April 27th,1997 was to be our first kart race of our season. We race with River Valley Kart Club,at Lake Geneva Raceway. The weather did not cooperated with us. We were rained out. Tracy was able to get two practice sessions in first. She was running in the top five during practice.
I guess you should know a little about our team. We are a family team. Our driver,Tracy is 13 years old. She is entering her 4th year of karting. Last year she was voted the most popular driver. In 1996, Tracy won her first race. She finished in 5th place for the year, in Restricted Jr. 4 cycle class, driving a 4cycle Briggs
Dad is not only our crew chief, he is the race director.Patti, is our pit captain. She also races karts. She has been racing for 5 years now. This year she decided to help out in the pits. I am Mom, also Team scorer. I am also the head of scoring for RVKC's Sprint Races.
Tops racing had another rainy day at the track, Lake Geneva Raceway. The rain held off long enough for us to get two heat races in. Kart 03 finished in 3rd place in the first set of heat races. Tracy finished in 7th in the second heat. This put her in 4th place to start the final race. But the weather did not cooperated today. So we came home with a 4th place trophy today!! We are still pleased with our finish. 4th place out of 11 karts. Our next race will be Mother's Day May 11th, 1997. Remember to check in and see how our team is doing.
Mother's Day Races with out rain! The air was cool, and the sun was warm, but the wind was so strong. Watch so you don't blow away. Kart 03, was running faster this week, but so was our competition. Tracy finished 9th place in the first two heat races, placing her in 9th position for the final heat. In the final race she gained one position, and finished in 8th for the day. There were 11 karts in her class this week. Next race, May 17th, 1997
Saturday at the Lake Geneva Sprint Races, of course weather played a factor. It was suppose to be sunny and in the high 60's, but a cold fog rolled in. We still were able to get racing practice in nearly on time. Our driver, Tracy, was running loose and even spun out.
Racing in 40 degree weather we had to run a hole different set up than we had planned. This week there were 12 karts in the Restricted Jr. Briggs class. In the first 2 heat races Tops placed a 7th and a 6th to start in 7th for the feature.
The sun came out for the feature race and it warmed up to about 50 degrees. This meant another set up on the 4 cycle Briggs. Tracy ran a tough race! Our kart 03 and kart #6 battled side by side for the last six laps. They even went side by side through the sweeper turn and into the chicane s. Tracy went on to beat kart 6, and ended up in 5th place. Tops Racing was pleased with this weeks results. Watch out 1st places here we come!!!
June 1st, 1997
Finally a sunny day at the races. But, some of our tops team have the flu. The races must go on.
Our driver Tracy, ran good in the first heat race with a 3rd place finish. She held the lead for a couple of laps getting passed by Erik Darnell and Richard McGill. She came in and the crew decided to loosen up the kart a little, for the next race.
In the 2nd heat race Tracy's luck didn't stay with her. She had a bad start and went into the 1st turn in dead last. She was able to work her way up into 6th position at the checkered flag. Tops Crew Chief deiced to loosen up kart 03 a little more for the feature race.
Tracy started the feature race in 4th position. Today was not to be our day. Her kart was to loose and she did all she could to keep it on the track. Tracy drove very well considering the circumstances . Kart 03 finished with a 6th place for the finial race.
Don't worry Tops Racing Team has a week and a half before our next race, Friday night June 20th. and we will be ready! Tracy says racing is easier after school is out.
June 20th, 1997
Tops Team was ready for Friday night racing under the lights. It rained a brief shower, just enough that it took about 45 min. to dry the track. We did get the races in.
Tracy's class had 12 karts again this week. Our team, had kart problems too. During practice, our new motor did not run well. So we put on our worn out motor for the races. Also, are kart was running too loose.
The field of karts ran much tighter this week. Every one must be getting there karts figured out to the track. Tracy ran in the top three karts during the first half of the race. She pulled out a 4th place, fighting a loose kart too.
In the final race our motor did not hold up. But, Tracy's kart was handling better. The karters put on a good show. Lots of good racing, and clean passing. Tracy did all she could with that old worn out motor. She finished in 7th place for the day.
Make sure to check back next week. And at our next night race, we will have both Tops drivers competing!!!
