BACK ON TRACK?!?

Saturday, May 26th we went for the first time to Owosso Kart Speedway to race.  Mason ran in the Purple Plate Clone class.  There were 4 other kids registered.  Everyone was so nice and the track was nice with large pit areas.  When the kids weren't racing, they were all playing ball in the center of the pit area.  We were really impressed.  We really wanted to check the track out because it's slightly larger than our regular track, Arthur Raceway in Reese.  I know, I know, you want to know how he did, right?  He went out for a couple practice sessions and he looked pretty good.  During the second practice, however, he had to exit the track early because his body was falling apart in the front right.  Of course it's nothing a little (or a lot) of duck tape can't fix.  So we made some adjustments and he was ready for the first heat.  He started on the pole since he drew the lowest number for his position.  He went out and ran his little heart out, winning the race.  We made a couple more adjustments and changed tires hoping to be even faster and he went out for the second heat.  Unfortunately, he ended up with a 3rd place finish as our adjustments didn't seem to do any good.  I changed his tires back to the first ones we were running and Rick made even more adjustments to get him ready for the Feature.  He started the race in 2nd place.  He looked good and was running strong when another driver tried to pass him where there wasn't really room to pass.  They both spun and Mason took a big hit.  They lined the drivers back up again and they took off.  Mason was running in second place with just a couple of laps to go when a tire went shooting across the track.  From my stand point, it was hard to see whose kart it came off of as they all kept racing.  I quickly realized it was Mason's kart that lost the wheel.  So, needless to say, he didn't finish the race.  He very likely would have took second place but that's not going to happen on 3 wheels.  It appears that the damage may have been caused from the wreck he was involved in or by some fluke thing, the lug nuts started to back off of two of the wheel studs.  Either way, we have to replace a wheel stud and possibly get a new rim.  Mason took losing the tire pretty hard and was crying when he came off the track.  We assured him there was nothing we could do and that he did a great job driving at this track, especially being his very first time.  He actually had some pretty big fears of this track too.  The very first time we visited the track, just as spectators, there was a kid that crashed badly right in front of the grandstands we were sitting in.  Come Saturday morning, Mason flat out told me he didn't want to go to Owosso and didn't want to race there.  We talked it out and I explained to him that there are dangers in every track and that he has raced on much more dangerous places than Owosso.  I reassured him that he is a good driver and he knows what he's doing and how to control the kart.  We are very proud of him and all in all, accomplished what we set out to do.

Same old story

We are on our way home.  Mason is bringing a 5th place finish with him.  Once again, we shouldn't be disappointed with that, but it eats away at us because we know he has more talent than a 5th place driver.  The trip down was fairly uneventful and after blocking the driveway with our big rig, the event promotors decided they better get us parked, against their initial plans to not allow anyone in once Friday night racing started.  We felt good going up to the grid for practice.  Right up until a fellow competitor from Michigan pointed out that we were not running the correct clutch.  Our hearts sank.  Especially considering it was a clutch and gear issue that had us so far off the pace in South Carolina.  Luckily the father/daughter team we drove down with had the shoe clutches we needed.  Shame on us as we read the rules and asked our fellow competition about it before we left.  Obviously we asked the wrong people.  Lesson learned.  From now on we will question top authorities when it come to equipment and rules. There was still a problem, however, as now we didn't have the drivers and gearing to try different setups.  We endend up scraping the borrowed clutch and buying a used one off another competitor.  This gave us more options so once again, we were feeling ok about the situation.  That quickly went south after we tried and tried and tried different setups and gearing than chassis adjustment to get the kart to go.  It refused.  Poor Mason came off the track wanting nothing to do with this new clone engine.  He told us before we left that it was slow and he didn't like it.  We don't really know what the real issue is, whether its the engine or the chassis.  All we do know is something is going to have to change.  We can not keep going out of state trying to better Mason as a driver if his equipment isn't competitive.  There was a huge difference though as far as the competition goes from the Pro Kart Tour (southern states) versus the Burris Thunder Tour.  When we went down south, we felt so completely out of place, mostly due to money, or lack thereof.  Here we fit right in and there were mostly just family teams running.  DonKt getme wrong, there were still big dogs here, but nothing like what we experienced in South Carolina.  What a difference in the kids too.  The kids here came off the track humbled rather than angry.  It was nice to see, but at the same time, seeing kids crying because they tried so hard and didn't achieve the results they wanted was heartbreaking.  I certainly can feel their pain but wwe also have to give it to them for sticking it out and finishing the races.  We were up at 6:45AM Saturday, after just a few hours of sleep.  We worked our tails off all day long, non-stop in 90 degree weather.  Our pit area was what seemed like miles from the starting grid and up hill both ways. :) The feature race finally started around 1:15AM.  There was a point when both Rick and Gary told Mason thd Victorya that competing in the race was up to them.  They were so exhausted.  Mason told Rick he would stick it out and not 5 minutes later, he turned and told Rick he couldn't do it.  Rick took his helmet off of him and  to allow he to get some fresh air and he went out and finished the race.  Victorya, on the other hand wasn't as fortunate.  She drove two classes all day long and was set to start the Jr. 1 Clone class with Mason.  She was lined up in 3rd place position and her kart stalled.  Several other dads and officials tried and tried to get it to fire and it refused.  In all reality she had a top 3 kart but didn't get a chance to try.  The problem ended up being an issue in the fuel line.  Mason ended up winning $60 for his 5th place finish.  I sure hope we can get this figured out.  Looks like now that I am done with getting my degree in business management, I will need to check into getting my degree in kart chassis dynamics.  :P

