Hunter Storm | Thrill of the Hunt

Thrill of the Hunt

This is a true story from behind the wheel of my ZR1. It conveys that visceral feeling of G-force and fun converging on this page. The group had taken off on a glorious morning, heading to the mountains. Pine trees and sweet morning breeze mixed with the scent of the Lexoled leather and petroleum-scented air. The view from the cockpit was the rolling glory of green mountains rimmed with giant gray stones and wrapped in blue skies. Sunshine illuminated the scenery like a Thomas Kincaid painting. The roads were dry and smooth, with wide-open undulating sweepers winding through the high desert.

The Rolling Chicane | Everyone’s Least Favorite Pace Car

As I said, there was no traffic until we encountered this guy. I could see him miles ahead, pacing behind another car. He stayed right behind until he saw us coming. Then, he darted out into the left lane to keep us from passing. He sat there for miles, driving side-by-side with the other car so that none of the cars in our group could pass. He kept glancing into his side view mirror, watching our group and grinning. Clearly, he thought this situation was entertaining.

Parade Patience

I was holding position in the back middle of the group, respectfully maintaining cruising speed and appropriate following distance from the car in front of me. No braking or deviating from the line. Waiting patiently…was anyone else in the group going to try to pass him? He kept weaving in and out of his lockstep position with the car next to him. Our self-appointed pace car driver was turning a fun drive to lunch into a parade. Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Safety and Fun

Our self-appointed pace car driver was turning a fun drive to lunch into a parade. Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands. My other ‘Vettes couldn’t have made the move I was about to make without causing potential safety issues. This one could do it with no problem. It takes a special kind of rubber to keep up with a chassis that leans in like a motorcycle. The Michelins delivered – quietly, precisely, and solidly planted.

The gap was going to be tight, and I needed to make this a precision strike. Had to leave enough space to make the pass without causing him to brake or swerve. I didn’t want to scare him in case he had kids or elders in the vehicle. Safety first, and it would have been rude to punish innocent passengers for his rude behavior. If I had known for certain he was driving alone, though, I would have made the drive a little more interesting for him when I went by. He would have still been puckered when he told his friends about that “jerk” in the sports car 40 years from now. Sometimes, the best things in life are free, like etiquette and driving lessons from a stranger.

Calibration and Cornering

The miles ticked by, and there were still no other cars in front of either of those cars. Neither one would pass the other, and we had a line of cars piled up behind our group now. Mr. Selfish was making sure no one had a nice drive. Patience…patience…stay back and give him a chance to decide to get back into the right lane, I thought to myself.

Sigh. He was never going to move. Ok. It was on now, and I was sick of the view of his boring silver-gray Audi bumper ahead of us. The other cars weren’t going to make this pass. But I knew the ZR1 could. Time for “the big dog” to step in and clear the road so we could enjoy the lunch run. I could see a downhill right-hander coming up ahead, slightly cambered and sweeping. I knew this guy would lose his nerve and brake at that turn. I’d only get a split second, so had to make it count.

Turn Telemetry

The calculations were instantaneous, running through my mind to prepare for what was about to happen: what speed did I need to carry so I never had to brake during the maneuver, what speed would make it smooth instead of squirrely. It had to be a fast, smooth, deliberate three- point performance lane change. This was going to be dicey because I wasn’t dealing with another racer or even a skilled driver. Someone with high skill would have been safer to do make this lane change with, but that only meant I needed to be extra careful when I moved. Our self-appointed pace car driver was a low-performance driver in a medium-performance vehicle. A bad dance partner for sure. Instead of graceful pas de deux, this was going to be like learning to sing the syncopated part of Rush’s Red Barchetta.

Systems Check | The Cockpit Launch Sequence

We were slowly approaching the turn. So, it was time to prepare for the maneuver and do some pre-flight checks. Peripheral vision 360 degrees. Quick glances into the rear and both side view mirrors without turning my head. I thought, “Is anyone else going to make a move? Don’t want to cut off any of the other cars in the pack, just in case one of them tries.”

Don’t move a muscle except the ones in my legs, feet, toes, and fingers so no one can see the shoulder movements. Give no warning the strafing run is imminent. Inline speed skate racing tactics die hard…must remain perfectly still…no extraneous movements so no one can tell you’re about to do a breakaway sprint and leave them to burn out all their glycogen trying to catch you.

It was so peaceful, serene, and relaxing, sitting there in completely Zen flow state. Final systems check time for the “top .03% of the car,” also known as me, the driver. My palms are dry, heart rate low, breathing steady. Joyful endorphins and dopamine, not adrenaline. I smile with anticipation.

