Lajes Airman pursues hobby, bulids resiliency

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wolf
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores, Portugal --  A key is turned and an engine roars to life on a warm, sunny day. The smell of exhaust, the sound of the engine revving and excitement fill the air. A black 2000 Audi TT drives up to volunteers in orange vests. The driver and passenger get instructions before they start stage one of the rally. The Audi has a sticker with triple zeros labeling it the safety vehicle for the Ladies Rally Trophy race in Vila Nova on the island of Terceira, Portugal.

Since the race is on public roads that have been blocked off, the safety car ensures the road is clear of debris, such as rocks or animals, and reports anything that may pose as a hazard back to the organizers of the race. This particular event was the first ever to see an American female driving the safety vehicle on the island. That female was Senior Airman Alanna Britton from the 65th Air Base Wing Legal Office.

Melissa Goodnight, 65th Civil Engineer Squadron operations flight administrator, accompanied Britton, a general law paralegal, as a navigator and passenger. Goodnight gave Britton directions throughout the race. About six months ago, a company that organizes rally races on the island started hosting female rally races. Victor Brazil, an American citizen and rally car owner, sponsored two cars in the May 30th rally race. Brazil became an American citizen after its borders were opened up for displaced Terceira citizens after the large earthquake in 1980. He spent approximately 20 years, on and off, living in America. Britton met Brazil through a mutual friend on base and found out they shared a love for cars.  Brazil invited Britton to drive the triple zero safety vehicle and after completing all the necessary  paperwork and attending all the safety briefings, Britton was approved to drive.

"(To have her race) is very important for us as an island because we are so small... so we want to show something on our part to welcome the Americans here," Brazil said. "She is also willing to share the American culture and learn about us and what we do."

Not only is it a hobby for Britton, but it gives her a way to stay resilient through aspects of the RUFit? model, specifically the social aspect.

"By going to these events and participating, it gives me a chance to not only get out of my dorm room and mingle with the locals, but it opens my eyes to how they run their auto events," Britton said.

Britton also builds resiliency through the mental aspect as she goes for a drive to unwind.

"Any time after a bad day during the week, I will go on a short drive around town," Britton said. "If it's the weekend and I'm stressing out about an upcoming honor guard detail or test, I will take a break and go for a drive on the Via Rapida or out to Biscoitos and back. Most of the time on the weekends I just go for a cruise to this swimming hole spot I found and relax for a bit and drive home."

Britton started getting interested in racing after her two older brothers started riding dirt bikes. As she got older, that interest in dirt bikes turned into an interest in cars. Britton and her family attended her brothers' car shows and meets and discovered an atmosphere unlike any other she had experienced before.

"I thought it was so cool because it was literally like a family," Britton said. "All these people with the same interest (in cars) all support each other and have a good time, it really caught my eye. I just wanted to get involved."

No matter where a hobby comes from, if performed safely and properly, it can be used as a form of resiliency. Even if Airmen are stationed at a small base where their hobby may not be as easy as other places, Britton has a piece of advice.

"Just from this experience, I would recommend to the Airmen on base to go out to the local nationals, talk to them and go to these events," Britton said. "There are so many opportunities out there and it's sad to think that so many Airmen don't take them and just stay inside. Terceira, Azores has so much to offer and so many awesome opportunities that not everyone gets to experience."