Sunday August 29th saw 17 NASA Az competitors return to F1 Race Factory to race for the bragging rights of NASA Az League Series Podium finisher for the day. Racing on track 1 c/c/w for the first time proved to a challenge for many of the racers. Competition racing is the only time the tracks go in the c/c/w direction and now the NASA Az racers got their chance to try it out.
Qualifying had Ronald "Mr Late" Jones at the top of the timing charts with a best lap time of 30.206, George (nobody can pronounce his last name) Sklyarevsky followed him across the timing stripe with Eric Jacobsen, Kent Porter, Adam Vega, Austin Newmark with his bullet proof 40# weight vest, Geri Amani, Tyler Braun, Tage Evanson, Dave Schutt, Brian Turner, Kent Buckley, Leland Forbes, Stenos Wijaya, Gary Kramer, Russell Whelan, and Sergio Perez completing the qualifier list.
With both heat groups now set to do the 15 minute or 30 lap heat the standing start in the c/c/w direction has turn one within 20 feet and is a tight left hander that tends to bunch everybody up really quickly and both Group 1 & 2 heat races were no exception. Position changes happen and the field stays tight for a lap or two until racers find their own rhythm and settle in to race in groups of 2 or 3.
Group 1 Heat Finish: Ronald Jones...Tage Evanson...Eric Jacobsen...Geri Amani...Brian Turner...Adam Vega...Gary Kramer...Leland Forbes...Sergio Perez
Group 2 Heat Finish: Austin Newmark...Kent Buckley...Tyler Braun...Kent Porter...George Sklyarevsky...Stenos Wijaya...Dave Schutt...Russell Whelan
Both Heat groups get same points starting with 15 to win and 1 point increments down thru the field.
Top 5 from Group 1 and top 4 from group 2 move into the "A" Main race.
"B" Main has 6 thru 9 from Group 1 and 5 thru 8 from Group 2.
The "B" Main was on track 1 first and some close spirited driving by these racers had them going into turns sometimes 3 wide??? and making it thru to try it all again next lap. The fast lap times by the entire field was in the 30 second zone and within 7/10's. An unusual driving style was also witnessed.
One handed driving by Dave "Red Gloves" Schutt and Russell "Red Shirt" Whelan with Russell suffering thru a headache and a cramping right leg. Hydration on these hot days is a must and until this high humidity and soaring temps subside I would recommend extra H2O days before the league race. Dave must have been practicing his NYC cab calling index finger pointing skyward maneuver. The taxi never showed up thank goodness.
Gary Kramer brought home the bacon in the 50 lap or 25 minute "B" Main and the rest of the field followed George Sklyarevsky across the line.
They were Adam Vega, Leland Forbes, Dave Schutt, Sergio Perez, Stenos Wijaya and Russell Whelan.
Now for the "A" Main. With Ronald Jones starting from the pole and Austin Newmark starting from the # 2 position this was going to be a fight for the lead and with the wave of the green flag it went into pass mode by Newmark almost immediately. He must have been late for an interview or a date!
Jones may have given up the spot but stayed glued to the Newmark kart as they clicked off the laps. Not until lap traffic did Jones lose his cadence but once he did Newmark pulled away and never looked back. The battle for position behind the leaders was raging and Nasa Az Pres Tage Evanson saw his 3rd place running spot turn into 6th by lap 10. Position changes between Kent Buckley, Eric Jacobsen, Tyler Braun, Kent Porter, and Tage Evanson made this race a fun one to watch. At the back of the field Brian Turner & Geri Amani had a private race going with Brian breaking free of Geri and leaving her to fend for herself against the leaders who were now in lapping mode. Just as I turned to say how hard Geri works behind the wheel but never gives up Geri pulls in to the pits and I have to eat crow. Please pass the salt! The amount of weight Geri is strapping to the back of the kart is making it harder to drive and is bouncing the kart in the corners like a basketball at a NBA playoff game.
"A" Main Finish Order: Austin Newmark...Ronald Jones...Kent Buckley...Eric Jacobsen...Kent Porter...Tage Evanson...Tyler Braun...Brian Turner...Geri Amani.
First off I want to thank all of you for taking the time and resources to do this and to wish the racers that will be competing in the NASA Championships at Miller Motorsports Park Sept. 16-19 all the best of luck. I want to see some trophies next race on Sept 26th. I will post the points asap.
Steve "Kandyman"
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