Outside looking in... - March 7th 2006

Inside looking out...

It is a long long time since the alarm clock went off at some ungodly hour and I awoke thinking - 'I'm off to the race track'. That was the case this Wednesday morning when I clambered from my ruffled bed, thinking about my one race at Mallory Park over a decade ago.

Today it was very different though, as it wasn't me in the hot seat at all, but Jane. Reflecting on the day in a lovely country pub afterwards I thought of the day that I took Jane karting for the first time. It was tipping down with rain on that day too.

Five years on and she is now an old hand to jumping into a car or kart and giving it some. Rain was in the air as we unloaded the Locost from the trailer. I looked at the sky and wondered why I bothered cleaning the car at all on Sunday. She set off out of the pits into the gloom and it was a real case of mixed feelings for me.

On one hand I was so proud at this racing monster I had helped to create. Another part was fear as this was the first time I had seen her take part in 'real' racing - test or not. It is very different when someone you care about takes to the track than when it is yourself or in fact a complete stranger. If it is yourself, you think 'I'll be fine' if it is someone else you scratch your head and think how mad they really are.

Typical English weather

Anyway, despite the best of English rain, the day was a success. Valuable experience in the wet had been gained and almost as positive was the fact that the car was loaded onto the trailer in one piece. Onwards and upwards, but I have no idea how I will cope when I come as a spectator when it really counts. Race day.

Earl Alexander
Editor - www.champcar-racing.com
F1 Editor - www.F1-Live.com