Prep

In preparation for this race we made several changes to the kart. To try to reduce the bicycling in the corners we had lowered the seat a bit - only and half inch or so but the new position would lower the center of gravity a bit more. Further attention to the clutch gave us encouragement as well as a problem we found in the drive train which could have been siphoning off a little horsepower all year long. By the time we were done working the kart over Saturday night, we pronounced it more fit and race ready than any other time this summer. All except for that right front tire...

Race Six

Heavy rain in the wee hours of Sunday again washed away most of the grip on the track. We decided we'd learn nothing from going out for practice on a completely green track so we skipped the first session. By the second round of practice enough rubber had been worked into the groove to give us an idea of where would stand in the race.

Practice

Practice confirmed that the front tires had had it. Just as at the last race, the kart wouldn't turn in to the corners. Everything else was dead on: fuel mixture, gearing. The new seat position helped, the kart never lifted the inside wheels but it placed the edge of the seat side in the wrong position on me and sure enough, about lap three of four I hit some bumps wrong in one of the right-handers and took a heck of a shot to my left rib cage. I knew it was a good hit at the time and worried that I might have screwed up the rest of our day right there in practice. And then once I put the kart off the track trying to compensate for the lack of grip at the front end I figured enough was enough and came in.

The tires as they were would keep us a second or so off the pace so a mission to find replacements was launched. Bob Strawser and his mobile parts shop had quite selection but not the Dunlop compound we were using. He was able to suggest a Bridgestone that was similar in compound though and offered a mounted set for us to try. The only reason we had been using the Dunlop SL4s was that the kart had been dialed in by the previous owner on them - and that was only because the series he raced spec'd the SL4s for all classes. Racing with MSOKC, we aren't under that restriction and the opportunity to try out a different set of tires is a great break for a team on a shoestring budget like ours. So many thanks to Bob.

Visitors from London

Well, London, Ohio anyway. Between practice and our first race we were delighted to find Jim and Mary Frea looking for us. Jim is co-founder of INFONETICS, Inc., and a long-time racing fan. He and I have had many water cooler discussions on open-wheel racing since I came to work for INFONETICS eight years ago. In fact, Jim and I and his son Paul attended the Cleveland CART race several years ago in which my fave driver at the time Jacques Villenenue won, taking the lead on the last or penultimate lap.

Heat 1

The new tires made all the difference in the world. We were gridded on the outside of row one with Aaron Blue next to me and Jack Humphrey on the inside of row two. The work we had done on the clutch kept us right there with Blue at the start and kept Humphrey at bay for the first lap. Jack got a run on me on the main straight and was able to edge inside going into turn two. But for the balance of the race we were able to stay in touch and even make up a little ground in the twisty bits. It was on lap 5 of this race that I recorded my best lap to date.  Things were definitely looking up.

Blue & Humphrey battle for the lead

I had tried to sit differently in the seat so that my ribs would not be injured more than they already were but it wasn't different enough. It was really very uncomfortable and was a distraction. At one point while racing I seriously considered having Dana drive the other two races for me if we could find enough weights to make her legal. Instead though, we decided to put the seat back the way it was for the second race and fill me up with Advil.

Heat 2

For heat number two, I was in the same starting position but with Jack on pole and Aaron in row two. Another good start had me glued to Humphrey's rear bumper and going into turn four I was able to slip inside to pass for the lead. I couldn't be sure I was completely clear of Jack so I couldn't drift out to the edge of the track at the exit. This compromise allowed both Jack and Aaron got better runs onto the long back straight. So by Turn Five I had found myself back in third. Then, on the exit of Turn 6, I ran wide, over the curb and through the grass. I was able to get back on track without losing too much ground and found I had closed the gap just a bit by the time we all got onto the backstraight for the second time.

But apparently that curb at 6 only lets a racer run over it once before it retaliates. So when I ran over it for the second consecutive lap, it reached up and grabbed the engine's mounting plates and twisted them sideways, setting the engine loose. In an instant the engine toppled over a bit, threw the chain and the chain then wrapped and locked around the sprocket and axle. The kart skidded to a stop, immobile. Our first ever DNF (Did Not Finish).

Inspection showed that it was all fixable but the brand new chain was twisted and unusable. Strawser (we were his best customer that day) had a replacement chain so we had things back together in no time.

