What happened to our momentum?

Things can certainly change fast in this business.  One day you're hot, the next day you're not.  And boy how prevalent this was yesterday when we visited the Badger Kart club in Dousman Wisconsin.

In an attempt to get some much needed seat time we decided to throw a set of Bridgestone tires on the Pegasus Auto Racing/OMP Merlin and jump in with the Tag Senior boys for a day.  But in hindsight I guess when the skies open up and literally pour on you all day, preventing not one single tire to touch the track for practice, you can't really expect to be at the head of the field come race day.

In a nutshell that's how it panned out for us.  We arrived late at the track on Saturday afternoon and didn't get a moment of practice in before the storms arrived.  Eventually we spent most of Sunday playing catch up but never really felt we were on our mark to begin with.  Sam qualified 5th for the pre-final and that had us somewhat encouraged but throughout the day the kart's performance began to dwindle.  Regardless of our best efforts a 7th place finish was all we could manage.

The silver lining to this is that not much sleep was lost over our showing since the weekend was aimed at testing only.  It just would have been nice to find some extra speed.  No, our concern lies in the fact that we certainly had something wrong with us and despite all of our tweaks and adjustments we could not find nor erradicate the problem.  It was later speculated that a cracked exhaust core could have been the cause of our downward spiral.  Not chancing anything, the entire engine and pipe were pulled instantly from the chassis and are now in the builder's hands.

We now have three weeks until Road America and all of us are keeping our fingers crossed that whatever gremlins we had will be a distant memory by then.  This event will also be our last Rotax Max race before the Grand Nationals in Indy, and the place where everything has to work perfectly for us.  Nothing less than 110% needs to come from driver, crew, and equipment if we're ever going to stand a chance against the others.  After all, these drivers are the ones that people everywhere talk about, and only three from our class are going to Italy for the World Finals.  This could be a long stretch for us but even if we're not one of the chosen few, to really compete alongside these individuals and possibly have our name on their lips for a change would be a success in our book.

Can it get any better than this?

Could things really get any better than this?  Maybe, if we find ourselves lucky enough to be the chosen few from the states who get to compete in Europe this November.  But even if we don't, things are looking good for us lately and for a change we have much to be thankful and happy about.  In a sport where so much can go wrong and end an otherwise good day, it's a nice change to have a weekend that for the most part went error free.

Rounds three and four of the Central Division US Rotax Max Challenge rolled into town this past weekend and we were very serious about turning the tables on our lackluster performance at MRP two weeks ago.  Heading into the weekend we had all three check marks on our to-do list: We had tested, we had all the right components, and we had knowledge of just about every square inch of that track.  And since I couldn't be in the pit on Saturday, we had a well known and respected tuner (Cale Wyse) working with Sam for the day.  This proved to be extremely beneficial to both driver and mechanic since the two of us learned an enormous amount from working with him.


Doesn't everyone wear their company dress blues to the track?

Saturday we were the fastest qualifier but without a transponder on the kart we were relegated to last place on the staring grid.  This didn't last long as Sam moved quickly up to the rear bumper of Scott Kopp who was leading the race.  The lead changed between the two of them a dozen times before the checkered flag would finally fall with Scott finishing first and Sam not even a kart length behind.  Shinya Michimi rounded out the top three.  Some disappointment in his voice showed when I talked to him by phone but from what I heard there was clearly nothing to be ashamed of.  Everyone who was there said the race itself was more exciting than anything they've seen in while, and on a personal note, he bettered his quickest lap time by nearly a half second!  Not too shabby of a days work at all.

Sunday would arrive as a carbon copy of Saturday.  Sunny skies, light winds, and temps in the 60's.  We managed to grab the pole again with a fast qualifying time, but this time we hung on for the win.  And doing so in nothing shy of spectacular fashion.  Scott Kopp once again proved to be a tough man to lead, as he was all over the back end of our kart for several laps.  He eventually took the lead away from us on lap twelve but we quickly took it back.  Then on lap 14 Scott got ahead of us and began creeping slowly away, but in either an act of desperation, out right driving skill, or a little of both, Sam slipped by him with two turns to go on the last lap.  The drag race from the last turn was on and when the checkered flew it was the polar opposite of the previous day's race with Scott arriving at the line a half kart length short.

