The Camarrow Autosport crew didn't really know what to expect going into the 2008 Daytona Kartweek, as it was our first national event, and our first race out of the sportsman class. All we knew is that our competition would put up one heckuva fight, and we weren't disappointed. When we arrived at the track we found that there would be 48 kids in my class - not a bad turnout! We were very consistent all weekend long, finishing 33rd both days, just missing the final by 3 spots in the LCQ's.
It was a very different story however for my teammate Dakota. On the first day, he finished 10th in Yamaha, and HPV was so disappointing that he just gave up on it for the second day! It was a rough first day in Dakota's garage, and everyone was honestly feeling disgusted. Little did we know that Dakota still had something to prove...
The second day started out a little better, with Dakota qualifying 5th in Yamaha Jr. Heavy. I can't tell you as to what happened in the prefinal, but I CAN tell you that the final was nothing short of brilliant. Starting from 5th, Dakota took the lead about midway through the race. At this point his dad walked back to camp and hid behind his trailer, too scared to watch. With one lap left to go, and with Dakota still holding a firm lead, his dad finally made his way back to the fence to watch. That last lap was heart pounding, as we watched Dakota seemingly INCH his way around the track. Finally he crossed the finish line a winner, and his dad just started crying. It was a strange sight to see. Here in front of me a tall , well-built, full grown man just sat crying his eyes out, because he was so proud of his son!
When we all got back to the trailers, Dakota and our friend Cody, who himself is an accomplished karter, said to Dakota's dad with one of those I-told-you-so looks, "You know what this means right? You gotta stop drinking." Dakota's dad replied simply, "That's why I was crying!"
There are many, many things I can take away from my experience at Daytona, but I think there's one obvious lesson to be learned here - never give up. Dakota, being the champion he is, never stopped believing he could win. His triumph, as fantastic and surprising as it was, has inspired me to keep working hard, even when things aren't looking so good. Hopefully my hard work will pay off some day, and I too will be able to create an awe inspiring, mind boggling, scene like the one I saw at Daytona.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Friday, September 26, 2008
OVKA Race #12
The 12th race of the OVKA season would be run on the 2C configuration, where I had practiced several times before and run laps around the 43.9 second zone. So you can imagine how surprised I was when the first time I went out in Saturday practice, I did a 42.8 second lap. Through some tweaking here and there I'd cut .2 seconds off my lap times by Sunday qualifying, where I set down a 42.6 second lap, only .1 of a second off of the extremely quick John Powers.
I started 4th in the prefinal, but I got freight-trained by 2 karts on the first corner, and was pushed back to 6th. In the next few laps I worked my way back up into 4th, put a wheel off and fell back to 5th, & then regained 4th place again. After I secured 4th, I started to close in on the lead pack, but coming out of turn 1 on about the 5th or 6th lap, I lost all power from my engine.
My first ever engine expiration.
With the help of many fellow karters, I was able to run the 12-lap final with a loaner engine.
I started 16th out of 16, but I wasn't gonna let that stop me. I drove a determined, sometimes crazy race, and in the 12 laps I went from 16th to 6th.
Unfortunately, the officials thought I drove a bit TOO crazy, and I was black flagged.
This race will serve as a reminder that no matter what happens, always keep your emotions in check, before they end up costing you.
Monday, September 8, 2008
My Run with K.R.A.
This past weekend, meek motorsport decided to run with the KRA club at Newcastle Motorsports Park to get some experience for the upcoming OVKA race there.
Upon arriving at the track, we found out that we would be running an all-new configuration, running the regular track backwards, connecting up with a new section along the way. Contrary to popular belief, the track proved to be very technical and demanding, and tremendously fun & challenging.
I spent the practice sessions learning the track, but it was hard because of the ever changing climate. It had rained the night before the race, so the track started out green and got faster as the day went on.
Sportsman 1 qualifying started out well, but on about the third lap, I got stuck behind two slower karts, meaning I never got an ultimately fast time. I qualified in 7th place in sportsman 1 and 6th in sportsman 2, about mid pack.
