103rd Street
Jacksonville, FL
March 25, 2000

This Saturday was the first race of the new season. We got to the track and tested the A-2 pipe. I ran pretty fast with it, but had some carburator problems, so I just decided that we didn't have much time, so we went with our given OW pipe.

I drew a pretty good number and started second out of seven karts. Matt started first. I jumped out into the lead and held on for the first lap, then Matt passed me back on the third lap and I just didn't have enough to get by him. The hotter the kart got, the slower it got, so we knew we had a binding problem.

The second heat I started fourth. Lucky for me #67 and #30 both wanted to start at the back, so that's why I got the good position. #03 started on the pole, and this was his first race in a Yamaha. 88 (Eddie) started second. We got the green and I pushed Eddie by #03. I didn't quite get by him and just when I was about to let off a bit and slip into third, 03 broke, so I took second. I was all over Eddie in the turns (we changed the gear after the last heat). On lap three I finally got a run on him coming out of the sweeper and passed him on the straight. Matt finished second, so I would start second for the feature.

I got a good start in the Feature and passed Matt on the first lap. On the straight he would pull up next to me, but could never get past me. On lap three he passed me on the straight. I was following him and his exhaust pipe was glowing and sparks were coming out of it! I passed him on lap four at the end of the straight. I know it's better to wait, but I was committed to the inside and if I had let up, there would have been trouble! He came up next to me on the next two laps, and on lap seven he passed me. It was a clean pass and there was nothing I could do from there. My engine got real hot, so I should have richened it up, but I didn't. Next time....

I finished second, which is a good start. Next race we are going to run the A-2 pipe. Dad checked out the motor when he got home. I didn't damage the motor, but the head bolts weren't very tight and there was blow by the entire head gasket!