Whiplash Is NOT My Friend. And Neither Are My Competitors

The Story Of The Time I went GoKarting.

I don’t race much, unfortunately, but I do watch races

But when I DO race, It’s a passion of mine, I like being able to decipher what moves are the right ones and what moves are just wrong; I like being in control of the machine. But racing professionally is a dream of mine that will never happen. So I do the next best thing — I watch it.

But here’s what happened when I did race with other people at a GoKart track.

I want to tell you a story:

First, a little background — My dad was a Police Officer for over 16 years, and he would always pass a GoKart store. I was about five years old when he asked my older brother if he wanted to race GoKarts. “Who knows, maybe, if your good at it, you can get into professional racing.” My brother said (Get this), “No.” If he had only asked ME. I could have at least had a chance. But of course, I was not thought of because I was his little girl. I can’t blame him.

My dad always said if he could go back, he would’ve asked me if I wanted to race. He said he just assumed that I wouldn’t be into it. But then he smiled at me and said “I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t know if I’d be able to watch my little girl get into such a dangerous sport. Plus, I’d have to beat some of them boys up if they made you crash.”

I laughed at this “Didn’t you just make me slam into a wall when we went GoKart racing in Gatlinburg?” My dad just shook his head. “Yeah, well, I’m your daddy. I can do that.”

These are the kind of conversations I have with my dad.

Fast forward about 14years later. It’s the day after my 19th birthday, me and my dad went to an indoor GoKart track. After about five races, my dad sits down. “I can’t keep up with you and the other younger people anymore. You go on ahead. I can see you.” and so I go. I get a couple of confused glances from some of the guys there. Here I am, a young black girl with her locs flowing from the helmet about to race some older guys who have been doing this for years. I feel nervous and a bit self-conscious, but I convince myself to give it a try.

As I get strapped into the GoKart, I feel the wheels. “Still warm,” I mutter to myself, “good.” Then I go racing. The GoKarts go about 40mph, and I’m flying through the curves. I over-take a few of the older guys in the first lap, and I’m giggling like some maniac, but no one can hear me (which makes me laugh even harder.) Then one of the guys taps my back bumper. I spin out and slam into the barrier.

My first thought: Ow, my neck.

My second thought: Ok, I got you now.

As I wait for one of the staff to push my Kart back onto the track, I watch the person who pitted me. He’s laughing, and the guy next to him shakes his head at me.

I’m PISSED

The staff pushes me back out, and it’s green lights. I’m SO READY.

Note: There are ten people (including me) in the race. All of them look like they’ve been doing this for years.

I gas it. After about six more laps, it’s all over.

My place in the end: Third.

The bum that pitted me, 5th. I was smiling the rest of the day.

It helped that I went out to eat with my Best Friend, who bought me some books☺

It was a good day.