A lot of hard work has finally paid off.  Days like these are far and few between in this sport but when you take the time to prepare for an event it only broadens your chances of success.  And we're hoping we can ride this wave as long as possible.  With this weekend's win we are now qualified for the Grand Nationals and we're going to need all the help we can get if we're going to shine there.  We realize that being amongst the best drivers from the US is going to be no easy chore so we're now focusing our attention on New Castle Indiana.  Technically we are off for the next 6 weeks but we're going to have to find a way to get down there to test so we can hit the ground running come mid July.

The top finishers at the Grand Nationals go on to represent the United States in the World Finals held in La Conca Italy in November.  One unbelievably steep hill to climb but we have as much of a chance as the next guy.  After all, we never thought we'd be in the place we're at now so the sky is really the limit, along with our checking account!

I'll work the overtime and you stay tuned.

Mother Nature: 1, Us: 0

I might be exaggerating a bit, but seeing that our introduction to the Rotax Max Series was contested in solid rain over the weekend, it goes without saying that the old girl really handed us our tails.

We arrived at MRP in South Bend Indiana on a low note to begin with.  Nearly everyone in the family was suffering from some sort of cold or sinus infection.  And with the weather being cool, damp, and overcast it did nearly nothing to lift our spirits and get ourselves psyched up for the weekend ahead.

Friday's practice session netted only two opportunities for us to test on race rubber.  From that point forward rain tires were to be the flavor of the day.  Neither driver nor tuner had one iota of experience in the wet and frankly it showed.  Multiple spins and generally slow lap times were taking its toll on our confidence.  But much was learned regarding chassis set-up and race lines so by the end of the day we felt that if anything, we could hit the ground running on Saturday should the forecasted storms arrive.

Saturday arrived and with it the entire brunt end of a storm stretching from the gulf coast up through the Midwest.  And it would have been one thing if it continued to downpour all day but that's not what the gods had in mind.  Oh no my friend, it was on again - off again all day, and it made chassis set up and tire selection very difficult.  We gambled right on our race set-up and went out on rains even though the sky showed signs of clearing.  But this is northern Indiana, and no where on earth have I been where the climate can change so dramatically and so quickly.  By lap three there was standing water on the track, high winds, and very little visibility out on the track.  We finished the race in third place and came across the scales over twenty pounds heavy!  I failed to mention that we sent Sam out without his rain suit and he was soaked to the bone.  And the weight of all the water he soaked up into his gear tipped him well over our class minimum.  Chalk one up for a rookie error.

Sunday.  Race day two.  Even though the previous day's third place sounds good on paper it was a far cry from a decent finish in our minds.  A couple of disqualifications helped us earn the spot but we knew where we finished and how hard it was for us just to complete the event.  Sam made it quite clear that he had next to no fun out there and a repeat in those elements were looking to be imminent.  Clouds were forming and showers were starting so it looked like a carbon copy of Saturday was in store.

Not even considering a dry set-up we went immediately to our rain settings.  But as if to taunt us further we seemed to be the only class that would take to the track after the showers would subside, leaving us with a surface not safe for slicks and in some places not wet enough for rains.  We threw caution to the wind and went out on rains regardless.  What the heck? we thought, it was the last event on the last day so if we melted them down to nothing we at least went out trying right?  So with his rain suit on, we made our way to the grid.

