2018 - What A Year ...
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What a year…..
2018 was not an ordinary season for me. You would think after racing for over 31 years, it would be “Ground Hog” day. Not the case at all.
Sometimes I really ask myself, “Why do I keep racing?” Well, it’s because I have so much passion and respect towards the sport. I love it. Every time I get into a race car I keep learning. I have not yet done the perfect lap and this pushes me harder and harder. When I race, I want to race against the best so my game can be elevated.
Running in a series for a partial season really sucks. I really want to win another championship. But I realize without additional sponsorship it’s just not going to happen. So I just try to make the best out of what I can do. I have learned to make the almighty dollar stretch as far as I can. I started in five races in 2018. Was able to be on the podium 4 times with one win, 1 2nd, two 3rds and 2 new track records. The last race at COTA was bitter-sweet as I had to retire with suspension damage when I was hit by our team car at the start of the race. That was a tough pill to swallow.
However, I did win the 2018 Trans Am TA3 Northern Cup Championship. It’s the 13th Championship over my career and I am hungry for more.
Not racing more in the Northwest is a bummer for Fred and me personally. However, driving iconic race tracks in Trans Am draws me out east. But I do miss my “homies” back home in Portland.
Nevertheless, my biggest victory in 2018 was off the race track - finishing up Chemo (juice) when I was diagnosed with colon cancer last July. My last “juice” treatment was in January 2018. I was so driven to get my health and strength back that I worked hard. But in usual Cindi form, I overdid it. I ended up hurting my knee while training and then had to have hernia surgery in April on my stomach when I overdid it at the gym. So I had to turn over my spring driver testing duties to another dear friend who drove my car. Once I got through these challenges, I was off and running. Getting behind the wheel for the first time at Indy was my personal triumph. Happy I shared this with my family, friends, crew and most of all, my better half Fred. I have to admit, I got a little choked up on the radio while I was sitting on pregrid before my first on track session.