New years comes a little late but great

The first event of the new year was the IKF Sprint Regional at Willow Springs Kart Track on January 6 and 7. We loaded up the Explorer with the new portable Video player and TV, hooked up the trailer and headed off to Lancaster on Saturday for the Sunday event.   Region 7 added a complete shifter show on Sunday and with no Friday practice, this was a quick and inexpensive way to find out where we are in the new year.

The turnout was good and there were about 40 shifter entries, 14 in junior 80.  A number of new faces, but several of last years top dogs showed up to make the weekend fun.   Old friends included Justin Carmody, Joel Miller, Dominique Classsen and even David Thompson.  Almost everyone seemed to have a new chassis and most of the engines are first rate blueprints with the latest pipe and programmable ignition. 

Not having been to Willow Kart track for two years and never in a shifter, we didn't expect much with only three 5 minute practice sessions.  Although Carl quickly came up to speed driving, the gearing and jetting took a little longer.  Thanks to a competitor, we got the gear right.  Jetting took a little more effort, with the Air Density Gauge saying we had better air than the 3500 foot altitude would seem to support.   Finally, in desperation, we put in a leaner jet based on altitude and the plug looked great.  Carl also said it ran pretty well, so we were set.  Unfortunately, it was also time for the first heat and Carl was sitting tenth after a rather slow qualifying effort (or maybe the confusion caused by two number 5 karts led the officials to assign us the wrong qualifying time).

From tenth, Carl moved up a couple of places in the heat to claim an 8th place start in the main.  The kart was handling fairly well, but the weather was a confusing mix of sun and clouds changing the grip by the minute.  Because past winter visits to Willow had been extremely cold, we had chosen a mild set up in anticipation of medium stick track.  Instead, the very mild weather was giving us a lot more grip, which we tried to dial out with track and tire pressure changes.

Main event started late in the day and the first turn was a sight .  The juniors went in 5 wide and everybody made  it through without a crash.  Settling in for the 20 lap race, Carl had managed to position himself 9th behind a new (to us) racer.   A lap later he was by at the end of the main straight and on the bumper of Justin Carmody, who for four years has been one of the cleanest racers we have seen.  Justin was quick in a straight line and good through several corners, making Carl's pursuit lively. Several laps of trying every where to pass and Carl finally got a jump out of turn three for a run down the pit straight.  Holding the inside position into turn four, Carl executed a perfect sprint car slide job to complete the pass and then hold it through the corner. 

Unfortunately, while  Justin and Carl were having fun, the second pack of Karts was motoring away with a gap of several seconds.  Four laps later, Carl caught up to the pack of three which included Robert Podlensey, David Thompson and NR. 15.  During this pursuit, Carl turned laps in the low 43 second range, two tenths off the leader Eric Humprey.  The four kart freight train chugged around for several laps with frequent 4 kart-wide exits from turn three.  Carl finally made one of those exits work to get by Robert, who unfortunately ran into mechanical difficulties and dropped out two laps later.   The remaining laps were spent with 15, David and Carl trying everything they knew to advance.  Carl passed David who promptly returned the favor a lap later.   Then Carl pushed David past 15 into turn four, but couldn't help himself to a position.  Unfortunately, David could not hold that position and yielded it a lap later.  That is the way they finished, although Carl did create some excitement for the team as he clobbered a curb in turn 1 when his brakes gave up.  Fortunately he bounced onto the racing line and continued on to the checkered in fifth.

While all this was going on in back, the lead pack of Eric Humphreys, Joel Miller and Dominique Classen were having their own battle, which Dominique eventually won.   Turning consistent laps in the low 43 second range, he was all alone at the end as Eric dropped out mechanical and Joel didn't have quite enough to stay in contact. 

All in all, a fun race to watch and even better to drive in.  Willow is a nice facility to visit and there is always something interesting on the big track to watch.