As if on cue, our green flag waved just as the rain stopped.  So now the big concern on everybody's minds was if our tires would last.  How long could the track stay damp and allow us some spots to cool the tires?  No one really knew, and with twenty-two laps to complete and eleven karts on the track it could dry out quick.  Unfortunately for us we wouldn't have the chance to find that out.  On lap fourteen we looped it coming through one and parked it in the pea gravel ending our charge.  At the time we were running in fourth place a considerable amount of time behind the number three driver.  We weren't posing a threat to anyone but we were cutting laps consistently faster than the next.  A bit of a disappointment to all but nonetheless a good learning experience.

Next up, the series comes to the Badger Kart Club on the 15th and 16th of May.  Home track advantage and plenty of testing beforehand should prove beneficial to our success and we feel very confident and optimistic for a good showing.  We'll be sure to let you know.

Our deepest apologies

No time for excuses here.  We fell flat on our faces this year in not providing any of you with the updates that were always so common in the past and I want to personally apologize for this.

The series has been chosen, and the Rotax Max Challenge is where we'll focus most of our attention this year.  The chassis will be from Merlin, an LM30 to be exact, and we couldn't be more excited.  Sam tested one last fall and simply fell in love with it.  The chassis, and the powerplant. So just when I began to feel comfortable in the speeds he was approaching last year, we go and throw a monkey wrench in things and give him more.  125cc of water cooled mayhem.  His mother's worries are all going to start again.

The schedule will be as follows:

April 17th and 18th at the Badger Kart Club (testing)
April 24th and 25th in South Bend, IN (MWSS Race 1 and 2)
May 8th and 9th at the Badger Kart Club (tesing)
May 14th and 15th at the Badger Kart Club (MWSS Race 3 and 4)
July 3rd and 4th at Road America Motorplex (MWSS Race 5 and 6)
July 12th thru the 18th at New Castle IN (Rotax Max Grand Nationals)

We'll also participate in a couple of TaG races with the Badger Kart Club.  One on the weekend of August 1st at Road America, and one on the weekend of September 19th at the home track in Dousman.

So we invite all of you to stop on out and see us.  Our pit is always open to friends and family and we just ask that you contact us and let us know so we can bring plenty of food and drink to the track as well as our "A-Game".

Let the green flags fall!

Keep your fingers crossed

Could it be? Are we going to? When will it arrive?

All of these questions and many more should be answered within the next few weeks.  We'll be sure to keep you updated.

What to do

It's funny not having anything to work on during the off season.  Not funny ha-ha but funny as in a fish out of water.  At every season end for the past six years we would engage in the same ritual.  Clear the trailer of everything, move it to our basement, and begin the tear down and build up process.  Not this year though.

Those test days behind the wheel of that Rotax powered Merlin had one heck of an effect on us.  We just couldn't see ourselves doing anything but that next season.  But I should first define "we" as my son and I.  My wife, who is also the chief financier and for the most part our voice of reason, is not 100% on board with this idea.  And given the fact that the economy is pinching us worse than a fat guy in a speedo, she may be right.

The problem with this, and the reason why daddy doesn't have anything to work on this year, is that we sold EVERYTHING about a month ago.  Yep, the kart and all of its spares along with specialty tools, clutches, engines, starters, fuel jugs and just about anything that was irrelevant to us in the Rotax world has been sold off to the highest bidder.  All to free up cash and make way for the new chassis and engine.

The obstacle in this case is two fold.  The first hurdle to clear is in the fact that the new rolling chassis costs more than we collected for the total lot of old equipment.  Sold it too cheap you say?  Maybe, but there is a significant difference in base costs of our old chassis verses the new one.  And with today's economy you can't ask a king's ransom for anything.  You darn near have to give it away and even in those cases you're not guaranteed anything.  We happen to know someone selling two complete karts with dozens of spares at half the price we were asking and they still haven't gotten a bite!

The engine package is proving to be quite the hurdle in itself.  It's more than twice the price of our old power plant and in general adds the cost of another kart to the equation.  So we're basically going to have to lay out enough cash to purchase two karts (in our old world) to compete in this new arena with one.  This is where my wife, their mother, and basically the CFO of Inch Hi Motor sports comes in.  After all she is to us what ING is to Renault.  What Vodafone is to McLaren.  What Cher was to Sonny!

