Some Special Moments

I think there are moments in our lives that make such and impression on us that we will always cherish and remember them.

I have always been a car nut.  I love race cars as a little kid.  Hot wheels, model cars, toy trucks etc.  My Dad had a friend who was a police officer and he had a black C3 Corvette.  He used to come by the house sometimes and I fell in love with that car.  Its when I first started loving Corvettes.  I always dreamed and imagined racing one some day.  Time went on and dreams and desires take a back seat to real life and the real world and we put those dreams of younger years on hold.  The dedication and time requirements of being in the horse business put a lot of my "real world" desires on hold.  The horse business is an all consuming industry whether you are a hobbyist or a professional trainer, it is a responsibility that never gets put on the back burner.  I've owned Corvettes for the last 20 years and finally got the opportunity to track them when I moved to Arizona in 2009.  My Childhood dream had finally come true.  I admit it is everything that I imagined it to be.  The childlike excitement I fell unloading the car each time at the track never seems to go away.  It always stirs my emotions.  There is an indescribable feeling for me arriving and driving at a legendary track like Laguna Seca.

Since I started racing Ive longed to be able to share this amazing hobby with my partner, husband  and especially my father.  Neither if which I thought would be possible.  Little did I know that a chance meeting would bring the most amazing man into my life that I would not only get to marry, but would actually share my passion for cars and racing.  The last 18 months watching Brian evolve on track first driving his Audi S3 then the C5 fixed roof Corvette, to his R8 less than a month after buying it and wrecking the Vette to now driving the C5 Coupe has been truly magical for me.  I was always proud of the progress my horse clients made and I am the same way with those who I instruct in the car.  Especially Brian,  watching his confidence grow and him getting faster has been great.

This weekend was Brian's first weekend participating in race group.  I decided that is would be a good place to start because it was a track that he was comfortable with.  It also happened that for Christmas he gave his dad a New Members instruction day with ProAutoSports.  I was his instructor.  Saturday was his dads day and I instructed him on his first two track sessions, Brian rode with him on his third and I gave him a ride in the car on his fourth.  He did a fine job for his first time. Driving a car he has never been in, not street legal anymore and set up to race.  Its not like taking your daily driver to the track to ride around in.  The guys at ProAutoSports were awesome as usual making a good day even better.  I cant thank them enough for making this a special weekend for everybody.

Since I've started racing Ive wanted to share a racing weekend with my father.  The stars and the planets have never aligned and Ive given up on that ever happening. I never imagined that I would marry into a family that would allow me the opportunity to share that experience with my father in law.  I'm not always easy to deal with and every one that knows me knows that I am far from perfect but they have taken me in and accepted me the way that I am right from the start.  I have cherished every moment with them. 

I didn't completely hold up my end of the bargain this weekend.  Brian has gotten faster than me in the car and he did a great job qualifying the car third over all and 1st in class !!!!  I had a great position for the qualifying race, halfway through the first lap I looped the car in front of the rest of the field and spun off track killed the motor and had to re cycle the main power switch to get the car to fire.  When I finally got back on track I was a half lap behind.  Should make for some good video if I choose to upload it.  After a scolding from my mother in law about controlling myself during the first lap I managed to finish the main race 3rd overall and 2nd in class. I totally cost us a chance at a win. 

It was amazing to pull into the pits and park next to the trailer and see my new family happy and smiling back at me. I cant begin to express how that feels.