Crouching Corvette, Hidden Tiger

Just enough pressure on the accelerator with the very tips of my toes…not too much. Don’t punch it or the car will fishtail and give warning to our self-appointed pace car driver up ahead. It was so hard to keep the ZR1 from roaring and growling. Like a little kid tiptoeing past his parents to get a cookie from the kitchen, I silently downshifted from 6th to 4th, still in Touring mode. Precision was key…Don’t startle anyone with the exhaust noise that would have come from that shift if I wasn’t feathering the clutch. Quietly, methodically…my feet manipulating the clutch and accelerator were like the paws of a hunting tigress. Just padding silently up to the point in time of absolute stillness. Absolute zero. Then, crouching without blinking. Waiting for the right split second. The thrill of the hunt thundered through my veins.

A Shift in Time

We are at the turn entry, and…he brakes. NOW! I lightly flick the turn signal with my left pinky to indicate “right,” and I gas it but don’t floor it. Flooring it would have thrown me around the car like a New Japan wrestler. Last time I tried flooring it, the ZR1 unleashed so much savage, violent torque and G-force that my head slammed into the headrest. My Oakley wraparound sunglasses were literally pulled off my face and flew backwards over my head to slam into the back deck. The car fishtailed for a quarter mile before the traction control system could pull it back into line. It was like riding my “loves to twist and buck” Arabian mare. I was in complete control of the car but never forgot to respect that fire-breathing dragon on a leash. I definitely did not want another three-day head-and-neck ache.

Finessed Finale

Not too much speed; this has to be timed just right or I’ll have to brake when I get next to the guy. I can see the heads up display (HID) ticking upwards in my peripheral vision…So relaxing. It’s like that scene in Wanted where he is curving bullets around objects.

Time stands still, everyone else is motionless. All I can see are the “targets,” my performance lane-change apexes, where will I come out of the maneuver. I flick the turn signal to indicate “left.” This time, I gas it a little more but still don’t floor it.

The car slices into the left lane smoothly, like a scalpel through butter. Can’t look at the speedometer now because the sideways speed is high enough that I cannot blink. A quick glance into my rearview mirror shows Mr. Selfish’s face contorted in rage, and I giggle just a little bit.

Really, he shouldn’t be angry. I was courteous enough to give a turn signal, he didn’t have to brake, and I didn’t cut him off. There was plenty of room between our bumpers for that millisecond. He should be happy. If he’d been alone, there would have been…less space…during that millisecond. I didn’t see a problem, only the beautiful, clear vista of the open road ahead.

Heaven and Hell

I really gas it now, still not flooring it. It sounds like The Rapture behind me, the roaring gates of Heaven and Hell opening up, with the rushing of Angels’ wings. Wanted that warning roar to help him to understand his place in the wild.

Pass him and make it stick. Now I’m half a mile in front of the car he had been following before he saw us. Pinky-flick the turn signal to indicate “right,” and slice into the right lane. I back off the accelerator smoothly, and quietly assume cruising speed.

Just taking a leisurely morning stroll, padding through the asphalt jungle.

Glancing into the left side view mirror, it appears the lesson was valuable. The Mr. Selfish gives a turn signal and gets back into the right lane. He does not try to catch up with the ZR1. Now that the self-appointed “pace car” is out of the way, the rest of the group can pass. They close the gap…and the fun continues.

Written July 2017, original post July 3, 2019 on Facebook Edited and updated for reading flow.

Hunter Storm | About the Author | Motorsports and Adventure Expert

Hunter Storm is a shade tree mechanic turned high-performance driver and motorcycle innovator. From rebuilding carburetors at 17 to high-performance driver and motorcycle innovator, Hunter Storm has lived a life fueled by speed, skill, and curiosity. Starting with DIY vehicle maintenance in her driveway, she learned early that creativity and perseverance are essential when money and help are scarce – lessons that continue to shape every ride and race.

Hunter’s competitive experience spans Friday night drags at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park to contributing to technical posts to Corvette Forum. Later, she became a Board Member with Arizona Corvette Racing (ACR), Director of Competition Events.

Hunter Storm earned a series of high-performance credentials:

ProAutoSports Green Group High-Performance Driving License for track days
High-performance driving training at Bondurant Racing School
TEAM Arizona Motorcycle Safety Foundation training from beginner through advanced and total control levels.

YouTube Motorcycle Maintenance Trailblazer

A pioneer in digital motorsports education, Hunter created one of the first YouTube channels for DIY motorcycle maintenance and exhilarating ride-along videos, and what is likely the first channel with a female mechanic. The channel is ZStormGirl.

Motorcycle Safety Innovation | The Storm Maneuver

Hunter Storm also developed a specialized technique for safely maneuvering motorcycles for shorter riders, helping prevent tip-overs and improve confidence on the road.

Blending hands-on expertise, formal training, and innovative problem-solving, Hunter brings authority, experience, and a fearless sense of adventure to every ZR One ride and adventure she shares.

Hunter Storm ™