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| Caroline |
We just got back from our annual vacation in Door County Wisconsin. Except for being broiling hot early in the week, we had a grand time. One of the highlights was our frequent trips to Johnson Park for go-kart racing and skee-ball. It seems Patrick and Caroline have inherited the McCormick “NASCAR” gene that loves to race, taunt their opponents and win at all costs. Patrick has the perfect body for this “sport” – 80 pounds and a reasonable driving knowledge. Caroline is too short for the big cars. As the picture illustrates, she is just fine driving the “kid kars” with the smaller kids. (However, she loves being Daddy’s copilot in the two seat go-karts and lives to rub it in to anyone when we win).
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| Patrick |
I could not help but think of Brian every time we are in Door County and especially at Johnson Park. For you see, he lived for go-karts. He freaking LOVED go-karts and would stop at nothing to win.
Once he brought a girlfriend with him up to Door County. 20 minutes after unpacking we were all up at the track. He told Bridget in a very serious voice “I will put you in the wall if you get in my way.” Bridget blew him off thinking he was full of it. Brian said “I am not kidding.” She said “whatever” and still did not believe Brian. We all got in our karts while the hungover attendants gave instructions like “red peddle is the brake, green is the gas and NO BUMPING!” Brian ignored these instructions (like most he received in his life) and once he heard “go” he hit the gas and never, ever used the brake.
As you can guess, Brian did put Bridget in the wall in the very first turn. She got turned around and had to have the attendants help her. Bridget soon fell to last place and was not happy! I saw Brian thrust his right arm up triumphantly, flash the “number one” sign and do the “patented” McCormick head nod while smiling like a mad man. He was in his glory and was repeatedly warned by the 19 year old workers to “quit bumping,” “slow down” and “cut it out.” Brian, of course, ignored all their instructions and I believe won the race while scaring many 11 year olds.
After the race, Bridget was rather frosty and said “I can’t believe you put me in the wall.” Brian was almost surprised and said “well, I did warn you.” She icily said “I still can’t believe you did that.” Brian channeled his inner Ricky Bobby and said “hey, rubbin’ is racing.” As you can probably guess, Bridget and Brian did not make it as a couple.
I often think of the fall of 2002 when the entire McCormick clan was in Door County. Patrick was 18 months old; it was after 9/11 and was kind of cold. One day Brian and I went up to Johnson Park. We were the only racers and it was starting to rain. The workers took our tickets and simply said “have fun.” We had the track to ourselves and had a blast – while in the rain! Brian and I bumped like Bo and Luke Duke, we reversed directions, we did everything on a go-kart we possibly could. Finally, after about an hour, the workers gave us the sign to end the race. We were soaked, smelled like gas and had black soot all over us. We loved it and talked trash all the way back to the house. My mom thought we were nuts, told us we looked like “refugees” and “go clean up.”
Brian and I often talked about that glorious go-karting experience at Johnson Park. It was just us. Having fun, doing stupid stuff and not have a care in the world. It is one of my favorite memories in my life and I will cherish that moment with Brian forever. It is also why I love revisiting Johnson Park with my kids and will laugh one day when Caroline complains “Dad, Patrick put me in the wall!” I will tell her “blame Uncle Brian” and “honey, rubbin’ is racing.”
