CHAPTER 10
The next morning, the campers suited up for the Grand Prix race. As they walked down to the track to meet their karts their parents cheered from the stands.
As the announcer explained the race to the spectators in the stands, the driving coach stepped up to the waiting campers.
“We have a surprise today,” he said. “We’ve switched around your numbers.”
“But we’re used to our karts!” Ted said.
The coach smiled. “That’s what you think,” he said. “We’ve been switching the numbers every night. Some of you haven’t driven the same kart twice.”
“Unbelievable,” said Jake.
“Today, you’ll drive a random kart,” the coach said. “Only the referees and timekeepers will know who’s in which kart.”
“Why the switch?” Javier asked.
“We want you to understand that it’s not personal on the track,” the coach said. “It’s racing. You should be focused on giving it your best, driving the right line, taking the turns just right. You should be focused on your own driving, not your competition.”
Ted smiled at Jake. It made sense to them.
* * *
Ted climbed into his kart. He tried to figure out who was where, but he couldn’t see the rest of the pack lined up behind him.
The cars started around the track toward the rolling start. As the first car’s wheels hit the start line, the drive coach dropped the green flag. They were off.
Ted cleared his mind. He didn’t think about competing with Jake. He didn’t think about how good his gear was, or which kart he’d ended up in. He didn’t even think about lines or when to brake. He just drove like it was second nature.
Ted slipped around the pole kart on the turn, slid to the inside, and jumped into first place. On the straightaway, he could sense the second kart — whosever it was — right behind him.
Ted focused on the track and his kart. At the turn, he held his foot down till the last moment. Then he hit the brake hard and cut the wheel, holding onto the inside line.
As he came tight around the bend, the second-place car slid around the outside, speeding up until they were neck and neck.
Ted risked a glance at the driver. But with the scuffed white helmet and tinted visor, he couldn’t tell who it was.
Both drivers slowed down for the hairpin curve coming up. Ted jockeyed for the inside, but the other driver shot around the outside, and cut in front of him.
At the next straight, Ted punched the gas hard. The rest of the pack was right behind him. He wondered how Ashley and Javier were doing.
Huh, he thought. I don’t even know if this is Jake in front of me. But he assumed it was.
The karts reached a long series of slight curves. Getting the right line and staying on the gas was the rule for this section.
Ted gripped the wheel and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. On the second little curve, he pulled ahead of the other kart. For an instant, he had the lead. But at the next curve, they were neck and neck again.
They stayed tight around the final bend. From behind, a third driver jockeyed for the lead. The third kart took the bend wide and slid between Ted and the first-place kart, sending Ted back into third place.
Ted thumped his steering wheel. Then he took a deep breath. Focus, he thought. Focus on the driving, not on the other karts.
* * *
Ted stayed at the front of the pack nearly the whole race. He had no idea who his top competitors were, but he assumed Jake was one of them.
On the final lap, Ted saw his chance. He kept his foot down and drifted to the outside. He slipped past the second car and moved up on the first-place car’s tail.
But as they straightened out, Ted lost control, just for a fraction of a second. His kart wobbled and he slipped back to third.
It was all he could do on the final straight to bring his kart neck and neck with the second-place car. As the checkered flag fell, he was tied for second.
Ted pulled off to the side and watched as car number eight took a victory lap.
Climbing out of his car, Ted took off his helmet. The driver of the car he’d tied with climbed out too.
“Jake!” Ted said as the other driver pulled off his helmet.
“Great race, Ted,” said Jake. The boys shook hands. “So who was that?”
Ted shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said.
Javier walked over. “I think I know who it is,” he said. He pointed at the stands, where three people were still on their feet cheering: Ted’s parents and Ashley’s mother.
“No way,” said Ted.
Kart eight finished its victory lap and pulled over next to them. The driver pulled off her helmet, a big smile on her face.
“Nice race, boys,” Ashley said. “Better luck next summer.”