May 23, 2013- May 21 featured the third race of the Spring series held at Chesterman Power Products Indoor track in Tillsonburg. Racers arrived to a beautifully graded, watered and packed track. It did not look so pretty after a lot of racing. Racers who were able to feel out a good line had good nights. Racers determined to drive through the rough stuff thought the track was rough. For the spectators it was great racing as even the experienced drivers had to take their time to work their way around traffic when the best line was already taken.
Something else has surfaced this year.
Just because you were unbeatable last year is no guarantee that you will be this year. Jacob Sheridan in Junior and Scott Chesterman in Expert both seemed to be invincible last year, winning almost every time they hit the track. While by no means are either slow, they are both finding themselves mid pack at nights end. It can be a tough pill to swallow for a racer used to winning every week to have to work hard and get less than perfect results but the ones that work through it are the true racers.
One’s competitors never stand still and sometimes they figure something out to equal or beat your own performance. From my standpoint, it is a great sign when the same drivers cannot win every night. It means ever driver is being challenged and is having to work on one skill or another.
Perhaps it is mechanical. Perhaps it is the improved skill of the competitors. Perhaps …… that is what makes the sport so great. Trying a multitude of things to go faster. Some work , some do not.
Let’s get on with this weeks racing.
Already in the Tillsonburg Lubricare Centres Beginners we have the two Rookie’s cleaning up. #20 Aiden Maynard/Blenhiem (sponsored by Complete Mobile Wash) took the overall, going 1-3-1 and #25 Logan Lapierre-Caissie/Brantford (sponsored by Culligan Water) taking second going 2-2-2. That left Series leader Rayse Meyer/Courtland (McClay Transport sponsorship) in third still with a good night.
The Junior comment of the night, over heard. “You know Dad, it doesn’t really matter who wins as long as I get to pass some cars” . Now isn’t that a mouthful from such a young racer?
This week the oldest and youngest drivers in the division tied for first, with Colby Bennett/Port Dover and Tom Pellizzari/Tillsonburg knotted with 68 points each. Sitting in third was Nick Sheridan/Mt Brydges.
In the Senior class, it was Experience that won the night as Kate and Bea Courtnage out smarted the rest of the field. Both were having a much harder time getting around even the back karts which means the whole group, even with a few Juniors thrown in, is getting very fast. Taking third was Katherine Summers who showed some grit after blasting into the wall and just drove on.
For the third week in a row, the Experts have a different overall winner. Last weeks winner , Cody Coburn started the night out great with fastest qualifying time. I believe that is a first for Cody and a sign he is ready to run up front on a regular basis.
Holly Porter and Scott Chesterman were the only two who were even close to him in this speed test. Coburn had a lot of traffic to work through after his prior week’s top finishes. It was the Sprint last lap spin, only feet from the finish line that hurt him the most.
Austin Giles looked to have the Sprint won until a last attempt bump from Porter caused his chain to derail and he dropped two positions as he rolled across the finish line. Despite Porter taking the overall, It was ‘that old guy’, Dave Chesterman, who was able to get up front soon enough in the main and hold the bottom despite Porter trying to wedge him up the track and the pair crossed the line one-two. Cody Coburn was third in the main and was tied for third with Scott Kelly at night’s end.
Results at MyLaps.com. Next race is May 28 2013 in Tillsonburg(Chesterman’s). Action starts at 7pm
From: Dave Chesterman/ Chesterman Power Products
Tillsonburg Indoor MX // Tillsonburg Outlaw Kart Club // www.chesterman.ca // 519-842-5977
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