If a husband can be a possession, then he is what I prize the most.
If I had to save just one item from my burning home, it would be my go kart racing husband, Griff. He is the one thing in my home I could not live without!
Of course I love my children and the grand babies, but they do not live with me. And yes, if any of them were visiting me when my house was being destroyed, my mothering instinct would win out.
I learned a long time ago (15 years - is that a long time?), that material things are just that--material. They are replaceable in some way or another.
But, my husband Griff is one of a kind. He cannot be replaced.
Yes, I would survive. But, my life would not be the same without my husband.
One of his traits that I prize the most is his love for racing. It is a passion of long standing for him. For me it is a trait that has added a lot of dimension to my life. My life before Griff did not include getting my fingernails greasy or learning to correctly jet an engine. I did not even know how to check the pressure in my tires.
Thanks honey! Who knows where I would be without you! (Probably in my favorite chair reading a mystery!)
(Photo taken at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI ~ please ask my permission to use it.)
Griff the Racer!
Thanks to this man, I am a crew chief!
My resume now can include "Crew Chief on a 250cc and 125cc gokart race team".Before I married Griff, I knew squat about racing of any kind. Now I know just enough to get in trouble. If this man was not in my life, I would never have visited some of the most famous tracks in the USA. I have personally been in the pits of Road Atlanta, Road America, Charlotte Motorspeedway, Atlanta Motorspeedway, Laguna Seca, Sebring, Barber Motorsports Park, and the road course in St. Petersburg, FL during the American Lemans.
My crew chief duties include, but are not limited to:
Designing, printing off and filling in data forms
Checking and recording the weather conditions
Stocking the snack box
Stocking the cooler
Making gourmet sandwiches
Cleaning the bug spatter off the front of the gokart
Cleaning the drivers helmet and visor
Maintaining the video camera and helmet cam
Dressing the driver (I pull up the back of his driver's suit)
Starting the gokart
Tapping the driver's helmet for good luck
Getting out of the way
Why is this important to me? My delightful husband thinks I am special enough to include me in his passion. The plus side is, I usually know where he is and what he is doing.
(Photo taken of Griff and his son at Barber Motor Sports Park)
Kart Racing Photos
Just for the fun of it:
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Kart_web_0187
Kart_web_0130
Kart_web_0124
Jimmy_web_0175
Jimmy_web_0222
Jimmy_web_0078
Kart_web_0202
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Briggs & Stratto...
Learn About Karting:
Karting is not easy. Only a few are born with a real talent to be a great driver.
For the rest of us, reading is a way to supplement our limited talent.
The Karting Manual: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Competitive Kart Racing
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/27/2009) 
Super Karting 1 (Jewel Case)
Amazon Price: $61.94 (as of 12/27/2009)
Bob Bondurant on Race Kart Driving
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 12/27/2009)
Severe Kart Racing DVD
Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 12/27/2009)
XB-FURIOUS KARTING
Amazon Price: $50.94 (as of 12/27/2009)
Griff at Laguna Seca:
He is in the #00 kart at the end of this short video.
We drove from Panama City, FL to Monterey, CA in a huge motor home with a 26 ft. trailer containing 5 go-karts and a motorcycle in three days. It was the trip from hell!
Enjoy the extremely short video. (I do not know who made this video--it was found on the internet and I uploaded to YouTube. If it is yours and you will allow me to use it, let me know so I can give you the proper credit.)
My Husband's Favorite Books:
These racing books are all on the bookshelf in our den.
Griff absolutely loves anything having to do with automobile racing. He enjoys reading about the experiences of Steve Matchett and requests books by this racer and Formula 1 commentator.
The Mechanic's Tale: Life in the Pit-Lanes of Formula One by Steve Matchett
A top Grand Prix mechanic's firsthand account of t more...0 points
The Chariot Makers: Assembling the Perfect Formula 1 Car by Steve Matchett
Join Steve Matchett--racing broadcaster, columnist more...0 points
Life in the Fast Lane: The Inside Story of Benetton's First World Championship by Steve Matchett
Steve Matchett was a member of Benetton's highly s more...0 points
What Blogs are saying about Superkarts:
Griff the racer dude:
So, what are your thoughts?
Let me know you were here. If you are a karter, what do you race?
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- rch rch Nov 24, 2009 @ 8:03 am
- What a great story. Thanks for sharing. You and Griff are special people.
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Nov 16, 2009 @ 7:59 am
- Good for your husband! This will keep him young at heart. My hubby has just done something interesting -- an experience that I'm hoping to write about. Bravo!
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Reply
- kimmanleyort kimmanleyort Sep 3, 2009 @ 10:44 am
- I just finished a tribute to my husband too. I love the way you got into racing like you did. It's fun to be able to share an interest together.
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- wilsonchau wilsonchau Jul 22, 2009 @ 6:02 am
- thats very sweet, what a dedicated racer
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Reply
- rms rms Jul 13, 2009 @ 8:17 am
- What a great tribute to your husband! Nice work!
Essential Equipment for the kart racer:
K1 Karting Gloves Black
Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)
Shock Doctor Karting Neck Collar Black/Orange (Small/Medium)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)
Secret Wishes Black Racer-Long Jumpsuit Adult Halloween Costume Size Medium (B508)
Just kidding!
Amazon Price: $77.10 (as of 12/27/2009)
piloti Men's Ingels Performance Driving Shoe
Amazon Price: (as of 12/27/2009)
My Virtual World
Not much about Griff, but hey, I am the author here!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byby Mickie_G
I am a wife, mother, & grandmother who also happens to be a Baby Boomer. I am also trying to find my place in the world. So who isn't?
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