The sportsman 1 race turned out to be a very unlucky one for me, as I started ahead of a girl that was just a bit too eager. All through the pace lap she would hit my rear bumper, and as we excelerated around the final corner heading for the green, she plowed into my buck end and spun me sideways. I regained control and filed in at the end of the field as they made their way around the first corner & headed into a long strait. Using the draft down the sraightaway I was able to set up a late braking maneuver for the upcoming hairpin. At the last moment, I pulled inside and slid my kart sideways under braking, passing two karts on the outside. Unfortunately, someone else must have had the same idea as me, because as I started to accelerate out of the turn, I was clipped from behind, and spun. For the second time in the race, I found myself at the tail, only this time I was a long ways back. I set down PB after PB, trying to catch up to the pack, and with about four laps left in the race, I did. I passed 4 or 5 people in the closing laps, and salvaged a 7th place finish.
The second race started out great, as I moved up from my 6th place starting postition to 5th in the first corner. But the battle for 5th didn't end there. I was passed again on the very same lap, and I had to muster all of my skills just to keep up. Pushing the limits lap after lap isn't necessarily a recipe for success, and as some people might have guessed, I tried too hard, put a wheel off track, and spun. Are you seeing a trend? Anyways, this spin didn't put me too far back, and in a lap or 2, I had caught the back of the pack. Unfortunately for me, the drivers at the back of the pack often loose it under braking, and when ssomeone got squirrely in front of me, I made the biggest mistake in racing. I followed him into it. I got sideways and lost 10 seconds or so, and by nowI was getting annoyed at myself. I thrashed my best time by 2 seconds as I caught up to and flew by half the field, and I was catching 5th place as the checkered flag flew.
So a 7th and a 6th weren't exactly what I was looking for, but I had fun...sort of.
Upon arriving at the track, we found out that we would be running an all-new configuration, running the regular track backwards, connecting up with a new section along the way. Contrary to popular belief, the track proved to be very technical and demanding, and tremendously fun & challenging.
I spent the practice sessions learning the track, but it was hard because of the ever changing climate. It had rained the night before the race, so the track started out green and got faster as the day went on.
Sportsman 1 qualifying started out well, but on about the third lap, I got stuck behind two slower karts, meaning I never got an ultimately fast time. I qualified in 7th place in sportsman 1 and 6th in sportsman 2, about mid pack.
The sportsman 1 race turned out to be a very unlucky one for me, as I started ahead of a girl that was just a bit too eager. All through the pace lap she would hit my rear bumper, and as we excelerated around the final corner heading for the green, she plowed into my buck end and spun me sideways. I regained control and filed in at the end of the field as they made their way around the first corner & headed into a long strait. Using the draft down the sraightaway I was able to set up a late braking maneuver for the upcoming hairpin. At the last moment, I pulled inside and slid my kart sideways under braking, passing two karts on the outside. Unfortunately, someone else must have had the same idea as me, because as I started to accelerate out of the turn, I was clipped from behind, and spun. For the second time in the race, I found myself at the tail, only this time I was a long ways back. I set down PB after PB, trying to catch up to the pack, and with about four laps left in the race, I did. I passed 4 or 5 people in the closing laps, and salvaged a 7th place finish.
The second race started out great, as I moved up from my 6th place starting postition to 5th in the first corner. But the battle for 5th didn't end there. I was passed again on the very same lap, and I had to muster all of my skills just to keep up. Pushing the limits lap after lap isn't necessarily a recipe for success, and as some people might have guessed, I tried too hard, put a wheel off track, and spun. Are you seeing a trend? Anyways, this spin didn't put me too far back, and in a lap or 2, I had caught the back of the pack. Unfortunately for me, the drivers at the back of the pack often loose it under braking, and when ssomeone got squirrely in front of me, I made the biggest mistake in racing. I followed him into it. I got sideways and lost 10 seconds or so, and by nowI was getting annoyed at myself. I thrashed my best time by 2 seconds as I caught up to and flew by half the field, and I was catching 5th place as the checkered flag flew.
So a 7th and a 6th weren't exactly what I was looking for, but I had fun...sort of.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Race 10- Another Great Showing for Meek Motorsports.
Race #10 at Circleville Raceway Park was one of the most fun weekends I've had yet this season.
All throughout practice my lap times were very competitive, and better yet was the fact that I was 1 to 2 seconds faster than my main competition.
