skibigsky's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last weekend. Charles is out of here tomorrow. Former (and sort of co-) owner of the Miata, Charles has been adopted by us (of he has adopted us, depending on your perspective). He’s come out for a number of races, and since he and Mr. V. will be running the Miata at that Nationals in Topeka, he came out this last weekend to race the car; he wanted some seat time before the Nationals. I will be running at the Nationals. Yes. I will have my ass handed to me. This is the Nationals, after all. But the experience will be good, (or so I’m told; I guess having one’s ass handed to them is good for moral fiber, and all that… and yeah, I’ll be trying to und up NOT DFL. Luckily, there is NO drag start, so I have a fighting chance….). I’m actually quite excited. We will be there all week, and apparently, this is A Big Deal for autocrossers; apparently as much social as competitive (but, of course, more competitive than social, since it IS a race), but will be a great business opportunity. Charles knows a few of the people that will be there, and we’ve got a bunch of Modern Solo Racing team members (the guy sharing the MINI with me, Charles, and a couple of other guys) there as well, not to mention a bunch of other members from our region. So it should be fun. We’ll have the RV, and the dogs, so it should be a good time. Originally, the guy who is driving my MINI was going to fly out middle of the week (we don’t race until the end of the week), but that would have left us with 3 people (Mr. V., Charles and myself), and 2 dogs driving 2 vehicles. Because the dogs and the husband both need to be taken care of, it wasn’t practical to do this. So our adopted son (the guy driving my MINI; we ‘adopted’ him a couple of months ago, and ever since, he’s been a good ‘son’ – he has been driving the car (we kid him that while he’s got a 2005 MINI, he also has a 2007 MINI – ours!), changing the tires from street tires to race tires and back again, and doing all sorts of mechanical stuff with the car. Our car is inherently faster than his, and he’s WAY psyched to race at the Nationals. Anyhoo. After a little discussion, the adopted son will be driving the MINI out, later in the week. I won’t do the ‘test-n-tune’, but frankly, it wouldn’t matter, as I wouldn’t know what I’m looking for in the course, or the car. Yeah, I’d like to find out what the surface is like, but as Mr. V. so sagely points out, it’s not like I’m going to learn SO MUCH that I’ll leap up 10 seconds – which is what it would take to matter in my class – in one day. And, this way I’ll be able to focus on ‘the boys’ (Mr. V. and Charles) without having to fret about my own car. And, I’ll be able to spend quality time with the poods, without having to worry about them. I am a little worried about them for the 2 days that we will be racing; all of us are racing on the same day, and I don’t know when they will get out. But there are 6 heats during the day, and if all of us are running in the same half days, then the dogs will be rescued in the other half day. If we are running on off-schedules, someone will be available to take them out I just can’t picture 9 days without the kids. So. At least the Nationals thing is settled. There is a bunch of work to be done before then, but I’m now looking more forward to the trip. Another good thing from this weekend. I am feeling more comfortable with Charles. I have gotten to know him better through his two previous visits, and through emails, and it’s gotten to the point that I’ll accept Charles as a ‘second husband’. And no. Not what you’re thinking in a Utah-multiple-spouse sort of way. In a, I-like-this-guy-enough-that-I’d-do-his-laundry-and-cook-for-him sort of way. Which, if you know me, is saying a lot. And the fact that Mr. V. doesn’t freak out about me spending several hours in Charles’ room speaks yet more to the Second Husband status. I love this guy in a totally platonic, but very amused sort of way. I’m glad for it. I think he and Mr. V. will have a long business relationship, and since this is the first of Mr. V.’s business partners that I have EVER liked, I’m glad for it. And I’d like to see Charles get some financial gain; he’s a good guy, but he also needs to be a happy guy. Oh, and the racing? I did well. Not spectacularly, but it was a challenging course, we only got 4 runs, and I learned a lot. And I still beat a few people that have been beating me all season. Charles? Holy shit. This guy CAN DRIVE. He looks like a slouch (inside joke – he really doesn’t), but DAMN this guy drives with a bat-out-of-hell mentality. I wish I could learn that mindset. Charlie (Mr. V.’s other coach, and husband of MY coach) drove really well as well. Mr. V. also did way better (WAY better) due to a radio communication system that he set up with his coaches (Charles and Charlie). All 3 boys (Mr. V., Charles and Charlie) all drove the Miata. But Charlie brought out his Corvette 2002 ZO6 for some fun runs. And further ‘ohs’? Heh. Charlie’s Vette. Mr. V. took a ride, and then drove it. And is in serious love. He SO wants one of these cars. And after I took a ride. Shit. I wish I knew how to control 400+ HP. Because this thing is bitchin’. Holy shit. I think I’d take cones out left and right, but I’d LOVE to drive one of these suckers. It is UNBELIEVEABLE. Heh. And results? Linda (my co-driver and coach) kicked my ass, as expected, but only by 5 seconds. Charles almost took top driver (overall – which is AMAZING – this guy is a DRIVER). Mr. V. drove really well, and Mattman, my adopted son, took top PAX (and adjusted time based on car). Third week in a row. This guy is smokin’!!!! Team Volatile had a great weekend. And Charles will be back in less than 2 weeks to leave for nationals. This is cool. 10:27 p.m. - 10 September 2007 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
||||||