On September 20, I went to Sportsland SUGO to watch SUPER GT. This year, I've been to Suzuka for F1 and to SUGO for Super Formula, but this time I went on my own.

Getting to SUGO on my own

I've been to Sendai plenty of times, including on my own. I checked the transport options and return schedule, then took a highway bus there in the morning. After walking around near the station for a bit, I caught the bus to SUGO.

Everything was going well until we hit traffic just before the circuit. On the road up the hill, the bus barely moved for 20 or 30 minutes. Was I actually going to make it in time for the race? I was getting pretty worried.

We made it, and as soon as I got off the bus, I could hear the engines. That got me excited straight away. There were so many people, too. It felt much busier than when I'd come for Super Formula.

First stop: merchandise. I called a friend who's also into motorsport and looked around while we talked. I bought them a cap and an Aston Martin F1 model car. For myself, I got an HRC T-shirt.

I brought a chair, but…

I had a general admission ticket and watched from somewhere between the main straight and turn one. Parts of the track were still wet, so the race started behind the safety car.

In SUPER GT, the GT500 and GT300 cars share the track despite running at different speeds. The GT500 cars keep passing GT300 cars while fighting for positions in their own class. It was so much fun to watch in person.

I'd bought a folding chair at a 100-yen shop and brought it along, but I barely sat down for the first 40 or 50 minutes. Why did I even bring it?

There was a big collision during the race, too. I drive karts and use racing simulators, but if the car ahead suddenly loses control at those speeds, you must have almost no time to react. The drivers really are incredible.

The GT500 winner was the No. 17 Astemo HRC PRELUDE-GT. Honda won on the day I bought an HRC T-shirt. Just a coincidence, but it made me happy.

Back to Sendai

When I came before, the traffic on the way out was terrible. This time I headed to the bus stop early, but even 40 minutes before departure, there was already a line. Good thing I came early.

I got on without any trouble and was back at Sendai Station in a little over an hour. No major traffic this time. I looked around Bic Camera and some shops near the station, then walked a little farther out. And of course, I had gyutan, Sendai's beef tongue specialty.

On my own, I can go where I want and stay a little longer if I feel like it. I can change the plan along the way. That's my favorite thing about traveling alone. I have to work out how to get there and back myself, but that's part of the fun.

I'm glad I went. I think I'll write more about these solo trips here, along with the racing.