North Course: Gag Reflex vs. Chicken?

Life is busy, and messy. But mostly good! Since my last epistle I have:

1. Spent 4 days in bed with viral bronchitis and a fever

Just a little motion sickness during my free-falls at 125 mph.

2. Visited a jail, driven 350 miles, attempted 2 simulated parachute jumps, and attended a wine-tasting fund raiser (all on the same day)

3. Survived the stomach flu

4. Finally found a birthday gift for my sweetie Big T that he loves (Bonus: I love it also).

WalkingtheFoxJaneFiler — Walking the Fox by Jane Filer

4YearLettermanNatChamps — Coach Sheard celebrating Cufflinks’ achievements and mentorship of younger Congress debaters.

5. Become the mother of an 18 year old son, who is the sweetest young man I have ever met. He ranks in the top 20 nationally for Congress Debate in the National Forensics League, and selected a calla lily corsage for his date at the senior prom.. He will be representing Durham Academy for the third time at The National Championship, and is a 4 year letterman.

So. At last I can write about my track weekend.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: It’s loveliness increases; It will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing” -John Keats

It was a new course: the North Course at Virginia International Raceway.

MrandMrsSCDon — Mr. and Mrs. SCDon vacationing.

My buddy SCDon had brought his car, The23Car, to track so I could test drive it. I was very excited! For two reasons: one I know SCDon is a fast driver based on his documented lap times at FC VIR; second, he has fully modified #23 and raced it in PCA Club Racing Class D– non-essentials stripped out, full cage, racing seats and harness, a rebuilt 3.0 liter flat 6, a limited slip differential, a racing steering wheel, stiffer torsion bars, and a sway bar. Obviously, this meant the car is safer than Bianca, and handles better.

The first time I drove it on track was a parade laps over the lunch hour. No helmet required, and max speed of 65 mph.Remember it was the North Course which was, for me, a first. I did not want to hurt either car, nor to disappoint my instructor. Nor myself. Oh, and did I mention I have motion sickness? It kicks in when I go over 110mph. HOW on Earth can I be FDM if I can’t go fast?

Track Monkeys united! Tex and The Major flanking my instructor.

So, after the parade laps, I couldn’t stop giggling! The car drove LIKE A DREAM! It looked like a battle weary hard working cousin to my Bianca, but it’s handling was incredibly smooth and civilized. It being a new track took some work and was a challenge. Other bumps along the way included seat positioning and my needing to learn how to use a full harness system. But thanks to heroic efforts by SCDon to make those better, by Sunday I was snugly secured and his seat was no longer

functioning as a cruel instrument of torture.

Yes, we did need to adjust the drivers seat position.

My driving was not my best: I can go faster in Bianca because I’m more familiar with her quirks than with those of The23Car. What did I learn? I learned that I am better than I think I am at handling the car but, that I need to trust the car more, need to pick up greater speed in the straightaways, and need to acclimate my body to speed.

As I write these words, I am sitting in Braselton, GA with butterflies in my stomach. First day at Road Atlanta ahead of me. Swami Mike will be right seat and I will have to do what needs to be done.