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Rick Weldon writes to Bill Cardell about his training regimen.
Photo credits: Howard Marder, driver. David Newman (Photosports
Imaging), photographer
Dear Bill,
With all the preparations going on to get the car ready at your end, I wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much I appreciate the opportunity to drive with you, and to relieve any concerns you might have regarding my readiness to drive the Team Flyin’ Girlie car.
As I’ll be celebrating my 49th birthday a week after the Open Track Challenge, I know it will be important to be in tip-top shape to be ready for all those young lions we’ll be competing against.
I’ve started a serious training regimen, including diet, exercise and driving.
Diet
I’ve cut back to only HoHo’s for breakfast. No more DingDongs. For lunch, I’m eating my double QuarterPounders without cheese. (Sacrifices must be made). And I’ve started carbo-loading by eating large helpings of pasta for dinner every night. I’ve also increased my coffee intake to 10 cups a day, as I’ve heard it’s good for increasing your heart rate.
Exercise
I started to go to the gym, but changed my mind. With the event only 4 months away I didn’t want to pull a muscle – I’m sure you’ll agree. But I have started a rigorous program that you’ll see is tailored to racing. To get used to the heat, I’ve been turning up the heat when I’m in the shower, and staying in extra long. To keep myself occupied during those long showers I think about all the cute chicks that will be attracted to the Team Flyin’ Girlie car. When you told me that was one of the reasons for the team name, I thought it was a stroke of genius. Speaking of strokes, another stroke of genius was using those photos of us at the Open Track Challenge website. Chicks won’t be able to stay away. (I’ll bet it was that look of yours that Teri first fell in love with, eh?).
To build up my legs, I’ve started walking down the one flight of stairs at my apartment buildging, instead of taking the elevator. In the next month or two I’ll probably start going up the stairs too. I don’t want to rush my training.
Driving Training
Thanks to Aaron Tachibana’s track days, I’ve been able to get a fair amount of track time in my ’90 normally aspirated Miata. It’s still pretty fresh, with only 90K miles on it, and I’ve been kind of a daredevil on the highway lately and pushed the speed limit a couple of times. I took it up to 80 the other day, so I’d get used to speed. Just for a sec though, as we don’t need me getting a speeding ticket, eh?
I’d like to take this opportunity to assure you that those unkind people who said I’d lost my nerve to race are completely wrong. I haven’t thrown up before a track event in years. Why, I even almost passed Doug Peete (Pro Spec Miata driver and Aaron track event Instructor) at one of the recent events. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Cat Thompson, who was riding with me. If I hadn’t noticed that pesky yellow flag thing he’d slowed down for, I would have gotten by.
I’ve been trying to find a Nintendo version of the tracks we’re going to be driving at, but haven’t had much luck. I could really use some advice there.
Well, that’s it for now. I just wanted you to be able to sleep better at night, knowing your co-driver is doing his part for the event.
Best regards,