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| Sweat rolled down the back of Baby Ann's head. She wanted desperatly to wipe her mouth, but coudn't get to it. It was behind the face protector of her helmet. What was a person suppose to do if he threw up in one of these things? The thought came and went in a flash. The sweat rolled, which was odd: she was cold. Her arms shook; her fingers numb on the steering wheel. Automatically she steered following Kay's hand signals. Catching air, the boat hit hard. Baby Ann moved too much in her harness. She wasn't cinched in tight enough. Thrown to the right, her ribs took a bruising blow; her foot slipped from the gas pedal and the incessant sweat started her scalp itching. "Over there! Look!" Kay screamed. They were air born, just inches off the water; it seemed forever. Baby Ann was afraid the engine would stall. It gave no sign of stalling, it just worried her. Not enough speed, not enough to miss landing on the edge of a flat rock, just off to the right. The driver's side hit water, navigator's side glanced the rock. Kay screamed. The boat hit, bobbed once, then tipped to Baby Ann's side. Water rushed over the pointed snout. Baby Ann tasted blood, she wiped her visor quickly and then aimed the boat for the nearest flat water. She was at war with herself, she must get up more speed: the boat glanced off rocks sending the boat wobbling first one way then the other. The snout was easing up, the jarring blows hit hard under the boat where they sat. Kay pointed frantically, then pushed at Baby Ann's arm. Baby Ann jerked her arm away and jabbed an index finger menacingly at her sister. "Cut it out!" Kay grabbed hold of the tow rope, twisted it down, and wiped her visor. Baby Ann was glad Kay caught the rope before it went into the water. She didn't even want to think of the problems that could cause! Nothing ahead but white water. Baby Ann wiggled her helmet vigorously trying to relieve the itch. Kay in a split second rubbed her arms, to warm herself, then grabbed for a hand hold. They were hitting the bottom--not enough speed. A chill griped Baby Ann, real and emotional; she wrestled with it: everywhere white water boiling, and she knew she had to give it gas to keep the back of the boat, with its heavy engine, from sinking onto the rocks. How did she get in such shallow water? The river straightened and trees bent over from the bank in places touching the water. The sweep boat, flags flying, was not far behind them. Baby Ann threw up her hands, "For crying out loud!" she yelled, through clinched teeth. Kay didn't hear, she was looking over the side at the bank, no more than two feet away, and vigorously motioned with her left arm to move to the left--away from the bank. Baby Ann jerked the wheel hard to the left. Kay's scream pierced her helmet and her head lurched backward then rolled toward Baby Ann. A tree limb scratched the full length of the boat. It had hit Kay 5/13/'01 Baby Ann snapped the ignition switch off, ripped her helmet off and turned to Kay. The sweep boat was along side corraling the boat against the bank. Kay's helmet lay in her lap. She massaged the back of her neck with her left hand. Her right hand lay limp. Baby Ann pointed at the hand. Kay shook it, indicating it was okay. "Are you all right?" Baby Ann asked, while clutching her hand to her heart. She couldn't believe she had hurt her sister. She fought back tears. |
| "Everything okay?" Two guys in unison yelled over the engine from the sweep boat. "She hurt?" The guy on the passenger's side asked, while holding the boats together and leaning across while the driver pinned down his legs. "I'm okay," Kay said, "let's go." She wiggled her helmet down on her head and sat with hands in her lap--looking straight ahead. "Are you sure? . . . Kay I'm sorry." Kay raised a hand brushing her off. She's mad, Baby Ann thought and rightly so. Baby Ann yelled to the guys in the sweep boat, "We'll try it. Move away." And as an after thought she said, "Stay back, don't crowd us--will ya?" The two guys in the front shook their heads agreeing and motioned for them to take off. The HO 350 cubic inch/425 horse power small block Chevy rumbled into life. The sweep boat waited twenty or so feet back. the Naked Lady's pointed bow drifted left with the current, leaving the heavy engine end of the boat against the bank. She gave it gas. It didn't move. Smoke bellowed from the engine, while the boat drifted closer into the bank. The heat gauge showed hotter and hotter. Baby Ann was sure she was hurting the engine. She cut it. She threw up her hands as the sweep boat came along side. "You're sucking up sand and rocks." "What?" Baby Ann yelled. "Rocks, sand . . .need to get out and dig them out." He pointed to her jet pump. "No way! We're not getting in the water." Her teeth were chattering from cold as it was; the thought of the icy water was too much. When something like this happened the racers had to fix it themselves or be penalized. "Guess you'll have to tow us. We're not getting in the water." Baby yelled. She glanced over at her sister. Her helmet was off and laying at her feet. She kneaded her neck with both hands. Not a good sign, Baby Ann was thinking. 5/18 Being towed on the first leg of your first race was . . .well, a great many words could apply. Baby Ann wished she'd left her helmet on. At least she would have had something to hide behind. One of the tow boat crew threw the line ashore to a hulking, barrel chested fellow. He with ease pulled their boat onto the sand along with the rest of the colorful jet boats. Kay smiled at and raised a hand in thanks to the bronzed giant. "Well," she said, with a huge smile on her face. Baby Ann braced herself for her sister's remark. "We're safe. Nobody can get hurt now." She threw back her head (with a hand automatically going to the back of her neck) and cut loose with a very unlady-like bellow of a laugh. Several heads turned, in their direction,from the race teams, standing in little groups around and near the race boats. Baby Ann caught the giggles--not giggles, no giggles wasn't right, it was more like great honking noises, that set them looking for tissue for their noses. They laughed until their sides hurt. They agreed this was the best fun they had, had in ages. They decided they should find a restroom, and each promised not to set the other laughing until they had used it. The sun was out. It felt warm on their backs. Several individuals stopped them, on their way up the steep trail leading to the restrooms. They of course wanted to know what had happened. Passing, finally, the last of the crowd of racers, they sprinted the last few feet and then had to wait. Baby Ann looked over at Kay and said, "Don't you dare start me laughing; I may not make it as it is. I need to sit down!" She was thinking she didn't need one more thing to humiliate herself. The door opened and Baby Ann dashed in. (continued) |
| Women Drivers continued |
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