MyFoxTampaBay

One day before I turned 16, my dad took me to an empty lot in Norwalk to teach me how to drive a stick shift. Before that day, the closest I had come to being behind the wheel was the simulator at Downey High School.

The simulator was a little booth with a video screen, not unlike other booths I've heard of where you watch questionable videos. It featured an ancient 60's video featuring surprises like balls popping into the street and children chasing after them. The best part was the steering wheel about 24 inches in diameter. It was kind of tough. I used to imagine it being a big gold lowrider.

So back to learning to drive. I imagined sitting comfy inside a big friendly Chevy Impala. My father put me inside his Mustang 5.0 with the tightest stick shift I've commanded to this day. Why not a Honda, dad? You can tap the stick into place. With the 5.0, I had to grip the stick, and force it to change gears with my noodle arms. The clutch was no easier. I got a cramp in my left leg just trying to get it to work without stalling.

Because my dad was a former race car driver, I had a handsome reward once I I learned how to shift gears without stalling. We drove through puddles, did spin outs and sharp turns. It's a lesson that haunts me to this day....

When I turned 16, I got 4 speeding tickets and nearly had my license suspended. I was chasing the thrill I got in that abandoned lot.

I did get that thrill the same year, when a driver slammed on their brakes while I was cruising down Brookshire. I slammed on mine too (still have never gotten into an accident like that, defensive driving people!) but forgot one of the tires in back was a donut. That 5.0 spun around in a 180 so fast, I was facing the driver behind me in a flash. I was scared, but it was thrilling! I'll never forget that feeling!

So let's get to the point already, if it hasn't already been humming underneath....

I love fast cars. I can't sit & watch an entire race on tv, but if you've ever been to one in person, you know what I'm talking about.

I love the rumble of the cars that rattles your bones, the screeching sound of the engines - idling! - that makes my heart race, the elation when the cars whiz by, the thrill when a race car makes a pit stop.

My parents raced in the 60's and 70's at tracks all over SoCal. They are quick to remind me it was back when you could have an average job & pinch pennies to buy a Sunbeam and even a Porsche. Nowadays, it takes serious dough for the kind of racing they used to do.

One promising aspect of racing is drifting. I don't know much about it, but when I did the preview for the Long Beach Grand Prix, they were the cool crowd. Young, fun, driving souped up cars that you also see on the street. From wikipedia, I learned one of the first Drifting competitions was held over a decade ago at Willow Springs Raceway. My parents used to race there & that's where I attended racing school.

My mother just informed me that she quit racing when she found out she was pregnant with me. :) My older brother informed me she often beat my dad in time trials by a second. A fact my dad doesn't bring up, but I hear from anonymous sources that he's secretly proud.

I really need to take racing lessons again. Serious ones. Can't wait. Go to my album for photos from our LB Grand Prix Preview Day!

Below is a photo of me & Tanner Foust. He's a drifter who did stunt work in Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift. He took me for my first ride drifting!

Me & photojournalist Julio Duran having too much fun.

Photojournalist Brett Babcock really wanted to get inside the Indy Car. So did I. When we learned the seat was molded to the driver's body, we didn't ask to try it out... darn!

Me and Wilmer Valderrama. He's so cute and always a gracious interview.

Brett Babcock rode in the pace car & filmed too. He's a trooper! :)

Julio Duran has the big camera. He got some great shots!

Mazda unveiled a new Le Mans car. It's wicked!

Suzanne_Marques's Blog

Go Speed Racer!

Suzanne_Marques

Inside Fox:
About FOX 13 People Good Day TV Listings Contact Us

Write your comment below: Email me when a new comment is added to this entry