First came the screeching sound of tires. Then, the racing cars slid sideways, leaving a trail of smoke and filling the air with the smell of burned rubber.

One by one, drivers sped through a course filled with quick turns and twists, letting their cars "drift" in a sidelong half whirl that lasted for a few hair-raising seconds at every turn. Making the move even more challenging were the orange cones marking the racetrack: Knocking any of them over would cost the drivers valuable points, and rob them of the satisfaction of controlling a car at the very edge of being out of control.

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Girl talk

Deep into researching girl stuff, Bart King found himself complimenting women on their hair.At least the 45-year-old middle school teacher didn't start obsessing about split ends and never asked if the jeans he was wearing made him look fat. And, since he's happily married, he didn't have to stew about how to break up with a girl.Not that a guy would lose any sleep over that. They're fine with e-mailing the message, he explained in "The Big Book of Girl Stuff," a sequel to "The Big Book of Boy Stuff," which made Amazon's best-seller list after he was interviewed on a national radio show talking about armpit bagpipes.The latest guide is for 8- to 14-year-olds, along with immature adults, he added.His problem was obvious - how would he know how to step off an escalator in heels and what to look for in a sports bra?Luckily, he has five sisters and a brain trust of former students who were eager to share -- and edit -- his words.