August 1st 2008
Removed weight from the front of the Kart & blew out the air filter, checked all the bolts and loaded back on the trailer. Got to the track, lubed the chain, adjusted the tire pressures and scaled the Kart at 313lbs (we have to weigh a min of 310lbs). Jaz wanted to bring a friend to the track so we had Mary spend the night with us. Weather was hot and we actually made it a week without rain. They watered the track down and Jaz went out to run hot laps to see how the Kart drove with the extra weight removed. She was running VERY loose and spun coming out of turn 2 she recovered and kept going but starting spinning around again in turn 2 in the same spot but was able to save it the 2nd time. She came off the track and weighed 319lbs, there was a ton of mud all over the Kart. Jaz said the track was very slick and I decided to keep the same set-up hoping the track would be packed in by the time we started racing. I don't think we have ever cleaned that much mud off the Kart.
1st heat and Jaz started last but managed to make 1 pass and finish 5th. We found out that another Kart was DQ'd due to under weight so Jaz got another position.
2nd heat and she started on the pole. She was having trouble seeing the start flag and the Kart on the outside got the run and passed her going into turn 1. She tried to take the position back but couldn't catch the Kart and finished 2nd.
13 Karts for the Feature race and Jaz started in the 7th position. Early in the race a Kart spun out and the Kart behind them drove over their tires and got launched in the air and rolled at least a few times but managed to land on its tires. This happened in front of Jaz, she managed to slow down enough to pull around on the outside, but it was close! They red flagged the race and there was some tense suspense but the crowd applauded as the driver was taken off the track. While they were red flagged we were allowed on the track to kill the motors. When I got to Jaz's Kart her eyes were huge and she said, "Did you see that? That Kart rolled right in front of me!". We fired the motors back up and the officials lined the Karts up for a single file restart. Jaz had a great start and managed to pass a Kart right away. She was running a solid 4th but lost a few spots and was fighting her way back to the front - she finished 3rd! Pint sized racer girl was VERY excited. She told her friend, Mary, that she was her good luck charm and needed to come every week!
Check out the race I posted on YouTube