Rallye Star!

	September 19, 2004 So it's been two weeks after Gorman and two weeks without a car. See when Prince got dropped off, Mr. Rogers, the practice car, went out to with Big Tom for some much needed TLC. I've just gotten him back this evening and I've missed absolutely every second I've spent with him terrorizing the neighbors and the ground squirrels. Practice today was strange. Since I'm so new to rallying, I've forgotten a lot of what I've learned so far-or at least it feels that way. Leon says that I'm doing fine. I'll take his word for it. He jumped in for a quick lesson on doughnuts. I'm having some trouble with them, as Mr. Rogers doesn't have a limited slip differential so it takes a lot of work to get him chasing his tail, so to say. It didn't take long to get me going again and soon I was doing one-handed doughnuts while flashing Leon the International Rock On symbol! It was very fun! As for Prince-he's at Big Tom's place getting his engine removed! Yep, I've got my wish. With some much appreciated help from Chaste Automotive, Prince will be getting a new 4A-GE engine, a new 5-speed transmission and dual Weber carburetors!!! Although we're still looking for the carburetors, everything else is ready to go! My next event will be with Prince and traverses my favorite stomping ground, Glendora Ridge Road. Only 15 minutes away from my house! We're hoping that this event will allow us to test Prince out before taking him to the Ramada Express Rally. While things are pretty quiet for me, Leon's racing career is certainly heating up! In four days we'll be heading out to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the Colorado Cog ProRally. I'll be undertaking my usual position as crew chief-feeding and watering everyone, making sure everyone has directions and times of important events, helping out with tire changes and break work, refilling fluids and washing windows. More fun than it sounds. Leon, however, will be putting the pedal to the metal as he fights for a shot at the overall driver's championship. I admire his fortitude and positive attitude, even after disappointments like his DNF at the Ojibwe ProRally. I look to learn much from him in the coming weeks. Best of all, he always motivates me to move into the ProRally ciruit, even though I feel ill prepared and sometimes afraid. That he is leading his class in only his first season in the national series motivates me to keep driving even when I get discouraged. Leon's taught me a lot about strategy during a single event and for the entire season. He wants me to make plans for myself and set goals for the next season. It's a lot to ask of someone who, only three months ago was content to watch her favorite driver in Mexico, secretly dreaming of being in his place, with his car and his skills. It never occurred to me that only two months later, I would have the same chances that he had. And many other problems that he would never think about. I try not to let people's stares get to me when I go for gas in my practice car. I mean it's odd to see anyone in a racing suit at a gas station, but it's something else to see a girl in that suit. And despite my professional demeanor and actual driving skills, people always seem to have lower expectations of me. I'm the novelty. I see men from the neighboring Army Corps of Engineers base stop by and watch me practice as they head home from work, often making double takes when they see me get out of the car after achieving a satisfying round of sideways action. They quickly drive away, looking angry that I have dared to step into their world of motorsport. But I don't care. Every look of disbelief, every low expectation just makes me want to succeed even more. Not just to prove them wrong, but to prove to myself that I belong here, in this suit, in this car, in this race. That there's nothing keeping me out of that works car, and even though I might not make it all the way to the top, I will certainly find satisfaction in the climb. Back to Diary of a Driver.

September 19, 2004

So it's been two weeks after Gorman and two weeks without a car. See when Prince got dropped off, Mr. Rogers, the practice car, went out to with Big Tom for some much needed TLC. I've just gotten him back this evening and I've missed absolutely every second I've spent with him terrorizing the neighbors and the ground squirrels. Practice today was strange. Since I'm so new to rallying, I've forgotten a lot of what I've learned so far-or at least it feels that way. Leon says that I'm doing fine. I'll take his word for it. He jumped in for a quick lesson on doughnuts. I'm having some trouble with them, as Mr. Rogers doesn't have a limited slip differential so it takes a lot of work to get him chasing his tail, so to say. It didn't take long to get me going again and soon I was doing one-handed doughnuts while flashing Leon the International Rock On symbol! It was very fun!

As for Prince-he's at Big Tom's place getting his engine removed! Yep, I've got my wish. With some much appreciated help from Chaste Automotive, Prince will be getting a new 4A-GE engine, a new 5-speed transmission and dual Weber carburetors!!! Although we're still looking for the carburetors, everything else is ready to go! My next event will be with Prince and traverses my favorite stomping ground, Glendora Ridge Road. Only 15 minutes away from my house! We're hoping that this event will allow us to test Prince out before taking him to the Ramada Express Rally.

Practice, practice, practice.

While things are pretty quiet for me, Leon's racing career is certainly heating up! In four days we'll be heading out to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the Colorado Cog ProRally. I'll be undertaking my usual position as crew chief-feeding and watering everyone, making sure everyone has directions and times of important events, helping out with tire changes and break work, refilling fluids and washing windows. More fun than it sounds. Leon, however, will be putting the pedal to the metal as he fights for a shot at the overall driver's championship. I admire his fortitude and positive attitude, even after disappointments like his DNF at the Ojibwe ProRally. I look to learn much from him in the coming weeks. Best of all, he always motivates me to move into the ProRally ciruit, even though I feel ill prepared and sometimes afraid. That he is leading his class in only his first season in the national series motivates me to keep driving even when I get discouraged.

Leon's taught me a lot about strategy during a single event and for the entire season. He wants me to make plans for myself and set goals for the next season. It's a lot to ask of someone who, only three months ago was content to watch her favorite driver in Mexico, secretly dreaming of being in his place, with his car and his skills. It never occurred to me that only two months later, I would have the same chances that he had. And many other problems that he would never think about. I try not to let people's stares get to me when I go for gas in my practice car. I mean it's odd to see anyone in a racing suit at a gas station, but it's something else to see a girl in that suit. And despite my professional demeanor and actual driving skills, people always seem to have lower expectations of me. I'm the novelty. I see men from the neighboring Army Corps of Engineers base stop by and watch me practice as they head home from work, often making double takes when they see me get out of the car after achieving a satisfying round of sideways action. They quickly drive away, looking angry that I have dared to step into their world of motorsport. But I don't care. Every look of disbelief, every low expectation just makes me want to succeed even more. Not just to prove them wrong, but to prove to myself that I belong here, in this suit, in this car, in this race. That there's nothing keeping me out of that works car, and even though I might not make it all the way to the top, I will certainly find satisfaction in the climb.

Back to Diary of a Driver.