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The Day I Learned How to Drag Race


   What a day! The sun was out, the engines were running, and the smell of burnt rubber was in the air. Nothing better for a Sunday than to be at the South Butler track with my husband and friends. We had lucked out and found a nice spot close to the track to sit. Chairs and coolers were safely snuggled in the grass next to our '68 Camaro. Of course, I had already done the woman thing, checked off mentally all the stuff we would need for the day: sunscreen, chairs, water, snacks, Handi-Wipes, and hats to help dodge the sun. I had to prepare, for today I was going to learn how to drag race!
   The day started off nice enough, I was able to ride through a couple of passes while my husband, Warren, and our friends, Dan, Scott, Dave, and several more talked me through the process. The burn out, the light, and the hitting the gas, remembering to hit the brakes at the end. Basically, it was drive straight, change gears, and don't go into the corn at the end of the track. I am woman, I can do this. No problems.
   So, the next time the car was up, Warren, puts me in the driver's seat and he takes the passenger seat and walks me through doing the burn out. At this point, I'm a bundle of nerves, the adrenaline is pumping, and all I can think is "I can't wreck the car, I can't wreck the car". So, we pull up to the line. I'm excited. Red, Yellow, Green, Go, I remembered to push the gas, change the gears with a little help from the passenger seat and safely made it to the end of the track. I didn't win that time but who cares. I drove the car down the track, and I went fast! So, down the return lane and park to wait to the next time. It was great to park the car, the guys were all saying good job, you did fine. The husband was proud. I did it. I actually made my first drag pass, I didn't break anything, and the adrenaline rush was awesome!
   After another pass or two with the husband in the car, I was feeling confident, I could do this on my own. So, the next time comes. Warren hands me the keys and says "line it up" So, away I go, I was scared to death, excited, and focused. So I line up my baby, yes at that point I had bonded with the car, she was all mine. (Warren of course didn't know this yet) and up pulls this rather beat up looking car, with a couple of men in it. Well, these guys weren't being friendly at all. The husband and some of our friends could hear, over the cars, these bozos yelling at me because I was a girl. "This will be easy, it's just a chick driving" "No way, SHE can handle that car" "Jesus man, you let her drive, better hope it comes back in one piece" and on and on through the entire burn out and putting them at the line. I had my own cheering section though this," Don't listen to them, you can do it". Well, all the stupid comments managed to do was make me mad and help me focus. I was going to win if I had to get out push the car. I'm sitting there my hearts racing, my hands sweaty. I'm going over in my head all the things I need to do and the light comes up..3,2,1, and were off, it was beautiful, I pushed the gas pedal, watched and felt for the times to change the gears, and got to the end of the track. As I looked in the rear view mirror I realized the two guys were still coming down the track. I did it! I made my first pass alone and I trounced the competition and I didn't break the car. WOOHOO! It doesn't get better than that. So back down the track, parked the car. I got a hug and kiss from the husband, the way to go's from the friends. After all the comments, the husband walks over to the other guys and lets them know "you just got beat by my wife, and it was her first solo pass". Do you want to know the best part of this whole story? It's true, and Dan has the video to prove it!
   Well, that's the story of the day I learned out how to drag race, it has been almost five years now and I still feel a bit of the rush thinking about it. I'm glad I went to the track that day. At first I didn't want to go, the weather was hot and I didn't want to go stand around with a bunch of smelly men. No Offense guys. Now, I'm glad I did. I got to spend a day with my husband and friends, I bonded with the husband over the cars, and I can hold my head high. Not to mention, I have a great story to tell!
-Monica Hurd