by Kate Follis When you see the racers, intent on conversation with their mechanic, driver’s suit unzipped and hanging at the waist, a light of enthusiasm in their eyes as they focus on going faster, one with their machine, it’s easy to see why they race. But what about me, and the dozens like me, who roll their eyes at the necessity of another seat or clutch or, ouch, motor, and keep on paying the bills? What’s up with that? For me, personally, it’s an act of love for my husband, Ched. I can, squeakily, afford to fulfill his dream, and so I do. It’s not a selfless effort. In return, I am part of something that is bigger than myself. Something that has grown to be more than one man’s dream and more about promoting a sport and developing young talent. It’s about growing a team and being a part of a unit that works better as a whole than as individuals. In life, we are all looking for that one place where we simply belong, and that’s what FKR is all about. Two years ago, my birthday gift to Ched was the racing school of his choice. After much deliberation, he opted for a double header, pairing the Audi Racing Experience with an introduction to karting at Sonoma Raceway. He was hooked, and soon we had our own kart (the vehicle which shall not be named). Memberships at all the local tracks and practice session after practice session followed. Ched is a natural racer, he doesn’t hold back, and well, you know – he coulda been a contender… Except, he got sick. He’d take that nameless machine out and come home with broken ribs. Maybe, a different machine? Something like an ItalKart? I winced when the LO206 came home. But it didn’t matter. For the present, he was too sick to race. Seeing the kart sitting idle was even more depressing than not being able to drive, so Ched started to investigate having other drivers sit in his machine and take it to the podium. We didn’t get the right fit with the first or second dates, but every relationship in your life is a touchstone to another, whether it ends up being long-term or not. Along the way, we met the right people - through happenstance and introduction, spent a lot of money, I made a lot fried chicken and squasta salad, had a lot of sleepovers, and now our team is a tightknit group of people who support each other. Everyone has a role – whether it’s tuning the kart or washing the dishes - and we’re all better together. Part of what makes us all click, is having a team leader – Ched – who continually focuses on the big picture. He’s feeling much better these days, and pushing to bring out the best in us all. The lineup of trophies on the mantle is growing and we plan to keep on winning. The driver rotation may be dizzying, but our sneaky plan is that our core team learns how to win from their competitors and FKR gets used to dominating at the track. We’ve got two ItalKarts in the stable now, and lots of affiliates sporting our stickers. Not everyone can put these kind of resources behind their karting program, but we’re flexing our muscle to help build the sport for everyone. To create more competitive fields with more opportunity for talented drivers and engineers. To evangelize the sport and bring attention to an affordable (somewhat) sporting outlet for all ages. Our tentacles are out there, and we’re creating new affiliations every day.
Sponsorship down the road will take some of the sting out of the American Express bill and we’re going to keep on pushing our program to the benefit of the sport overall. I know it’s not F1, but if we build it and take it seriously, maybe we can help out some young drivers and engineers who can take that step. I hope that my enthusiasm comes through, because I truly believe in making dreams come true, and I know there’s lots of other spouses and parents who feel the same way. We’re going to celebrate a successful season in November with a well-deserved team retreat. These guys work their butts off for nothing more than love for the sport (and the occasional enchilada), and it’s a glorious thing to see, a moving thing to be a part of.
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Follis Kart Racing
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September 2017
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