Ashley's+Page

=I am a Junior at the University of Colorado studying Communication. I hope to one day be a sports reporter for IndyCar racing. = = Get up to Speed in the Game of Life = = media type="file" key="Ashley_TIB.mp3" =

I believe in seizing the moment. Every day should be lived as if you were taking that last left turn and the checkered flag was snapping to attention.

Indy cars have always been a huge part of my life. I have attended the Indy 500 eleven times and each year, the roar of the engines instills a special feeling in my heart. Every race I go to reminds me of its parallels to life – if you don’t go full throttle and give it your all, life will pass you by at 230 miles per hour.

Two summers ago I had the opportunity to shadow the Indy Racing League in Nashville and Chicago. Both times, the roar of the jets to the start of the engines sent thrilling goose bumps up and down my spine.

I arrived in Nashville with much excitement, yet had many butterflies in my stomach for the new adventure ahead of me. I met with the Indy Racing League employee that I would be shadowing for the whole weekend, and he filled me in on his exhilarating past experiences. I told him how my interest in racing began and who some of my favorite drivers were, including Graham Rahal. He smiled and proceeded to tell me that he knows Graham and has also known Danica Patrick since she was a child. I was in shock as she is one of the most important people in the League. He assured me of my exciting weekend ahead and that I would get to meet most of the drivers. I was beginning to seize my moment.

We arrived at the track the following day and my pulse instantly shot through the roof. I was standing on pit lane when the gentleman I was shadowing said “Here’s Graham, follow me.” I couldn’t believe I was about to meet one of my favorite drivers right before he got in his car to qualify for the race. Little did I know it would only get better. Later that day, I helped at the driver autograph session and met the remainder of the drivers. I was asked to have each of them sign a helmet for charity. As I walked down the line to every one of them, I was in shock at what I was experiencing. All drivers were out of their standard fire suit and in street clothes, often adorned with a race emblem of their team. Each one of them would have a joke for me and say something like “Oh man, another autograph huh?!” then proceed to sign it with just as much enthusiasm as the last.

Race day came and went like a flash before my eyes. The warmth of the summer sun radiated off the track and the smell of rubber filled the air. From the moment they sang the National Anthem and stated those famous words – “ladies and gentleman, start your engines!” I finally understood what it meant to live life to the fullest.

Two months later I was filled with that racing thrill as it was time to shadow the Indy Racing League again. Helio Castroneves was the winner of that race, and I felt myself shaking as I handed him his winning check in Victory Circle.

My mind is still racing around the track. In the future, I will take that last left turn full throttle. I believe in seizing the moment.