Once You Go Black, You’ll Never Go Back
“Necessity is the motherfucker of invention”
Paul Newman
” That kart handles so bad I wouldn’t let a suicide bomber drive it”
Dave Stevens
After five days my wristband is starting bother me. Seems it’s always in the way. I wonder if these are the same kind of wristbands that the drivers in NASCAR and IndyCar use? I’d say I’d had a rough week, but the week isn’t over yet. The beatings will continue until morale improves. Today was pretty Whiskey Tango, real Beverly Hillbillies stuff. I stripped the front end and brakes from an 8 year old kart that I hadn’t driven in probably three, maybe four years and put it on the race kart which already is mixed breed mutt of a kart. It worked. I did get some laps, some of which I actually had front brakes. In all this isn’t unlike many of the large road race events I raced. There were a few where I pulled thousands of miles, only to turn a few laps, break or crash then head home. The difference is that I didn’t know how woeful my equipment and my expertise (or lack thereof) was. Just getting a couple of sessions on a real kart, setup and tuned by real pros made all the difference in the world. just too bad I found out at the time I decided to stop doing any karting but lapping sessions and the occasional club race.
I figured I’d go out in style, though off the pace by renting a ride with a group that knew what they were doing. Notwithstanding the questionable decision to enter the race in the first place the best thing I did was hire Evolution Karting in Indianapolis for race support and equipment. After that chucklehead mangled my rented ride at least they were there to help get my kart in a place where it was at least driveable. I knew long ago that I had neither the equipment (or talent) to run up front. I’ve always known I’ve sucked, I just didn’t realize I swallowed as well. I wanted it to be a good exit from competition karting, even though I’ve only competed locally the last year and haven’t done any national stuff for about four years. For me the sting of now knowing how good the other equipment was then being teased with it was the worst thing. But, I paid my toll, I might as well hang in there and get some laps in. I could have shoveled more money into the furnace and risked buy more parts (which at this place is a pretty good bet). I was already well over my budget and the value/risk reward wasn’t there. But boy am I pissed about not having a clean ride. In the last post or so I said I was parked for about 5 sec before I was hit. Looking at the data today, it was 30.6 seconds. What kind of asshole drives full speed into a corner under a standing yellow a half minute after the accident? I really wish I knew who it was because if he’s hurt or not, I’d like a word with him. Several of those of the four letter variety. I’m going to be pissed about this for a while.
The event has finally gotten it’s sea legs, as they say. Race control is on the ball. One of the few criticisms would be that when you’re giving the black, do it further out from the pit in. There was one incident in TaG where a kart made an erratic move to obey the black, right into the path of the race leader. You see, that’s how shit happens, when people don’t hold their line. The traffic management issues seem to largely be resolved and the presentation is top notch. One exemplary area has been the issuing of red flags and the medical response of the crews. Well done gang. A couple of drivers went to the hospital today and the response from track staff seemed to me to be very good.
Not much sleep and the “big day” is early tomarrow. Cost so far is about US$165 per mile.
Tags: SNATS Race Things