Southern Road Racing Series
Roebling Road Raceway
October 2-3, 2004

First I want to thank Dad, Dave and Charles. They've helped me all season, but especially for this weekend. They, for the most part, rebuilt my kart Saturday afternoon. They also worked really hard to get Dad and Charles' new karts race ready.

We all met at the track Friday afternoon and got to work. We put our tarp up and got the karts out. We had some last minute things to do, but for the most part we were ready.

We over slept Saturday morning, but not too late. I actually think the sleep helped later on! Dad, Dave and George were first up in the Heavy race, so it was a scramble to get them ready. The race started off with a red flag and went down hill from there. After a complete restart dad came in after making only three laps with a blown motor. George was soon to follow with a malfunctioning carb. Later when we took dad's motor apart we found pieces of the piston everywhere you can imagine....1 engine.

With only a 20 minute race for rest, Charles and I were up next for PP Can Lite. With Charles' new kart we had been talking trash all week about who was going to do what. Scott Berkheiser (a PP Can national champion) was also there to race with us. Charles, as usual, got a great start and took off in the lead with Scott and I close behind.

Going into turn four there were several karts in front of Charles from the other class, so I made my move to the inside and passed him. After that I wasn't sure who was where until mom started giving me signals. I knew someone was right on my bumper. On lap five or so I saw Charles pushing his kart down the pit lane, so I knew it wasn't him. I tried my best not to make any mistakes. Every time I made a small bobble I waited to see Scott. As we caught and passed lapped traffic I kept waiting for him to try and pass me.

Then, going into turn five I got a little sideways trying to get around lapped traffic and there was the nose of Scott's kart. It was pretty much a drag race through turns 6, 7 and 8 up onto the straight, but I had him by the time we were straight and headed for start finish. From there I sat and waited again. Mom kept giving signals, so did Dave. First it was P1, +.1, then P1 +2, then P1 +4, then finally the checkered flag! With that win came my first enduro championship...1 win, 1 championship

After weighing in and going through tech we headed back to the trailer to get ready for the Medium race Sunday. I decided to check my clutch oil to make sure I had enough. When I opened it up the smell was one I know too well AND HATE!! Burnt clutch....1 clutch Dave and Charles dived on fixing it (which requires taking the seat and axle out). As they were putting a new one back on Dave noticed my engine had a bent crank shaft....2 engines Let me sum it up, I'm the only one who finished and won my race Saturday and now I had to change an engine and a clutch!

While they did that dad fixed Charles' motor and we replaced his.

Sunday morning we were back at it and ready to go racing again. This time all of our "gang" would make up the entire class. We lined up on the grid...Charles, me, dad, Dave, Chuck and George.

Charles got yet another rocket start and took off. I was neck in neck with a sportsman when Dave pulled up next to me. There Dave and I were, the meat in a sportsman sandwich (sorry about the tire marks Dave : ) We were four wide trying to go into turn one. The 01 Sportsman came out ahead followed by Dave and then me and Dad. I thought this would be a good place to be and maybe Dave and I could draft together and catch Charles (I didn't know until the race was over that dad was behind me).

Then, going into turn five 01 started to spin. I was on the inside of Dave and he moved over to avoid the spinning kart. We never touched and I came out ahead. I knew Dave must be right behind me, but the great signals from mom had stopped and were replaced with a thumbs up everytime I went by!

About 12 laps in to the race Dave and 01 drafted by me on the straight. We were faster with them in front, so I decided to stay there. By now the little yellow helmet of Charles was long gone, so it was a race for second. About five laps later we came up on Chuck. The sportsman got by him in five, Dave got by him going into six and I didn't make it by until we were going up the hill. With Dave and the Sportsman drafting, I was toast. Then I watched them fade away.

I could see dad across the track and it looked like he was catching me, so I still had something to think about. The handling started to get really bad and my kart was vibrating bad. I raced a smart race and tried not to make any mistakes. Dad never caught me (he spun in turn four).

Charles won the race by 15 second over Dave...2 wins. He was all smiles (and still is for that matter). After we got home we looked at the points and it looks like he and Dave tied for the Medium Championship (so I guess it's really two championships).

It was a great weekend. After the congratulations we went right to getting the karts ready for this weekend at Barber Motor Sports Park in Birmingham! No rest for the weary!!