5,500 RPM

There is a fine line between pushing too hard, and not pushing enough. The space between leaving too much on the table and risking too much and losing it all. The line between where you were, where you are, and where you want to be... in that space you can find peace and happiness. 

In my Z that line is 5,500 RPM in fifth gear. 

Lesson learned in life, in my Z, as a parent, and at work all point often to the same conclusion. I was reminded on this on my recent track night and the ride heading up to Gingerman Raceway in South Haven. 

On the highway, in 5th gear, when I am humming at 5,500 RPM it just feels perfect. The peace that exists when I am pushing her hard, and feeling that she is giving it her all right back, perfect balance. I am on that line, and I recognized in the Z, why can't I recognize that in real life though?

Their is a balance in knowing I could push a little harder, and she could try more; but would it be too far and is this enough? Maybe she can, maybe she can’t, maybe I save that last little umph for when I need it, save it for the track… 

At the track it’s a little bit of a dance. She has a yellow line at 6,000 but she redlines at 6,500 RPM. On several shifts on the track I get her close to the redline… well past that 5,500 that I know she likes. I push her hard, she does her best, I try not to ask too much, and we both leave it all on the track. 

She doesn’t want to break, I don’t want to make a serious mistake, and we want to be able to ride home together (and not on a tow truck). That night I spun out twice bad, luckily both times I kept her on the track and not off in the "fun" zones (that ruined my previous front spoiler on an off track excursion). 

We had fun, she got hot and dirty, lots of bugs on the windshield, brake dust caked on the wheels, race rubber sling stuck all over, I pop the hood to check the oil, top her off, and pack the car for the ride home. 

Then I get her into 5th gear and wind her up to 5500 RPM. It’s dark out, headlights on, we cruise. She purrs at 5,500. I smile, we make it home, close the garage door and turn out the lights. 

The perfect night, at 5,500 RPM. There were days when she didn't run and I couldn't fix her, and there will be days when we will go faster. The beautiful balance of walking the line of pushing hard, pushing just enough, getting all you can, leaving it all out there, and not crashing the car. The same in life between letting the past go, not letting dreams unrealized ruin the beauty that is around us today. There can be peace and happiness right where I am, I just have to let it be, to see it, to feel.... 

At 5,500 RPM, the line between where it was, were it could be... Thanks Z for teaching me to love where I am...