So where we stand today is still a guess.  We've discussed the possibility of not going Rotax but instead, try TaG or maybe even go back to the HPV (Ehuum, KPV).  The TaG would be just about even with the Rotax in regards to power, and the HPV has been home to us for three years so they both have their advantages.  What neither option has is the marketing machine that stands behind Rotax and the opportunity to compete in the world finals every year.  This year they were contested in Egypt!

But coming down from the clouds, the decision to pursue this particular class was fueled purely by grins.  On both of our faces!  He couldn't stop smiling from the time he came down pit lane to the time we gave it back to the dealer.  And I was elated to be working with a power plant that was more similar to engines in my auto racing days.

Whichever road we choose, we'll keep you up to date on our decision.  Have a great holiday and a prosperous and healthy new year.

And 2009 comes to a close

Wow, did this one go by fast!

The 2009 season actually came to a close for us back on September 27th.  We clinched our final position in the standings back on September 20th and because of this, chose to run a totally different kart/engine package in the final event.  More on this later.

So even after all the frustration of several consecutive DNF's this past season, Sam managed to hold on to the third place spot in HPV Junior for the second straight year.  Proud we most definitely are.  But in the never ending quest to win, or at the very least better your past successes, I do have to say it is a bittersweet finish at best.  We all know we tried our hardest, but at the end of the day (or season) you only get what you give.  And being human, you always find yourself asking "what if".  Regardless of what we expected of ourselves, we had fun and we finished in the top five so there is plenty to be happy about.

Congratulations goes out to all of the competitors in our class but especially to Kodiak Wirtz for finishing in the top spot for the year and Nathan Crane for his runner-up efforts.  Both proved to be formidable opponents out on the track who became increasingly tough to beat as the season went on.  Special mention must also go out to Nick Strobe who always put on a great show of just how smooth and tactical a driver should be, and Andrew Hobbs who brought his A-game whenever he was in town to join us.  Not only are these drivers very talented in their own right, they are a pleasure to be around even off the track.

So what did we accomplish this year outside of our finishing spot?  We proved that we had the perseverance to stick with things and remain optimistic even in the face of adversity.  You wouldn't think so if you strolled by our pit in the midst of a few bouts with searing anger and utter hopelessness.  But neither my son nor I could bring ourselves to throw in the towel no matter how bad things got.  I even witnessed a very rare occasion in that Sam returned from the track so dejected by a never ending rash of broken parts that he tossed the kart aside and grumbled a few expletives at his four wheeled friend.  I sure hope he was talking about the kart!  But in any case we always went back to the trailer and regrouped, hoping that our next effort would prove worthwhile.

And where do we go from here?  All I can say is that what we want and what we can afford could be two totally different things.  We seized an opportunity a few weeks back to test a Merlin chassis with a Rotax power plant.  One hundred and twenty-five cc's of pure kick-in-the-pants fun.  I certainly liked it and showing by the grin on Sam's face after his first session on the track I believe he liked it as well.  So hoping that the fire sale goes good and we can offload our current equipment there could be a chance that we'll contest an entire season around this combination next year. 

Another heartfelt round of thank you's must go to Chris and Carla Heitman of Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies.  They've got the good stuff people!  And if you're running anything with an internal combustion engine in it, you better have them on your speed dial.

To Gabriele Pedone and Danilo Oliveira of OMP, thank you so much for everything that you do for us on and off the track.  Companies like yours and people like you are hard to find nowadays and I just wanted you to know how much we appreciate you both.  We look forward to working with you again in 2010.

To the ladies in our family who selflessly gave their weekends up so the boys could go play, we thank you.  For the past few years we've said we were going to shave our schedule down by half and every year we seem to do more.  Without your help at the track we wouldn't be able to do a lot of things that got us to where we are today.

