During the first rounds of practice an unfortunate series of events led to a terrible accident in the 2-cycle session badly injuring two drivers. Practice was stopped while rescue efforts were made and, ultimately a Life Flight helicopter was summoned to transport the more seriously injured of the two drivers to a trauma hospital.

Being a small, close knit club the enthusiasm for racing once the track was cleared just wasn't there and the race was postponed until the club's October 15 rain date. Updates on these drivers' conditions should be available at the Mid State Ohio Kart Club web site in the days and weeks following.

We had already been out for our practice before the accident occurred with nothing of merit to report. The track was being run backwards for this event and Tracy and I decided on a slightly taller gear before we went out to compensate for a couple uphill pulls presented by lapping clockwise. That was a good guess as it turned out. Otherwise it was just a session for trying different lines. The times are not posted below since they have no statical value.

As any of you know, the darker side of racing occasionally rears up and reminds us of just how unforgiving it can be and in 28 years of involvement I have seen it time and time again, several times much too up-close than I want to remember. But one never gets used to the suddenness of serious injury accidents nor the extreme emotional contrasts when they happen. And the contrasts were particularly extreme in this instance since, as a whole, karting and karting at Circleville Raceway Park in particular goes for long periods without serious incidents. Even before the race was postponed by club officials, we as a team were going to decide if we wanted to continue. As it turned out, we didn't have a chance to discuss it as a drivers meeting was called almost immediately after the track was cleared. And I think the club leaders made the right decision. Since no national championship points were at stake and with a rain date available for the largely local racers to return for, a postponement seemed appropriate.