Racing Season Ends

The 2012 racing season ends at Briggs and Stratton Raceway Park. The track was officially closed on Saturday, November 3rd after volunteers, including Tom and Connor, helped clean up the track. The Backwards race was the last race of the season, which happened the weekend prior and one in which Connor participated.
It was a cold day that Sunday, October 29th. Not many drivers showed up. As with the regular races, there were two practices but the classes were combined. The 2-cycle engines became one class as well as the 4-cycle engines where Connor belonged. There were two races after practice and Connor impressively won both races.
Great way to end the season for Connor who finished second in points in his class and where he and others will be presented with their awards at the banquet next month.

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.

Connor Wins!

When #17 led the polls, there was no way anyone was going to catch him on the racetrack unless he made a mistake. Which was exactly what happened in today's Points Race #14 at the Briggs and Straton Raceway. #17 was leading, as usual, when he spun by himself on the second lap. #23 and #21(Connor) were behind him respectively. Now, the first place spot was up for grabs and #23 and #21 were in the best position to take it. Connor inched his way to take the second place from #23 on the third lap but he did not make it. He did finally, though, on the next lap. I held my breath and prayed that he would not make a mistake or turn loose at the corners so that he could keep his lead. "Be safe. Don't make a mistake," I kept repeating to myself during the entire race. I knew how much a win would mean to him.
   Just earlier, after the second heat, Connor was crying for finishing last. The driver in front of him spun taking Connor with him. I knew for sure being in the lead now, he was going to do everything he could to finish that way to make up for how he finished on the second heat. (Race day consists of two rounds of practice, two rounds of racing called heats but there are no points accumulation for such races and they don't officially go down on the books, and the features, also known as the final race where drivers are given points and their standings at the end of the year is determined by how many points they've accumulated throughout the year like in NASCAR.)
   #23 fought to regain his position and got as close as .20 of a second behind Connor but Connor held him off and increased his lead to .40 of a second and that's how the race ended.
   A big smile greeted me when I came to meet Connor at the gate. Earlier today, he had said, "I will win today," but I did not respond afraid I would jinx it.
   #17 ended up finishing fourth after being at the end of the pack after he spun. Had there been ten more laps or so, he probably would have caught up to Connor. But that was not the case and that would be a totally different story.
   Connor's win couldn't have come at a better time--just two days after he turned twelve, racing against #17 and bouncing back after finishing last on the second heat.
   Congratulations, Connor! We're very proud of you! Way to show patience, perseverance and bouncing back from a fall!

Animal Sportsman Points Race #3 @ Blackhawk Farms Raceway, South Beloit, IL

Blackhawk Farms Raceway Entrance

Day 1 - Saturday, June 2, 2012

  Bruce Racing had been preparing for this day. We were very excited because this is the only race this year that will be held outside Badger Raceway. Blachawk Farms Raceway (http://www.blackhawkfarms.com/) is a 1.95 mile racetrack located in South Beloit, IL, just on the WI/IL border.We drove for about an hour with my dad pulling the travel trailer while Tom drove the pick-up truck with the Bruce Racing #21 go kart in it. There was practice and racing going on the first day but we had not signed up Connor to do either one. We just wanted to get settled there and get ready for the next day, though Connor was itching to drive on the track.

   Tom found some people we know from Badger Kart Club and he did not waste time tracking the person we were supposed to get our "new to us" wheeled kart stand. (Finally, we can give our wagon a rest from pulling the go kart.) He also found the person who was going to modify the motor for the next day's event. Connor's kart also got a new number for the next day's event: 325. 

The kart with the #325 on and the "new to us" kart stand.

   When everything was squared away, (the driver registered, go kart prepared and travel trailer set up), we had time to just watch the practice and racing going on. At 6 p.m., the track was closed so we were able to walk the entire track just to see how long it was and where it all went. Later in the evening, Tom joined the rest of the Badger Kart Club members at the awards party that was going on for the races that day.

Connor with Grandma and Grandpa Tayone

 
Day 2 - Sunday, June 3, 2012

   Things start bright and early here. Before I could feed Connor & Tom breakfast, they were called to driver's meeting, which was around 7:30 a.m. Practice started right away at 8 a.m. but Connor's group was the fourth to go. So Tom and Connor were able to come back to the trailer to eat. 

  When it was time for Connor's practice to start, we all went down to the Start/Finish line to watch him go. There were many classes practicing at the same time. It was a good mixture of kids and adults. When it was done, we waited for Connor at the exit and when we saw him stop where he was and got out of the kart, we knew something was wrong. The exhaust pipe broke. Connor said he noticed that the kart was getting louder on his last lap on turn 7, the last turn on the track. So the kart was wheeled back under our tent and Tom worked on it. Tom had to get a new pipe and bracket to fix it. It took him long enough to fix that Connor had to miss the second practice. Connor beamed though when I asked him what his favorite part of first practice was. He said he passed five go karts and not one was able to pass him.

   During the third and final practice, the bracket that held the muffler, the one that Tom just fixed, broke again, leaving it to dangle while Connor drove the track. Connor noticed it on the first lap of practice but he kept on going. Tom bought another bracket and fixed it again.

   There were six races scheduled to run that day. Connor's group was the last. Two races were run just before lunch break and we just watched and waited for Connor's turn to go. We walked around. We went to the gift shop and browsed. We went up to the lookout tower and had ice cream there.

