Mid-life crisis only half resolved

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So, yes, I was karting last Thursday... and I won. Mid-life crisis resolved. Kinda.

I got pole, the win, and the fastest lap by a second or more. But by god, it was hard work. And my fastest lap was about 3 seconds slower than my previous fastest on that circuit. Three seconds! I don't know how much of that was down to the karts being different (completely different models since I got my fastest laps) or how much the cold circuit affected it, but I hardly feel like I performed anything like as well as I used to. Rather reminiscent of my last trackday, in fact. It just goes to show, this stuff takes practice. I've not been practising and, naturally, the speed and the skill have gone.


On the up-side, I went to this event with both my wife and my mother in tow: probably not so cool, but was really nice to have them along. My mum especially, as it was the anniversary of my dad's death and it's just nice to think my parents were represented. One time, many years ago, I even karted against my dad and brother, but he was just a mobile chicane and probably gained an increased respect for my hobby that night. It's a pity he's no longer around to see me at full tilt — in fact, he never did see me in proper competition — but such is life. Some things you just can't reverse.


So, a win in front of my family. I think my wife was proud. And it was the first time she'd seen me indulging in my favourite pastime. But with every event these days, I realise it may well be my last for a long time. I long for more action, but with friends now having their families to consider first, it's only ever one-off events that I have to seize upon. Let's see how long it is before the next one...

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