Life with Cars.(racing Karts (Midget cars))(Brief Article)

He says ``later, later,'' but my senses say ``no.'' He's waving his arms, pointing at a spot on the ground, gesturing at me then pointing at the spot again. I can't do it. Finally, he gives up and walks away. Then he's back, carrying something.

``He'' is my personal trainer for the day. Driving trainer, that is. Nick Bussell, a 20-year-old, scalpel-sharp shifter-kart racer who's wreaking havoc in the semipro ranks and is soon to move up. And I'm engaged in the great American Friday pastime: playing hooky. Only I don't hunt or fish. As for golf, the only thing I drive farther than 20 yards is the cart.

In this case, make it a kart. I'm at my favorite karting facility, MRP, in bucolic Buchanan, Michigan. Been coming here for years for these mind-body treatments. It's like a day of Zen crossed with full-contact hockey. The fundamentals of driving focus the mind while the kart pounds the hell out of the body. Between the two, you can't think of anything else. Water leak in the basement? No worries. Next business meeting? Can't be bothered. At the end of the day you feel like you're floating on a cloud. And like you could win an F1 race. My kind of spa.

The kart is a full-race Birel. Single rear disc and a 100-cc Yamaha two-stroke providing the push. I'm rough and rusty, but Nick is an enthusiastic teacher. He watches me lap. We walk the course, talking technique, line and nuance. It's all about attention to detail, he says. Three inches further left into ...