The Bench Racers Journal

[Terry Bentley]

Chapter 147

I had made it almost half way across the track before realizing this would be a good opportunity to take some pics of Frank driving tonight. Really perfect to snap some good closeups of the race from this turn I was working. Not necessarily wasting them on just Frank racing tonight.

Since Frank had supplied all of those film rolls, I was sort of obligated to get some pics anyway. Tonight being stuck out here working the corner, I might as well take advantage of the time and click a few shots of the races going on.

Frank was so sure of himself about making it on the cover of one of the kart magazines. But he could not be the one driving so expertly and skillfully on the track and take that one perfect shot with a camera at the same time.

Chris was supposed to be in charge of taking pictures tonight. That was the deal. He wanted to get shots of all the different karts out here running. But when I mentioned about Frank and his action pictures, Chris had mostly avoided the camera since he took those first pics earlier this afternoon. He is very freaked out around Frank, and so far I have not figured out why. When we rode over to Franks house, Chris was a total wreck that day. Since then he has made a point to stay far away from him as humanly possible. All I get from Chris is he does not like him and keeps his distance for some reason.

I ran back to the pits and picked up my camera. Then grabbed an extra roll of film just in case. The karts in this next heat race were already bunching up making a final pace lap before the green flag dropped. I put the move on just barely timing it out to my assigned corner before the flag was waved and race was underway. The flagman did seem to give me a major stare down right before he started this next race.

I dont know why some people take this racing thing so seriously. I mean really most of my seriousness has been focused on getting the three of our karts competitive. Out here at the track, some people think this is racing the Indy 500. It is only a weekend race with local competition. I would hate to see how these same people act at a regional race or even a national one. That could get scary.

Just all of us having the opportunity to race out here and having fun doing it is more than I can ask for. Even when I get seriously beat, the fun of driving and running against other racers is so over the top. Maybe I dont have that edge real racers supposedly have. That special drive to push yourself for all you can be. If someone is faster and can hold their line, I am not going to bash into them or try bumping them out of the way just for a win. That is not winning to me.

But that is exactly what some guys are doing out here tonight. They think winning at any price is a real win. Not winning because you worked all day to get your kart just fast as possible. Dont forget having some skills in driving. That is a major plus to keep your times consistent with every lap.

I overheard some driver claiming he was running a certain fast lap time, and should beat everyone in his class. But that was only one lap he did so well. Well a fast lap time anyway. But when he is in traffic, that lap time tanks. He is no faster than the guys running mid pack. One fast lap time alone does no good if the other ones are a lot slower. Then getting stuck and unable to drive thru traffic sure isnt going to fair so well either. So much for staying out front with only putting down a single fast lap. Now a half dozen more and maybe...

Most of the races were uneventful. That was not the case for when Frank made his first debut. He was involved in some altercation on every lap. Sometimes it was only by himself. This is one time I can truly say that Frank is an accident just waiting to happen. He is happening in real time all the time. Accidents that is. You dont know exactly when or where, but you know it will.

Frank managed to convince the board members that he had been racing for the last two years up in Ohio. At the Dart Speedway, none the less. He claimed to have been running since the track officially opened. He threw around Mickey Rupps name like it was a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card in Monopoly. Too many references to ole "Mic" as Frank called him, like that was supposed to mean something.

I guess he sounded convincing enough, since they waved his newbie status so he didnt have to start every race in the back for his first three weekends here. But from what I saw, the board may make some changes before the night is over.


Franks class starting.

I didnt see where Frank had lined up for his first heat race. But there was plenty of entries in his class. By the time I saw Frank make his way on to the track, most of the other karts were already lined up waiting for the green flag.


Franks class first lap

There was a big class and they were soon scattered all the way around the track in no time. I finally spotted Frank playing catch up to the back of the pack. But loosing ground all the way around in every turn. Maybe they should have waited for him to play catch up so he would be there holding his own with them. 


Frank lapped by leaders.

Frank did not catch up to the rest of the pack. They were bunched up and had already made an extra lap waiting for him. The flagman made it clear it was the drivers responsibility to keep up with the pack. Otherwise if everyone else is lined up the race would start. So it was only a few laps into his first heat race he was getting passed by the leaders.

It seemed when Frank was getting passed, someone lit a torch under his butt. He went into hyperdrive. The race was on. He was running with the leaders now and not backing down. They had to earn the right to pass him. Even tho he was also a lap down. Normally you would move out of the way and let these guys pass. But Frank decided they would have to work for the right or not going to happen. Not on his watch tonight.


Frank making a pass

Somewhere in mid pack as the lead karts were making a pass on Frank, he decided to mover back over into the groove. Except someone else was already next to him attempting what was almost a clean pass. Right up until Frank made contact with the other kart. Maybe Frank should have used his turn signal or rear view mirror. Or better yet at least looked over next to him before turning in on the kart.

I believe it is known that two things can not occupy the same space at the same time. I do think Frank has proven that to be true. The picture I have sure does support that hypothesis fairly well. This would lead to some interesting conversation after getting these pictures developed. Just hearing Franks side of the story should be more than entertaining, even if nothing more than pure fiction. But not in his mind.


Frank being Frank

I snapped this one pic just a split second too late. Frank shot off the track right out of view of the camera lens. I had to wave the flag thru this turn I was working and didnt get the camera back up in time to watch Frank nail this guy from behind. It is like Frank closed his eyes or was getting payback for something. But Frank had been mostly running by himself after the lead pack had passed him by.


Frank stunts

I will probably get chewed out for not paying attention to my turn this one lap. But it sure looked like something was going to happen. Frank had been bumping this one guy then was spun off the track. For some reason Frank never slowed down and drove right over the top of the other guys kart. This is a true Kodak moment. Maybe this is THE picture that will make the cover of that one kart magazine, like Frank was talking about. You throw away over a hundred pictures for that one perfect shot that stands out above the rest. I think Frank nailed it with this one. Like he just did to the other kart.


Frank too many laps

The checkered flag had been dropped and this heat race was over. But Frank went ahead and took an extra lap. The other class was already out there lining up and Frank still on the gas racing for his last and final lap. You gotta wonder what is going on inside of his head out there on the track. Or what is not going on inside of his head. Maybe some shorted out brain cells.

Frank had been given the checkered flag on this lap and the other driver was not understanding what it was all about. Since this next heat race had not started yet. The guy did not know Frank was still racing under the green from the previous class. Frank was making sure he made his 8 laps, you know for the finish points.

There was a couple more classes to run when I got relieved from working this turn. It would give me a little bit of free time to check over the karts before our next race. I ran back to the pits and topped off the gas tanks, checked the chain, and lubed it very well. Then checked the tire pressures too.

Chris would not get released from grid duty until we were lining up for our next heat. I had to make sure his kart was ready when we pushed up to the grid. Then have his gear and kart lined up on pre-grid. It was hectic but we managed to have everything ready to go. Just no free time in between the races to do anything else. Now it was time for our second heat race for the night.