The week after my Florida victory, everything changed.
Racing websites published articles about the eight-year-old who'd won an international karting race. My name appeared in motorsport magazines. A junior formula team scout contacted Lawrence to "keep tabs on my development." Even some F1 teams took notice—not for recruitment obviously, but as a name to remember.
The attention was overwhelming and exactly what I'd been working toward simultaneously.
"There's been interest," Lawrence said during breakfast Wednesday morning. "Several karting teams want you to test with them. One European operation is offering a full factory seat for next season."
"Europe?" Claire's voice rose. "He's eight years old, Lawrence. We're not moving to Europe."
"Not moving. They'd provide accommodation for race weekends, professional coaching, top equipment. It's the kind of opportunity most young drivers never get."
"He has Marc. He has us. He has a life here."
I watched them debate my future while eating cereal that Chloe had helped make—slightly too much milk, but I wasn't about to critique my sister's breakfast preparation.
[Major Decision Point Approaching]
[Option A: Stay regional/North American racing, slower progression but stable life]
[Option B: Accept European team offer, faster development but major life changes]
[Consider carefully. This affects the next 2-3 years of development.]
"Can I think about it?" I asked, interrupting their discussion. "Talk to Marc, see what he thinks?"
Lawrence nodded. "Of course. It's your career, Lance. You should have input on these decisions."
Marc's perspective was characteristically practical when I visited the shop that afternoon.
"European racing is the fastest path to F1," he admitted. "The competition is tougher, the teams are more professional, the visibility is higher. But you're eight. Most drivers don't go European until they're at least ten or eleven."
"Is it too early?"
"For most drivers? Yes. For you?" He studied me thoughtfully. "You've already proven you can compete internationally. The question isn't capability—it's whether you want that life. Constant travel, less time with friends and family, enormous pressure."
"I have 210 points to spend," I said, then caught myself. "I mean, I have the ability to improve significantly. If I invest in the right skills, I could dominate European competition."
Marc gave me that look that said he knew something unusual was happening but wasn't asking questions. "Skills, points, whatever system you're using—yes, you have potential for rapid improvement. But don't sacrifice your childhood for racing. Trust me, the opportunities will still exist in two or three years."
[Marc's Advice: Wait]
[System Assessment: Both paths viable]
[Staying North American: Slower but sustainable progression]
[Going European: Faster but higher pressure, risk of burnout]
[Your choice will determine the next story arc]
I thought about Marcus, about playing Mario Kart and just being a kid. About Chloe's scrapbook and family dinners and Chef Beaumont's Tuesday sessions. About having something resembling normal life alongside the racing.
"I want to stay in North America," I decided. "At least for now. Race the full Florida Winter Series, maybe try some national-level events, but keep living here."
Lawrence accepted the decision without argument. "That's fair. You're building a foundation. No need to rush. We'll revisit European racing in a year or two when you're ready."
[Decision Made: North American Focus]
[This means more regional dominance, building reputation domestically]
[Slower path to F1 but more sustainable development]
[Points earning will be slightly reduced but consistent]
With that settled, I focused on my 210-point budget. The Skills Shop had some enticing options.
[CURRENT AVAILABLE SKILLS]
Wet Weather Expert (150pts): Superior rain driving, optimal wet lines, water management instincts. Given climate variables, highly valuable.
Race Start Mastery (75pts): Perfect launches, optimal reaction time, wheel-to-wheel start positioning. Immediate position gains.
Pressure Resistance (100pts): Peak performance under stress, reduced anxiety, clutch driving ability. Important for championships.
G-Force Tolerance (100pts): Better handle high-speed forces, reduced fatigue, improved consistency. Physical enhancement.
Opponent Analysis (125pts): Quickly identify competitor weaknesses, exploit tactical opportunities, predict their moves. Strategic advantage.
I could afford Wet Weather Expert plus Race Start Mastery. Or Pressure Resistance plus G-Force Tolerance. Or save some points and get multiple smaller skills.
The strategic element made each decision meaningful.
"What would give me the biggest advantage in the remaining Florida races?" I wondered aloud.
[Florida Weather Analysis: 40% chance of rain for remaining rounds]
[Start positioning: Currently averaging P5 in qualifying]
[Race craft: Strong but room for improvement]
[RECOMMENDATION: Wet Weather Expert (150pts) + Race Start Mastery (75pts)]
[Total Cost: 225 points]
[You'd be 15 points short. Need one more good result.]
The third Florida race was that weekend. If I could finish on the podium, I'd earn enough points to buy both skills before the final Florida round.
I qualified fourth, my best yet. The skill improvements were compounding—Setup Intuition gave me a perfect kart, Tire Management let me push harder in qualifying without worrying about tire life, my natural talent was emerging without physical limitations holding it back.