And last but certainly not least, thank you god for the NHL.  Without it I wouldn't know what the heck to do for the next six months, two weeks, and roughly two odd days before we do this all over again.

Back in the saddle again

More than six weeks after we finished our last race we returned to the Badger Kart Club this past weekend with what we hoped to be a new lease on our racing life.  Past problems with our ability to keep a chain on our vehicle resulted in five DNF's (Did not finish) which began back in July at round three of the Midwest Sprint Series.

Driver and crew are happy to report to you today that it seems we finally got it right.  All five sessions of the day resulted in a kart that left the pits under power and returned in the same fashion.  Although more speed would have been a welcomed addition, we'll take just finishing a race as a victory for now.

A very special thanks must be given to Jim at CKT Racing in St. Charles Illinois.  If it wasn't for his years of experience and the state of the art equipment at his facility we may never have found our problem.  I urge anyone who encounters any chassis issues to stop beating your head against the wall and call him.  He'll definitely save you an enormous amount of your sanity and get you back out on the track in no time at all.

So with that we come to our season closer in one week.  Like usual, you get to this part of the year and emotions run from disappointment that it's all coming to an end to...well, relief that it's all coming to an end!  Our position in the points standing should be pretty much tied up so to just go out and better ourselves will be the main mission.  We'll try our best at doing much more than that and hope we see you all at the track for our send off.

0 and 5

That's right, another disappointing weekend in a long string of DNF's.  Four of them to be exact with a newly earned DNS this past Sunday.  Yep, it's gotten so bad for us that now our days are over before the green flag ever falls on us!  And with three races to go in our season we might be tempted to throw in the towel at this point and just cut our losses.

The problem with that is in quitting itself.  It's nothing I've ever done and nothing I want to teach my kids to do.  But when you've explored every conceivable option to eradicate this problem, and thrown countless amounts of money at it, you have to draw the line somewhere and just accept defeat.

So for now we're more or less in a holding pattern.  I've agreed to travel to St. Charles Illinois to drop the chassis off at a shop that guarantees they'll get to the root of our problem.  We'll most likely miss our next scheduled event at Badger Raceway this Sunday but I think this is a small price to pay for hopefully an answer and our piece of mind.

No end in sight

With a season like the one we're having right now I can't say that I'm disappointed in the fact that this year is winding down on us.  We have been plagued by problems for the past four weeks that are testing our patience and taxing our resources and frankly it's beginning to be darn near unbearable for all of us.

That chain skipping problem that we expected to lose by this weekend, well it ain't gone!  And like many instances in the past it waits until the final to happen to us every time.  One discovery that might shine a light on the subject is that in the half dozen or so times that we lost chains it's happened in the same area of the track.  I have a sneaking suspicion that there's a depression at the edge of the track that we may be catching, and compound that with the suggestion from another individual that we could have too long of a chain length, this could be our problem.

With that said I'm still not placing all my chips on that number.  We'll shorten the chain, but going into next week's event at Road America won't help us figure out everything.  Hopefully we'll make it through each session but the real test will come on the 30th of August when we return to our home track.  And if we finish every session we set out to do, then and only then, will I feel we've accomplished something.

We must have angered the gods

Why is it that I can't even buy a break sometime?  I'm a pretty nice guy for the most part.  I could stand to go to church a bit more than I do but I give back to the community, I help people who are in desperate need of help, and I hold the door for the elderly.  So why in God's name can't we finish a Midwest Sprint Series race?

Turn the calendar back one year ago and you would undoubtedly see and hear me in the same state as I am today.  Same event, different problem.  Unlike this year when I failed to give my son a kart that could hang on to its chain for more than three laps, I was fighting carburetor demons that were making us painfully slow. I actually fired our last engine builder because of this. No power and no support whatsoever makes me a very irritated boy.

