Racing

    As we got our karts out to change our oil and adjust our gears, we knew that that night was going to be a great night of racing.  With seven years of experience, my brother and I knew what to do with our go-karts to adjust to the Cedar Mills track.  On my kart, I adjusted my gear to a 59, which was about my average for that track and changed my oil. 
    It was about 4:15, when we decided that we were going to head out so we could get to the track early.  It was always kind of a tradition for my family and the Coverts, who race with us every week,  to go early to the track and grill hamburgers, enjoy the time together, and get pumped up for racing.  In the meantime, before the races even got close to starting and after we ate our supper, we found some other kids about our age and hung out with them.  Mary and I decided to play football with our friend, Caleb, a racer whose family usually hangs out with us too and his other racing friends. 
    By the time we were about getting tired of playing football the announcer, Alvie, boomed over the microphone that hot laps were about ready to start.  I decided that I wasn’t going to do hot laps that night because usually I get crashed up from other racers thinking that it was the Daytona 500 and that they had to do everything in the world to crash everyone when hot laps aren’t even a race and it is just to test your kart out.  So Mary and I decided to go watch the hot laps to look out for my competition that I would be facing soon.  We watch each corner determining which one was slippery and which were the fast lanes where I could get some momentum.
    One kart in particular caught our attention as he zoomed past every other kart like there was no tomorrow.  This kart, #67, was known for being undefeated for a whole year and a half and was racing in my class.  He was a pretty clean driver but for some reason every kart he went up against could never even get a chance to catch up.  He was just that fast.
    The hot laps didn’t last that long because a lot of karts didn’t go out for hot laps because they realized the same things about hot laps that I did.  So soon after they were over, the board members that worked on the track took out the tractor so they could water the track to make it more tacky and sweep it so it wouldn’t be so dusty.
    It was about a fifteen minute break where people hustled around trying to get their kart to the perfect condition for the track until the pit meeting.  In the pit meeting, they talked mainly about the usual stuff: not bumping each other and being a good sportsman.  The flag man was especially excited that the track was in perfect condition and that it was going to be a great night of racing and indeed it was.
    My race was the fifth one and they were up to the Jr. 1, the third race for the first heat.  Mary and I decided to push my kart up to find out where I was supposed to start.  I ended up starting second row inside which was a pretty good spot for the number I drew to determine where I started.  Number 67, the undefeated champ, was on outside poll (first row outside).  They called my class up to get in order and I got in my kart as they started it.  I watched anxiously as the other classes raced and concentrated on how the track conditions were so I knew how to handle the track.  We got out on the track and the flag man waved his green flag.  Number 67 pulled ahead to the front with me in second.  There was no way I could catch him so I stayed in second hoping I wouldn’t feel someone pushing me from behind, but they never did.  I ended up getting second for the first heat. 
    The time went by and as soon as I knew it, I was up for my second heat.  I started in the back with number 67 behind me.  I passed people all the way to third place to only see number 67 passing me and heading for the lead.  I ended up getting third place for that race.
    It was the feature and I knew it was my time to shine.  I looked at the line up board and saw that I was second row inside, right behind my big enemy.
    As I got into my kart, Mary turned to me and said,”Go fast, and turn left.”  We did our usual fist bump, which is the sign of good luck in racing, and then they called my class out onto the track.
      As the flag man threw the green flag, I waited as number 23, a fairly fast racer, and number 67 duked out who was going to take the lead.  I followed closely behind them as they went side by side fighting for the lead until the second to last lap.  Number 67 was on the inside and number 23 was on the outside and they slowly moved up so there was just enough room for me to fit.  This was my chance.  I squeezed under them on the back stretch.  Everyone waited, fearful of who might pull out into first.  And just like that, I got my nose in to the front, I pulled ahead of them!!  I had one more lap and then I would see that glorious checkered flag.  I held them off just long enough, and there it was, the flag I had been waiting for! I had beat the undefeated champ and won!
    I pulled off the track and grabbed my trophy as everyone congratulated me for the big win and told me how great that move was and how proud they were of me.  That night I had a great time with my friends and family and I will never forget it.
     If you put your heart to something you can do it.  You have to keep trying and never give up because you never know what’s going to happen and something good almost always comes out of it.

Horseback Riding

    Do you love to see God’s creation when you are on an enjoyable and relaxing ride?  Do you love to spend time with your friends and family while being outside?  If so, the perfect thing to do is go horseback riding.
    While going horse back riding you have to be responsible.  You must take good care of your horse and before riding you have to have all things needed to go out on your ride.  Being responsible can get you far in life and this is one of the best ways to do that.
    Building arm and leg muscle is another thing you gain from riding horse.  You have to be able to lift a saddle up onto the horse and have enough muscle to control the horse if they misbehave.  You also get arm muscle from steering the horse by holding the reins.  Some times the horse doesn’t want to go a certain way so you have to have muscles to lead them the right way.  Leg muscle is made by pushing your horse if the horse is neck reined.
    Going outside and seeing God’s creation is one of the best things about riding.  You can be with your friends or family while sitting on the back of your favorite horse.  While riding on a horse you can go many places that cars can’t and you get to see things from a whole different view.  You can relax and look in awe at the beautiful world God created.  There is no other way to go outside and have a great time exploring the world on the top of a horse that you built a special bond with.
    There are many different types of riding you can do.  If you are into a relaxed and calming ride out in the wilderness, you can go trail riding.  If you want to get super into the whole horse business, you can start shows.  Different types of shows include showmanship, pleasure classes, halter classes, and games you can play.  There are also two styles of riding: western and english.  Western is what people ride in rodeos and at ranches.  English is more of an elegant type of riding where you can do dressage or other classes.  Most classes are judged either on the horse or how the rider handles the horse.  At the end of usually every horse show, they have games.  These games can include going around poles as fast you can, jumping competitions, and other fun games like trying to hold an egg on a spoon while trying to go as fast you can.  You don’t have to do any of these shows because it is just as fun owning a horse and riding for pleasure.
    Owning a horse gives you the pleasure of building a relationship with an animal that you know will never be broken.  You can also learn many life lessons from taking care of a horse.  Building a trust is something you always need with anyone and having it with a horse can help you in the future with meeting other people.
    A lot of people use horseback riding for kids with disabilities in their therapy.  The horses help calm the kids and give them an enjoyable ride.  The kids get a chance to relax and look at life in a whole other way.
    By far, one of the best things to do is ride horse just for fun or for a little competition.  Riding a horse can benefit anyone in many ways that a lot of people don’t expect.  They are good with old people, young kids, and people with disabilities.  In short, horseback riding is good for all and I know everyone will enjoy it once they try it.