[Qualifying: P4]
[Gap to pole: 0.4 seconds]
[You're consistently in the front group now]
[The trajectory is clear: you're becoming elite]
Race day was dry, which meant relying purely on racecraft rather than conditions to create advantage. The start was critical—fourth place on the grid, three faster qualifiers ahead, forty-three drivers behind.
The lights went out. I got a decent launch but not perfect, maintained fourth through turn one. The top three pulled a small gap while I dealt with fifth place challenging me.
By lap five, I'd established a rhythm and started hunting the third-place driver. Lap nine, I made the pass—clean, decisive, no drama.
[Position: P3]
[Podium secured if you maintain]
[But you want more. Second pays better points.]
Second place was a familiar face—the American prodigy from previous races. He was quick, experienced, and knew I was coming. The next eight laps were intense wheel-to-wheel racing, neither of us able to break away, neither making mistakes.
With three laps remaining, I tried a bold move into the hairpin. Got alongside, we touched wheels slightly, both continued but I didn't complete the pass. He had track position and held it.
Checkered flag: third place.
[RACE COMPLETE]
[Final Position: P3]
[Florida Series Podium: 40 points]
[Fastest Lap: 10 points]
[Consistent Top-5 Bonus: 10 points]
[TOTAL EARNED: 60 POINTS]
[CURRENT BALANCE: 270 POINTS]
More than enough for both skills I wanted.
"Another podium," Marc said proudly. "Three Florida races: tenth, seventh, first, third. That's world-class progression."
"I wanted second."
"Of course you did. But third against that field is outstanding." He showed me the results. "You were racing the American prodigy who's headed to Formula 4 next year. Keeping pace with him proves you're ready for the next level."
[PURCHASE DECISION TIME]
[Option 1: Wet Weather Expert (150pts) + Race Start Mastery (75pts) = 225pts total, 45pts remaining]
[Option 2: Save points for future expensive skill]
[Option 3: Different combination]
[Final Florida race is in two weeks. Weather forecast: 60% rain chance.]
"Wet Weather Expert and Race Start Mastery," I decided. "Both."
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED: WET WEATHER EXPERT (150 POINTS)]
[INTEGRATING ADVANCED WET DRIVING KNOWLEDGE...]
The integration was intense. Suddenly I understood water depth perception, hydroplaning physics, dynamic racing line adjustment for wet conditions, tire temperature management in rain, vision techniques for spray conditions. Every wet-weather driving secret the best rain drivers knew.
[INTEGRATION COMPLETE]
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED: RACE START MASTERY (75 POINTS)]
[INTEGRATING OPTIMAL LAUNCH TECHNIQUES...]
This integration was more physical—muscle memory for perfect clutch release, throttle modulation for maximum acceleration without wheelspin, reaction time optimization, spatial awareness for wheel-to-wheel positioning.
[INTEGRATION COMPLETE]
[POINTS REMAINING: 45]
[SKILLS OWNED: Tire Management, Setup Intuition, Wet Weather Expert, Race Start Mastery]
[You're becoming significantly enhanced compared to normal drivers]
[Use these advantages wisely]
The two weeks before the final Florida race were spent testing the new skills. A practice session in wet conditions proved the Wet Weather Expert skill immediately. I was seconds faster than before, instinctively finding grip, adjusting to changing conditions, maintaining control where others struggled.
"Your wet-weather driving improved dramatically," Marc observed after the session. "Like you suddenly understand rain racing at a different level."
"I've been studying videos of wet F1 races. Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton. Learning from the best."
"You're doing more than learning. You're applying it perfectly." He checked his data. "Lance, you're now faster in the wet than you are in the dry. That's extremely rare."
Race Start Mastery showed its value in practice starts. My reaction time improved by three-tenths of a second. My launches were consistently perfect. My positioning in tight first-corner situations was instinctive.
[Training Results: Both skills performing above expectations]
[Wet pace: +2.5 seconds per lap improvement]
[Start performance: +3 positions average gain]
[If the final race is wet and you qualify well, victory is very possible]
The final Florida Winter Series round arrived with dark clouds and steady rainfall. Perfect conditions for my newest skill.
Qualifying in the wet was where everything came together. Setup Intuition dialed in perfect wet settings. Wet Weather Expert showed me racing lines others couldn't see. Tire Management kept my tires in optimal temperature range.
I qualified second. Only one-tenth behind pole position.
[Qualifying: P2]
[Gap to pole: 0.1 seconds]
[This is elite-level wet qualifying performance]
[You're the favorite for tomorrow's race]
Race morning brought torrential rain, making conditions treacherous. Several drivers were visibly nervous during the drivers' briefing. I was calm, almost eager. This was my element now.