I started in 5th position for the first heat race, and after the first lap, I had passed the two karts ahead of me, and had been passed by the #21 kart of Logan Vermillion, who started behind me. I proceeded behind Logan in hot pursuit. I hounded him for several laps, and then I made my move haeding into a sweeping 180° turn. I tried to cut inside and pull a late braking maneuver, but I pulled along side him just as he was turning in, and our wheels locked. We both flew off the track, knocked over a few haybales, and raced each other back onto the track. We re-entered the track almost side by side, but he had the inside line for the next corner. we ran nose to tail for the rest of the race, and managed to work our way back up to the 6th and 7th places respectively.
For the second race I started 10th, right behind Logan Vermillion, and AGAIN, after a couple laps, I found myself running right behind him, unable to pass. Though I never passed logan, I did have a successful race, moving up from 10th to 6th. During the race I was being trailed closely by the extremely fast John Powers. When John tried to pass me during the race, he collided with my back bumper, and he lost his nosecone! Though he did pass me for 6th later in the race, he was DQ'd for his bumper, and I claimed the 6th position again.
I took the 7th grid position for the final, right ahead of John Powers, and right behind Logan Vermillion. When the green flag dropped, I set my sights for the karts in front of me. The Circleville track starts out with 2 long sweeping corners followed by a tight hairpin, which would give me an opportunity to pass the competition. I got right behind two battling karts in the two longer turns, and made a late barking move on the third, which moved me from 7th to 5th. After that, I set my sights on the #21 of Logan Vermillion one last time. I matched move for move, glued to his back bumper, until after a while lap he succumbed to my constant tapping of his bumper, and got loose in a tight 180 sweeper. This caused his kart to push out wide just enough to give me the gap I was looking for. I wasted no time passing him, and set off for a top 4 finish. Unfortunately for me, the #93 of John Powers had other plans. Though I didn't know it, in just 1 or 2 laps, he had devoured poor Logan and closed down all of the small gap I had opened up. Just as he does whenever he passes me, It wasn't even difficult. He just BLEW BY ME. He snatchedd up 4th for the race, but I beat him for the weekend, with my second best performance ever, a fifth place. I'm edging closer to 5th in the championship with every race, and with 2 of my closest competetors having finished 10th and 12th this was a great showing indeed.
Well, thats all from Circleville, so until next time,
DRIVE HARD!
All throughout practice my lap times were very competitive, and better yet was the fact that I was 1 to 2 seconds faster than my main competition.
I started in 5th position for the first heat race, and after the first lap, I had passed the two karts ahead of me, and had been passed by the #21 kart of Logan Vermillion, who started behind me. I proceeded behind Logan in hot pursuit. I hounded him for several laps, and then I made my move haeding into a sweeping 180° turn. I tried to cut inside and pull a late braking maneuver, but I pulled along side him just as he was turning in, and our wheels locked. We both flew off the track, knocked over a few haybales, and raced each other back onto the track. We re-entered the track almost side by side, but he had the inside line for the next corner. we ran nose to tail for the rest of the race, and managed to work our way back up to the 6th and 7th places respectively.
For the second race I started 10th, right behind Logan Vermillion, and AGAIN, after a couple laps, I found myself running right behind him, unable to pass. Though I never passed logan, I did have a successful race, moving up from 10th to 6th. During the race I was being trailed closely by the extremely fast John Powers. When John tried to pass me during the race, he collided with my back bumper, and he lost his nosecone! Though he did pass me for 6th later in the race, he was DQ'd for his bumper, and I claimed the 6th position again.
I took the 7th grid position for the final, right ahead of John Powers, and right behind Logan Vermillion. When the green flag dropped, I set my sights for the karts in front of me. The Circleville track starts out with 2 long sweeping corners followed by a tight hairpin, which would give me an opportunity to pass the competition. I got right behind two battling karts in the two longer turns, and made a late barking move on the third, which moved me from 7th to 5th. After that, I set my sights on the #21 of Logan Vermillion one last time. I matched move for move, glued to his back bumper, until after a while lap he succumbed to my constant tapping of his bumper, and got loose in a tight 180 sweeper. This caused his kart to push out wide just enough to give me the gap I was looking for. I wasted no time passing him, and set off for a top 4 finish. Unfortunately for me, the #93 of John Powers had other plans. Though I didn't know it, in just 1 or 2 laps, he had devoured poor Logan and closed down all of the small gap I had opened up. Just as he does whenever he passes me, It wasn't even difficult. He just BLEW BY ME. He snatchedd up 4th for the race, but I beat him for the weekend, with my second best performance ever, a fifth place. I'm edging closer to 5th in the championship with every race, and with 2 of my closest competetors having finished 10th and 12th this was a great showing indeed.
