Pictures: STEVE CHAPPLE PHOTOGRAPHY
I SENT the dirt flying and also potentially ate it, when I suited up for my first ever hot lap experience at the Pines Enduro on the weekend.
Before the hot lap the only off-road driving I had experienced was four-wheel driving in the Canunda sand dunes, which I remember getting bogged in – more than once – at the hands of my friend Jasmine Eyles’ driving.
I also recall fearing my own driving on a number of occasions, including during a school run with my sister Jess.
I did not demist my windows that morning and ended up accidentally driving through road works, knocking down all the cones and leaving the workers and Jess in shock.
As a result of these particular incidents I thought to myself “considering I will be a passenger and a professional will driv the vehicle surely I will be safe, right?”
I am a sucker for thrills, so I was pretty pumped, despite a number of Millicent Lions Club members, Rotarians and out of towners winding me up beforehand.
I was however wondering if eating a sausage in bread before the race was one of my smartest ideas.
Before hitting the track, we were advised while the drivers will do their best to ensure we do not get hurt, racing is a dangerous sport.
Earlier that morning I had witnessed a buggy lose a wheel in the prologue and another flip and crash after soaring over a hill in the short course, so yes, I agreed off-road racing was not for the faint-hearted.
But, as George Michael – and Limp Bizkit – once sung “you gotta have faith” and I had faith I would be in safe hands, especially after we were assured drivers would not go faster than 70pc of their maximum speed during a hot lap.
The briefing aside, we geared up in the appropriate racing attire – a fashionable jumpsuit and a helmet.
I definitely looked the part donning an extra large helmet, which I had to wear to protect my extra large head – well that is if the part I was supposed to look was that of a bobble-headed astronaut.
We all made our way down to the track and I eagerly awaited my turn.
While waiting I watched buggy after 4WD flick dirt and rocks into the air as they sped off into the depths of the quarry.
The first group rolled back in and I had my fingers crossed I would be chosen next – sure enough I was.
I was partnered up with a talented local driver by the name of Grant Bowden.
He was driving a Class 4 extreme 2WD Ford F-150, which to be honest is complete foreign language to me.
The engine was a Ford 351 V8 and the vehicle reaches speeds of around 180km p/h.
I made an entrance and clumsily climbed through the passenger seat window and slid onto the seat.
A gentleman helped me buckle my seatbelt and Steve Chapple lent me his GoPro to capture the lap.
He was confident I was going to scream and I was kind of confident I would prove him otherwise.
We got the green light from the official and were on our way, with my adrenaline pumping.
If I did not look like a bobble head before, I definitely looked like one then as I bounced up and down after we hit bump after bump at high speeds.
The quarry is filled with sharp bends that only truly skilled off-road drivers would be able to handle.
To be honest, I was actually enjoying the scenic drive and was hoping by not screaming Grant realised he had my approval to drive faster.
I found out afterwards he actually could not have exceeded the speed he was travelling because we were hitting speeds of 140kph.
At this stage we had not reached the hill that I was most worried about and as we did I braced myself to what I imagined would not be a soft land at the bottom.
You know when you’re on a roller coaster and your stomach drops?
The feeling I had after clearing the jump was quite similar.
I still had not screamed though and Grant had not flinched, although I am convinced he is the off-road equivalent of Michael Schumacher and could probably drive the track with his eyes closed.
We drifted hard around the corners, the engine roared and dirt flew everywhere.
I did not want the hot lap to end, I was loving it, but unfortunately we approached the final leg and jump of the lap.
Again my stomach dropped and I was grinning ear to ear.
What an experience.
I only wish we could have gone faster and guess what?
To all those people who thought otherwise, I did not scream once.
