Some people go to the track with purpose-built machines, fine-tuned suspensions, and a GoPro on every corner. I went with a 2005 Toyota Corolla, an automatic transmission, and the kind of misguided confidence you usually only find in reality shows where someone tries to outrun a bear.

This wasn’t just any drive. This was a full-on track day at Grand Bend Motorplex, hosted by the absolute legends at Falcon Autosport. And yes — this actually happened.

Welcome to Grand Bend, Where the Limits Are Real

This track day went down at Grand Bend Motorplex — a proper racing facility where the curbs are real, the straights are long, and mistakes are… visible.

The Car: A 2005 Toyota Corolla That’s Seen Some Things

Let’s get this out of the way. This car was never meant for a race track.

It’s the kind of car that’s built to haul groceries, not take corners at full throttle. It’s the car you buy when you want zero drama and maybe one emotion — efficiency. It’s beige in spirit, even when the paint isn’t.

But on this day? She was our race car.

Specs:

• Bone-stock 2005 Corolla CE
• 1.8L 1ZZ-FE engine
• Automatic transmission
• Zero modifications
• Just summer tires and vibes

No coilovers, no intake, no weight reduction unless you count the glovebox being half open. Just one family sedan, four doors, and a dream.

Falcon Autosport: Professionalism with Pizza

The event was organized by Falcon Autosport, and let me just say — this is how a track day should be run.

Drew Falcon, the man behind the brand, greeted everyone personally and walked us through the day. He explained the flag rules, track etiquette, passing zones, and pit procedures in a way that was clear, thorough, and not at all intimidating — even for someone pulling up in a Corolla surrounded by Miatas, Mustangs and race spec custom builds.

Before the action started, Drew personally inspected every car, including our sad little silver soldier. He looked over tire condition, fluids, leaks, brakes — the full deal. When he gave us the green light, I half expected a sympathy pat on the hood. honestly, that might’ve been the most attention that car has received since it left the factory in 2005.

On Track: The Corolla Awakens (Kinda)

Lap one was… cautious. Very cautious. You don’t just throw a 2005 Corolla into turn one and hope for the best. You ease her in. You listen for noises. You check for tire squeal. You make sure the transmission hasn’t decided it’s had enough.

But by lap three?

We were actually keeping up.

And then something amazing happened — people started noticing. Between sessions, drivers came over to our pit spot to check out the car.

“What engine swap is in it?”

“Wait, this thing’s stock?”

“That’s an automatic?!”

Yes. Yes. And yes. We were the first Corolla they’d ever had on the track that wasn’t a GR model — and somehow, it was hanging in there.

Sure, it wasn’t fast. But it was composed. Predictable. Honest. There was lots of body roll, delayed throttle response, and a rear end that liked to party unexpectedly, but for what it was — it performed surprisingly well.

We Spun. Twice. It Was Beautiful.

It wouldn’t be a proper track day without a little drama. And by “a little drama,” I mean two full-on spins.

One came in a tight corner after a bit of throttle input that, in hindsight, was optimistic. The other happened mid-transition through a chicane, when the car’s back end decided to try drifting — uninvited.

But both spins ended in heroic recoveries. No one behind us panicked. No cones were harmed. No fluids leaked. We just gathered it up, reset, and kept going — as if we meant to do it for the content.

The Vibe: Laid-Back, Friendly, and a Little Bit Pizza

The atmosphere at Falcon Autosport events is exactly what you want — laid-back, respectful, and welcoming, even if your car doesn’t look like it belongs.

There were fast cars. There were show cars. There were beginners and veterans. But everyone shared the same garage space and the same grin when they got off track.

Lunch was included, by the way — pizza and drinks served up mid-day to keep the spirits high and the blood sugar where it needs to be before you jump back into a 100km/h corner with questionable tires.

What We Learned from the World’s Most Confused Corolla

Let’s break down the takeaways:

• Throttle Response? Slow, but manageable if you plan your life three corners ahead.
• Body Roll? Enough to make you seasick.
• Handling? Surprisingly decent for something not designed for any of this.
• Oversteer? Yup. Unexpected but recoverable.
• Respect Earned? Somehow, yes.
• Would we do it again in this car? Probably not. She’s done her duty.
• Would we go again in something? Absolutely.

Next time, we’re showing up with something built to take a hit — maybe a Subaru, maybe a beater BMW, maybe something turbocharged and mildly regrettable.

Final Thoughts

This day wasn’t just about pushing a car. It was about pushing past the idea that you need a fully prepped track machine to enjoy motorsport. You don’t. You just need a reliable car, a safe space, and the willingness to send it — even if it’s in a Corolla with beige cloth seats.

Huge thanks to Drew Falcon and Falcon Autosport for organizing one of the most beginner-friendly, fun, and properly run track days I’ve ever experienced.

And major props to the Corolla. She spun, she rolled, she understeered into the unknown — but she lived to drive another day.

See you at the next track day. I’ll be the one in something faster… maybe.