The Bench Racers Journal

[Terry Bentley]

Chapter 14

After many laps following David, I am getting much better and feeling really good about this. Following him now, I can start to predict his line and when he will brake, then adjust driving working to my advantage. Now I can pull up next to him sometimes. He still pulls away. Really fast compared to me. But this is awesome. I am actually racing. Well sort of.

As we were making laps, Steve had grabbed a green flag and headed out to the start finish line. He is waving at us to line up and holds his hand up with one finger out. Wow, I get a chance for a quick one on one race with David. This is so cool.

We slow down coming out of the last turn before the start/finish line. Steve is in middle of the track with a green flag rolled up holding it between his hands. As we approach he is patting down the rolled flag trying to keep us at a slow but even pace.

We are just a few kart lengths away from Steve, and I assume he is going to drop the flag but didint know when. Just then his arm goes up and out waving the big green. The race is on. David had anticipated the start perfectly and then jumped ahead. Lesson learned here.

I was just a split second behind him hitting the gas, but was quick to tuck in and closely follow thru the first turn. Now I am more at ease running so close to his bumper. Since we are closely matched in weight and power, I can run hard as I am comfortable without fear of running into him from over driving. I know where he should break for the turns, so keeping that in mind.

What is odd, I see, he is running much deeper into the turns now. Pushing a lot harder than when we was showing me the line. Another thing I realize, is now he is sliding out a little farther and scrubbing some speed off. Minor little mistakes are allowing me to keep up at his pace.

But seeing him braking later in one of the tight turns, allows me to setup for him going wide and pull underneath his kart. But doing this I loose the line needed to drive thru the next turn fast. Wow this is going to take some work figuring out everything just to compete in traffic.

I am starting to realize there are many factors to consider when driving. They will be different on every turn and depending if you are leading or following a competitor. Hmm, that means if you are time trialing, then it may be a completely different line to drive for that one fast lap. If you are being pursued really close, then a more defensive line may be used instead. Even tho it can be much slower than a time trial lap.

For the next few laps, I am holding my own. A few times David goes wide and I am able to pull up next to him. I still dont know if he is just playing with me or actually giving it all he has. Each time I am running next to him, he is able to over take me going in to the next turn. There sure is a lot to wrap your brain cells around just to make a single lap. Did not realize it could be this much of a mind grab to race with someone.

What happens when there is a whole bunch of guys here? Wow that can make your brain work overtime trying to factor every other kart that is also trying to get around you when you are trying to do the same to the kart in front. With the karts speeding around and tires only inches apart, nobody knows what the other is thinking, everyone is trying to pass the other. Its amazing there is not a crash and pileup at every turn.

All this thinking while me and David have been just duking it out turn after turn. No contact, and its like we are each others shadow. This really is amazing. I had no idea it could be so intense and still be so much fun. If I dont over think everything and just relax, it seems the kart knows exactly what to do.

Then when there is an opportunity for me to make a move, execute it with exacting precision, and the pass is complete. Or I end up going in the turn wrong loosing all of that momentum. But then just drop back behind David and try again when the next chance presents itself.