Hate The Grind

Last month, I was invited out to the Ariel Atom Experience event at Race City, which is a race track located right here in Calgary. Every friday, this track is home to the street legal drag races called Secret Street. However, on this day, the entire track was booked so 14 people could rip around the track in the Ariel Atom 2.

The Ariel Atom is available with several different engines ranging from a 220hp Honda powerplant, to a supercharged 300hp GM Ecotec engine. At the event here in Calgary, the Ariel Atoms were equipped with the Supercharged GM Ecotec engine that is also in the Saturn ION RedLine as well as the Cobalt SS. The weight of the Ariel Atom is what allows it to out-perform other (more expensive) sports cars. Weighing in at only 600KG, the Atom can propel itself from 0-60mph in under 3 seconds!

I’ve been on the track before in my old 400+HP Mercedes SLK32 AMG, as well as my turbocharged Honda Civic (~300 HP) and I have been a passenger in other cars as well. Even on the warm-up lap, the Atom was able to reach speeds quicker than anything I have been in on the track. Also, because it is so light it can also stop much quicker than most cars. On most of the corners, one did not have to even start braking until well after the last brake zone signs! The car literally felt like it was on rails as it just stuck to the track around every corner.

However, as much fun as this car was, its street appeal is lacking for one main reason. The Atoms that we experienced already had the optional windshield and it did nothing. If I were to drive this thing on the streets, I would have to wear a helmet to keep the bugs and wind out of my face. I wouldn’t mind driving one to work once though just to try it out! ;)

I have been looking for more events to practice my photography, and this event was perfect! I used three lenses for the day, my new Canon 10-22mm f3.5, 70-200mm f2.8L, and a monstrous 600mm f4L! The 600mm lens was quite difficult to use as it was quite windy, and if you’ve seen the lens hood on the 600mm, its like a giant scoop for the wind to just pull on.

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