Racing in the darkness of Porto

This is about the craziest karting race I've ever experienced. Approaching darkness, no lights and racing near the Atlantic ocean during and after the sunset.

It was a weekend trip to Porto at the end of October 2013 which also had an additional hour due to the change to standard time during that weekend. We were group of few people to drive a race for our own karting championship.

So we arrived on a Saturday morning, looked for breakfast, did some sightseeing (like the Torre dos Clérigos) and wanted to look for a karting track in the late afternoon. But it didn't work as planned: One race track was closed, another one was rented and it seemed that we were running out of time.

But then we found another karting track near the coast which is called Kartódromo Cabo do Mundo. The sun was already setting and we didn't know if they would let us drive in approaching darkness.

It seemed no problem. We paid and we were told that there's no timing possible for the laps. So we could basically not see who is fastest. That's why we decided not to make this race a part of the championship. It should be racing just for fun.

So we went to the track and waited until the track was clear. But that took a while because there was a single kart driven by a boy who had the track for himself. Apparently he drove for for his first time because he was moving very slowly around the track. Near the start-finish line was a man standing there - probably his dad - waving with his hands to encourage his son to drive faster.

Anyway, while this happened, it was getting gradually darker. The six of us took place in the karts and waited for the start.

We went out one after another and already after a few corners I misjudged a situation, ran into the back of another competitor who went off the track. Soon, after a few laps after being in the flow I came into a battle with two others.

Another guy went side by side with me at full throttle on the main straight into the first corner. The bad visibility made the situation even more crazy. Despite the difficult visibility conditions we were driving as fast as possible.

Another one of us already made a short stop in the pitlane to get rid of his sun glasses. It made sense - there was no sun anymore. As it was getting darker the white color of the blue-white striped curbs were helpful reference points to find the way through the corners. Also clearly visible: Sparks coming from the karts ahead.

Some points at the track were more difficult and I was also with two wheels on the grass a few times. About the time we were driving I wasn't really sure during the race. It was planned for 30 minutes but at some point during the end the track marshal was gone. Did he forget us? It was already completely dark. Still, we continued.

A while later we saw the chequered flag and went to the pit lane - which also became a weird scenario due to the darkness. In the pit entrance was a little chicane - which the guy ahead of me didn't see. Me neither. So he crashed in into tyre wall and me into him. We laughed about it. I mean there were black tyres  in the dark...

After a drink at the track we were heading back in the direction of the hotel - first by bus, then by train. We made a stop at a bar before we went back to the hotel. While most of the others stayed there until Monday, I had to catch my flight on Sunday morning.

During my flight back - which is interesting in the motorsport point of view - Sebastian Vettel won the 2013 Indian Grand Prix and claimed his fourth Formula One world championship. Anyway - this unusual scenario of racing in the dark with the one day stay in Porto makes this whole weekend unforgettable for me.