Vroom! Vroom!

Vroom! Vroom! That’s how we coined our activity Tuesday night. So it was vroom! vroom! as we raced against each other at Kartzone.

After missing the first activity – golf at Alta Vista – on June 30, I made sure I‘d make it this time. Fifteen minutes before 8 pm, Calvin Cordova and I were already there. A few minutes later, John Pages and Mike Limpag drove in.

In no time, there came Rico Navarro, Manny Villaruel, Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, Cyril Camporedondo, Erwin Lirazan, Jonas Panerio, Rick Gabuya, Karlon Rama, Calvin Cordova, and Noel Villaflor.

After a briefing by Atty. Jess Garcia of Kartzone, we had eight laps to feel the kart and the track. That’s where the fun started…

My first lap was a rather slow and nervous ride. Driving a kart isn’t that easy and I found out why! Because it’s direct steering you have to grip the wheel as firmly as you could or you’ll bank off the track.

Rico Navarro overtook me in the third lap and I tried to chase him. Big as he is, he expertly drove his kart. In the next lap, I passed a rider who had stopped and found out after another turn, I found out that it was Caecent!

In the fifth lap, I thought I’d passed Manny Villaruel, our sports editor. I easily recognized him because he was the second largest guy in the group, next to Rico.

Eleven sportswriters (those who could drive) tried to outwit each other in the short 600-meter course made more intricate by at least two challenging hairpin turns. It was hard driving but the adrenalin rush, whir of revving engine, wave of cool air, and smell of burnt rubber, kept us going.

After a brief pit stop (actually there’s no pit stop in karting), Jette Calderon and Blake Go, two of the Philippines’ best karters showed how the pros do it.

Most of us could only marvel as they lap past the clubhouse in blinding speed! Jette, a top junior karter, showed why he’s the next star by splitting the corner and passing Blake in one of the turns.

Then it was our turn. This time it was mock race among us. We took the grid and just like in F1, LeMans, Nascar, Daytona and Indy drivers stepped on the gas after the green flag waved.

I had pole position but after an erratic first lap lost it Jonas Panerio, who never relinquished the lead, registered the fastest lap time of 43 something seconds (I think the record is 24.6 seconds) and eventually won the race.

Despite a slow average of 47.96 per lap, I came in second for being the “most consistent driver” according to Atty. Garcia. I think what that means is that I maintained my speed throughout the eight laps.

THANK YOU, Atty. Jess, for letting the sportswriters sample karting! We had a blast!

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My family and I offer our sincerest condolences to the family of the late Bernie Lanutan, a fellow runner, and a member of the Cebu Executive Runners Club. Bernie coaxed me to take my stride as a new runner during the Sinulog Half-Marathon last January. We’ll miss you… Bernie.

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