MSOKC Race No. 11 - September 11, 2005 - Three on the Podium Again/The Clincher

Originally sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 2:19 PM

NEWS - This past Sunday was the first of four races on consecutive weekends for Bruce Brothers Racing - two regularly scheduled and two weather-related make ups. In the three week break since our previous race, we had Henry’s engine rebuilt and acquired some new gears for our new-generation Briggs Intek engine testing program for Peter.

PRACTICE - Henry’s engine arrived on Friday, and he had a Cross-Country meet on Saturday, so the first chance we had to run his rebuilt engine was Sunday morning. I had him take it easy at first and then work his way up to speed. We left Conor's kart pretty much the way it was from the previous race, and he was on the pace immediately in practice. We ran the Intek engine on Peter's kart again on Sunday using a restrictor plate that is a bit smaller in diameter than the one we ran in the previous race (0.390 in. as opposed to 0.406 in.). By reducing the gear ratio during practice, we were able to make up the difference in performance - and more. Peter's lap times were a bit better than before, but he ran dead-even with the other karts in his class down the back straightaway.

ROOKIE BOX - Peter started his first heat race from outside the front row. He made a great start and was in the lead in Turn 1. There was a bit of contact between several of the karts in Turn 3, which allowed Peter and the pole sitter to get away from the field. He ran in the lead for two laps before getting passed. He ran in second until the checkered flag, equaling his best finish ever and recording his personal best lap time in the process (56.63 seconds). In the second heat, starting from the fourth position (of five), he maintained his position at the start. He benefited by an off-course excursion by one of the karts in front of him and finished third. Starting from outside the front row in the feature, he hesitated a bit in Turn 1 but maintained his position. He ran in second for several laps before being caught up and passed by one of the faster karts in his class. He ran there to the finish earning his second podium finish in a row.

JUNIOR SPORTSMAN II - Conor had a difficult first heat. Starting from the fifth position (of 6), he was squeezed off in Turn 1, dropped two wheels off the track, and fell to sixth. While attempting to pass a slower kart between Turns 6 and 7 on Lap 1, the slower kart moved in a direction that Conor was not anticipating and the two karts became momentarily entangled. By the time Conor got going again, he was about half a lap down to the leaders. He had caught and passed two other karts by Lap 4 and was catching the second place kart by the end, but had to settle for third. In the second heat, starting from second, he maintained his position at the start, then made a pass for the lead on the back straightaway. He ran unopposed to the checkered flag, equaling his personal best lap time in the process (50.05 seconds). His heat race finishes were good enough for an outside-front-row starting position for the feature. At the start, the flagman waived the green flag later than usual. Conor was still on the gas (methanol, actually), but the pole sitter backed off momentarily, which allowed Conor into the lead in Turn 1. He pulled out about a kart-length lead or so in the next few turns. By the end of the first lap, the two leaders were nose to tail, however. They ran that way for most of the race, with Conor able to pull away a bit between Turns 1 and 5, only to have his competitor close back in between Turns 6 and 10. He was able to hold her off, however, recording another feature race win (eight of nine this season).

JUNIOR UNRESTRICTED - The start of Henry's first heat race was a lot like Peter's. From his position outside the front row, he made a great start and was in the lead in Turn 1. He ran there for several laps before being caught and passed by the two fastest karts in his class. He faded a bit towards the end, he was also caught by another kart. He was able to hold on until a slight mistake in Turn 4 on the last lap allowed this other kart to pass on the long straightaway. For Henry's second heat, we made a gear ratio change along with a chassis adjustment. He started from the fourth position, and while the front-runners were able to get away, Henry was latched onto the bumper of the kart in front of him. He was getting through Turn 4 a bit better and had a bit more speed down the long straightaway, which enable him to make the pass on Lap 3. He could not get away, however, and in Turn 9 on the last lap, the trailing kart made a bonsai move down the inside. There was significant contact which caused both karts to half-spin, but Henry got going again first and was able to make it to the checkered flag in third. The race officials had a few words with the other driver about the bonsai move in Turn 9. We made yet another gear change for the feature. Henry started in third and ran there comfortably to the finish earning his second podium finish in a row.

NEXT RACE - The next race is Sunday, September 18 (the day before Conor's 13th birthday). For Peter, we will give a 0.375 in. diameter restrictor plate another try with an even lower gear ratio. We will also continue searching for the proper gear ratio and chassis setup for Henry. For Conor, since this was the ninth race of the 12-race season, and only the best nine races count for the championship, it is not possible for his closest competitor to make up enough points to catch him. So, Congratulations Conor - 2005 MSOKC Junior Sportsman II Champion!!!

Bill