Isn't Karting Fun?

My handsome guy, Todd(in the green), and his brother Michael look at the all-imortant printouts to see who ate who's dust, and discuss future manuveurs in between heats.









So last night was ride-all-you-can-handle night. I had a few strikes against me to begin with. I was a little nervous. I always am when it comes to karting just because as I said in the moto-X post, my brain just doesn't work naturally in mechanical racing mode. I guess the stress built up over the course of the afternoon until when I got to the karting place and smelled the gas and rubber my heart was completely racing and I just about got light headed. Todd and Michael had been coming to these testosterone fests for a few weeks now, and I had heard rumors of running 12 races in an evening, but when it came to me racing and racing and racing I never realized the consequences of that scenario. I raced 4 or 5 heats, out of pride, and then I claimed my break. Todd was so sweet. He was really concerned that I have fun. The week before he went without Michael. We were talking about getting a sitter but didn't and he said that he really wished I was there at the beginning (before the thrill of the chase began, I guess) Now I was here and I was stressed. So I sat down, drank Sprite, and read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Within a few deep breaths and some pages about the mysterious, intelligent and insane Phaedrus, I was ready to go. I was actually putting down some decent times for me. I was usually the slowest on the track last night (except for once), but most of the time by less than a second. At one point in the evening I had actually made the "best times today" list at number 13 out of 23. Of course more and more racers came in over the evening and by the end of the night I don't know if I was even on the list, but it was satisfying, none the less. I was the only girl racer of the evening to the best of my knowledge, though there were couple of kids ( 8 and up are allowed to race) I did see at least three other women present, most wielding cameras to mark this moment of manhood for their guy. I had mine, too, which I juggled with my helmet and neck brace.

In the end I did calm down a bit, and I was happy to see Todd have fun. I was glad he wanted me there, and I was thrilled that I wasn't a huge drag on their race. Todd even sacrificed some lap time to drive in front of me and show me the best line to take. (Very sweet, considering lap time is of the utmost importance to the male ego) Next time I will know what I am getting into. I may also set a higher goal than to have one guy slower than me in a race. Been there, done that.