This has been a challenging season, to be sure. I made some setup changes coming into the first event. I also had decided I would start to document more of what I’m doing with/to the car, and the season, here. Clearly I’ve failed to write a single word, but the setup changes slowly grew on me, assisted by a full season of coaching (and being soundly out-driven in my own car) for events with one of the local clubs.
The car was showing immense promise – me, a little. I remain inconsistent in doing things right, but very consistent in making lots of small errors as I go. But improvement is there, slow but sure.
I had some small changes planned for this coming winter and excitement preparing to wrap up the season, and then… misfortune managed to end things a bit early. Coming into the last two events of the season, I’d had two new drivers sign up for a ride (one each day). I was excited to be able to gain a new perspective on the car; instead, it turned out to be a very unfortunate day my codriver on day one, and I missed out on both events.
An unfamiliar car, cold tires and temperatures, a drying but wet surface, and who knows what else. Little things added up to a big one; a 4 inch fence pole. It could have been so much worse… I wish it hadn’t been at all. We both walked away; not so much the car, but it did its job and kept us safe.
It’s something everyone knows can happen, but I don’t think anyone ever imagines it will be them. A reminder that sometimes, being slower than you might be, and taking time to learn just how fast you can go, isn’t such a bad thing.
What’s next? A new build, a new car. Some of those changes I had planned already will happen, and some new changes I had not intended. And an opportunity to actually sit down and write a little bit here and there as I go. It’s good to remember where I’ve been, and how far I’ve come.