Friday, October 12, 2007

A Gut-Ripping Honeymoon Gift




My husband Matze’s favorite sport, next to football (soccer in the US), is car racing. He thinks that he’s the Mario Andretti of the Autobahn. So, as a honeymoon gift, he was please to present me with an eight-hour training session, on a race track, driving the new Audi R8 sports car.

Matze has attended seven of these types of driving experiences; this was my first. Aside from driving 200km/hr on the Autobahn, I had never taken a sports car around hairpin turns, while breaking at just the right time, with the right force, in order to avoid gliding the car.

For the first half of the day, the race track was split in three sections so that the drivers could become familiar with the track. During this time, I was very proud of my performance. Matze was in the passenger seat directing me along the way.

The second half of the day, the entire track was open for driving. For me, this was when nervous tension set in. How was I going to keep up these guys? I didn’t want to drive like a sissy-soft girl. And being the competitive person that I am, the pressure was on.

I set as a passenger with Matze for a few rounds to build up my confidence. Soon I found it necessary to step out of the car in order to settle my stomach (he was a fast and fearless driver). Then, it was my turn. “My lady,” said the trainer, gesturing for me to enter the car. I began to pray as I snuggled into my helmet and fastened my seat belt.

The drive was tremendously exhilarating! I totally understand why Matze loves it so much. The speed was so electrifying that it made my skin tingle (my stomach too).

Later, the trainer said that my gliding put two new tire marks on the track (that wasn’t supposed to happen) However, I received a certificate that acknowledged my successful completion of the driving experience, and a round of applause from all the men in the room for being the only woman in the driving experience.
While driving home that evening, I found it very difficult to maintain a normal speed on the Autobahn because I was anxious to practice what I had learned earlier on the race track.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

HeY Sis,

Is that a 1.3 million dollar Bugatti Veyron i see someone driving?

Bro.

Eva said...

Hey Bro!

No, I wish it was. It's the new Audi R8 V10.

Anonymous said...

I got next. I can't wait to try that.

Aunt C

Anonymous said...

Well said.