Connor Wins Again!

Animal Sportsman Last Points Race of the Season

We had a late start this morning. We barely made it to tech check and driver's meeting when we arrived at the track and hardly any spaces left to park a pick-up truck with a trailer. The day started out really cold, too and I was walking around the track to keep warm. Only later did I find a great bike trail just a few feet away from the track: Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail. I discovered it accidentally while exploring a new vantage point from where I could take pictures. Had I known that there was such a trail, I would have brought my jogging shoes and went for a run in between practices. Colin, Tommy and I explored the trail where we stopped at a woodplank bridge, looked at the water below and took some pictures.

At the start of the first heat, everyone jumped and vied for the better position on the track. Someone spun right away but I could not see what happened from where I was. Connor led the race and finished first only to find out that there was a black flag and it was for him. He was called for the aggressive move that spun the driver on the first lap. Because of that, he finished last even though he got to the checkered flag first. Lots of lessons to be learned. Patience. Maturity. Self-control. And so on.

 Before the second heat started, we had some visitors arrived at the track. They were just in time to see the start of the second heat. At the second heat Connor started at the front because he finished last the heat before. He and #17 battled for first place, one that he won by a nose when they crossed the start/finish line.

 During the final race, Connor and #17 again battled for the first spot where each had a turn in leading a few laps at a time. In the end, Connor won again. Overall, he finished second in points for the entire season. Two features races wins, four, including today's heats (minus the black flag), in a row! Not bad for a rookie! Way to go, Connor! We're very proud of you!

Connor, pushing his go-kart to the pits with racing buddy, Jacob, driver of go-kart #17.

A group picture of the Animal Sportsman class--not complete but of all who were present today.

This is the incident where Connor got black-flagged.

Along the Glacial Drumlin State Trail

A visit from one of Connor's sponsors, Phil and Lily Hanger.

Connor with some of his racing buddies.

Father and Son Together on Racetrack

Connor was anxious to go back on the track. It had been exactly twenty days since he raced last. (Yeap, Connor counted the days.) There was a scheduled race last Sunday but it was cancelled due to rain. He was very upset then. He waited two weeks for that day to come only for it to be cancelled. He would wait almost another week to put his suit on and drive.

Tom and Connor, waiting for their turn to go on the track.

On Practice Day, father and son were able to go out on the racetrack together. Tom tried the new (new to us, anyway) go-kart that we bought which we will swap for Colin's go-kart this weekend. It was the first time that the two were able to ride on the track together--and maybe the only time, for a while anyways. Tom has no immediate plans to have his own go kart to race (at least, I hope). Connor was running his usual 44s (44 seconds +) while Tom's first run was timed at a slow (or I should say, pitiful) 1:09. :D

Father and son together on the track.

 After a few laps, and a few turns on the track, they were both satisfied that Connor's go-kart is ready for the race today, the last points race of the season--and either Tom got to shake that go-kart racing bug out of his system or he just fostered it. We'll see.

Tom, heading for the pits.

Connor, heading for the pits.