Burris Thunder Tour Results

Next Stop...Indiana

Saturday's races turned out good.  Mase finished 1st in the purple plate and 3rd in the gold. the competition is fierce in the gold class this year.  The competitors are all kids Mason has raced with in the past but they have their game plan figured out.  We are still struggling with the setup but we are confident we will get if figured out here shortly.   One thing that is getting old is the way the other families act at the track.  I am getting really fed up with all the negativity and rude behavior.  Rick and I have always said we just want Mason to be competitive, which he is at this point.  We leave the track happy in knowing we did all we could to try to win but never get mad at the ones that finish ahead of us.  That just means we have to try harder the following week.  I am really seeing the true faces of our competition gloat in our weakness and anger in our wins.  I hope I will be able to maintain my composure this season and keep my cool when it comes to their actions.  We will continue to be the better people for it.  Now onto more exciting news...we will be leaving Friday, May 18 for Ben Hur Kart Speedway in Indiana.  Mason will be racing in the Jr clone class of the Burris Thunder Tour.  This will be the first of a series of 5 races and once again, nationally recognized.  We are expecting to be more competitive at this tour as the equipment will be more of what we are used to.  As another bonus, we will have friends at the track that know what they are doing and will be able to help us in case of trouble.  :)  I will keep you posted!

ONE IN THE BOOKS

We have our first race for the 2012 season under our belts.  Mason drove his little heart out.  He came home with a 1st place in the purple plate class and a 2nd place in the gold plate class.  The new kart looked great and he liked the way it handled, even though it was extremely loose.  He didn't let it slow him down and held the wheel to the right in order to turn left all the way around the track.  (It reminds me of the movie Cars.)  We had a hard time getting the old kart to turn in the gold class.  Rick has since done some research and tweaking on the chassis and rearranged the weights to hopefully correct the problem.  Rick has really learned alot within the last couple of days of playing around with the setup. 

It still amazes me how poorly the other parents react to losing.  We didn't win the gold class but we came home happy with our performance.  It means more to us that we were competitive rather than run out front and not have any competition.  We like to see Mason challenged and continue to improve his skill while other parents just get all bent out of shape about not winning.  He has certainly had a change in style this year.  He is still a smooth and smart driver, but he went out to his races with his mind set on winning and was more confident with himself as a driver.

We are going back tomorrow with the newly set up kart.  Hopefully it will handle for him better.  The following weekend we will be headed to IN for the Burris Thunder Tour.  We will be taking one kart and making the trip with a fellow competitor. 

LET'S GO RACIN!

The new racing season starts this Saturday, May 5th.  I once again have mixed feelings.  I'm ready to get going but there is always that worry in the back of my head.  Worry that we won't be competitive, worry of something breaking and worry of Mason getting hurt.  It's funny to watch Mason at this time too.  He won't tell you as much but I know he gets nervous.  He is just like his dad.  He is really quiet and just kind of keeping to himself. 

Things sure have changed from the first season we started karting.  We went from the bare bones necessary to race to what seems to be spare everything.  From one kart, one engine, one set of tires and a small trailer to two karts, three engines, lots of tires and lots of everything else and a large trailer.  But even as much as we have grown, it's never enough.  I really need to take a minute to thank our sponsors for helping make our growth possible...  Dietrich's Collision, Priehs Paving Co., Dietech Tool & Manfacturing and Don's Auto Repair.  Also special thanks go out to Mason's Grandpa Don (Taylor-Made Welding & Salvage) for making us a powered kart lift.

We have many different racing opportunities this season and will have some tough decisions to make as far as where we go racing and when.  We want to run the Burris Racing Series in IN and IL but we will have to give up some races (and points) at Arthur Raceway to do it.  I try not to think about it too much and tell myself we will just figure it out as we go.  Rick on the other hand, won't let that happen and sat last night trying to figure the points out, one race at a time, assuming Mason is going to be winning.  He is too funny.  We are hoping to get Rick into a kart this year, if for no other reason than for him to feel and see what Mason feels and sees on the track.

All in all, I think we are looking at a very good year.  It will be one full of challenges.  Challenges that ultimately transform into knowledge.  Here's to wishing Racin' Mason a fantastic 2012 season!