Speedway to the local Warminster Community Park, a former light-aircraft airport.

The second event of the season moved to Warminster, just north of Philadelphia. Instead of the complex 83-second course, this track tested the cars and drivers with lane changes, slaloms, and chicanes on the up-and-back route. Shorter than the first track, Warminster allowed each driver to get more runs in during the heat.

Taking the lesson from my Philadelphia co-driver Ben, I talked my way into a ride with Lynn Foley. Lynn's husband had recently bought her a Subaru STI for their anniversary. She had taken lessons during a "novice" day and received high praise from everyone who saw her. Still, she was not happy with her first run, where she could not get the last gate. I offered to ride along to help and learn the course.

Three runs later, Lynn and I knew the course fairly well (although she still kept missing that final gate). She was brushing those cones like a pro. In fact, the STI clipped them so closely, I was positive they were flattened in her wake. So positive, I had to look out the mirror. Yet despite having what must have been a clear view of the Subaru's undercarriage, they were completely unharmed.

When my heat came up, I eyed the competition. Once again, G-Stock had a population of three: the 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero V6 turbo sedan as before; and, instead of the Kia, a 27-year-old Alfa Romeo GTV6. First of the three to hit the track was the vintage Alfa.

It didn't take much knowledge or experience to see that this ancient Italian car was the one to beat in G-Stock. The driver just tore up the track as his GTV6 leaned back and forth around the cones. Almost defying the laws of physics, the performance was amazing to watch.

Two runs later, the local SCCA president Jeff Jacobs asked how my day was going. Half joking, I pointed to the Alfa and asked if there was anything he could do about him. Jeff laughed and said what I already knew: The driver is excellent.

He then pointed out my biggest handicap: my tires. The Saab and the Alfa were so much faster than my Beetle because of what each was riding on.

The stock classes are designed to keep unmodified cars competitive with each other. The only changes allowed by the category are minor adjustments to suspension and tires. Shocks and struts can be slightly firmer than production without using adjustable