Last weekend, we had our shakedown practice event at Riverdale Raceway in Toutle, WA. It was a good chance to test the car and refresh my skills. I also got some practice instructing, which was really fun.
The conditions were fun for driving, but unpleasant to be outside the car. Rain, hail, and wind all made an appearance. Luckily my work assignment involved riding inside cars instead of standing out in the elements. I got to ride with people and tell them what they did wrong. It was a pretty small group so I got quite a few laps in with a few people and it was rewarding to see how much faster they got. Some of the cars I rode along in:
That Beetle has an electric powertrain retaining the manual gearbox for maximum lulz. That was my first time sitting in any Beetle, so I was shocked at how small they really are. Instructing was a fun way to meet people, since I’m bad at that. It also felt good to be welcoming towards new people the same way I was welcomed when I started out.
The course was a mix of asphalt and dirt/mud. I like this picture because it looks like I was doing autocross and got lost:
All of these photos are courtesy of: