It's Almost Racing Season!

I'm so excited, it's almost racing season again!  I'm not talking running (though I do that too), I'm talking car racing.  It is SO MUCH FUN to go on that track and to push your car harder than you ever have before, going around corners faster than you ever have before, and to pass other cars like they were standing still.

Yes, I'm a bit of a speed demon.  Yes, that's me in the photo at the top of this post, taking Turn 12 at Portland International Raceway so fast my tires are squealing.  And if we were close enough, you'd see a big grin on my face, spanning from ear to ear.

Here I am, on the front straightaway, trying to catch the Porche that's ahead of me.  I never did catch him, but I did pass a Ferrari!

When I was younger, I had dreams of being an astronaut.  What kid of the 70's and 80's didn't dream of blasting off into space?  Obviously I didn't become an astronaut, nor did I become a fighter jet pilot (another dream of mine), so car racing is the next best thing.  :)

Here is a video of me from my last track day last Fall.  It was my first solo run, I had been cleared by my instructors to go without supervision.  It was a complete blast!!

The fantastic thing is that this is something that my husband and I do together.  He has former racing experience so he's been a fantastic teacher.  He was even my instructor for a day and our marriage survived!  LOL!  He's a wealth of information and I'm thrilled that we can enjoy this together.  So here's to a great racing season in 2012!

Is racing something that you're interested in?  Even if you're not, it's a great way to learn your car and to learn better driving skills even if you never plan on going on a track ever again in your life.  I highly recommend it. If you live in the Portland, OR area, I suggest taking a class through the Cascade Sports Car Club.

http://www.cascadesportscarclub.org/

Their instruction is fantastic, both the evening before in the classroom and the day on the track with an in-car instructor.  I was always put at ease by my instructor and he gave me excellent direction and advice.  My husband and I both want our daughters to go through this training when they get their drivers licenses as it will make them better drivers in their daily life as well.

If you don't live in the Portland, OR area, you might look around to see if there's anything available near you.  It's amazing what you can have hiding practically in your backyard.  :)