An Ode To Anaheim
Where Music Meets The Kart
I’ve talked about how music is constantly filling my head as I kart. As a kid I played the flute and sang in choir. I was also a figure skater performing to many classical pieces. Later on in life I was music critic. Like many audiophiles, I often disassemble everything I’m hearing and then put it all back together. It wasn’t until Anaheim that I realized how connected my music hobby could be to my karting.
My first trip to the Anaheim K1 Speed was unplanned. I sauntered over to Torrance in early 2024 only to find it was closed for an event. The thing is, once I’ve put on my karting shoes, my body insists on racing. Turned out Anaheim was only 30 minutes away so I took off to get some races in before they closed.
The first thing I noticed, air conditioning, very plush. Second thing I noticed was the last corner. It is deadly, and people were beefing it hard on that thing every other lap. Next thing I noticed was my ears perking up. It sounded like the karts were running very well. The track is on the longer side with lots of places to gain momentum and then several technical corners tucked in.
It became clear with my first race that my ears did not deceive me, these karts were booking it. I was also right about that last corner. It’s a real test of footwork. To this day I haven’t mastered it. The grip is sensational, it gave me the confidence to push. However, around lap 4 something interesting happened, I started composing.
The start of track is robust, big sweeps like a grandiose overture. There’s a ritenuto (sudden slowing of the tempo) as I exit the last sweep to ensure my set up is perfect.
Next, I put my foot down, building a crescendo that plays over a very sneaky, technical, tiny pin.
After that, my foot is back down and the strings are frantically bowing all the way to the finish where I get an epic finale as I navigate that fatal corner.
The composition in my head is pretty fluid. When more traffic is involved I do notice that I up the amount of pieces in my internal orchestra. I can’t discern how original it is. Typically it sounds like Vivaldi, a personal favorite. If I’m dueling with someone faster than me, Wagner will make an appearance. In the event traffic is particularly hazardous, out comes Handel.
It really is a fantastic track and I would be doing it a disservice if I didn’t mention the incredible staff. The internal orchestra is something I’ve been able to bring with me to other tracks including Winchester.