We are getting closer and closer to the start of the racing season. Down south, some tracks are opening and the racing has begun. Up here in the northeast- it’s still a bit too cold. I am really looking forward to getting back on the track again soon as well. With the transition to road racing last year, we didn’t get a lot of on track time. I look forward to traveling around and competing at some of this area’s road courses.
Last week I told you about my first trip to victory lane. I have to admit, after I was done writing last week, I went through the old racing pictures and found the pictures from that night. It seems like so long ago, but I know it’s a memory that I won’t ever forget. It’s a memory that you pull on when the season is beating you up and you need some motivation.
We survived the rest of the season, and finished 4th in the championship as a rookie. I think everybody was glad the season was over. No one was more relieved than me. I was out of money 2 months before the season ended, and I needed a break mentally as well. The girlfriend and I were on really thin ice, she had her fill of racing too.
I brought the racecar home after the last race and pushed it into the shop and forgot about it. I knew there was a bunch of work it needed, I needed to pull the motor out and send it to be rebuilt, the transmission needed looked over, and we needed a new body. I couldn’t do any of it, though, I didn’t have the money. So I felt it best to just leave it alone for a while. The last event I had to worry about for this year of racing was the awards banquet. It was a time to put on some nice clothes, have a good dinner and get together with the people we raced against- away from the track.
First things first, unless you are the track champion or are getting a special award, award banquets are one of the most drawn out, boring, uneventful functions you will ever attend. I can say that, because I have been on both ends of that. I was presented the trophy for 4th place in points and as I was carrying it back to my table I thought to myself, “This thing should be a whole lot bigger for the time and effort it took to get”.
We passed it around the table to all of the crew members and to my parents who also attended. As we were talking about the highs and lows of the season amongst ourselves, I heard my name being called. Dino Oberto, the track announcer, had called my name for “Rookie of the Year”. He was telling the story of interviewing me that night back in September. He caught me by surprise as he talked about it, I made more of an impression that I had thought. Most everyone in that room that night was at the speedway for my win, but Dino told the story anyway. He had some nice words about me, and made me realize that there were at least a couple people that knew my name at the track.
The evening ended late that night, and we were all tired from dancing and having a good time. It was nice to blow off some steam. On the ride home, with everyone sleeping, I remembered the season. 8 months prior I was on my way to the track for the first race of the season. Here I was, driving home with a real expensive imitation gold plastic and wood composite 4th place trophy. I don’t think there is enough space here to adequately explain how I felt right then.
It was all wrapped up in that trophy, the wrecks, the win, the rainouts, and all the time spent at the shop. That’s what I saw when I looked at it sitting on the dash of the truck. When I look back at that trophy today, I see all the things I learned that year. I remember only the good, and the bad that I do remember- doesn’t seem as bad as it did back then.
It was soon Christmas of 2004 and that meant the New Year was soon upon us as well. It seems racing doesn’t have a real off season, and for me it meant getting back in the shop and back to work for the upcoming season.
Stay tuned for some upcoming news from us for this year. We will be getting back on the track and can’t wait to announce this season’s plans. Thanks for stopping by and reading the blog, I thank you for all the kind words, keep them coming @justinonderko and don’t forget to check out our sponsors. I appreciate everyone who takes time to come here.
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