06/15/2026
I don’t usually comment on the races. This one’s worth mentioning!
We were running 206 Medium today and there was an ill fated attempt to pass for the lead. The effort caused the guy trying to pass to have his helmet were his floor pan should be and his floor pan to be where his helmet should be - it happens and the guy’s fine.
Here’s where I learned. Ralph Mariano (that mean old dog who is the hardest guy on the track to get by and THE fiestyest of the fiesty in a track related disagreement) was a couple/few karts in front of me. In a gazillasecond that mean old man (he’s not, but it makes the story better) was able to consider the stricken driver and not only placed his kart on the track (at speed) so that nobody could hit John he then stopped so that if anyone where going to hit the unprotected driver they would have to hit Ralph first while he was in a much less precarious situation.
When someone is under maximum stress I feel like the REAL them comes out. All their lessons. All their experiences. All their “first” reactions are raw and unplanned. Impossible to manufacture. I was humbled to tears as I realized what I just saw and what an absolute GIANT of a man I was sharing the track with.
Absolutely amazing you old fart! Badass of the day and my inspiration to care a little more for our community’s well being.