Well, thats all from Circleville, so until next time,
DRIVE HARD!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Margay Jr. Test...WHAT A MONSTER!!!
Well, a couple days ago, me and my dad decided to go up to the track and do some testing fo the next G&J race. And although we expected to do some regular old sportsman testing, I found myself sitting in my friend's Margay Jr. part way through the day. First time I got out on the track, I accelerated for the back straight and WHOA!!!! 14,000 RPM'S EXPLODED FROM MY ENIGNE!!!! Well, let me just say that was the most fun I've ever had, and another plus was that I was only a second slower than the championship leader!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
OVKA RACE #9
Race #9 of the ovka season was an interesting one. Partially because it was held under the lights, and partly because a familiar #42 kart stood on pole! I had never started on pole before, and was a little nervous about the start, but when the green lights came on, I took off to the early lead! 3/4 of the way into the race, I still had the lead, and was looking strong. Then, with a few laps left, I was passed to the inside on turn 3. But I wasn't passed by just 1 kart, no. I was FREIGHTTRAINED BY SIX KARTS!
So a 6th place finish in the first prefinal, and now a last place start for the second prefinal, and suddenly the weekend isn't looking so good.
As always I pass a few people on the first turn in the prefinal, including championship leader Emerson Reed. Despite running at the back of the pack, I had a hard time making other passes until Emerson caught back up to me. To say the least, Emerson is fantastic at setting up the late braking passes, but this time he set one up for me, pushing me past another kart going down the back straight. I followed Emerson for the rest of the race, and we both narrowly escaped a close call when my friend Harry D. hit the back of another karter RIGHT ahead of us. I fnish the race in............I acctually don't know where I finished!
I do know that I started the final in 9th though, and that I +was passed twice in the early stages of the race, landing me in a disasterous 11th spot! Even worse was the fact that 12th was breathing down my neck for the entire race. I finshed 11th in the final, and 9th overall for the weekend. A disappointing finish, but a good learning experience.
So a 6th place finish in the first prefinal, and now a last place start for the second prefinal, and suddenly the weekend isn't looking so good.
As always I pass a few people on the first turn in the prefinal, including championship leader Emerson Reed. Despite running at the back of the pack, I had a hard time making other passes until Emerson caught back up to me. To say the least, Emerson is fantastic at setting up the late braking passes, but this time he set one up for me, pushing me past another kart going down the back straight. I followed Emerson for the rest of the race, and we both narrowly escaped a close call when my friend Harry D. hit the back of another karter RIGHT ahead of us. I fnish the race in............I acctually don't know where I finished!
I do know that I started the final in 9th though, and that I +was passed twice in the early stages of the race, landing me in a disasterous 11th spot! Even worse was the fact that 12th was breathing down my neck for the entire race. I finshed 11th in the final, and 9th overall for the weekend. A disappointing finish, but a good learning experience.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Memorial Champ race...this one was a guessing game!
My expectations were very high coming into this weekend, as I was coming off my best finish ever of 4th in the previous race. My competition would be tough though, as 3 or 4 guys from the GLSS would be joining the OVKA competitors for the race.
Saturday started off as a disaster, with a couple spins in the first practice session, and a rainy second session, giving me absolutely no data to work with. Qualifying went pretty well though, with me qualifying in 9th, right ahead of the championship leader, Emerson Reed.
Well, the races were pretty boring after the first corner of the first heat, where I passed 3 people for sixth, and in the final, where I got stuck behind the #77 of Johnny Smith, and was then passed for sixth by the #24 of Matthew Newberry.
The real interesting part of the weekend came after the races, for in tech after the final, one of the top 5 drivers was DQ'd, putting me in a respectable 6th for the weekend.
Saturday started off as a disaster, with a couple spins in the first practice session, and a rainy second session, giving me absolutely no data to work with. Qualifying went pretty well though, with me qualifying in 9th, right ahead of the championship leader, Emerson Reed.
Well, the races were pretty boring after the first corner of the first heat, where I passed 3 people for sixth, and in the final, where I got stuck behind the #77 of Johnny Smith, and was then passed for sixth by the #24 of Matthew Newberry.
The real interesting part of the weekend came after the races, for in tech after the final, one of the top 5 drivers was DQ'd, putting me in a respectable 6th for the weekend.
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