Starting in the third slot for the feature, we were again able to stay right with Humphrey and Blue going into Turn One. In fact, Jack ran wide on the exit of One and got a bit squirrelly on the curb. This gave me a run at Jack going into Two and as we approached three, I looked to the inside to in the slight hope that I could get next to the red kart. But I couldn't get there and as soon as Jack turned in, I had to pinch it down and with the tires not up to temperature yet, it looped around. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the clutch didn't disengage quickly enough and the engine stalled when the kart rolled backwards in the spin. And since there is no on-board starter, I was dead in the water, our Feature done after 2 1/2 turns. Oh well, that's racing. And just to add insult to injury, Jack's engine went off song shortly into the race so there I stood at the side of the track watching a sure second place slip away. But while driver error betrayed the day's effort overall, there was some satisfaction in finding ourselves more competitive than we have been.

Dana's debut

As many of you knew and were anxiously awaiting, Race #6 included a "Powder Puff" (feminism has yet to visit kart racing) race for wives, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, etc., who have had no previous racing experience. Each time Dana had gone out for practice throughout the summer, she came just a little bit closer to deciding to enter. And when she beat Dad's time a couple weeks ago, that pretty much capped it for her. She would be a powder puff racer come August 27.

As you can imagine the tension mounted as her first race day approached - Dana's main fear was that she would draw a bad starting position and spend the entire race struggling to pass the other gals. But the racing gods were smiling on her that day and the random grid position drawing put her on the pole. Things were looking good for her. And, in case that wasn't enough, Dana's best friend Heather had come along for moral support!

Back at our base we discussed her strategy which was to just drive like she does in practice. As the pole man (or pole powder puffer) we talked about how she should approach the start, how to get a bit of an advantage but not necessarily jump the start. On the outside of row one was a young lady (sorry - we didn't write down the entry list) in a Yamaha-powered kart which is simply a faster machine. We had to acknowledge that she would likely just pull away on the straights. There was another entrant that caused us some concern as well in the form of a gal in a modified Briggs & Stratton powered kart. Like ours but with a special carb and fuel pump and God knows what else inside, it promised to be a regular rocket on the straights. We figured Dana could expect to be passed by her in two or three laps, depending on how well the other girl moved through traffic. But Dana wouldn't have to worry about cutting her off unintentionally - what with it's open exhaust Dana would hear her coming with plenty of notice!

Offers from other teams even before her debut!

About mid afternoon John Gearhart, who had allowed us the use of their kart for passing practice two weeks ago, came by and offered Dana a ride in the Junior Briggs feature taking Justin's place! It seems that they had a scheduling conflict and had to leave early (and the event was behind schedule a bit due to a wet track early). Although Dana was over the age max for the class, he had gone around to all the racers in the class to see if any minded a slightly older first-time racer taking up a position at the rear of the grid. None did but Dana was more comfortable making her debut with other first-timers and politely declined - several times as it turned out. Geez, where was a guy like John when I was starting out?!?! Nevertheless, we were all very flattered that John thought of her as a replacement based on what he saw in practice two weeks ago.

Careful, they spit

Moments before the Powder Puffers were to go out for ten minutes of practice the clouds began spitting a slight rain. Verrrry funny, Mr. Weatherman. Rookie drivers out racing in dry to damp track conditions. Thanks for nothing! By the time the ladies were gridded for their race the spitting was turning into a drizzle. There was lots of last minute whispered conversations about what to expect on the wet track just before they were sent out.

Green flag

Dana (right) leads five
other karts to the green flag

Although Dana admitted to lifting just a flinch in fear of getting too close to the flagman (flagmen are frustrated Matadors, I explained later, you charge, they get out of the way) her start was picture perfect, getting just the slightest jump on the gal next to her to lead through the first turn. It was no contest though on the way to Turn 2 as the 2-stroke Yamaha zipped by on the inside. The Yamaha driver knew what she was doing too and drove smoothly and provided she had no dramas, looked set to just drive off into the distance.

Our attention then went to the progress of the lady in the modified Briggs. She was still buried down the field but once the other racers would string out it looked like she'd have no trouble picking them off one by one. Dana, it seemed, would need to run a steady, trouble-free 8 laps to finish third or, if luck was with her (or not with the gal in the mod-Briggs), second.

