06-22-03

St. Louis Karting Association

     Heat Race #1- Brooks started 6th in this race and went to the lead in lap 2.  At the completion of lap 1 it was a Team CMG 1st and 2nd place on the track.  Unfortunately Kyle Ries was leading when he went into turn 1 a little hot and lost momentum handing the lead to Brooks.  He checked out from there for another 3 laps.  With a 1/2 lap lead on the field Brooks hit a patch of silt from the I-55 Dirt Track on the hill above the track and lost grip and spun off the track.  This would have been no problem, just drive back on and would not have lost any spots.  But, he caught his gear on the edge of the track and pretty much turned it to twisted scraps.  His heat race was over.  He did set his personal best time with a 56.28 with a restrictor plate.

    Heat Race #2-  Brooks was on the pole and just checked out.  Nothing exciting just a good safe race for all the kids.  Brooks broke is best lap time again with a 56.06

     Feature Race-  Brooks started in 6th and jumped to 3rd just behind Kyle by the SS's and then to 2nd at the half way point of lap 1.  Brooks was pulled by the leader about a second in the first 3-4 turns and that is where it stayed the entire race.  Both the leader and Brooks turned some spectacular laps unfortunately they were never together to put on a show.  So 2nd is all we could pull out but still a good day.  Drivers and karts in tact other than a gear.  Brooks again broke his lap record by running a sound 55.48 on lap 4 trying to run down the leader.  The last 2 laps Brooks backed off pushing the kart so hard and road out the race.  I was proud of him for doing so.  We had talked after the first heat about managing your race.  With a big lead, just be smooth and consistent taking no chances.  We talked about investing some of your lead to wait to pass lapped traffic where it is safe rather than taking an unnecessary chances when you catch them.  This conversation stuck and that is why the last 2 laps he backed off to solidify 2nd.  Brooks said he knew he couldn't catch the leader so he protected 2nd.  Brooks got beat by 2 seconds instead of 1 but exercised great maturity and presence of mind to recognize his situation.  Manage the race!

     All in all is was a great weekend considering we had never been on that track before and both Kyle and Brooks dialed in the track pretty well.

     Thanks to Doug Patrick for letting us stay at his place Saturday night and special thanks to SLKA 's staff, Dennis, Barry, and all the others for having us and making us feel welcome at their track.  This is a first class organization that is doing things right and should reap great rewards for their efforts. 

     The Track?  O'MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Bad to the Bone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You have to see it in person to see just how much work and effort and planning has gone into this facility.  As DW would say, give those folks an ATABOY!