Racing is Good

                Racing is my favorite thing to do because it mixes skill and a sense of freedom. There is no feeling like the one you get from driving a car at high speed into a tight corner. The thought of being in a race excites and thrills me. 

                First, the style of someone’s driving is derived from their skill and can be put into two major categories, drift and grip. A person’s skill comes from their individual techniques they use, such as heel-to-toe downshifting. Racers are always trying to become faster by increasing the number of skills and techniques they learn and applying them into their style.  Drifting is a style of racing in which the car loses traction and slides around sideways into a corner. Drifting is a highly advanced style that requires control thru chaos. Drifting looks and feels amazing as the car is subjected to forces that should not be able to handle.  On the other hand, grip racing is far less chaotic as the car is more under control. However, just because it is easier does not take away from the extreme amount of challenge that comes with auto racing.

                Next, the shear number of cars available to drive is unbelievable. Any car, and sometimes trucks, on the road is subjective to being able to race.  There are five engine setups currently available to the public. Front mounted engine rear wheel drive, FR, is the most commonly used for drifting due to its ability to get sideways and stability. This provides a unique feeling as most cars today have a front mounted engine with front wheel drive, FF. The other displacements are four wheel or all wheel drive, 4WD and AWD respectively, mid engine rear wheel drive, MR, and lastly rear engine rear wheel drive, RR.  4WD, AWD, MR and RR all have the ability to drift, if setup correctly, but carry their own challenges and unique feel.

                Finally, racing does not just happen on official tracks and road courses; in fact there are many types of venues in which racers display their skills and abilities. The most common places auto racing occurs are sanctioned tracks and road courses, touges, and every day streets inside and outside of cities. Official tracks and road courses are the safest place to push your limits and are the only legal means of doing so.  While it should be understood that there is no such thing as a safe race with no danger, official tracks and road courses are closed off to other traffic.  Touge is the Japanese name for mountain passes and is the birthplace of the auto sport of drifting. Racing on the touges is high illegal and very deadly. The main reason for this is they are small steep windy roads, usually driven at night due to the less potential of slow moving traffic. The mix of speed and sharp corners with cliffs at night create a very real and dangerous environment. Touges are deadly but not the most common place for street racing. City and rural roads are the most common. If something goes wrong on these roads more people are at risk of death and injury then just the drivers. Other cars and even pedestrians are at risk because these are usually normal roads, like highways and main streets.

                In conclusion, auto racing gives you a feeling unlike anything in the world. If it is done some where safe it can be enjoyed by all people but streets while others are around is definitely not the time nor place to display recklessness. Racing can be the most exhilarating thing in the world. If you constantly improve your skill safely you may find a euphoric feeling of absolute freedom, even when you restrict yourself to legal means of racing.

The Power Of Sunday

Just as the sun comes over the horizon, the pit is completely alive. Full with the sounds of teams working hard and drivers talking, and probably trading advice for hard kept secrets while bragging about their setup.  There is complete silence as one man walks the long, open, and empty track. He is seen praying, but not for victory; rather, giving thanks for the perfect day.  The track is cold, calm and like a virgin untouched by the high speeds that are coming to disrupt the serenity.  The galleries are starting to fill slowly like sands of an hourglass.  The smells of the high octane mixed with the sweat of the crews fill the air just before the uncomfortable silence sets in.  All of the workers stop, their hoods drop, and the crowd stand up. Hands over hearts as “Old Glory” is raised high as a beacon of freedom and pride.  The Anthem thunders over the world as if it the last time anyone would ever hear it. Afterwards, there was utter silence.

Four words spoken and that is all it takes to unleash an earthquake from the field.  The roar of all the engines starting at once, feels like a cannon launching a volley into the hearts of the crowd.  The drivers, donned in their battle armor, take to the track leaving only the smell of exhaust fumes and burning rubber.  The lead is held by the lone wolf whom had walked the track so meticulously minutes ago.  His body is hard-pressed, almost super glued, to his expensive battle carriage as the speed increases faster and ever faster.  There is an angelic aura around him as he attacks each corner with uncanny precision.  The turbo on his rotary engine, of his brilliant black RX-7, spools at ludicrous speed generating a whine that rivals a banshee’s shriek.  Fans cheer for the blur he creates as he enters the apex straight sideways.  White smoke leaps from the contact of the fast spinning tires tearing into the glassy smooth tarmac and moves to the sky, eclipsing the sun from the chaotic crowd.  The RX-7 appears to break all of the laws of physics as he exits with unmatched speed. 

            All hearts are beating hard, like drums, and adrenaline is pumping through every vein as the drivers complete lap after lap.  Even the sun finds a spot high enough to see everything on the track.  All of the drivers are focused to the maximum as the day progresses.  Then it happens.  Two cars misjudge the distance and kiss each other hard and fast like a pair of newlyweds.  Debris flies outward in all directions from these star stuck lovers as they both flip and roll out of control.  Once the dust settles, hearts are broken.  The carnage speaks for itself.  Everyone fears the worst.  No one wants to look but they are not able look away.  Silence is the only thing in the world, as the rescue crews arrive to save the pair trapped within.

            Life has returned to the stands as the heroes emerge unscathed from their near eternal coffins.  The monsters are dead, bleeding oil and antifreeze, and are soon drug away.  This is just an occupation hazard for all racers.  After the field is restarted it is almost like nothing even happened as the fans continue to cheer and the drivers refocus on the task at hand.  The driver of the RX-7 still leads the pack.  As the sun gets tired the race is coming to its end.  Only a few laps are left and one is still out front.  The white flag flies high like a dove and the cars run all out.  With a last ditch effort every driver pushes their machines further than ever before.  The last corner is a dangerous one as it looks like the lead cars are demon possessed, disregarding life and limb in a fight to the death.  There is one seat being used as the cars blow by the finish line and with a flick of the wrist and wave of the arm it is over.  The beautiful black beast has won, again. 

            There is no feeling like the one of winning, conquering you enemies, and the relief after it is over.  Mixed emotions take over the veteran and rookie drivers alike.  The driver of the RX-7 steps out of his trusty steed and looks up and thanks the Lord for the day again.  There is something powerful about Sunday.  Hopes and dreams are shattered and new ones are reborn.  After the all the spectators leave and the cars are put to rest the moon and sun trade places. The victor again stands alone on his own.  He walks the track again remembering the events that had occurred just hours ago looks up at the moon and smiles.