Slippery when wet

This plan dissolved in Turn 7. Dana and her right hand turns... The wet conditions had caught her out and in an instant she was pointing the wrong way with the field streaming by. I was really worried for the worst because, as you will remember gentle reader, I had done the same thing in my Feature and the engine had stalled, stranding me. But the motor stayed running and she was able to continue. If fact, in turning the kart around in the wet grass she impressed the crowd with a little snap spin that got her pointed precisely in the right direction to get back on the track. Several people in the crowd gave an approving "Whoa" but later Dana said the maneuver was more chance than skill - when it started to slide on the grass she got off the throttle and found herself pointing the right way.

Never, ever give up

One of the first things Dana, Julie and Tracy learned when they began watching and understanding racing is that you never, ever give up. So it was pride that replaced disappointment as I watched Dana get back on the track. And as she came by the pits to finish that first lap I could see the determination in her eyes. Later she said that what I saw was nothing more than self loathing for having spun in the first place but either way, she was going to get as far as she could before the end of the race.

Over the next seven laps Dana ran consistent, controlled laps. And for someone who had been concerned about having to pass competitors, she moved through the field like she'd been doing it for years, taking her time in some cases and a taking advantage in others.

Meanwhile, the mod-Briggs gal was closing in on the Yamaha gal and it looked like her pace would take her into the lead with no problem. But there was a problem: About half way through the race she added herself to the list of wet-track spinners and lost about 10 hard-earned seconds on the leader. But she had enough of a cushion that she was well back underway before Dana got to her. Comfortably in third place, Dana's kart was no match for the ones in first and second.

Miss Mod-Briggs though was quickly making up for lost time and was within striking distance of the Yamaha again with just under two laps to go. By the time they got to Turn 4 the Briggs was on the Yamaha's tail and a desperate move was made to the inside. It didn't work out the way it was supposed to as the Briggs kart tipped up on it's two outside wheels and shot straight across the bow of the Yamaha and off into the grass. The momentum carried it backwards into the chain link fence around the property's perimeter. If the kart could continue, there was time to get back on the track ahead of Dana but either the kart was stuck, broken or it's driver had just had enough but the driver climbing out signified the end of her race. That was a shame since she had run a good race and had done a good job of coming to grips with the wild power of her ride. It was unfortunate she couldn't have waited a until the long straight immediately following the corner where it seemed she could have motored by on sheer speed.

But, this moved Dana into second with a lap and a half to go. It was then that I wished we had radio communications to the kart so I could tell Dana her position and to not push, that second was hers if she stayed on the track (unlike her old man). But as it was she drove on like a seasoned pro and finished without putting another wheel wrong.

Anger/disbelief/joy

When Tracy and Heather and I met her in the pit lane after taking the checkered flag she still had her race face on and she was angry - angry with herself for making the early mistake. She didn't even know she finished in second place, she was certain she was fourth or worse. It took telling her a few times to convince her. When she passed the girl driving the modified Briggs in the fence, she didn't realize that was for second. I'm not sure she really believed it until she was handed the Second Place trophy.

The girl that won driving the Yamaha was Kathy who often works in the concession stand. I don't know how many, if any, other Powder Puff races she's run before but she ran a commanding race and never made a single mistake that I saw. We spoke to her briefly afterwards to offer congrats and she seemed concerned that it looked like she caused the mod-Briggs kart to go off. From where we were at it looked close but not that there was any contact. Indeed, the Briggs' tipped towards Kathy's kart rather than away which would be typical of wheel to wheel contact.

Of course, modest Dana was quick to point out that if the lady in the modified Briggs had not spun out of the race, she would have been second. But she did spin and Dana was reminded that racing is all about making the fewest mistakes and her mistakes were fewer and smaller than the others.  That too is racing.

Tracy on the limit

What with Tracy's desire to always go faster each time out I was surprised that she wanted to take the kart out for practice on the damp track. The wet conditions would surely steal 3 or 4 seconds from her lap times. But to her credit she wanted to try the kart on the wet track to see just how slick it gets. She only wanted to do one session since her first cross-country meet was the following day (which she completed in horribly hot and humid conditions) and didn't want to be sore from driving.

She got down to a 56:91 before spinning the kart around. Not a bad time, considering, and all part of the learning process.

Heather guest drives

As is standard with our team, all guests get a chance to drive at the end of the day and Heather decided to give it a go. All suited up, she cautiously got used to everything on the oval and worked up her speed gradually. She must have been paying attention all day because she even signaled when she was coming into the pits! Pretty good for someone who'd not been around racing until this day. Confidence bolstered, she took a few laps of the full road course while Dana coached. Maybe Heather will be our entry in one of next year's Powder Puff races.