That first encounter with rallying had shown me exactly how much fun it is.
And what made me certain I absolutely wanted to come back was, again, the people.
As I said in the piece about Vecchio Bambino spring 2017, I had jumped into the rally world knowing nothing, so naturally I started with no friends and no acquaintances.
We had been eating and going about as a pair, and then one woman entrant spoke to us.
“Hey — red really suits you. I like red too. Come and have a drink.” That was her. Afterwards we became close not only in rallying but like family.
One remark like that, and the circle of friends widened all at once.
Last time I understood nothing; this time I look a bit more like an actual entrant, don’t I?
I got the checkpoints on the route book right, too. Afterwards I bought the equipment immediately — if you are going to do it, do it — with the goal of getting onto that podium.
Vecchio Bambino in Okayama is packed with local character, and the checkpoints that welcome you are far too enjoyable. Going on while collecting whatever is good to eat in each place fills both your heart and your stomach.
Answering the cheers from the roadside with this smile all day. To find that a world this enjoyable existed — I felt rather like Mickey Mouse waving at Disneyland.
And then, remarkably, a first placing in the competition, and the podium I had wanted.
They even let me make a speech from the stage, which took my life’s emotional high point to its summit.
Two days of an event in which I made an absolute fool of myself over my first ever podium.
Oh — my stomach is showing too. Making so many friends through a hobby as an adult, I decided to drive through life smiling.