Due to many reasons I have not been able to hit the race track for almost two years. When I committed to purchase the Roadster late last year it was done so with the aim to bring me back into the game, and ultimately compete in organised motor sport events.

Earlier this year when I finally took delivery of the car, I had decided that motor sport event would be a Bathurst event — the holy grail of Australian motor sport, like Silverstone is to Britain, but only more dangerous.

In the middle of this year, some where, I lost that ambition. Mostly the lack of track time was catching up with me and I found myself doing a lot more talking about my yester years that the future… and used the car as a parking ornament.

This changed last week. I continued where I left off. The last track to host my motor sport ambitions would be the one to kick start again. FWD to RWD, hatch back to purpose built sports car, driving aids and modern R&D to nothing… less is indeed more. In the 50 minutes of on track action I got my mojo back.

Do I continue with my Bathurst ambition? Maybe, I don’t know yet. But it’s no longer just talk. Thank you all who had faith in me, and who waited patiently for me to come out of my shell. I am driver. Again.

A lot can happen in 1 minute, 27 seconds…

After all the modifications I had to stop and test them. However, the medical world thought differently, having restricted me to driving for 20 minutes at a time, and certainly not at racing speeds. However, I have a habit of making things difficult and this was to be no different.

Circuit Club were due to run a track day at Wakefield Park later that month and I wanted in. I have known the organiser of Circuit Club for many years and over a quiet word between us I broached the subject –  I wanted 3 laps, time attack style, at the end of the day after the other cars had finished. His concern was immediate, especially since I did not want anyone else to know. “I don’t think you should, but it is up to you, are you really sure you want to do this?” “Yeah, I want to do this”.

Looking back I am sure my friends found it odd that I wanted to drive myself to the track day. After all, I was just a spectator and driving myself would mean a slow trek, with a large number of breaks. While I came up with all sorts of excuses as to why I wanted to drive myself, they all knew what I was going to do. There was an elephant in the room, but they all ignored it.

The day started normal, I was still sticking to my ‘not driving’ story, but I had signed in for track access, and renewed my competition licence. I hung around the marshalling yard for most of the day until mid afternoon approached ad I walked over to the event organisers and stated “So next session, I’m going out.” I quickly brushed off the objections from friends who had overhead my statement and started towards the car which has been parked on the dummy grid for hours.

I sat my self into the cockpit of the Roadster, pulled on the gloves and helmet and cranked the ignition. How long had it been since I last did this? The sensation of just sitting there with the helmet, touching the controls with the gloved hand was amazing. I snuck into the line of waiting cars and by the time everyone had computed what was happening, I had the go signal from the track marshal, and with a barp of exhaust I was away.

The original plan of three quick laps were forgotten by turn two. Being able to drive felt incredible – this was the first time I had driven a RWD car on a circuit and I discovered the NA to be very sideways-happy. Not something I wanted, given my right arm still carried a clean fracture across the top bone. To compromise, I gave it all on the straights, but over cautiously braked into the corners to lose speed. They weren’t fast laps by any standard, but I achieved what I came for, to get out on to the track.

Personally, I needed this. It was one of those events that carries you over the finish line, and in my case, it was an event that triggered the start of something wonderful, and something I will look forward to soon. While going around the circuit, I found myself to be very calm, I was able to think about my friends, and how they made this day happen, thought about how far I’d managed to come in just four months. 

If you must know a time, the Roadster rounded the 2.2KM circuit in 1:27.5, timed with an on board stop watch. This was 10 seconds slower per lap than my previous best in the Clio. Incredibly, it was not the slowest time of the day, nor was I the slowest MX5. Not bad for a guy with one arm.

The ICU seemed a world away that day, and as the chequered flag dropped and I came into the pits I knew that something special had happened – I had discovered the love of driving again, all thanks to an amazing 16 year old car that I never expected to own, and indeed never wanted to own.

Part Two of Karl’s story can be found here.

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