Thing to Do #64: Drive a Car at Top Speed

Saturday night a group of us went go-cart racing at an indoor track nearby.   We opted to do the “Grand Prix” race which meant we did several practice laps and then did qualifying laps before starting the first stretch of the race.  After the first dozen laps, we could take a 10 minute break, and then we would start the second stretch in reverse order from how we finished the first.  These are pretty serious go-carts that can go almost 40 mph and not only do they give you a helmet to wear, but also a neck brace in an effort to avoid whiplash and other neck injuries.  They don’t tolerate any bumping and will kick someone out for doing it reapeatedly.

There were 5 of us (3 boys and 2 girls), and 2 other guys that joined us that we didn’t know.  The other two guys were either natural born racers or else had spent some time on a track (or at least street racing), so they easily wiped the floor the rest of us.  Chris came in first of our group, then Alex, Steve, Monica and bringing up the rear was yours truly, Jessica.

I was one of the first ones out of the gate and was racing around the track, sliding around the curves, and enjoying myself until I quickly saw how easy it was to “spin out.”  I crept around “wrecks,” giving other cars plenty of space to get going again.  I was minding my own business until who should spin me out but my own husband, the one person in life that I have vowed to forsake all others for, be there in sickness and in health, blah, blah, blah.  Apparently he is more interested in the whole till-death-do-us-part bit.  He hit me hard from behind, completely a surprise, and my neck snapped back, immediately in pain. 

I was mad about being spun out and I was surprised by the pain.  I’m the first to admit that I often do things with a false sense of security.  Yeah, I sign waivers all the time about the fact that I could die or be injured in whatever activity I’m signing up for, but they wouldn’t let you do unless it was safe, right?  Truly, it IS safe, if everyone is obeying the rules; I actually think it would be kinda difficult to seriously hurt yourself.  However, after that hit, and soon realizing I was “lap traffic,” I was quick to slow down and give others plenty of space.  Regardless, I continued to get bumped and increasingly annoyed.

I managed to not finish last in the first stretch, due to the fact that Monica thought I was one of the racers that was lapping her and she moved over to let me pass (The same thing happened to me in the second stretch when I left Steve go by, thinking he was lapping me).  So Monica started the second stretch of the race, followed by me.  There was a lot of bumping as the boys were eager to get around the “slow” girls and for a second time, Alex spun me out.  I was seeing RED!  I couldn’t believe that of all of the people out there, he had now done this TWICE!  I mostly spent the remainder of the race trying to stay out of the other racers way. 

Once we were finished, I let Alex have it, embarassingly in front of everyone.  I woke up Sunday with a sore neck and bruises on my chest/in my shouldars from the restraints.  Alex was quick to mention that HE was sore in his lower back, that he had been spun out and bumped too.

I was frustrated with myself for not being able to go faster as I’m extremely competitive and a very sore loser.  This frustration had all the more to do with not being willing to bump and do what was apparently necessary to do well in the race. 

So, I guess I haven’t even driven a go-cart at top speed, although I’m sure if I was on an open track, I would have done much better.  Although it could be argued that I’ve gotten my Ford Escape up to about its limit,  I’ve always thought I would do the Richard Petty Driving Experience down in Charlotte to complete this item.  Unfortunately, I need to learn how to drive a stick shift first, but how awesome would it be to drive a race car on a NASCAR track?!

I know Gina has talked about wanting to do a similar race car experience.  Any other racers out there?  Anybody want to make fun of me for being last in a go-cart race?