Sweaty palms, pounding heart. There’s even a little bit of fear in there, too. It’s painfully obvious I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m fumbling, even silly things.
It’s dark, and the air is cool. I’m ready. Let’s do this.
Ready.
Ready. My heart won’t slow down.
….and go! My engine roars under my feet, the tires chatter as I pull away. First to red, second to red, third to red…85 miles per hour, 16.6 seconds to a quarter mile.
It’s done. What a rush!
It’s Halloween, and I’m car 407, stock 2001 Jetta 1.8T, drag racing for the first time.
Best reaction time was 0.123, best quarter-mile was 16.401. No weight reduction, no MAF.
…and then my oil temperature sensor went on the fritz going home, so I was driving in limp mode with the temperature showing redline hot…I knew it was going, but that’s impeccable timing.