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You know right away if you have “It.” You know the first time you’re flying down the hill on your 20” BMX bike, or make shift go-cart.

It.

Not It – as in being destined for anything, like; “I could be the fastest thing ever,” or “nobody has ever done this before.” No, It is an itch that you can never fully scratch. I have It, and I’ve known since the first time I sat in a fully prepared race car.

We were visiting my Uncle in Elkhart Lake, WI, at a track called Road America. I was eight. We had lived in Indianapolis several years so I was used to racing. But I remember thinking that the middle of a forest was a really strange place for racecars. Unlike Indy – it was my first chance to get really close, to actually sit in one of those beautiful machines. The car was an old EP Elva Courier, and my Uncle’s very modest team was called “Fat Chance Racing.” It was hardly glamorous – but it was seductive as hell. As near as I can tell, I’ve had It ever since.

I lived like most normal people until after college graduation. Until then, I mostly ignored It, and tried to fit in like everyone else. I enjoyed cars and was finally starting to make a real living. The change began slowly, the most drastic ones always do. Looking back, it wouldn’t have mattered which car I selected as my first “grown-up” purchase. Not really. I’m sure even if I’d selected the most obscure marquis with the smallest hobbyist following the results would have been the same – just the logos in my now overwhelmed garage would be different. I started tinkering here and there with that car to satisfy that itch I wasn’t quite fully aware of.

For me – it began with a two year old Mustang LX convertible. I didn’t know much about Mustangs at the time. I just wanted a convertible that was a little sporty. In 1994 my options were limited. The high-mileage 5 speed was a perfect fit between my wants and means, and the transaction happened quickly. I don’t think I even put up much of a fight on the price (or the overpriced extended warranty!) 

After I had collected several championships (in my own mind) on the stoplight circuit, and managed a blast or two down the local strip, that itch got louder. The stacks of magazines and reams of advertising promised speed, handling and more. Parts began arriving to the apartment, and the modifications began. Simple innocent little mods at first. But as the car began to show more promise – I bored of the stoplight and dragstrip romps. It was time to try something new.

I talked a buddy into going with the first time. It was an easy sell. We drove out to watch this thing called an Autocross. It was worth the drive. As soon as we arrived to the airstrip I was eight years old again. There were cars everywhere, and everyone had that silly grin on their face. “It’s called Perma-Grin” I was told a month later at my beginners class after taking my first run. Yup, that sounded about right.

The cool thing about It – you tend to surround yourself with others that have It. I found one such neighbor a couple of years after my first autocross. I was in the garage (yeah, the modifications were starting to go beyond simple,) and before you know it, here’s this complete stranger under the car helping me while talking about driving lessons and Open Track events. It growled awake and alert. “Open Track huh?” I’ll have to see what that’s about.

So begins our story. I’ve done a couple of these events now. Enough to be more comfortable on track – but far from my current goal. It won’t begin to relent until I participate in my first race series. But before that can happen I need a lot more instruction, equipment, and seat time. I’ll be documenting each step of the way for you, me, and It to show what it takes to go from Noob – to – American Iron driver.

I’ll be using this blog to share these experiences. Ride along with me, feel free to poke fun or ask questions. Whether you’re also feeding It, or nurturing some other interest in amateur motorsports – I’m glad to have you join the adventure.

Kyle

InertiaSport.com