There's a common misconception among our readership that magazine editors do nothing but play all day-hardly the case. Banging on my shitty eMac computer on a daily basis, I periodically bite down on my lower lip often drawing blood. I clamp down in hopes of quelling the inner demons, while resisting shouting out explicit curse words that deserve an NC-17 rating. By now I'm sure your asking yourself, "Why would an editor subject himself/herself to such a stress filled profession?" The answer is simple-for the love. For the love of cars; for the love of speed; for the love of import culture; for the love of hot models wearing skimpy bikinis with their ass cheeks hanging out, prancing around shaking em.... err.... Okay, maybe that's a little over the top, but you get the point. Truthfully, I can't complain about my profession, but don't be fooled, this isn't some Mai Tai sipping trip to Tahiti. Meeting deadlines and developing quality articles have become just another routine way of life. Dammit, if only I had some fugly secretary (because a hot one would cause major distractions and the unexpected birth of some bastard child) to finish my work so I can hit the local pub to kick back a tall one. Hey, we can all dream a little dream. Right?
So what keeps the editorial staff continually pumping out article after article while maintaining that professional level of coolness? Import models prancing in thongs come to mind, but the main reason would be those special events dedicated and held exclusively for the press. On May 8th 2004, Hotchkis Performance held its second annual Media Day Challenge, inviting journalists from various magazines to showcase their driving skills at Buttonwillow Race Track, located in the heart of Apple Valley, Calif. To put it simply, the event was nothing more than "bragging rights" for 21 editorial journalists. After tossing and turning in bed with little over an hour of quality sleep, I packed my SPARCO helmet and gloves. Then I whisked off at the crack of dawn, attempting to reach Buttonwillow for a mandatory 7A.M. drivers' meet.
Rolling back the clock a week before the Hotchkis event, I was contacted by James Chen of Axis Sport Tuning, who asked if I was interested in driving the company's Axis Procharger 350Z. I was overwhelmed, and at the same time reluctant to pilot a car with a proven track record. For those of you who read Sport Compact Car might recognize this chrome yellow beast as the champion of the 2004 Ultimate Street Car Challenge 3 event. Dominating three out of six events and taking second place in the remaining categories, the AXIS Z cut through the competition, taking home the gold and the glory. Would I be able to extend the 350z's track record by piloting the very same car that dominated SCC's USCC? I was about to find out.