So with new engine builder in hand we set off for our second stab at trying to show the competition what the hometown team has.  But this year was not to be it either.  As mentioned earlier we developed a strange problem of throwing chains in every session.  We went through everything- engine plates, sprockets, and alignments with no relief.  Many speculations were made as to what could have been causing it but none of the remedies netted any results.  We finished the weekend with DNF's in both HPV Junior Lite and Heavy.  July 24th through the 26 of the year 2009 will go down in history as one of the most expensive, frustrating, and heartbreaking weekends of our lives.

But wait, there's more!



The weekend of August 2nd had us back at Badger for the 11th round of the Bridgestone Championship series and you guessed it, we had our third DNF in two weeks!  The worst thing about it was that after all of the checking and double checking of each component on that kart, we still managed to throw another chain but it waited until there was two laps left of the final.  With the exception of the sheared kingpin bolt in our first practice session that literally caused the left front to implode on itself, the day went pretty much event free.  We even bested our fast time of the year by two-tenths of a second.  So to say it was disappointing to us would be an understatement.

The funny thing about this whole fiasco is that we never really changed anything from what worked for us in the past.  Some say it's the composite sprockets we use, maybe they're wearing out.  If so, I'm installing aluminum sprockets for our next race.  I've heard that the type of engine mount that we currently use could be causing too much flex.  Well then, we're going back to the old standard.  Whatever it is, I'm expecting it to be gone by the 16th.  I'm running out of reasons why and more importantly, our driver's patience.

Catching you up with our progress

We've been quite busy lately with all things racing and non-racing related, so accept our apologies for our being tardy with our duty to bring you up to speed on our efforts.

Sunday June 21st found us in 6th place at the end of our day.  For the most part the event went well all day until of course the final arrived.  Dueling with another driver for 3rd place, Sam got the short end of the stick when they eventually touched and it relegated him to last place.  A very exciting race by all means.  It again just wasn't the ending we had hoped for.

After a nice break of almost four weeks we returned to Badger Raceway on July 19th.  What had originally looked like a dismal finish quickly turned in our favor as two of the five competitors were disqualified for having the incorrect tire compound on their karts.  It wasn't a washout by any means so the hype that circled around it was really uncalled for in my opinion.  Either way we'll take it.  Now it's off to the Midwest Sprint series which shows up at our home track on the weekend of July 25-26.

Something a tad more powerful than us

Like drag racing?


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.

Inch Hi Motorsports Video

Still burning the midnight oil

Hello everyone and thanks for being so patient with us over the past few months.  My normal chatty self had very little to say since we had no idea of what our season would look like, and if we were going to have one at all.

Our first obstacle (which we really haven't cleared yet) was whether or not a certain division of my wife's company is planning to strike like they've been threatening to do for so long now.  She's been given firm orders not to plan any time away from the office from April through God knows when.  If this strike does happen, she'll be shipped off to fill in the shoes of a worker in a capacity yet to be known, and if so, would leave a serious dent in our plans.

The second, and equally time consuming task, was waiting on word from another chassis manufacturer on if or when Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies was going to become the North American importer of their karts.  If this would have been solidified a month or two ago I'd be working on a totally different kart than the one I'm busy with now.  I basically stopped working on it while I waited to find out which direction we were going to be pulled in.  Now I'm playing catch up to get the old chassis ready.  We're still engaged in talks with them and there's definite enthusiasm in both camps but the details have yet to be ironed out.  Hopefully you'll see us in a new one soon but until then, old number 98 will have to do.

And of course who can forget about our tanking economy and the fact that no one has disposable income for things like this any more.  Or so one would think.  Even in the face of one of the worst economies in decades we were still able to count on our three major sponsors for support.  Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies, OMP, and Shock Doctor have all committed to be with us for 2009 and to help us surpass our successes of last season.  Thank you to everyone.

So for now we have to ask again for everyone to be patient as the schedule will get posted shortly.  In the next two weeks we should learn more of my wife's fate for the summer and just how far we will be willing (and able) to travel to.  Either way we look forward to seeing all of you once again at the track.

Think Summer!