Vrrrooom!

After some months missing out on Karting Amateurs Racing Team (KART)or My-Kart Team, activities, I decided to take to the track again. My adrenaline running high, I was already at CityKarting Shah Alam Circuit before 8 o'clock in the morning. Most of the Karters were already there.

Each category (K2 and K3) were split into two groups each resulting in four groups altogether. They ran two heats for each group.

Kart numbers were drawn before the first qualifying heats and assigned to the grid positions for both groups and qualifying heats in the category. Drivers are pre-assigned grid positions based on current 2004 seeding or registration order. The driver grid orders were then reversed in the second qualifying heat based on the grid positions (not finishing positions) in the first qualifying heat.

There were 10 racers in K3 Category (80cc) Group B. I finished eighth in the first and second heat, and improved to the seventh position in the final. In the first heat, I spun and lost a lap. In the second heat, I almost ran into a spun kart but I managed to swerve in time. But that lost me precious seconds. In the final, I didn't spin at all and I was more comfortable with the racing line.

I was estatic during the final because I have understood the racing line which my brother was explaining to me - and I understand it perfectly too, crystal clear. So much so that I karted with so much ease than I've ever done in a year that I've been karting. Maybe you have to be away for a while and return with a fresh perspective when you don't understand something.

Anyways, in the final positions for the two K3 groups combined, among 21 racers, I finished 16th, Haslina finished 11th and Angeline finished last. There were only three ladies among My-Kart Team's K3 Category this time around. The first position was claimed by Kevin Tan, and flanked by A. Muhaymin and Nazim Mansor, as first and second runners-up, respectively.

I remained at Seed #51 out of 81 My-Karters. My resolution for next year is to move up to the top quartile, or at least Seed #20 by end of December.

I also discovered I have a strong contender at My-Kart Team - another lady driver, Haslina Ali who is a newcomer and unseeded. She finished sixth in the first and second heat, and finished eighth in the final.

I was leading the ladies department in My-Kart Team's K3 Category when My-Kart team started. After a long absence, Haslina has overtaken me by a mile. I'll have to sharpen my skills, apparently, and be at par or better. It's healthy to be competitive - it keeps you going. They say, even if you're the best, you get run over if you just sit there.

The other lady racer, Angeline Ling, was in K3 Category (80cc) Group A which has 11 racers. She finished last in the first heat, eighth in the second heat, and tenth in the final. She does have potential to be a good karter, but she spins out of track a lot and is not consistent in her performance.

I was fortunate to have Deanna Yusoff racing with My-Kart Team today. She easily beat two third of the guys in the K2 Category (100cc). This is my first time ever in meeting her up close and personal - let alone have a conversation with her. But she's really friendly - such a cool lady - and we had a conversation, mostly about racing, expectedly.

I swear the guys stopped breathing for at least 2 seconds when Deanna peeled off her track bottom, revealing her perfect long smooth legs in tight shorts, before she put on her racing suit.