Big South Road Racing Series
Road Atlanta
November 2002

Over Thanksgiving weekend Charles and I ventured off to Road Atlanta, all by ourselves. That's right, dad went hiking and trusted us with both karts!

I was nervous from the start about being there by myself. The only saving grace was that Dave, Chuck, Clyde and Al were going to be there, so I knew we would be in good hands (I think).

We arrived Thursday night and checked into our hotel room. We got up bright and early Friday morning and had breakfast at the Waffle House with the guys. Then we made our way out to the track. Since RA costs so much to rent, we were sharing the track with cars. We only had three sessions the entire day. We missed the first one because we had to stand in the registration line and get the karts teched.

We made it out for the second session. Boy what a track. I can't imagine being in a prototype and having to pass GT cars in those turns. Since this is the enduro kart (laydown) there were many, many blind spots.

Just to take you on a lap of the track....as you come down the front straight you don't have to lift much going into turn one which is a right hander that goes uphill quick. You have to move over to the right to set up for turn two which is a quick left hander up over a hill. The next turn is a blind right hander (the first time I almost ran off of the track), that goes down hill into turn four which is a flat-out right hander going down hill. From there it is flat out through what they call the "esses." You have to brake a little for the next uphill left hander, then it's pretty much a straight shot to turn 6. In the middle of this straight is an up and down hill going into six.

You have to slow a little for six, which is a right hander before accelerating to seven. Brake hard for seven, another right hander, then it's flat out down the hill, up the hill and back down the hill to turn 10a. Brake hard for this left hander then a quick right hander back under the bridge. Set up for the HUGE down hill, hold your breath and away you go, down the hill to the start/finish line.

The more I practiced the more comfortable I felt. The third session was even better and I could actually tell a little about the gearing. I didn't race on Saturday, but I went out for practice just to try my new gear. I didn't make it a whole lap before the teeth on the belt stripped and I had to come in. It would have to wait until Sunday.

Everyone else raced on Saturday. Charles did great and brought home 7th in PP Can. I raced in Yamaha Medium on Sunday.

Sunday morning I practiced and decided to stick with the gear I had. Dave, Chuck, Clyde and Al were leaving that morning, but before they left I had one more thing to ask....my brakes weren't working all that great. Dave took a look at them and said there was air in the line and all we needed to do was bleed them, and away they went before I could think of something else that was wrong.

Charles and I started to bleed the brakes and we realized that the air was seeping in and out of the nut on the end of the brake line. OH NO!!! We grabbed David Williams (I used to race in Yamaha Sprint Lite with him) and he assured us that it was a replacable part and even we could do it. So with his help and a $3.00 nut, I had brakes again.

Mom, Dad and Shian made it just in time for my race. I was happy to have dad start me (that security is great to have). I got a decent start, but was last in my class. The guy in front of me spun as we were going up the hill and I just did miss him. I stuck right to the back of #91, but was careful not to get too close until my tires were warm.

I rode around a lap behind him before I was able to pass him coming out of turn 7 and on to the long back straight. I went by him going into 10a and never looked back....until....I had brain fade, went into turn 2 too early and ran right off of the track. Since all of those curves are like the esses I just kept my foot on it, looked for traffic and got right back on the track. #91 managed to pass me during my small off course.

I caught back up to him and passed him again in the same spot. From there on out I was just riding, looking for shifters who were flying by. At the 30 minute mark they waved the flag for the shifters and then it was just the enduros. It was about 35 minutes into the race when the leader passed me . I caught a glimpse of #91, he had caught back up to me!

He would pull up next to me coming out of the esses, but that would be all he could do, I had a lot more straight speed than he did. Then the second place guy blasted by me and I tried to go into turn 7 way too soon and ran straight off of the track. I have a bruise on my leg from trying to steer the kart into the turn, but it just wouldn't do it. I kept going though.

About 40 minutes into the race (mom, stop reading now), I was coming over the hill into turn 10a when I saw one kart spinning off of the track and all I could see of the other kart was the bottom. Someone was skidding across the track on his head. I made the turn and when I did I looked and the kart was turned up right and the other guy was running toward him. I fully expected to see the red flag, but didn't. I made another lap and then I got the checkered. The guy was still laying down in his kart, but I could tell he was moving and okay : )

I finished 4th in Yamaha Medium and had a blast. That is a great track and I hope we get to go back. Robby Harper put on this event and it was a great one. I wish I could race in more races he was director of (maybe we'll do more this season).