Racerchick Robin Ailes of Stockton California gives us her thoughts in her very own racing diaries:

Well, it's official. I LOVE RACING. Yea Haw. For some reason I don't get nervous, I just turn into a different person. I've never thought of myself as being competitive, but once I got on that track I didn't want anyone to pass me. When I did pass someone I screamed with excitement. It's weird, I thought I would be freaked out by the whole experience but a calm comes over me and I become very focused. However my rearview mirror played a different role in my first heat.

In my first race I started in position two. This made me nervous because I thought for sure I wouldn't get the start right and the Flagman would send me in the back of the pack, but I did well. The green flag went flying and we started to race. At some point in the first or second lap I came down to lead the pack. I lead for a few laps not quite comprehending that I was in the lead because this was my first race and I just never thought I would be in this position. I come to terms that I was in the lead and looked in my rearview mirror to see if anyone was behind me (DUH). I was having a blond moment! I see trucks behind me of course, and think to myself that I must be blocking them and I should get out of their way. I know this sounds stupid but I was stunned to be in the lead. At that point I went high and everyone whizzed by me. I ended up coming in fifth out of six and I was very upset at myself for looking in that mirror. I immediately went back to the pits and explained to my brother what had happen and his response was, "ROBIN, your not on the *ucking freeway." and he promptly removed my rearview mirror. That had to be my biggest mistake and lesson of the night. Using the mirror and getting rid of it.

I'm going to buy a tape of the race to see where I'm driving and where I should be driving. Everyone was telling me I was going too high and not going into the corners at the right spots. I'm going to study the tape and hopefully that will help me some. I'm excited about this up coming Saturday and getting back on the track. Only nineteen race days left. AAAHHHH I wish this was year round!

4/3/01

Robin's Turn #5

The last couple of weeks have been very exciting for me.  I drove my truck for the first time and we picked up a sponsor.

 I practiced for the first time last week and it wasn't at all what I had expected.  Watching people race from the spectator stands makes it is easy to criticize drivers for some of the idiotic things they do.  I often ask myself, and yell at the driver who I know can't hear me, why a driver may go high, to low, bump someone, or whatever else takes place out on the track.  Now I know it mostly depends on the level of experience.   

As I drove out onto the track I felt like I was in a different world.  I was out of my element in unfamiliar territory.  Everything completely through me off because I have stared at this track for the last year thinking I knew it, but now that wasn't the case at all.  I wasn't too sure where to start turning into a corner and how high I should go on the straight way.  Someone asked me if I heard them driving up along the side of me and I honestly don't remember hearing a thing.  I was just so focused on getting around the track and trying to build a comfort level that all of my senses (with the exception to sight) faded.  I practice this next weekend and hope to build some level of comfort and get to know the trucks limitations.  I realize this will take time but that's the wonderful part of the challenge.  

The other exciting happening of this last week was my new sponsor, Pacific State Bank.  I met with them and they have agreed to become an associate sponsor of the Ailes Racing Team for the 2001 season.  I want to thank Pacific State Bank for their support and I'm very excited to have their logo on my truck.

 Until next week, ciao.

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 Robin Ailes 
Ailes Racing #00