Another day filled with hard work and mechanical problems. It seems that we must have the same luck as Dale Earnhardt.
In our 1st race, Tracy started outside of the front row. She was passed by all drivers by the first turn. She said that the motor wasn't running right. She was able to pass 2 other drivers by the end of the race.
In the second heat race Tracy started in tenth position. Her dad worked on the motor and it was running well. In fact we were gaining positions and was running in 6th. On the third lap her clutch slip ed and caused the belt to fall off. (Dale, we know how you feel.)
This hot 90 degree day was not going to be Tops Day. Tracy started in 10th position for the finial heat race. Wishing for a good finish, Tracy hopped in her kart, named NIGHTMARE. She was able to move up to 8th position beating 3 other karts. It looks like Nightmare was her nightmare today.
Tops racing will be working hard between races. We hope the next half of the year is kinder to our Team!!! Make sure to check back July 18th is our next race. We will be bringing our good luck, high hopes, and 2 kart drivers. Also a special pit crew member, from New Mexico, BEN.
Guess What? It rained again. We were rained out.
July 19th, We raced at Utica Raceway. Tracy placed third place. 3rd in the first heat. She placed 2nd in the second heat, and finished with a 3rd for the day.
Today Tracy raced in her first road race. She raced at Black Hawk Farms She had a lot of fun. You need to draft at Black Hawk Farms. The racing is much faster too. Tops took a last place today. We were glad we made it through the race. Everyone told us that Tracy's lap times were very good for her first time there.
This was another typical TOPS racing day this year. During practice Tracy ran her fastest laps at Lake Geneva Raceway. We entered the first heat race with high hopes and starting in dead last.
Tracy had a bad start and fell way behind. She managed to catch up and pass the 17 kart. Still a straight away behind the rest of the pack. Within three laps she was able to catch up to the other karts. On the last lap, Tracy was passing the 6 and 8 karts three wide and was able to pass the 8 kart. Going into turn four, Tracy was side by side with the 6 kart. In the last turn all three karts collided. The 6 and the 8 karts escaped with no damage. Tops kart had to be carried off the track. I, mom, asked the flagman if the kart being carried off was a bad sign. He shook his head yes and smiled. Soon after, the race director, dad, radioed to me that our kart has a broken axal. This explains why the right rear tire was bent up. By the way Tracy was fine, only a little bruised, and very disappointed.
With a lot of work and help from others, we were able to get Tracy into the next heat race, yes with a new axle. Tracy started in pole position. This time with a good start too, running in second position. When another karter splashed into a puddle and caused a red flag condition, and another restart.
This time Tracy did not do so well. Her axal was coming loose and her kart ran slower and slower. She finished in 7th place for the day. Tops Racing Team is wondering if our luck will get any better? Maybe we should change our number to 24? *Grin* HA HA !!!
Tops Racing Team finished in 7th place today. We left the track pleased with our racing. We have not had the best of luck this year, but Today Tracy really ran good.
Tracy's class was the largest class, and the biggest it has been so far. There were 14 karts entered. Tracy enjoys racing with a larger class. Her mom would like to see a smaller class for her. *GRIN*.
RVKC held qualifying today, Tracy has not been very good at qualifying her kart to date. Her kart was really loose and she qualified in 12th place. With a time of, 28.337.
Tracy ran real hard and avoided three recks through out the day to place in 7th for the day. September 7th is our Season Championships. We know our driver can run real hard, and our kart is running well. So, Tops is hoping to finish out the season with a good finish.
Tops Racing went into Season Championships with new tires, and a very sick driver. Tracy's Asthma, and allergy s were very bad. She was determined to race.
Tracy qualified with the speed of 27.99. Her time was much improved from last week. She started the first heat race in 9th position. There were 13 karts in the field today.
The 03 kart was running in mid pack, when in the 7th lap kart #8 ran into her. Her back tire messed up, and her engine stopped. 03 kart finished 12th position.
The 03 kart ran a 9th place finish in the 2nd heat race, despite our driver's worsening condition. She lay ed down to rest before the feature race.
Tops finished 9th for the day. We felt like it was a good finish, considering how sick Tracy was feeling. Of course, we are hoping that luck will be on our side next year.
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