SMTMR
...see all my friends converged in a group discussing the uphill climb and what felt strange about their cars what little sounds they may have heard, where the traction might have been lost, or how they dropped the clutch a few times during their shifts. They are all much more experienced than me; Veterans of the Canyons Running every weekend for years. Some have seen people drive their cars too hard and fall to their doom, some have rescued others and some have nearly died themselves. I respect them all for they accepted me and took me under their wing to guide me and teach me what it was that I yearned to do. A long discussion about what canyons we are to run is brought up, my friend Ken is off to the side smiling and joking as he always does. He takes out a pack of cigarettes and then he carefully selects his next smoke by gently sliding his fingers on each cig. He lights it and the darkness is illuminated for s hundredth of a second as it ignites. I look back towards the group and I head towards them. My voice was nearly gone so I tried to avoid speaking as much as I could. I talk privately and off to the side with the group leader and bring up going down Schueren, Piuma, and Cold Canyon basically doing most of what is called "The Loop." He agrees and a large smile comes across my face. My teeth are visible and I am very excited. Suddenly a car is heard coming up the mountain. Another engine is heard blasting up the asphalt. Ken and I charge towards the end of the overlook and we stop inches away from the cliff edge. "It's a…VTEC? Sounds like a Honda. S2000?" Ken says, I agree with Ken and we wait for the lead car to appear. We were both proven wrong. It was an STI. A shining white sedan growling furiously as it came to rest near our group, the car after that a black MR2 from the 80's and the last car another Toyota from the 80's, a classic supra. Shortly after that we got in our cars and lined up to begin what I love what I consider my connection to those mountains. I was 7th in the 9 car line. I felt comfortable in my spot since I knew I could go at a leisurely pace through the wicked switchbacks on Piuma. We started our engines and the night was filled with the sound of our fury. We took off. The run was slow at first since our tires need to heat up a bit before the run, the heat helps the tires to stick to the ground and in this event, loss of grip could mean more than just a little slip. We plowed right through Schueren charging forward like gazelles on the African plains. I hadn't made too many mistakes so I was sure I was going to be okay for the rest of the event. I followed the 6th car as well I could into ...