   Connor's race did not start until almost 3 p.m. It was a race timed at 25 minutes. Connor started second in his class and he was in the 3rd wave. The karts were going about 70mph. I was watching with my mom, Colin and Tommy at the bleachers by turn 1 which was closest to our trailer. When the 3rd lap was in, I saw one ambulance turned its lights on and started to move away from the medical building followed by another ambulance. Then the flagger by our corner quickly threw the red flag. When he did not think that was enough, he actually ran in the middle of the track waving his red flag vigorously. I knew something bad happened. Red flag means all engines must stop. This can only happen because of weather or something that happened on the track. It was clearly not the weather and with the ambulances going off, it had to be a wreck. I flew from where I was to the Start/Finish line. I was almost there when I saw Tom also running toward where I was going. Then we saw Connor, with his helmet off and walking around his go kart with other drivers. Thank God! He was fine. From afar, I could see the emergency vehicles converging on turn 7. A five-kart crash (all adult drivers) on turn 7 prompted the red flag. Two people were taken in the emergency vehicle and they turned out being fine. The race was stopped for about half an hour, getting the drivers involved out safely and getting the vehicles out of the track. 

   Connor had been involved in the wreck somewhat. He was about to pass someone at full speed when he saw the wreck in front of him. So he stepped on the brakes which made him spin and hit another kart. While he was spinning, someone else hit his kart also. The kart was a little banged up but Connor and the rest of the kids were unscathed. 

Waiting for his turn at restart.

   At restart, Connor started in 3rd place but quickly gained one position. There was only fifteen minutes remaining on the clock. The kids were able to go about 3 or 4 laps before it ended and a couple of times, we thought Connor lost his second position but he held it strong with a few seconds lead over the kart behind him.

Connor finishing second! (He's actually in the first kart in this picture.)

   Connor was very happy with his finish and we're very proud of him. He loved this track. It was longer and more challenging and he liked how the kart handled. But I'm glad that we're not coming back here again until next year. One day with all that action was enough for me! 

Next race is on Sunday, June 10th @ Badger Raceway. To check point standings, click here:
 http://www.badgerkartclub.com/2012points.htm

Animal Sportsman Points Race #2

Points Race #2 - We had a gorgeous day to start. We left the house at 7:45a.m. I made sure we had a lot of drinks for the driver and the rest of the Bruce Racing crew for it was about to get really hot. We arrived at Badger Raceway earlier than usual and parked at our usual spot. Tom and Connor went to registration and had the tech check done right away for which the go kart passed. Then they both were called to the Driver's Meeting while Colin, Tommy and I stayed behind. We could hear the meeting over the loud speaker throughout the track so I did not miss anything. It was the usual going over the rules and information updates, etc...

   Before practice started, Tom and Connor had to go to the "Common Fuel Tank." Every kart is required to have its fuel emptied out into this big tank and then fill up from the same tank so that everyone shares the same fuel.

Tom & Connor having their turn at the fuel pump.

   When the Animal Sportsman class was called to line up on the grid, Bruce Racing go kart #21 had a problem with the clutch. So Connor was not able to run in the first practice. Luckily, Tom found someone who made a temporary fix on the clutch (that is, until we could buy the part that it needs) in time for Connor to run in the second practice.

   The Animal Sportsman ran with the Yamaha Junior during second practice. There were six in the Animal Sportsman while there were three in the Yamaha Junior class making a total of nine go karts running the track in Connor's second practice time. Connor finished third.

   During the 1st Heat, there were eight karts in the Animal Sporstman class. There was an accidental bumping and Connor spun. He ended up finishing fifth.

Animal Sportsman lining up before the green flag during 2nd Heat with Connor in the lead.

   In the 2nd Heat, Connor got a good start and led for almost three laps with seven go karts behind him. Soon after, #17, the fastest in his class, caught up to him to take the lead. A lap later, #18 passed Connor and Connor finished third.

   It rained shortly after the last class ran the 2nd Heat. It was windy for the most part of the day and the rain finally came. The red flag was thrown for about half an hour. When the rain passed, the Features were started right away with the hopes of getting all the classes in before it rained again.

   In the Features (final) race, Connor started fourth and that's how he finished.

   Go Connor!

#18 made a pass on Connor during 2nd Heat

The next race is on June 3rd at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, IL: http://www.blackhawkfarms.com/

Animal Sportsman Points Race #1 - Rained Out

We arrived at the Badger Raceway a little later than we did last Sunday. It was overcast and the weather did not look promising.

  Tom and Connor went to register and came back for the kart to take it for tech check. The kart did not pass although Tom did all the adjustments he thought he needed to make the day before. The weight, used to compensate for the required weight of kart and driver, (obviously, Connor and the kart were lighter than they're supposed to be) in the front only had one nut. It needed to be double-nutted. So Tom had to make that adjustment. After that, they both went to the Driver's Meeting.

   The Animal Sportsman class, the class Connor is in, was called to line up on grid B. Three different classes had already ran the track and a couple more were lined up to go before Animal Sportsman. By now, it had sprinkled for about a few minutes and I could see karts were still running on the track. As soon as Connor, Tom and my dad (he came with us) wheeled the kart away from our truck, the red flag was thrown. The guys wheeled the kart back to the truck and parked it under the tent that we had brought and set up. We huddled in the back of the truck while it rained with thunder and lightning. After several minutes, the race was called off. The drivers who came earned 200 points--equivalent to winning a race. Race #1 is checked off, everyone is tied in points and on to the next one on May 20th.