CHAPTER 9
On the second-to-last day of Kart Kamp, the driving coach walked the campers around the track. He pointed out when they should keep the gas pedal flat to the floor and where they should let up. He explained when to brake and how hard.
In engineering, the mechanics teachers reminded them what to check before the race. They showed them again how to tighten this, and adjust that.
Jake and Ted hardly heard a word. All they could think about was the qualifier. They couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel and show their stuff on the track.
At lunch, everyone was too excited. Finally, the driving coach blew his whistle.
“Time for the first stage!” he shouted. The campers cheered and ran to the track and their karts.
* * *
Before long, the sound of fifteen revving go-kart engines filled the air. The driving coach dropped the green flag. The cars blasted off.
For twenty minutes, every camper did his or her best to master the course. They had to get every turn, every brake, and every straightaway just right.
Ted gripped the wheel and peered over the windshield as a curve as it approached. Every second counted in qualifiers.
Ahead of him, he spotted kart number eight, Jake’s car. But he had to ignore it. He’d get his chance to compete with Jake tomorrow. Today he was racing against the clock and himself.
After the twenty minutes were up, the driving coach waved the caution flag. Everyone pulled to the side and parked. They climbed out of their karts and gathered around the coach.
“Great job out there, everyone,” he said. “But as you know, only some of you will move on to the next stage. Karts two, three, four, eight, eleven, and thirteen will move forward. The rest of you will be in the back of the grid.”
There was some cheering — especially from Ted, Ash, and Jake — and some groaning — especially from Javier.
“Get ready for the second stage, drivers,” the coach said.
“Good job, guys,” said Javier. “Hey, Ted. If you need any help blocking this one out, I’ll hang back a little in the Grand Prix.”
“Hey!” Ash said, and the boys laughed.
“He’s kidding, Ash,” Ted said. “We won’t do anything like that again.”
Ash was eliminated in the next stage. In stage three, Jake, Ted, and a third driver competed for pole, second, and third positions. Jake came in second, and Ted took third. Even so, Ted was smiling.
* * *
“Kart Kamp has been a lot more fun since you and Jake started getting along,” Ash told him on the way home.
“Yeah,” Ted agreed. “Did you see him spin out on his last lap in stage three?”
Ash laughed. “He said he’s still getting used to the camp’s kart,” she said.
“Maybe,” said Ted. “I think he was just pushing too hard around that last curve. It was a pretty sweet spinout, though.”
“Nervous?” Ash said. “For tomorrow, I mean.”
“Nah,” said Ted. And he wasn’t. He was just excited.