After walking the course a few times and watching a couple of run groups, my turn to run finally came. I talked Justin into coming with me on my first run to make sure I stayed on course. I pulled up to the start line and I was so nervous that I could barely keep my foot on the clutch while waiting to start!!! After waiting for what seemed to be an eternity, the car in front of me passed the halfway point in the track and they waved me out.

The start was good, considering how much my left leg was shaking!!! Once I was on course, I was able to figure out where I was going pretty well. I was taking it easy for my first run to get used to the handling of the car and to make sure I had the course figured out. While out on course Justin was pointing and yelling left…right, which definitely came in handy in a couple of spots where I temporarily got lost. Thanks to Justin’s good directions, my first run ever was a clean one and was timed at 1:34.806, not too bad for a novice on that course.

After the run, rather than during the run, Justin critiqued my driving a little, telling me where I should be on the gas more, or on the brake more, also suggesting where I could take better lines through the corners. I was just happy that I survived my first run without hitting any cones or loosing control of the car!!!

The second run I talked my friend Jared into riding with me. I told him not to say anything unless I was starting to head off course. I wanted to see if I could make it through by myself. I was less nervous this time, so the clutch leg wasn’t shaking as much, which gave me a much better start. This time I pushed first gear a bit more, and attempted to downshift in some of the corners like Justin had suggested. The little extra push resulted in a 1:32.595. I was beginning to get a feel for the course, I only got a little confused once this run, and I recovered before Jared had a chance to say anything.

There was a third morning run today, so I hopped right back into line. I felt rather comfortable on the course now, and decided that I would be all right to take this run solo. This run I didn’t try and push the car much more than I did on the previous run, I was just trying to make it as clean as I could. I didn’t get lost once, I didn’t hit any cones, and the car never felt like it was going to break loose. This run resulted in a 1:29.184, a rather substantial improvement over the previous run, and I did it without any help!!!

Well, I made it through the morning runs without any big mistakes, such as looping the car, or stalling it for that matter. J The car also seemed like it was having fun, it was still running smoothly and sounded good. I worked the course during for the run group before mine, so I decided to take a break and headed out for some lunch. I had to work the course for the second afternoon run group, then it was my turn to run again.

We had been shooting for three morning runs and two afternoon runs, but because of time restrictions, and running behind schedule, we were only allowed one run in the afternoon. L Unfortunately this left no room for error, with only one run it had to be a good one. Well, it was again my turn at the line. This run, I pushed the car more than I had all day. I was doing well, nice clean run, never too out of control, but in the very last slalom, the tail broke loose a little and I clipped a cone with the front after recovering. Still not a bad run, resulting in a 1:29.176 with the two second penalty for hitting the cone.

That was it for the day. We ended up being really behind schedule, and had to pack fast to get out by the 6:00 deadline. We made it, but I noticed when I started my car that the engine didn’t quite sound right. L It was still running smooth, but something was definitely knocking around in there. It seemed to go away during the almost one hour ride home, so I didn’t think too much about it. The next morning however, it started sounding worse. Warp over to the logbook to find out the rest of the story.

Even with the strange engine sounds, and broken parts, this was the most fun I think I have ever had in my car in the almost four years I had owned it!!! I guess you could say that I’m hooked, and will definitely be attending the rest of the clubs events this year!!!

Here are some more pictures from the day that you can check out: