September 10, 2016
 

Finally, after a bunch of rain outs, we got the trailer loaded up and headed north for a race on a track that only exists one weekend per year. It's a charity race put on by the King of Kings Missions. With the boys being off so long, they were excited. Elliott had a new body on his kart with new graphics and Franklin had a totally new Outcast kart sporting new graphics so they were both excited.

We arrived to find the track receiving a bit of water (ironic due to the 80% chance of rain that had been in the forecast all week but never materialized) and it was a tiny track! We knew it would be so we set-up the karts for tight turns.

Practice
Franklin's class was first, Clone Super Heavy, and as such Franklin was the first kart to roll onto the track. He wasn't far off on set-up but we knew the tires weren't quite right. Elliott was Clone Medium and in the same boat - kart was right, tires weren't.

Heat races
Franklin lined up on the outside pole with Josh Waller on his inside. Josh had been fast in practice so we figured he was the man to beat. On the start, Josh jumped out front and Franklin hung close for a couple of laps and then Josh whipped us beating Franklin by almost a straightaway. We had work to do.
Elliott was on pole for the second of two heat races in Clone Medium. He led the first three laps until Mitchell Bridges got by bringing the freight train with him. Elliott dropped back to fourth and finished there. That would start him eighth in the feature race.

Feature races
Franklin's class was up first and he had his work cut out for him. Enik Sanders loaned us a set of tires and we made some changes to the kart's balance and were ready to go. Josh was on the pole with Franklin right on his bumper. On the start, Josh led into turn one with Franklin

in hot pursuit after a great start thanks to his

Tomar clutch. The two karts raced down the

backstretch and it was clear it was going to be

a two kart, 15-lap race. Josh led with Franklin

hounding him through lap nine when Franklin

got a run off of turn four and pulled up to Josh's

left side panel but didn't have enough to make

the pass and backed off. Two laps later, with

four to go, Franklin again got a good run off of

turn four and made it work. Josh fell in behind

Franklin and started looking for a way back to the lead. Franklin stayed true but as he came off turn four headed for the checkers, he slipped and Josh got a run. The two karts raced for the stripe but Franklin stayed out front to take the win in his new Outcast chassis. After a quick victory lap, it was to the scales and the tires were coming off and going on Elliott's kart.

Elliott's kart had been on scales and the front end geometry was adjusted to fix a problem he had in the heat race and with some different shoes on the kart, he knew his chances to win were greatly improved. When he green dropped, it was clear that the kart was better. Elliott picked off a kart and ran down the next group of karts. Thing were getting rough as leader Mitchell Bridges paced the field in his Outcast, but Elliott was starting to show a little confidence and was working his way through the field. A caution slowed the race, and restarted with Elliott in sixth. The green again flew and Elliott went back at it. We watched as spins and some rough driving made Elliott's work easier as he stayed clean and marched through the field. With three laps to go, on the restart, Elliott was in third spot. Elliott stayed glued to the kart in front of him and was clearly faster but ran out of time and laps and took home third place.

We had a good night but only because of the help of Enik Sanders (www.OutcastKarts.com), Troy Bailey, and Mitchell Bridges. Racing with friends is the best way to race! Thank you to the friends and sponsors that help us get to the track: Tomar Clutches, Enik Engines, Outcast Karts, Veteran's Best Foods, and Liberty Affairs.
We'll be racing again on September 17th at the Jackson, Tenn., fairgrounds.

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(The pictures attached are from Hagan Photography. We're going to purchase some but this'll do in the meantime. He has many other images from the race and they can be found at: https://haganphotography.smugmug.com )