was a safe environment to experience these minor spinouts.

My previous two track days were last summer at Portland International Raceway (PIR) with my souped-up street E30, before I even bought the PRO3 race car. Before that, I had done years of indoor karting and was consistently in the top 10 or so fastest times. So, driving the line and testing the limits of my street E30 for the first time around PIR came extremely naturally to me. In no time, I was testing the grip limit of my brand-new sticky tires by listening to the tires barely beginning to squeal.

I was shifting before corners and out of corners pretty smoothly and consistently, maybe only missing a couple of shifts. Downshifting before a corner was something that I was a little worried about how well I would do, since in karting, there is no shifting. But I was surprised that it was very easy and came naturally for me. I had come from a habit of just slamming on the brakes before a corner in karting, but my coach helped to teach me that I need to be trail braking instead, which is initial hard braking and then continuing to apply less brake pressure through the turn to help rotate the car, then get on throttle smoothly when you reach apex. I was so proud that my 35-year-old BMW 325i coupe did so well during that track day. I just love E30s so much. I quickly realized that E30s are a blast to drive around a track and that I do love auto racing as much as I was hoping I would.

From then on, I knew for sure that I wanted to race in PRO3. I have always loved cars and going fast, ever since I was a kid. I grew up around cars with my grandfather and uncle being mechanics, and off-roading with my dad in his 1959 Series II Land Rover. Fifteen years ago, my dad traded that 1959 Land Rover for my current street E30 and I have loved E30s ever since. The E30 is one of my top favorite cars of all time.

With me loving racing and E30s meant that I had to get into PRO3 racing. My two kids (ages 5 & 7) are getting old enough to where they don’t need me quite as much, so I have more time to go racing. My husband also recently bought an airplane with a friend to pursue his passion of flying. So, I figured that it’s my turn to pursue my passion of racing! Originally, my husband and I thought it would be fun to build a PRO3 car, so I bought another BMW E30 coupe. But I quickly realized that it’s much cheaper and faster to buy an already built race car.

Just six months after that first track day, I bought my PRO3 race car (#15) and am now jumping right into racing and acquiring my ICSCC racing license. Subsequent to my track day with the Club, I have finished the ProFormance two-day accredited competition race licensing school and my first novice race in my PRO3 car will be at the Rose City Opener at PIR. I’m looking forward to climbing the ranks in the PRO3 class, especially as a female racer!

Jessica on the back straight at Pacific Raceway. Photo by Christian Bouchez