Caitlin Johnston: Ready for Lime Rock
Hey Everyone!!!! Life seems to be getting busier and crazier as the weeks pass, with all the stuff going on with racing and day to day life. We are busy preparing for the second race weekend in the series at Lime Rock, in Lakeville, Connecticut. I am really looking forward to racing there, it is a track that I have heard a lot about, but have never raced at.
Also, I have been busy working and promoting with one of my sponsors for one of their charity functions. Every year Pizza Pizza and their Slices for Smiles Foundation works to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. In partnership with them, I visited three Pizza Pizza stores over the week, having my Formula Ford car on display as well as talking to people and signing autographs. The previous year the event raised $100 000 for the Children's Miracle Network. I am proud to help out where I can with this very important fundraising activity.
This past weekend though, May 9th and 10th, 2009, was my first Formula Ford race of the season, with the Ontario Formula Ford Challenge. Our first race in the series was at Mosport, my home track. Over the course of the weekend we had many different variations in the weather, from sun to cloud to wind, and on top of that there was quite a lot of rain. Saturday, the first day of racing, was very wet. In fact when it wasn't just raining, it was pouring. I qualified in 11th place, but unfortunately was caught up in a first lap incident, that caused me to have to come into the pits and check the car over. When I got back onto the track, we were a lap down, but making progress. After the race was completed we had made our way back up to 17th over all, 10th place in the A class level.
Sunday for us was a better day. It was a little brisk out, but the sun was shining. I qualified the car in the 6th position, after the session was over. The race went off without any incident, and the group was very competitive in the dry weather. By the end of the race, I had made my way into the 5th position. Over the weekend there was a 25-car field, which is a great turn out. I am really happy as to how my first weekend of the season in Formula Ford finished out, and am really looking forward to the next weekend, the first weekend of June, at Shannonville Motorsports Park in Belleville, Ontario.
When we are not preparing for upcoming weekends in the F2000 or the Formula Ford, or working with sponsors, I try and take some time for myself to do other things that I really enjoy. I have finally begun to get some time in to ride my motorcycle, which I am very happy about.
In getting ready for Lime Rock, I cannot believe that we are almost at the long weekend in May already! Wow time has gone by fast, and I am really looking forward to racing next weekend. It looks like an awesome track, and I am definitely looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the F2000 car.
Caitlin