A steady circular turn was observed by Mr. Ara from around the world: Was it possible to show the results of the practice?

Porsche Club Utsunomiya's 30th Driving Lesson Event

Porsche Club Utsunomiya regularly holds driving lesson (steady-state circular turning) events at the gymkhana field at Tsukuba Circuit, and I have participated as a visitor several times in the past.

At first, I couldn't even let my beloved black Carrera (the 991.2 base model 911 Carrera) slide.

However, I wanted to somehow understand my Porsche 911 and be able to drift (make steady circular turns), so I participated in several events held by Porsche Club Utsunomiya to practice.

Thanks to the various lessons I learned and the practice I received, I was finally able to make the 911 slide, and then continue drifting and turning... Eventually, I was able to drift in a steady circle for 2-3 laps fairly easily, and was able to continue for up to 8 laps.

However, for some reason I could only drive counterclockwise (maybe because it was a right-hand drive car?), and I was not good at driving clockwise, so I was thinking, "I'll practice so that I can drive clockwise in the future."

Why did I want to be able to drift in a black Carrera?

The reason why I was so determined to be able to drift in my own 911 and worked so hard for it all goes back to 2020.

At that time, Porsche driving lessonsWhen I participated in PTX (formerly PTE), I tried steady circular turns for the first time.However, I was unable to make it "slide" at all.

That was a very frustrating experience for me, but after that, I became a professional driver known as "The World's Rough Rider."I had the opportunity to have Seiji Ara drift my 911 and teach me how to drift directly.It is.

At that time, I was so unable to drift my own 911 that I seriously began to think, "This car has such good performance that maybe I just can't drift it (it's too safe and doesn't slide)" (←which is just a very selfish way of thinking (lol)).

But then, at that moment, Ara-san took control of my black Carrera.

"Well, I'll be off then."

With Ara-san driving, the black Carrera began to drift smoothly and easily.

"Huh? What happened? Are you awake?"

It took me a while to realize that my 911 was drifting so naturally. And while drifting, I could move left and right freely.

At that moment, I was really jealous of Ara-san (huh (lol)?).

I mean, my black Carrera, I'm always with it, I love it so much, I drive it every day, but he won't let me drift it, but he lets Ara-san drift it so easily??

...As I write this, I realize once again how incredibly selfish and inexplicable my jealousy is (lol).

No, no, of course I just didn't want to admit it, but the truth is that I wasn't able to drift the 911 because I didn't understand or control it properly (including the tires), and I knew that, but I realized this even more keenly at that moment.

So from that day on, I vowed to myself that I would definitely be able to drift in a black Carrera!!

And then I met Porsche Club Utsunomiya.

I had the opportunity to practice drifting several times, and I really tried to practice as much as I could during that precious time.

As a result, I was finally able to drift (steady-state circular turns) in the black Carrera, even just a little.

I was hoping that one day I would be able to tell Mr. Ara, "I finally managed to do it!" and have him take a look.

A chance for Ara-san to show the results of his drifting practice

And then, December 2025 finally arrived.

I also had the opportunity to attach a timer to my car and perform steady-state circular turns at the gymkhana course at Tsukuba Circuit for the first time in a while.

The timer is attached in a very messy way...

My husband also joined us that day in a Nissan Fairlady Z.

The driving lesson event held by Porsche Club Utsunomiya, which my husband and I attended for the first time in a long time, was celebrating its 30th anniversary on this day.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary, a certain person was seen at the Gymkhana course at Tsukuba Circuit that day...!

that is.

ah.

That world!

Ara-san of the world!!!

miracle!!

Ara-san was a guest at the 30th Porsche Club Utsunomiya event. Thank you very much. I'm so touched (tears).

Ara-san looks cute in her "Ara" wear ^^↓

So, with Mr. Ara here, it meant that I would never have another chance like this again, and after five years since 2020, I was finally able to show him that "I can now do a steady circle with a black Carrera!"

What a touching story.

I'm nervous, but I'm excited that Ara-san will be able to see with his own eyes the results of all my hard work.

...With this in mind, I got myself pumped and took my first shot at a steady circle when Ara-san wasn't looking, so I could practice for myself.

I wonder if I can do it. I'll have to check it out later.

But my enthusiasm was dashed within the first minute.

Ugh, I can't do it at all anymore (lol)!!!

I was so surprised.

When I thought about it carefully, I realized that it had actually been over a year since I last did a steady circle, and I hadn't done a steady circle (drift) even once in over a year.

Damn, it's been so long since I did this!

Well, at my level, of course you forget what it feels like to drift... (I've given up (lol)).

I still hadn't mastered it perfectly, and then there was a one-year gap.

What's more, because it was a rare chance for Ara-san, I got strangely fired up and nervous, which made it even harder for me to perform, which was just the worst. Ugh.

During the day, Ara-san drove all the participants' cars (with the car owners sitting in the passenger seat), and when it was my turn to drive the black Carrera, Ara-san said the first thing he said...

"I was watching (what you were doing earlier). You must have forgotten."

When.

Well, the usually gentle Ara-san was in a completely angry mood. He was thoroughly scolded in Black Carrera (tears).

"You've completely forgotten what's important. You have to increase your speed little by little and get a feel for the grip of the front tire."

Yes, that's right.

When Mr. Ara taught me in 2020, I was learning exactly the same way as he teaches you to do with a Porsche PTX: "When you start going around the circle, keep the steering wheel fixed, and then gradually increase your speed just by working the accelerator. When the rear starts to feel stiff, release the accelerator and let the car slide."

However, over the next five years, my desire to "drift" took precedence, and I found it easier to drift by pressing hard on the accelerator, so I was no longer able to do it on the day, and unlike how I had been taught how to do it, I ended up thinking, "I don't get it at all!"

Ahh, I really wanted Ara-san to take a look at it and say, "Oh, you can do it now❤"!!!

The day ended with me getting scolded. Nope (lol).

However, it was my fault for taking a year off before Ara-san had his chance, and I also realized that I was only doing it with emotion before properly learning the basics and being able to do it properly. While I regret it, I'm happy that I was able to set a new goal for myself: "One day, I'll finally show Ara-san that I've finally been able to do it properly" ^^

On this day, the other participants also had Mr. Ara perform steady-state circular turns in their own cars and received advice from him.

Ara-san was so kind, he even agreed to take commemorative photos with all the participants and sign autographs.

Porsche Club Utsunomiya: Lunch with Mr. Ara from around the world

Furthermore, as this was the 30th anniversary of the event, a lavish luncheon was also held in the presence of Ara-san.

Sushi at a gymkhana track. Amazing. Gorgeous!

I was surprised that they even served sushi, but even more surprised was that they even served non-alcoholic champagne.

Look at this gorgeous table.

If you just look at this photo, no one would guess that this is the situation on the second floor of the gymkhana shed at Tsukuba Circuit (lol).

Everyone is gathered around Ara-san.

It was a strange situation, eating sushi with Mr. Ara from around the world at the Gymkhana course at Tsukuba Circuit. But I was happy.

After a non-alcoholic "cheers" we enjoyed lunch and chatted.

After lunch, Ara-san had plans, so we returned to practice without him in the afternoon, but having him come on this day gave me the opportunity to reflect on and reconsider many things, and I'm sure the other participants also gained more than usual.

We practiced steady circles again until the evening, and it was a fun day.

The trees on the gymkhana course bathed in the setting sun were also beautiful with their autumn leaves. The yellow of the water sprinkler truck matched it perfectly, so I couldn't help but take a photo. I took a commemorative photo of the water sprinkler truck and the autumn leaves, not my car (lol).

It was getting a little dark and I thought it was time for sunset, but then it got even darker in an instant and the moon appeared.

The next day was a supermoon, so the moon was already very beautiful that day.

It was a really fun and quick day.

After saying goodbye to everyone, my husband and I stopped by a gas station in Tsukuba and first had our car washed.

I always hand wash my Porsches, but I've changed my mind a bit about my black Carrera, which already has a lot of ion deposits on it.

"Rather than allowing the heavy ion deposits (caused by well water in a steady state) to settle on the body, it's better to give it a quick wash with a machine first."

For this reason, I only take my car through the car wash after it has been thoroughly bathed in well water in a steady stream.

The battle against ion deposits that can no longer be removed even after washingHere(I have written many other articles about fighting and preventing ion deposits, but there are so many that if you are interested, please search for them.)

There will still be a lot of ion deposits on the car until it is recoated (polished), but for now I think some of the dirt from that day has been removed and it looks clean.

Congratulations to Porsche Club Utsunomiya on the 30th anniversary of your driving lesson event.

I think it's amazing that they regularly hold events that place emphasis on actually driving Porsches, and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to participate in them. Thank you very much.

I'm also extremely grateful to Mr. Ara for coming to visit us despite his busy schedule. It was a very valuable and enjoyable time. Thank you very much!

Well, I'll keep working hard, dreaming of the day when Mr. Ara won't get angry and will say to me, "You can do it a little now, can't you?" (lol).

Steady circle practice record at Tsukuba Circuit Gymkhana field (event sponsored by Porsche Club Utsunomiya):
1: September 2021 Drift practice of Porsche 911 at an event hosted by Porsche Club Utsunomiya
2: February 2022(Visit only) I went to Porsche Club Utsunomiya's regular circle turning practice event.
3: June 2022 Participated in the regular circular turning practice event of Porsche Club Utsunomiya (second time)
4: February 2023 2023 Steady circular turn start
5: June 2023 Finally achieved the goal! I was able to do one lap of the drift with the Porsche 911 (crying)
6: September 2023 Steady circular drift in Porsche 911, finally able to do 3 laps ~
7: December 2023 For the first time in a Porsche 911, it is now possible to perform steady circular drifts in fixed 2nd gear! ...and a crazy car wash
8: February 2024 Porsche 911, I was able to drift about 3 laps with 2nd gear fixed ~
9. June 2024 Visit to Tsukuba Circuit to see steady circle practice...

Other:
1: January 2023 First ice driving experience in my life: Driving on Yachiho Lake ice with BMW M3
2: January 2024 Experience driving on ice at Yachiho Lake again
3: January 2025 Third ice driving experience at Yachiho Lake

◆I found out why I could not slide the Porsche 911 in a steady circular turn

Porsche Truck Experience [Precision] Article List:
① PTE: Participate in Porsche Truck Experience [Precision]
② PTE: Porsche Track Experience [Precision] Training content
③ PTE: Porsche Truck Experience [Precision] Circuit driving
④ PTE: Porsche Truck Experience [Precision] Lunch, souvenirs, etc.

Porsche Truck Experience [Performance] Article List:
① Participate in Porsche Truck Experience Performance: PTX 2021
② PTX 2021: [Performance] Training content
③ PTX 2021: [Performance] Circuit driving
④ PTX 2021: [Performance] Others

Porsche Truck Experience [Master] Article List:
① Participate in Porsche Truck Experience Master: PTX 2021
② PTX 2021: Porsche Truck Experience [Master] Training content ①
③ PTX 2021: Porsche Truck Experience [Master] Training content ②
④ PTX 2021: Porsche Truck Experience [Master] Circuit driving
⑤ PTX 2021: Porsche Truck Experience [Master] Other