10-12-2004, 02:04 AM
round 2.....FIGHT!
The second set of drivers packed into the pit area, ready to jump in where their teammate left off. I see Boobies, one of the Professors, John, and Mike among us. The others faces are hidden too well behind the helmet face mask and Im too unobservant to notice what theyre wearing. Sliding through the last sweeper towards the pits I can make out the #2 on the front fairing of a kart, its Jay! I run to the back of the line of karts which are in the bustling process of switching out drivers. I meet Jay as he pulls in, and help him out of the kart.but as I do I make note that his grip is pretty weak, and he looks soaked in sweat. He doesnt exactly jump out either, more like waddled out as if he had soiled his drawers. Interesting, but Im too wound up to let it get to me and in a blur Ive squeezed myself into the seat. Feet locked onto the pedals, shoulder belt into the faded orange receptacle. Hands on the little wheel and..man this wheel is thick. And it doesnt turn so easy. This gets my attention right as I realize I should look up and notice Tiny is waving me on like crazy to get the hell out there and stop dicking around. Woops. He points to the exit but I misinterpret this for some reason as him telling me to go out through the middle of the pits where the super karts are parked. He looks at me like Im eating a crayon or something as I lurch through and bound onto the track, smacking the right rear tire guard hard into the pit exit tire wall as I go (this wont be the last time, because I never get used to how wide these karts are). Graceful indeed.
3 things right off the top. This kart does not like me, or anyone for all IÔÇÖm concerned. (A)The throttle is dull, then with a little more travel IÔÇÖm at full throttle (thusly the lurching out of pits). (B)The steering is kicking my ass and IÔÇÖm not even at the first turn. ©And where the hell are the brakes, and holy crap IÔÇÖm picking up some serious speed. Things looked so easy from the spectators areaÔǪ
Dumb ingrained instinct takes over and I lift hard to make the first 90 degree left towards the hairpin. It works, right up until I decide to steer. The tiny wheel moves maybe 10 degrees until I realize Im being a puss and GRAB the thing. The caster built into the front wheels ramps up the effort and I realize there is no possible way Im doing any one handed driving. The wheel turns in, then fights back, then I use more effort, then its too much..bloody hell I suck at this. Then I remember to get back on the throttle and mash it. Combined with my Mr. Roboto turning technique I careen into the most half assed, ugly, tank slapping slide ever and begin to realize I need to experiment with these brakes by seeing how fast they really stop this thing, because the hairpin is coming up in t-minus 20 feet and its definitely going to send me 180 degrees in the opposite direction at its exit. That means I stomp them, and there is zero feel until you realize youve already locked up the rear tires (because my left foot is used to a stiff clutch) and now theyre shrieking.argh. Im basically feel like Im learning how to drive all over again.
Suffice to say I learned that karts are very touchy machines in the few seconds that passed before I managed to wrestle it back under control. They donÔÇÖt like to pamper you, you have to fight back and master it. You would think that after driving pampering, power-everything cars all my life it would be a rude awakening, but it was seriously awesome, and by awesome I mean phenomenally sweet.
One lap later I realize this kart is going to beat me like a rented mule. The concrete surface is very smooth but it has its random bumps and cracks, and you feel all of it. The seat is smashing my hips at every turn, and the cornering gs are forcing me to lean into the turn with all the strength my abs/gut can muster. My forearms are swelled from trying to not only steer but hold myself up (no way is this engine only 6.5 horsepower.is it?.......), and my neck is under pressure from holding my helmets weight against the g forces. Im already sweating like crazy trying to keep up with this thing.
The world is blurred to tunnel vision and Im only glancing at things anymore. Theres no time to look at the corner youre actually at, you need to be looking at least one corner ahead. Quickly my eyes shoot a glance at the corner worker to check for a blue flag, aka the get out of the way grandpa, people are trying to pass you flag. None yet, a good sign all things considered. Quick glance over the shoulder as I enter a short straight to check for people behind me. Im pretty clear, so another fast glance at the corner coming up, and deep breaththen I fling the kart into the entry for another corner, a fast one, maybe the fastest one on the trackthe sweeper leading to the pit exit hairpin. The rear end is under the persuasion of full throttle as I aim for the apex, and the front is understeering slightly from my fast entry, but I hold on tight and just go..1.3 degrees of steering this way, 4.7 this way, 2.5 this way, but all in one motion..and Im in the most subtle of 4 wheel drifts, barely bumping the rear tire guard on the apex as I speed by. I cant believe that I actually made a clean corner. I eventually pass one or two people who are looking for a good line like me, or brake a little too late and leave me room to squeeze by. My subconscious is the pilot now since my eyes just cant focus fast enough for some parts. Im thankful too, because I have enough work to do just keeping myself upright. I actually start to get the hang of this kart. Its so direct; you can drive it almost by just thinking. 15 minutes is really feeling like 30, and Im very, very thankful when my first 15 minutes are up.
cliff notes: there's no retard in team!
