Getting more track time to further my driving skill is something I’ll never want to turn down. Especially in a vehicle that I drive day in and day out. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the K.R.O.P.S (Keep Racing Off Public Streets) Time Attack event at the Apex Karting Track in Perris, CA. The lovely hot environment that is the Inland Empire may not be ideal for a turbocharged car but as the time old internet meme says, I like to live dangerously. So I made the brief trek up from San Diego to check it out and report my findings of a little gem of a track in Southern California. For those who don’t know their Southern California geography, the Inland Empire can get pretty hot. The external temp gauge of the ST reported between 99-100 degrees when I rolled up to the track. Usually this isn’t a good sign, but I still had hope. After the drivers meeting there were three sessions with three runs and three laps each; seems simple enough. After two parade laps to get to know your prospective lines, we were set up into driver confidence groups. The track itself is setup with 2 long straights, the longest being 990 feet. From pit exit, you run into the first hairpin with a late apex. The exit for this was fairly critical because it led into the long back-straight and into the bus stop. The right hander after the bus stop led into a very tricky right-hand decreasing apex. I had trouble in this section because of wanting to put the power down too early, upsetting the balance of the ST. Next was the chicane, which I had a lot of fun with by running up the curbs and getting a little lift off oversteer on corner exit before clamping hard on the brakes for the left hand hairpin. The exit for this was very tricky as well because of a small hump on the track that can cause a bit of  an “in-air excursion.” Finally, there’s a quick run though the essess into the most difficult corner of the track; a double-apex right hander that leads you back onto the front straight. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience in a safe and well run facility. If you are an automotive enthusiast in the Southern California area I highly recommend attending one of the track days run by K.R.O.P.S. They excel in creating a safe and controlled environment for drivers to enjoy their vehicles, and I will most definitely attend this event in the future. [Editor’s Note: Jason paid for his own entry fees to attend the KROPS event. We’re cheap bastards here at Hoon HQ.] [Images courtesy of Kevin Natividad/K.R.O.P.S]