The Stars came out in Tillsonburg.
Members have been waiting since Christmas for the 2012 Tillsonburg Indoor Outlaw Kart Race Series to start. The turnout was awesome. The weather was perfect. The track came in incredibly well despite being the first week on it. Many teams were sporting new colours and fancy graphics and were ready to test their skills against the other competitors. New members were briefed on starting procedures while the parents got a briefing of their own on "racing" fun. With the formalities looked after we went right into the race program.
Very young racers start in the Beginner division and this week there were 4 new drivers plus a few that were too young to graduate up to Junior just yet. One of the new drivers was # 45 Nick Sheridan, Mt Brydges who turned 7 on race day and brought along a birthday cake for all to enjoy as proof of the event. Well, for being a new racer, he got his birthday wish and took 3 individual wins and the overall in his first ever race night. # 8 Tristan McClay, Burgessville finished just as strong with three 2nds, in his first ever race followed by # 93 Rayce Meyer, Courtland who returns with a new Kart for the season. # 14 Paige Smith of Woodstock and # 5 Tom Pellizzari of Tillsonburg rounded out the field. On another note, we have a racer from last year who had a scheduling conflict with a travel baseball team and will be sitting out this season. That means we have his used kart available if you know anyone thinking of joining the club that would be in the 5-10 age group.
The Juniors look to be the largest group of racers for 2012. Despite two drivers missing the first race there were still 10 racers on the line and all look to have the potential to win on a given night. This week though it was the other Sheridan, # 52 Jacob from Mt Brydges that was not to be outdone by his younger brother and took his brand new microsprint to three consecutive wins and the overall. Last years champ, # 48 Andrew Marshall from Dorchester looks to be the biggest threat but Sheridan also was pressured by # 01Jamie Hall, Wilsonville, #66 Colby Bennett, Port Dover , # 55s Scott Hall , Wilsonville and # 93 Amber Meyer, Springford. The whole class is capable of running some very fast lap times but it is the drivers who can do it almost every lap that work their way to the front. Consistency will be what determines the winners in this group.
Mmmm, the top half of the field in Seniors was 75 percent and yet the girls make up only 30 percent of the class. Guys, you are going to have to take some lessons from # 20 DJ McRae , London if you want to break into the top spots. # 39 Kate Courtnage, Harley showed some determination and managed two wins and took the overall for the night. Only a couple of points off was McRae in second. Tied for third was # 79 Bea Courtnage, Harley and # 77 Alex Hill, Wilsonville who was nervous going into her first ever Senior race. I would say the butterflies might have helped though as she beat last years champ, # 87 Brad Perrott and always strong # 10 Blake Westman in the process. This group is always exciting to watch and the series winner is far from determined.
This is where the stars came out, so to speak. After a full program we got a little behind by the time the Experts turn and after a 1st lap pile up when #19 Cody Coburn, Mt Brydges and # 47 Joe Kelly, got their micros locked together, we had a 15 minute delay to get them untangled ensuring we could see the stars when the race was complete. So what was the big news in the Expert class? Not only did # 37 Scott Kelly get beat in time trials by a couple of 50 year olds, one of them was his Dad who was driving in his first ever Micro race. I can only imagine the bragging that took place on the way home. LOL. It was # 34 Scott Chesterman and # 1 Holly Porter both of Delhi that took the top two spots with Coburn running a close third when the points were totalled. Rookies Brent Smith and Bob Townsend both were getting comfortable before "incidents" with the wall took them out of the running. Both will be back to do it again next week, hopefully making all three races this time.
This link should take you to the results on mylaps.
Next race. May 15 2012
Dave Chesterman.
Chesterman Power Products
Tillsonburg Indoor MX
Tillsonburg Outlaw Kart Club
www.chesterman.ca519-842-5977
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