The second set of drivers packed into the pit area, ready to jump in where their teammate left off. I see Boobies, one of the Professors, John, and Mike among us. The others faces are hidden too well behind the helmet face mask and Im too unobservant to notice what theyre wearing. Sliding through the last sweeper towards the pits I can make out the #2 on the front fairing of a kart, its Jay! I run to the back of the line of karts which are in the bustling process of switching out drivers. I meet Jay as he pulls in, and help him out of the kart.but as I do I make note that his grip is pretty weak, and he looks soaked in sweat. He doesnt exactly jump out either, more like waddled out as if he had soiled his drawers. Interesting, but Im too wound up to let it get to me and in a blur Ive squeezed myself into the seat. Feet locked onto the pedals, shoulder belt into the faded orange receptacle. Hands on the little wheel and..man this wheel is thick. And it doesnt turn so easy. This gets my attention right as I realize I should look up and notice Tiny is waving me on like crazy to get the hell out there and stop dicking around. Woops. He points to the exit but I misinterpret this for some reason as him telling me to go out through the middle of the pits where the super karts are parked. He looks at me like Im eating a crayon or something as I lurch through and bound onto the track, smacking the right rear tire guard hard into the pit exit tire wall as I go (this wont be the last time, because I never get used to how wide these karts are). Graceful indeed.
3 things right off the top. This kart does not like me, or anyone for all IÔÇÖm concerned. (A)The throttle is dull, then with a little more travel IÔÇÖm at full throttle (thusly the lurching out of pits). (B)The steering is kicking my ass and IÔÇÖm not even at the first turn. ©And where the hell are the brakes, and holy crap IÔÇÖm picking up some serious speed. Things looked so easy from the spectators areaÔǪ
Dumb ingrained instinct takes over and I lift hard to make the first 90 degree left towards the hairpin. It works, right up until I decide to steer. The tiny wheel moves maybe 10 degrees until I realize Im being a puss and GRAB the thing. The caster built into the front wheels ramps up the effort and I realize there is no possible way Im doing any one handed driving. The wheel turns in, then fights back, then I use more effort, then its too much..bloody hell I suck at this. Then I remember to get back on the throttle and mash it. Combined with my Mr. Roboto turning technique I careen into the most half assed, ugly, tank slapping slide ever and begin to realize I need to experiment with these brakes by seeing how fast they really stop this thing, because the hairpin is coming up in t-minus 20 feet and its definitely going to send me 180 degrees in the opposite direction at its exit. That means I stomp them, and there is zero feel until you realize youve already locked up the rear tires (because my left foot is used to a stiff clutch) and now theyre shrieking.argh. Im basically feel like Im learning how to drive all over again.
Suffice to say I learned that karts are very touchy machines in the few seconds that passed before I managed to wrestle it back under control. They donÔÇÖt like to pamper you, you have to fight back and master it. You would think that after driving pampering, power-everything cars all my life it would be a rude awakening, but it was seriously awesome, and by awesome I mean phenomenally sweet.
One lap later I realize this kart is going to beat me like a rented mule. The concrete surface is very smooth but it has its random bumps and cracks, and you feel all of it. The seat is smashing my hips at every turn, and the cornering gs are forcing me to lean into the turn with all the strength my abs/gut can muster. My forearms are swelled from trying to not only steer but hold myself up (no way is this engine only 6.5 horsepower.is it?.......), and my neck is under pressure from holding my helmets weight against the g forces. Im already sweating like crazy trying to keep up with this thing.
The world is blurred to tunnel vision and Im only glancing at things anymore. Theres no time to look at the corner youre actually at, you need to be looking at least one corner ahead. Quickly my eyes shoot a glance at the corner worker to check for a blue flag, aka the get out of the way grandpa, people are trying to pass you flag. None yet, a good sign all things considered. Quick glance over the shoulder as I enter a short straight to check for people behind me. Im pretty clear, so another fast glance at the corner coming up, and deep breaththen I fling the kart into the entry for another corner, a fast one, maybe the fastest one on the trackthe sweeper leading to the pit exit hairpin. The rear end is under the persuasion of full throttle as I aim for the apex, and the front is understeering slightly from my fast entry, but I hold on tight and just go..1.3 degrees of steering this way, 4.7 this way, 2.5 this way, but all in one motion..and Im in the most subtle of 4 wheel drifts, barely bumping the rear tire guard on the apex as I speed by. I cant believe that I actually made a clean corner. I eventually pass one or two people who are looking for a good line like me, or brake a little too late and leave me room to squeeze by. My subconscious is the pilot now since my eyes just cant focus fast enough for some parts. Im thankful too, because I have enough work to do just keeping myself upright. I actually start to get the hang of this kart. Its so direct; you can drive it almost by just thinking. 15 minutes is really feeling like 30, and Im very, very thankful when my first 15 minutes are up.
cliff notes: there's no retard in team!
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT