OK...
So, tonight, I went Karting for the very first time. I've been meaning to do it for years, but kinda passively and vaguely, in a "One day..." context. A few days ago, I decided I'd just go for it - the next time I'd be able to afford a session, as I was skint at that point. I think a recent(Good, but mindblowing) life-changing experience I had in March of this year is what might have given me this sudden burst of motivation.
Anyways...
I went to the indoor ScotKart karting track in Dundee tonight. I'd phoned them up yesterday and told them I wanted a session, but I didn't have to book, just turn up during opening hours(3-10PM - perfect for me with my sleeping patterns). They were very friendly and approachable in general too, which was cool.
I turned up tonight and had three 10-minute sessions with a break after each one; in the first session I was on the track by myself, then in the next two sessions I was on with other guys who were much more experienced.
It was an amazing feeling driving the kart - it was so responsive it kept catching me out to begin with. A brilliant burst of power every time I touched the accelerator. There was a lot of vibration from the engine too, which made it difficult to see at times to begin with. I spent the first session familiarising myself with the kart and track layout. I crashed twice - the first time gently, then a bit harder a few laps later. Up till the second crash, I'd been learning how the kart drove and responded to acceleration and braking(Not at the same time, obvs!) and I'd started lowering my lap times. I got going again after the second crash, but the session ended before I could do another full lap.
In the second session I spent most of the time checking where the other guys were on the track, since it's pretty twisty and I could see more or less the whole track from wherever I happened to be. I spent a lot of time finding places to pull over and avoid blocking them, which might have been overkill, but I figured the last thing they'd want was a slow kart consistently getting in their way. I felt like being on the track with other karts gave me a better focus, and I didn't crash this time.
The 3rd session was easily the best. I felt way more comfortable in the kart, and towards the end of the session I realised I was driving instinctively - I was treating the kart like it was an extension of my body, like I was at one with it I guess. I was driving more and more by feel, and more by using the accelerator alone, lifting and coasting with minimal use of the brake. (Although one time when the track went yellow, I was on the S/F straight and had been accelerating hard; I braked in a straight line and the kart snatched a brake and did a cracking skid.) I started to get the most awesome adrenaline rush when I hit the accelerator too. I knew I must be going quicker, because I didn't have to let the other guys past nearly as often - but I still felt like I was going pathetically slow. When I finished the session(and it finished a bit early for me, as my kart randomly cut out with a couple of minutes left and I had to pull over and get out) I found out I'd just lapped 18 seconds quicker than my previous best.
Next target is to finish ahead of someone!
I have my laptimes printouts(Not bothering to post them up, because they're pretty crap IMO!) and I have my own balaclava now too.
I'd love to do this again soon, but - annoyingly - since it costs money, and I haven't got any at the moment, it'll need to wait for a while. I definitely want to give it another go soon though.
So, I've now been a racing driver. Modestly, but hey.
Happy days!
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2016 02:32AM by EC83.