Anxiety at a high level

    Two weekends ago I got the chance to race with NASA AZ.  at Arizona Motorsports Park.  I havent gotten to race at AMP and its been at least 3 years since I raced at a NASA event.  Circumstances, money, timing, work, you name it have all been contributing factors in my lack of attendance.  I have had the chance to race with ProAutoSports a some during those years but not on any type of regular basis.  In that time we've had to build a new race car from scratch.  Starting with a 2000 base Corvette coup.  It is arguably better than the car that it replaced.  Not as much power, but much more civilized and much more adjustable. 

   We had to go through the inspection process all over again. Cage, safety equip, roll bar padding, fire extinguisher, window net etc.  Understandable and acceptable but a major pain in the ass.  Tage was kind enough to make time for the inspection the Wednesday evening before AMP.  Once passed the real anxiety started.  Now I was actually able to race. I was going to have to put on my big boy pants and go. 

    You see, for some reason I am so nervous and anxious when I race with NASA its not funny.  I get all stressed out dont sleep, and frankly dont usually drive as well as when I race with other clubs.  There really isnt any reason for this it's truly just my own problem.  It doesnt make sense because I started racing with NASA.  Have been through the whole program HPDE, Time Trial, and Moving up to Race Group.  Maybe its because both of my wrecks have occurred during a NASA weekend.  Both times took major repairs.  Both times were my fault.  I've even raced with NASA since my last wreck so there is really no logical explanation for my anxiety.  I am not talking average run of the mill anxiety and I talking sick to my stomach, practically cant breath anxiety.  I have been to too many horseshows to count and never get this anxious.  I thought choosing AMP,   a track that I am very comfortable at, and a weekend that wouldnt be very large to jump in again. 

    Race day arrived and I parked with Chris and Drew and their friends.  I was the lone GM product in a veritable herd of Mustangs.   The day was damn hot for fall and I managed to sweat completely through my firesuit during race practice.    I think a sweaty firesuit just might be more toxic and bad for your health than actually catching fire in one.  Qualifying went ok.  I wasnt fast but I had set modest goals for myself and qualified better than both of the cars I had targeted.  My main goal for the day was to finish and entire race day without any incident.  I had one hot dog for lunch.  Drank and excessive amount of monster energy drinks and locked the drivers door when I got myself strapped in and started leaving to go to grid.  If it hadn't been for Marcos methodically figuring out the issue I am sure I would have just loaded the car and came home.  Finally making it to grid I was completely soaked through before we even started our pace laps. 

     I really enjoy the start of the race.  I am usually a really good starter.  Good reaction time, leave in the right gear, can usually position myself so I can see the starter from where I start.  This time started no different.  I was on the inside and I started cheating a little to the right so I could see the starter stand, Marty was ahead of me and as I was sneaking right he was fading that way to stay ahead of me.  The Starter held us a long time until we were right up to him before he waved the green flag.  I knew he was running out of time so I actually laid off a bit and punched the throttle just before the green flag waved.  Timing was good and I was around Marty to the right and alongside of his door as we passed the flag stand.  I thought I might have been a little early but when I looked back Chris was right behind me and we were making our way forward heading toward the first turn with our right wheels right up against the edge of the track.  What started out to be my shining moment of starting brilliance quickly turned into racing calamity as we approached the first turn and the marbles and debris were so thick in front of me you could actually see the build up.  Needless to say getting on the brakes hard enough to make the corner put the anti'locks to the test and I had to turn right across the rumble strips at the edge of the track to keep from collecting cars closing down on the apex of the turn.  I looked back and could only see Chris's windshield and I knew I was committed to making the corner some how or there would be carnage.  Back on track as the lap resumed I could hear the under tray dragging on the track and I knew I had not gotten off damage free from my over exuberance.  Those of you that watch F1 know exactly the start I had.  Just imagine the idiot that starts at the back, runs up the inside and then takes out two of the better cars and himself.  The only difference is the racing gods were looking out for me and I managed not to create an expensive pile of racing junk.  Not only had the off track excursion torn up the under tray but I also managed to puncture a radiator hose and some laps into the race with water spewing out the front of the car and on the windshield I had to quit. 

All in all I would have to call the first day back a success.  It went well enough that with the help of every body in the group I managed to get the hose repaired and was able to race on Sunday as well.  Running AMP counter clockwise for the first time. 

I want to take this time to thank Brian for letting me go and race.  I hate going without him.  I want to thank Drew and Chris and the group for helping me put the car back together and mostly for keeping me calm enough to actually make it on track.  And Tage for his patience and going above and beyond to get me inspected and on track.  It was great to re connect with old friends and meet some new ones as well.  I look forward to more NASA AZ weekends next year in my quest to make it to Nationals at COTA in Austin TX.  Hopefully the longer we run this car the more we will learn about it and the fewer things I will break.  I am getting tired of laying under the front of it fabricating new undertrays.