Hey folks, long time no Sesh. Last time we spoke, I had come back from Burning Man with a fresh perspective that has since evolved. I’m shifting my efforts and budget toward more time at K1 Circuit. Indoor karting just isn’t hitting the spot the way it used to. It had been too long since I last got some fresh air out in Winchester so Kimi joined me for a gorgeous racing day.
Our hope was to have an empty track. There’s a lot I’m still getting used to out there and newbie traffic scared the hell out of me. So of course, we got TONS of traffic. Lots of first timers full of aggression and horrific track manners. It had been so long since I raced I decided nothing was going to get in between me and some good laps.
I was working my way through a pack like I do on indoor tracks. It was unreal to feel this evolution in myself in real time. This was the most overtaking I had ever done at Circuit. Watching Kimi blast off ahead of me and obliterate my times probably added a smidge of motivation as well.
Then came our third race. I really liked that kart I got, the track was warm and the grip was good. I get to the downhill “S” section that had haunted my dreams when I first started racing at Circuit. A young driver who had landed himself in the gravel came blasting back out onto the track and shunted my ass into the light pole. The whole thing was captured by fellow karting enthusiast and track gentleman, Jason Montez, who happened to be behind me. Shoutout to him for the footage.
I cannot begin to tell you how slow time felt as this happened. Anywhere but the “S” I thought as I saw this kid rocketing at me. I was terrified but not frozen. As the back of my kart went up I leaned back and then relaxed my muscles. I hit the brake and let gravity do what it was gonna do. I hardly felt anything but frustration, I was having such a good run.
Something happened to me after that race, I felt massive relief. I had played crashes like that in my head over and over. Now that it happened, my brain was done trying to manifest it. I was free, I spent the rest of my day fearlessly trying to catch Kimi. It was one of the best racing days I ever had, wouldn’t change a thing about it.
I would love to say that it was my determination alone that allowed me to attack traffic like I never had before. I really would, however, something else might be to blame. You see, I have made a purchase….
