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!