Racing. The first idea that comes to people’s minds when they hear that word seems to be NASCAR, Formula 1 Racing, or even the Texas Motor Speedway. People often forget what the best form of racing is — boat racing.
In 2016, my dad told us that he wanted to race boats. My dad now possesses the title of an adrenaline junkie, including his passion for Motocross, being a professional wakeboarder and water sports connoisseur. After he became a father, he yearned to find something that would fill the void of adrenaline that was left inside him. Before he started racing, he met one of our close friends and crew chief, Mr. Wes. Wes owned a race boat of his own and showed my dad the boat racing world, a concept we had never heard of. After one ride in Wes’s boat, Dad was hooked. By the next day, he was already searching for a boat to race.
Our first race took place on Lake Crook in the small town of Paris, Texas. We pulled into the race with our janky trailer containing Dad’s pitiful white boat, a couple of tents, folding chairs and a sense of hope. Setting up our pit in the sticky mud and flying dirt did not seem promising to 6 year-old me. “What did Dad get us into this time?” I thought. Other racers saw my family, obviously beginners, and immediately approached us and helped with open arms. Their warm personalities and genuine, humble spirits eased our anxiety and made us thankful to be guided through such an overwhelming moment. We went into an insane motorsport completely blind, not sure of what would happen. Around us, we saw intimidating RVs and motorhomes that towered over our fun-size tents, crew members sped around on gas-powered golf carts and racers running around to help each other prepare for the next day, race day.
After a few years of racing, my dad wanted to approach a new level of it. He wanted to commit to racing at the highest (but safest, obviously) level possible. In 2019, my dad decided to advance his boat class up to a professional level. His little white boat turned into a 1,100 pound red monster with 2500 horsepower, along with a whole lot of safety gear. This became huge news to us. Everything associated with racing became a lot more serious, and in reality, a lot more expensive.
Jumping forward to the summer of 2020 and the boat racing finals take place in the screeching sun of San Angelo. Dad made it to the final round and all he must do to win the championship is win this last race. This one race determines if we get to take home this win. I hide from the blazing sun under our canopy in an itchy folding chair as sweat drips down my hot face. Our crew’s nervous energy spreads from person to person as they screw on their final bolts on the boat. Dad sits on the white folding table next to me with his head hanging low and I can immediately understand his thoughts. He is resistant to disappointing us and knows he cannot mess up. He knows this one race will make or break this season.
The bumpy ride to the in-ramp made my nerves spike with each dip in the road. Dust flies in my throat and throughout the humid air, making it harder to breathe. My dad suits up in his suffocating scuba gear and I can feel him get more anxious with every piece that he puts on. As our crew straps him into the capsule his hands nervously tap rhythms on the steering
wheel, anticipating the cruise to the starting line. He tries to shield his worries from me with his stoic face, even though his plan remained unsuccessful. My family gathers around the gleaming checkered and red boat, praying for the safest race possible. With a sliver left of hope in each of us, we say goodbye as I give Dad one last squeeze of his hand.
Watching my dad approach the starting line felt like a thousand butterflies entering my stomach, their jittery flutters moving through my veins. The roar of other boats and aroma of fried concession food did not help this awful feeling. The heat of the late afternoon sun radiated on me, making life feel similar to a fever dream. As other various drivers finish their races, the blinking lights of the clock across the river determine the winner. I hoped those lights would blink for my dad.
The number of boats on the starting line slowly narrowed down for what seemed like an eternity. The building of anticipation made me absolutely sick and I could not bear it any longer. Finally, my dad and his opponent became the next to race. Although various sponsors and names blare out of the massive speakers, the only sound in my ears is my heartbeat growing faster by the second. Engines start and the smell of fuel accumulates in the air. The percussion of the motor rattles through my bones and the river valley, the sound echoing through every corner of the horizon. In slow motion, beams of the sun reflect off of Dad’s capsule windshield as he lets go of the rugged starting rope and shuts it with a snap. The entire world of engines, speakers and nervous chatters around me grows quiet while my heart completely stops. His boat launches from the starting line as the roar of the engine grows louder within each millisecond. I watch Dad speed down the track in five seconds flat while the thump of my heartbeat eventually overpowers the engine’s screech. As the race concludes, I snap my head to look at that blinking clock across the river. Please blink. Please. Blink.
Suddenly, what I wanted so badly had come true after seeing those bright flashing lights. I jump up and down in celebration with my family and crew and an apparent sense of pride flows into my body as the anxiety exits. He did it. I could finally say that my dad is the 2020 Boat Racing Champion.
The moment I see him come around in his worn but dazzling race suit, I run into my dad’s arms. Soft wrinkles form around the lens of his sunglasses while he smiles with accomplishment and pride. I don’t care about how sweaty and gross we are; I am just as proud as any girl could be. I am proud of him for never giving up through every disappointment we experienced and always pushing to achieve and operate at the next level of excellence. Because of racing, I learned that I should always strive for greatness and take pride in what I love, no matter how crazy it seems.
