FWT

We scheduled Nellie's pick-up with the last race in the Florida Winter Tour series. The last race was in Orlando.

We picked up Nellie on Tuesday, March 18 and after training, we drove to the track in Orlando and set up camp. The track is not in the most scenic of spots in Orlando, but it was convenient and fit our needs.

It was sunny and a warm 85 degrees the entire week. Perfect weather to escape the frozen, snow covered tundra of the northeast.

Chloe began practice on Wednesday and Oliver, Emma Claire and I got to know Nellie some more and ran errands the next day picking up some items we missed in our shopping trip the first night.

Oliver in front of Chloe's kart.

Oliver and Emma Claire hanging out as we watch practice.

My parents arrived on Thursday morning. We spent the day at the track and in the afternoon took the kids to the pool at my parent's hotel. The kids loved swimming at the hotel in the afternoon and when Chloe was done at the track each day, we all headed to the pool to relax and get some sun!

Chloe and Oliver having fun in the pool.

Friday, was qualifying for the races Saturday and Sunday. Chloe, Matt and PaPaw stayed at the track while BeBe, Oliver, Emma Claire and myself went to Epcot. *More on Disney in tomorrow's post*

Chloe qualified 18th for both the Saturday and Sunday races. After the first qualifying session, we found out that Chloe would have to start at the back of the grid for Sunday's race because of a technical penalty--her fuel failed tech inspection. We think her race fuel got poured into a container that had been used for regular pump gas and it failed when they tested it.

Matt & Chloe

Chloe and her driving coach and tuner, Chris.

Matt had taken Chloe to the Orlando track in early February to practice and learn the track in preparation for this last FWT race. The Orlando track is quite challenging with technical corners and braking. The level of competition was very high, the toughest Chloe will face her entire race season. The FWT brings competitors from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America as well as all over the U.S.  Chloe learned a lot from the series.

For the Saturday race, Chloe finished 12th in the final. On the Sunday race, starting from the back, Chloe finished 13th. We're very proud of her! It was a great start to the 2014 race season and we can't wait to see her driving and race craft develop this season.

Lining up for the start of Sunday's race.

Chloe getting set up to make a pass.

And she made it by.