AARP Racing

By Kim Hinson

It starts like this: One day I’m sitting in the shop and I decide to go racing. My son Ben has done it for years. My friend Estus White has done it for years. Why can’t I?

Here we go. What’s first? Find a car.

Karl in Georgia has a Miata for sale. I call him up. He tells me about the car. Off we go — now I have a car!

Second, I need a suit. Off we go to Mooresville – easy! No stress.

Third, there’s the SCCA paperwork. Make some calls. Everyone is helpful. They give me that “come on let’s go racing!” feeling.

Fourth, I have to go to drivers school. Ben has a ’99 Miata and he tells me to take it as a backup, just in case something happens.

Fifth, I need a way to get two cars to Roebling Road, so Jack says I can use his trailer. It holds two Miata’s easy.

Paperwork DONE! Suit, helmet DONE! Cars, trailer DONE! Ready to GO RACING!

It’s almost a five-hour drive to school so there is lots of time to think. “I will run my car for a couple of practices, then change over to Ben’s car – it is a lot faster and just a better car – and just drive and have a blast!”

Got to the track, everything just perfect, all the personnel knew what they were doing. Started the class, Adam was talking safety – watch cars, watch flags, BE CAREFUL! And he told us some of the reasons why. He did a very good job and he really knew what he was talking about. I think that was about it on Thursday, day one. Looked at the track, getting ready for Friday “Piece of cake! I know how to drive! Give me a trophy and let me go home!”

Drivers meeting on Friday then off to the track. Chip was my instructor and we had a group of very nice people (even two girls!!).

Went through Tech and everything was fine. Very nice tech guys, it was like they knew I was coming.

About the time of the first practice Estus from E-Speed shows up – he takes off work to come help and he has about a five hour drive too – that’s a good surprise!

We pull the car up to the grid to get ready for the first driving session. I put on my belt, gloves, shoes. Everything is fine. Then I try to put the helmet on and IT DOES NOT FIT – IT HITS THE TOP OF THE CAR! Good thing I brought a spare, and I guess Ben now has a brand new helmet! All set now and off we go!

The driving is exciting and after every practice we talk with Chip. Chip does know what he is talking about: watch the flags, watch traffic, and IF (WHEN) you run off the track, here is what you do…. But I know I am not going to run off the track!

The first time they cut us loose, guess what? I’m coming around turn 9 and off through the grass I go! The first thing I think is what Chip said, “When you run off the track this is what you do…” That fence is a long ways off and it comes up VERY fast! Ok, no problem, back to the track, they flag me back and OFF I GO!

Finish Practice 1 and everything turns out OK. Chip doesn’t get mad at me because he is at the backside of the track and doesn’t see my grass off-road episode.

Saturday the track is wet, so I change over to my “rain” tires. I took the tires off my street Miata back home, and after slipping, skidding and spinning out I learned that rain tires and street tires are NOT the same!

Back on with the race tires and the day is going to be great – I spin out on turn 9, turn 2, turn 5, almost turn 3 and almost turn 4 – at least I make it through turns 1,6,7 and 8!

At the end of the day we have a 5 lap race and I start about half pack. NOW I AM RACING! Then I get to turn 2… I spin out AGAIN, so back to the rear I go; at least I finish!

Sunday is a nice day. My goal is to get good times and I do.

First practice goes well – I decide that I am going to MASTER some of the turns. Turn 5 is the lucky number – so off I go! Coming off turn 3, into turn 4 then in turn 5. PERFECT…. Go to down shift to 3rd gear and MISS the gear – spin out again and turn 5 won’t again!

The day and the school end with another 5 lap race and this time I do not spin out, get the permit and now off to Virginia I go! Heading for AARP Rookie of the Year!

Kim Hinson owns and operates German Imports at 6385