Indie Racing
I was a young mother working at a hotel in North Phoenix when I was twenty-one. Ralexwin was going to school full time and I was the sole bread-winner in the family. Our daughter was just a little thing, no more than six months old and I had just found out I was pregnant again. No one knew but Ralexwin and me.
The hotel was a job I couldn't decide whether I liked or not. It had some nice perks but it was half an hour from home and in a rather rough neighborhood, but those perks were incentive to stay. So, on one cool Phoenix day my boss came to me and explained that there was an Indie racing crew that was going to be staying at the hotel. In exchange for lower room rates they were--among other things--giving us one free ride in a specialized Indie car (specialized meaning it was built with two seats). Whoever wanted to ride could enter their name into a hat and we'd draw to see who got the ride. I shrugged and said, "Sure, sounds fun."
Two days later I found out that I had won the drawing. So that weekend Ralexwin drove me and the baby out to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) where I was introduced to the man staying at our hotel. He had me sign a bunch of papers--mostly medical waivers--and asked if there were any conditions that they should know about I blantanly lied (remember I was prego).
Then they suited me up and put this huge helmet on me. They strapped me into the car so tight I could barely move and then nodded to the crew.
We were away and around the track before I had a chance to really blink, around and around we went--twice if I remember correctly--and then it was over. It was that anti-climatic. It was the shortest roller coaster ride I'd ever been on. I'm sorry to say I was rather dissapointed, I'm sure the other's in the drawing would have enjoyed it more but I'll admit I've had better.
Still, now when there's a random lull in conversation I can always break in with, "I rode in an Indie car." (it makes all the guys jealous).
The hotel was a job I couldn't decide whether I liked or not. It had some nice perks but it was half an hour from home and in a rather rough neighborhood, but those perks were incentive to stay. So, on one cool Phoenix day my boss came to me and explained that there was an Indie racing crew that was going to be staying at the hotel. In exchange for lower room rates they were--among other things--giving us one free ride in a specialized Indie car (specialized meaning it was built with two seats). Whoever wanted to ride could enter their name into a hat and we'd draw to see who got the ride. I shrugged and said, "Sure, sounds fun."
Two days later I found out that I had won the drawing. So that weekend Ralexwin drove me and the baby out to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) where I was introduced to the man staying at our hotel. He had me sign a bunch of papers--mostly medical waivers--and asked if there were any conditions that they should know about I blantanly lied (remember I was prego).
Then they suited me up and put this huge helmet on me. They strapped me into the car so tight I could barely move and then nodded to the crew.
We were away and around the track before I had a chance to really blink, around and around we went--twice if I remember correctly--and then it was over. It was that anti-climatic. It was the shortest roller coaster ride I'd ever been on. I'm sorry to say I was rather dissapointed, I'm sure the other's in the drawing would have enjoyed it more but I'll admit I've had better.
Still, now when there's a random lull in conversation I can always break in with, "I rode in an Indie car." (it makes all the guys jealous).
Comments
Something like my "I'm 43 and I saw The Doors in the 70's when Jim Morrison was still alive...", I was all of about 5 or 6 years old.
I kind of remember it so I asked my Mom and she said yeah it was true. She was a big Doors fan and Dad somehow managed to get us into a sound check.