Something a tad more powerful than us

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Go to 3AM with Gus for more information on how we spent our week off from the track.

Our break through

This past weekend at Badger Raceway was very productive for us and heartbreaking all at the same time. So much good could have come from our efforts, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time would end our charge prematurely.

To our surprise, and our pleasure, eleven competitors showed up for our class on Sunday. It was the most HPV's we've seen in one place outside of a national event and Sam couldn't be more excited. Plenty of practice time on Saturday and some new found intelligence had us very optimistic in our expectations for the day's events.

All facets of the team would be spot on all morning. Driver and chassis had literally morphed into something that was bigger than anything we had experienced before. Sam finished in second place in one of the heat races, and he cracked the forty second mark with a 39.81 fast time for the day. He also posted fast time in the feature, beating the winner's time by 7/10 of a second. But fast times and good finishing positions can be two totally different things unfortunately.

We began the race gridded third and by the second turn he had taken to the grass in an effort to pass the leader. This didn't stick, so back to third he settled into for the next two laps.

By the third lap the commotion up front was beginning to escalate. Certain drivers who, let's say are a little jumpier than others, began bumping and leaning on one another until it all culminated into a turn three disaster. Several drivers, Sam included, were punted from the course and left spinning through the grass. One retired, and the remaining two who could continue were left so far behind that there was not nearly enough time for them to recover.

A very heartbreaking 8th place finish left us a bit stunned and disappointed even though we managed to lap the track much quicker than the entire field. If only there were ten more laps we were saying. Would of, should of, could of, were all we had left to ease the sting of this one.

Amidst all the success that we had throughout the weekend it goes without saying that nothing matters unless it happens in the feature. Heat races are more or less practice sessions, or even qualifiers. Where you really have to shine and where everything must come together is during this last race of the day.

This is true in most cases but even with our disappointing finish I feel we've done something far greater. We've made it very clear that we're not giving anyone an inch out there. We're showing that our equipment (as antiquated as some people believe it is) can still create a stir in a "Sea of Green". And Sam's driving skill is proving to be much more calculated with just the right dash of aggression. He doesn't make many mistakes, and if we can keep it that way, I think we're on track for something good here.

I've also learned an enormous amount about chassis and carb set-ups. A big thanks goes to Mike Stagl for divulging information that helped work for him back in his Margay days. This, combined with my new found understanding of pop-off pressures and needle settings, really helped in putting us on track. Literally.

We'll be off now for the next two weeks but plenty of practice time is planned so we can hit the ground running on the 21st. This weekend we'll take a break and for a change watch other people work at a feverish pace. We'll be at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet Illinois. Guided missiles on wheels - not some people's cup of tea but one that's very near and dear to me. And the following week we have to fulfill our duties at the track for our bye week.

Until then.

A couple of fourths

May 10th and 17th at Badger Raceway netted us two fourth place finishes in HPV Junior. What sounds and looks good on paper though isn't always how it seems.

Sunday May 10th was virtually our first time out on a dry track so it took us some time to find our legs again. Several new drivers have found their way to our class this season and they are proving to be very fast right out of the box. A definite damper on the seasoned veterans that we feel we are. But like they say, you're only as good as your last race. There's always someone trying to knock you off the hill. The race was pretty uneventful with us taking our spot behind the top three, almost a half second off their pace.

Sunday May 17th was a particularly hard day on us as well. We struggled to find speed all morning. Compounded with the fact that an old nemesis in the form of a stubborn carburetor had reared its ugly head, we fought an uphill battle against our competition because of this. A rebuild proved fruitless as his low speed bobble was still prevalent. I think this is why the faster, smarter, and sometimes richer teams have multiple carburetors. I'm shopping for another as we speak.

If there was any reassurance that we still have plenty to keep our chin up about it was in Sam's driving. Smoothness and paying attention to detail is really beginning to show. He held off the fifth place finisher in his last race for several laps and this driver wasn't behind him, she was ON him. This driver's kart was clearly faster than us but what we gave up in performance he more than compensated for in skill, a cool head, and a reluctance to give an inch. On several occasions she would drive right up alongside him to only relinquish the line at the last minute. At the stripe, the difference between the two of them was two one-hundredths of a second. It was a great race in my book even if it wasn't for the win.

0-2

Mother nature did it to us yet again. Round two of the BKC Bridgestone Championship series was rained out for the second straight weekend.

We arrived on Friday evening and immediately went to work on the kart, rebuilding the carb and clutch. What we hoped would have been a great day of testing on Saturday turned into a waiting game with countless hours of TV and board games. After everything was said and done on Sunday, we didn't so much as turn the engine over.

New on the schedule is Sunday May 10th, Mother's Day. We originally planned on passing on this event but the teams financier, mother, and wife has made it clear to us that she's OK with spending the day at the track.

We'll see if third time's the charm.

Season Opener, Sunday April 19th

In grand fashion and what has historically happened for years, the season opener at Badger Raceway was a rain out. Only three classes were awarded race points with the rest of us receiving 200 rain points.

Not too disappointing seeing that we had to scramble to get the kart even drivable on Friday. Saturday's weather was fantastic but between broken parts and upwards of 40 karts being on the track at the same time, any real testing was useless.

Once Sunday arrived we were greeted with cold temperatures (thirty degrees cooler than Saturday) and skies that would threaten rain for most of the morning until it finally arrived mid afternoon. The decision was made literally as Sam was waiting on the grid to go out for his second heat race. Nothing left to do but pack up and hope for the best on the 26th.

2009 Schedule

If I may ask, please direct your attention to the side bar on your right as you'll find our 2009 schedule has been assembled.

Even though our primary focus right now is more toward the regional and national level, current events could force us to stay closer to our local track this season.  As stated previously, this schedule is subject to change should we find ourselves in a situation that allows us more time (and funding) to run other events outside of Badger.  Keep checking here for the most current listing and if you find a date that you may be able to attend, feel free to stop by our pit and say hi.  We always enjoy the company.

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