"Getting The Feel"
Courtney first got started racing in the year of 1999.
He attended a race with some of his friends who were already race-car drivers.
Courtney writes: While I stood in the pits watching the cars go around the track I thought to myself that perhaps I could do this but was very leery needless to say my friend had already summoned up the idea of putting me behind that wheel. I thought long and hard about this however; I took that first step and climbed in and I was on my way around that track. At first I stayed low and out of the way of all the other drivers. After a few laps my confidence began to build. After ten laps I thought I was really moving at the speed of 85 mph, while listening to my spotter from a two way radio he said to me that I had six (6) cars coming up from behind very fast, I looked over my shoulder and all I seen was cars just flying by me left and right, as my heart sank low from all the excitement I than realized that compared to the other drivers I was moving at a snails pace of approx. 45 mph. "I Can't Drive 55"
Two laps after this experience the practice run had ended. As I brought the car back in to the pit area and unbuckled myself I sat there in the car for a moment with nervousness and excitement all in one. Needless to say this was my first attempt at any type of high speed driving.The next week I went to the track again and once again got behind that wheel. At the end of that night I said to myself....
Time to get my own car!
The "Perfect Car"
I searched for a complete week before finding the "perfect" car.
Finding the car wasn't hard to do at all, I searched a few web sites, thumbed through a few classifieds and found my "Perfect Car" in about a week.The initial cost of getting the car isn't as much as it may seem to be, myself I spent a total of $ 3,700.00 and enough parts to complete another car if need be. Once the seat and steering wheel adjustments were made I was ready to put the car onto a local track for testing.
"Testing The Car"
I tested the car did some adjustments and after three hours I felt
I was ready to compete in an actual race without any hesitations.
My First New River Valley Speedway Race
This is Courtney sitting by himself nervous and scared
as he waits to qualify for his first race.
"Starting Line Up"
There were 30 cars qualifying that day and after returning to the pits Courtney was shock to find that he took 5th position in the starting line up.
"Moment of Truth"
"Race Time"
Lining up and getting on the track, pace laps complete coming out of turn four for the "GREEN FLAG" the green flag drops and so does Courtney very quickly from 5th to 10th before entering turn one. He managed to hold his position for three and a half laps, on the fourth lap entering turn four at 110 mph, three wide the number 3 car spins directly in front of him with a car above and below him he had no where to go except directly into the side of the number 3 car
(T-BONE)
The car was still drivable and he was able to cross the start / finish line. His finishing final of that night was position 29th. He drove to the pits and before climbing out of the car he writes: I gathered my composure and a NASCAR official arrived to see if I was injured. Lying through my teeth I said I was perfectly fine
"WHAT A MISTAKE THAT WAS"
as I climbed out of the car I realized I was hurting from the top of my head to toes from that T-Bone. (I think next time I will tell the truth).
If your ever in a situation like this it's always best to be safe then sorry
so make sure you tell the officials exactly what is going on.
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copyright© 2001, Passin-Time Race Team
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