Robbie Mac Finally Goes Racing

So, after a delay of a few months the time had come to go racing. A group of us from work had been given the opportunity to attend the OnTrack driving experience http://www.ontrackdrivingex.com/main.html .

It was like the first day of school I couldn't sleep, I got there early. Basically I was like a little kid. After all I've been dreaming about doing this since I was 3. The day starts with racing school in the classroom and then it's off to the track to start the ontrack portion where they burn around the track in a minivan showing the line to follow, when to get on the gas, use the brake etc. Good time to be paying attention. After a bit folks started getting suited up and waiting to go.

People started putting around the track and I said to myself no way am I going to do that. Well, time came to get in the truck. The truck by the way, used to be run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and has 400 HP. Insert big ass smile here! So in I jump like one of the duke boys, not as quickly as back in my derby days ,but in never the less. Time to get strapped into the five point harness and then the window net goes up. I think one of my favorite moments was when the time came to spark it up and the truck roared to life. Kick the gas and watch the tach jump and smell those fumes. Aaaah!!!!

My worst fear was that I'd stall it in front of everyone else leaving but I didn't. I rolled down pit road climbing thru the gears. Fourth gear is all you need on the track. Following the pace car coming out of turn four time to clean the tires and remind yourself how to breathe. Down the backstretch and then he's gone and you're all alone out there. What to do? Step on it. I was very comfortable in the truck and on the track. There's much more to it than just turning left. Watch for bumps, keep the right line, easy on and off the gas. The last one is one I should've remembered. Ten laps flew by.

Anyway I pulled back into the pits and could have been buried then in the truck a happy man.

We had two sessions but lunch and a team building exercise in between.

Well next time out I was psyched, in my mind I was gonna break track records, I was gonna brake with my left foot and just drive the hell out of it. What's that ? I'm racing the pro stock car? Okay no problem till I squeeze in. My knees are on my chest there's no gas pedal, the steering wheel's too close and my leg's crammed against the shifter. Crap.

Time to go, and I stall the car my legs had me crammed into third gear instead of first. I get rolling and off I go I'll still show them. Well I'm driving as hard as I can flying into the turns, nailing the gas and roaring along. I notice the instructor signalling for me to brake harder. Screw you, I know what I'm doing and then it happened.

Coming off turn four too hard and my back end passed my front end FAST! We were taught if this happens to get hard on the brakes. The way these cars are geared they pretty much stall when you spin. Well, I'm stopped near the start finish line. The cockpit was full of smoke and it was very quiet until I get the redneck salute from my peers. The staff didn't share in my excitement.

After the second session we got to go out with the instructors for a ride-along at top speed. I was getting in to another truck when the owner pulled up beside me and said "I want MacCormick". He tried to spook me but I just squealed for more like a little kid.

Good day, probably the best first day of school ever.

Finally Time To GO!

Lovin' the hair net!

Vacation Time

Nice to take some time off now and again. This week we were off to Caribou Island to chill out. A week with the in-laws on mass. Growing up in a small family I'm always amazed at how many people are on both sides of Jen's family. When I first started hanging around all I did was meet uncles, aunts, cousins and so on. Both sides have some true characters and they're fun to be with. The weather this week was hit or miss. Got some golf in, a work day, lots of crib, and lots of eats and drinks.

Minutes Before Physics Beat Attitude!

Happy Canada Day / Live 8 / Sunny Weather Etc

As you see, this note's inspiration has come from the movie planes, trains, and automobiles. I was in Boston last week for a "one night" trip when I returned to the airport on Wednesday to find out that the return portion of my trip was "delayed" okay, I'll go to the bar for some wings and a beer to kill some time. NOPE! Flight is not delayed but cancelled. Crap! I've learned a few things about travelling this much. Don't wait in line at the airport you will only go nuts. First thing, secure accomodations. DONE. Next arrange transportation. DONE. They looked at me kinda funny walking up to the counter I had just left a while ago. Okay, now regroup, find out when you are really gonna get home. What's that you say senseless personality-less better replaced by a computer telephone agent? Not likely to get home till Friday at 10:50 PM at the earliest. WTF??? Apparently they are working on the runway in Halifax. Time for Plan B. Rental car companies are funny about jumping borders with their cars. I am travelling with my service manager and his vacation starts in less than 24 hours. Gotta get him home. I thought of the movie and also thought the CAT ferry would have been a neat bit but no. I pick up the next one at Alamo and return the first car to Thrifty and we are off. Funny how rental car lots are always darkish. The roadtrip mobile today is a Buick Lesabre, an whitehair mobile. It had 19,000 miles on it which is like 300,000 kms in rental car reality. It smelt a little funny and my seat was blown out. Oh well, we will get home. I guess in the end we were lucky it was only Boston. I do actually enjoy going for a good long drive now and again. Just not in a Buick. I probably might have lost my license in anything else. Return to Halifax 5PM Thursday. A little bit wiped. Happy Canada Day look at the weather. Grey and cold. Super! Quiet day. Saturday brought LIVE8. I watched most of it. Will we ever see another event like this in our lifetime? Really cool stuff. My biased opinion picks U2 as the kings of the day. One note after watching bands play amazing venues like Circus Maximumus in Rome, Versailles in Paris, etc how did we look at a park in Barrie? Not only that but certainly could have let some more folks in. In Barrie best sets go to The Hip, Gordon Lightfoot, and the man Neil Young. Liam loved Motley Crue. I see some of me rubbing off on him. He plays a mean air guitar! The race was rain delayed on Saturday night so that sucked. Sunday actually meant SUNday. Lots of yard work in the AM and then it was poolside in the afternoon. Chilling and grilling. Welcome to Summer 05! Three weeks till the deckstravaganza....Brace yourself!