Page 1 of The Legend
1.Align Bore – Jameson
Align Bore– A procedure used to re-align main bearing or camshaft bearing bores to bringthem into alignment after warping of the block or alignment shifts due tolong-term mechanical stresses. By securing the block and then passing a singleboring tool through all the bores without changing the alignment of the tool,the bores are restored to proper position. Proper align bores ensure that eachbearing will carry equal load.
A manknows when his wife needs a distraction.
That’sprobably a lie but looking at Sway that afternoon, I needed a distraction so Ithought maybe she did too. She wasn’t giving in and turned me down twice.
She hadbeen going on most of the morning about needing to get the schedules for GraysHarbor finished and then the insurance policies for JAR Racing secured for the boys.Most race shops didn’t have insurance for drivers. We did. After my own battlesracing up through USAC (United States Auto Club) and the various winged sprinttours, I told myself I would provide medical insurance to my drivers. So, Idid.
My dad, retiredracer from the World of Outlaws (a premier division of winged sprint cars), andcurrent owner of the NASCAR Cup team I raced for, didn’t provide medicalinsurance for me but it wasn’t hard to get it elsewhere now. When you race atthe levels that I do, you’re not exactly a full time employee of the race team.You’re contracted. Yeah, I put in a full time effort but I was contracted withRiley-Simplex Racing as a driver. They paid me to drive but all my travelexpenses, medical insurance, life insurance and basically, all the things thatyour employer would usually pay, I paid. The only check I received twice amonth was for my salary.
So thingslike medical insurance and life insurance were left up to me. Once I gotmarried and had kids, it became essential to have such things as medical andlife insurance but the premiums were outrageous given the danger involved inbeing a professional race car driver.
Back whenI was nineteen, the premium alone was enough to eat up any earnings I receivedfrom winning. So back then, as a young driver without a lot of cares, I wentwithout medical insurance. A few broken ribs and concussions later, I knew Ineeded medical insurance.
Swaysighed glaring at the stack of papers. Though my focus was hardly on thosepapers, I laughed lightly looking at the fresh blanket of snow across the fieldbordering the building. Though most of the property was still in thedevelopment stages, the office was finished and the large windows allowedbeautiful views of the North Carolina winter.
About sixmonths ago we started the process of a shop expansion. What a nightmare thathas been. After a string a shoddy construction workers, I swore to myself Iwould never build a house or a shop again.
“Why dothey make you fill out so much paperwork?” Sway asked holding up a stack ofpapers from the insurance company. “There’s a stack for each driver.”
“Make themfill ‘emout.” I whispered massaging her shouldershoping my touch would ease her frustration. “They’re big boys.”
We hadfour drivers racing this year with JARRacingwhichwas my sprint car team racing in the World of Outlaws winged sprint car series.Knowing the guys, I was sure they understood how to fill out basic paperwork ofyour name, address and medical history. Except for Tommy Davis, he stillrequired assistance ordering from a fast food restaurant.
“I tried.”She rolled her neck from side to side and I felt her melt into my touch. “Theysent them back saying they couldn’t read their handwriting.”
“Hmmm...Well, how about I provide some distractions?”
“No. Ineed to finish this before Bailey comes by. We have to go over merchandiselater too.”
“No. Idon’t want to.” This time I crossed my arms over my chest, moved to the sideand leaned against her desk. “I want to have sex with my wife and you’remaking it difficult for me. Do I need to play Purple Rain? I could.”
Sway tooknotice of my sour attitude and knowing me, she knew it would only get worse.
Iwhispered in her ear when I saw her moment of weakness and took full advantage.“You see honey, there’s this procedure that engine builders use to re-align thecamshaft after warping of the block due to long-term stress.”
Swaysmiled but kept busy with the paperwork in front of her. Her fingers typedquickly, each key clicked sharply as if she was telling me no just by herclicking. “I know what align boring is Jameson.”
My voicedropped and I stepped closer. If my plan for the afternoon was going to work itcalled for drastic measures.
Dirty engine talking.
“If youknow what it is, well then,” my hand drifted from my side to her cheek and mypalm cupped the soft skin. “...you knowhow important it is for the camshaft to be re-aligned.”
Sway spunaround in the chair leaving me standing above her and my hands moved to rest onthe arms of her leather office chair. I let my right hand drag against herforearm.
Hoveringover her, she smiled again keeping her eyes low. She wasn’t giving in easily.We were good at this, the teasing, the dirty talking, all of it, we had itdown. After all, this was how this all began with us. Two people so sexuallycharged with the other that we finally gave in and life was never the same forus.
“It’s coldin here.” She shivered at the cool January air making its way inside the officeand hit the remote button for the fireplace.
I pressedmy lips to her palm before letting my eyes travel to hers.
“I’ll warmyou up with align boring.”
“Goahead,” her head dipped forward as her grin tugged at the corners of her lips.“...explain how this is done, champ.”
Race on. Ithought to myself.
