Two for Two - St. John's Grand Prix (9/30/2003)

TEMPE, AZ – September 30, 2004 – Carl Scott scored his second consecutive main event win at the recently completed St. John's Grand Prix.  Driving the Tiger Karts sponsored 1996 RF96 Vandiemen, he started from last place passing the entire 16 car field by the end of the race.  However, just like last year, he had to find his way around the always tough Steve Lewendaski's identical Vandiemen.  Having passed all but Steve after the first two laps, Carl ran Steve down at about lap 12.   He than began to probe and feint for an opportunity to get by.  Finding no room for the next 8 laps, they raced nose to tail and occasionally side by side through the traffic on the two mile temporary airport circuit until with 3 laps to go, they encountered the lap traffic of Richard Gray.  Steve had to check up into turn two leaving a RF96 wide hole between himself and Richard which Carl instantly filled giving him a run down the long back runway straight with Steve hotly in pursuit.  At the end, Steve took the inside line, but found no grip under braking and slide out leaving Carl the clear lead to the flag.

Once again, the event was more than just racing as hundreds of fans visited in the pits and Carl worked hard to accommodate every young fan who asked for autographed pictures and a chance to sit in the race car. 

In between autographs, Carl also got to show off his new Tiger Kart Mini-Hog which he developed and put in production over the summer.  The chopper style mini-bike was popular with everybody and several of the first production run were sold at the event.

Larry Pond, founder of Proautosports, put together a great event in the small White Mountain town of St. Johns, Arizona.  Working with the City officials, he created a temporary track using the runways and taxiways of the airport.  Sponsors from throughout the town were lined up, radio and print coverage arranged, exhibits organized and VIP guests scheduled in to visit and be chauffeured around the track in new cars provided by Horne Chevrolet.  Larry also hosted racers at evening socials as well as directing the racing fraternity to the sponsoring watering holes for evening bench racing.  Larry’s years of professional racing experience was obvious in his mountain top version of CART’s Cleveland Lakeshore race.