The start was chaos in the heavy rain. The pole sitter had too much wheelspin, bogged down. My Race Start Mastery gave me the perfect launch—enough throttle for acceleration, not so much that I lost traction.
I took the lead into turn one.
[Position: P1]
[From lap one. In the wet. Against international competition.]
[This is a statement.]
The race became a demonstration of wet-weather mastery. While others struggled with visibility, aquaplaning, and finding grip, I was smooth and fast. My racing lines were perfect, my tire management optimal, my confidence absolute.
The gap grew. One second per lap, then two, then three. By lap ten, I had a fifteen-second lead. By lap fifteen, twenty-five seconds.
[Gap: 25 seconds]
[This isn't a race anymore. It's a showcase.]
[They're racing for second. You're in a different category.]
I crossed the finish line thirty-two seconds ahead of second place. Dominant. Crushing. Unquestionable.
[RACE COMPLETE - DOMINANT VICTORY]
[Florida Winter Series Win: 100 points]
[Pole Position: 10 points]
[Led Every Lap: 25 points]
[Fastest Lap: 10 points]
[Dominant Victory Bonus (20+ second margin): 50 points]
[Perfect Conditions Execution: 25 points]
[TOTAL EARNED: 220 POINTS]
[CURRENT BALANCE: 265 POINTS]
The podium ceremony was different this time. The second and third place drivers looked at me not with respect but with something like awe. I'd lapped cars up to tenth place. In an international field. At eight years old.
"That was unreal," the American prodigy said, the one who'd beaten me for second last race. "I've never seen someone that much faster in the wet. Not at any level."
"Just felt comfortable today."
"Comfortable? Dude, you destroyed us. That was professional-level wet-weather driving."
[Florida Winter Series Final Standings]
[You: 2 wins, 2 podiums in 4 races]
[Series Champion: No (you missed races 5-6)]
[But you made a statement across the races you did compete in]
[People noticed. Scouts noticed. Teams noticed.]
That evening, Lawrence received three more contact requests from teams—two European operations and one national-level North American program.
"The North American team is interesting," he said, reviewing their proposal. "They run national championships, travel across the US and Canada, professional operation but still domestic-based. Best of both worlds."
"What do they want?"
"They want to offer you a factory seat for the full season. Professional mechanics, engineering support, travel covered, data analysis. Everything needed to win championships."
"What's the catch?"
"No catch. They see your potential and want to develop it. You'd still live at home, still have your life here, just race at a higher level with better support."
[Decision Point: Factory Team Offer]
[Pros: Professional support, better equipment, championship-level competition, domestic so less disruption]
[Cons: More time commitment, higher expectations, less flexibility]
[Marc can still work with you as consultant]
[This is natural progression]
"I want to talk to Marc first."
Marc's advice was encouraging. "A factory team is the next step. I can't provide the level of support you need anymore—you've outgrown what a regional coach can offer. But I can work with the team, provide continuity, ensure you're not just another driver on their roster."
"You'd still be involved?"
"If you want me. I'm not letting you go that easily." He smiled. "You're going places, Lance. I want to be part of the journey."
[Decision Made: Accept Factory Team Offer]
[Starting next season: Professional factory driver]
[Age: Still 8]
[This is happening faster than most drivers' careers]
[But you're not most drivers]
With 265 points available and a factory seat secured for next season, I studied the Skills Shop for long-term investments.
[ADVANCED SKILLS UNLOCKED]
[New category available: ELITE LEVEL SKILLS]
[Consistency Master (200pts): Deliver identical lap times, minimal variance, machine-like precision
[Overtaking Genius (250pts): See passing opportunities others miss, execute complex maneuvers instinctively
[Race Intelligence (300pts): Superior strategic thinking, predict race developments, optimal decision-making
[The Killer Instinct (350pts): Ruthless competitive drive, unshakeable confidence, champion mentality
I didn't have enough for the most expensive skills yet, but the pathway was clear. Keep winning, keep earning points, keep upgrading.
The eight-year-old who'd been criticized in his previous life for having opinions without achievement was systematically becoming exactly what he'd claimed he could be.
With supernatural help, yes. But proving the point nonetheless.
To be continued...
Author's Note: Chapter 12 shows Lance dealing with recognition from his Florida success, making strategic decisions about European vs. domestic racing, and purchasing Wet Weather Expert and Race Start Mastery. He then dominates the final Florida race in wet conditions, earning 220 more points and a factory team offer. Currently has 265 points and elite skills are now available. Next chapter will show him beginning his factory team career and facing new challenges.