SEASON IS OVER

The racing season is finally over. Mason ended up with a 5th place finish at Arthur Raceway. We don't know where he will be racing next year as Arthur has had some issues and is considering not opening up next year. We went and checked out Owosso Kart Speedway a couple of Fridays ago. It is a very nice track, big and fast. It is a much longer and harder drive than it is to get to Arthur. While we were there, we witnesses a horrifying crash. It happened literally right in front of us. It was a little guy, possibly a couple of years older than Mase. He got loose in turn 2 and hit the chain link fence full speed, head on. Owosso has a full fledged ambulance and EMTs at their races. They told me it was mandatory for their track.

Mason was hoping to race indoors this winter but we've made the decision that he won't be running a full season. Maybe we will take him to run a couple of races but it's a really small and hard track and pretty much just destroys the karts.

Yesterday we went out to Backwoods Speedway in Marlette. It's a small track that not a lot of people know about. It was really nice as it was only 15 mins from home. It is a nice track and Mason said it was alot of fun. It was just run and have fun, no racing. Mason keeps asking when he can go back.

I've been trying to talk Rick into the possibility of getting a kart instead of a race car. I know we would all enjoy a race car better but it sure would take a lot of hassle off of us as a family if he raced karts the same night as Mason. Not to mention that it would help with teaching Mason different aspects of racing. Right now, Rick isn't a whole lot of help because he doesn't know what Mason is seeing or feeling on the track.

Arthur is having a banquet to celebrate the season on Nov 6. We will be attending so Mason can be awarded his trophy. I'll keep you posted.

LAST RACE WENT GREAT

Last Saturday was a rainy and gloomy day. We headed to the track, in rain the entire way, expecting the evening to be cancelled. We arrived and it was still raining but they insisted they were going to race that night. The rain eventually did stop and they worked the track until about 5:00. Racing usually starts at 4:00. With no practice and no qualifying under his belt, Mason headed out on the track in pole position. The race began and he took off like a rocket out in front of all the other drivers and that's where he stayed for the entire race. He manuevered around the track like a pro. He started his feature race in 2nd place and did a great job once again. He was looking at first place when a caution came out. There were 3 or 4 cautions the entire race which allowed the other drivers to group back together and eventually get around Mase. He finished in 3rd which is really good, considering we are still running our flathead motor against the animal motors. He got a bigger trophy than usual and when he got out of his kart told his dad "don't touch anything...the kart is good the way it is." :) We are very proud of him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyvLognxVsI - 1st Heat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1G2BLOAnyU - Feature Race

Rick decided he would run another bump-n-run and thought Yale's was on Friday (yesterday) but it turned out it is tonight. Rick has decided we are taking Mason racing instead. There's always next year...maybe.

We will be heading to the track here in a bit. Rick just told me to put my long underwear on as it's cold outside. I just may break out the Carhart overalls for tonight. I don't like the cold but Mason's kart sure does so we are hoping to come home with another great finish.

ANOTHER TRY

We were rained out last weekend for Mason's race. We will try tomorrow and see how it goes. Hopefully we can hang in there.

There is a bump-n-run coming up in Yale next Friday. Rick is thinking about going. He figures he might as well smash the car good before he takes it in for scrap. We'll see.