|
Latest News
12/30/06
We've decided to postpone our attendance at the Coliseum for a while. We
hope to get back down a few times before the start of the regular season
this spring. While I certainly have nothing against the track the
overall logistics associated with getting down there during the winter
months has proven to be more than I originally anticipated so I think we
will just concentrate on getting ready for the 2007 regular season at
Thunderlake Speedway.
11/11/06
We
got off to a really slow start at the Coliseum. Both boys had some major
problems getting the karts around the small track. My setup must be way
off so I will have some work to do. On top of the crummy setup Nash
wasn't feeling well and was unable to make it out for his feature. In
Nash's first heat we had mechanical difficulties and he couldn't finish
the race, in his second heat he managed to finish second even after
getting high exiting turn 4 and hitting the hay bails. Brad ran all 3 of
his races but was unable to finish anywhere near the front. Overall it
was an interesting experience though. We probably won't head back down
for a few weeks due to other things that I need to do.
11/2/06
We
have decided to head down to the Coliseum at the Missouri State
Fairgrounds to race this winter. As of right now we plan on attending
the opening night on Nov 11. I don't think we will run every week but we
will at least get down every 2 - 3 weeks. Nash will race in the Rookie Advanced class
and Brad will race in the Junior 1 Light class. It should be fun!
10/14/06
This was the last race of the season for our team and it was a good one!
We attended the "Boogeyman" race at Thunderlake Speedway. There was a
very large number of karts and people at the event. The track did a
great job with the whole event. Brad couldn't make the race due to some
other obligations so we headed out with just our Rookie driver. Nash
proved again that he is a force to be reckoned with by winning his first
heat, finishing second in his second heat and winning his feature. There
were a large number of rookie karts (approx 15 - 16) so they divided
them up into two groups. Unfortunately they did not shuffle up the karts
so Nash wound up racing the same karts all three races. There was one
kart in the other group that I really wanted Nash to race against but he
did not get to do so. It was too bad since the other kart was fast and I
think Nash and him would have had a great race!
Looking back on our first year we had a great time. Both boys really
made huge leaps in their abilities and we wound up having two very fast
and competitive drivers. I am really looking forward to going at it
again next year! For the off season I plan on rebuilding our engines,
going through the karts and replacing most bearings, etc and putting new
bodies on both karts. I would like to do something with some graphics on
the karts for next season also. We will probably head down to the
Coliseum at the Sedalia Fairgrounds this winter a few times to keep the
boys tuned up and ready to start next season.
10/7/06
We
went back down to Lasoski again this week. Originally only Nash was
going to go but a last minute change in plans allowed Brad to go also.
Brad ran in the Rookie Advanced class which at Lasoski has the same
rules as the Junior Amateur class at Thunderlake. Brad won both heats
and the feature! This was his first win with the latest setup. Nash ran
great again and won both his heats but fell a little short in the
feature and wound up second. He had a really good race with another
rookie beginner and was setting himself up to pass for the lead when he
got a little high and caught the top rim of the track causing him to
have to get out of the gas to get it corrected. This was just enough to
give the first place kart enough of a lead that Nash couldn't catch him
in the remaining time. Overall another great night of racing for the
team. Next week will be our last race of the season at Thunderlake.
9/30/06
We headed back down to Lasoski Speedway this week. Both boys attended
and we had another great night of racing. Brad was forced to run with
the Rookie Beginners since they didn't have any other Rookie Advanced
karts and naturally he was way faster than all the other karts primarily
due to the kart setup. Nash was easily the second fastest kart and even
gave Brad a pretty good run for the money in the feature race! Both
karts ran great and the track was very well prepared as always. We had
another fun night. This was probably Brad's last race for the season
since he has other obligations for the next two weeks and there are only
two more events we can race. We plan on racing Nash the next two weeks.
Next week we will head back down to Lasoski and the folllowing week we
will participate in the "Boogeyman Race" at Thunderlake.
9/23/06
This was the last regular season race of the year at Thunderlake. This
week Nash had to miss out so we had just one kart at the event. Brad
made his second Jr. Amateur run and I must say he had a good one! In
only his second race in the class he just barely missed getting a trophy
by finishing 6th in the A feature. He also had good heat runs with a 3rd
& a 4th place finish. Not too bad for his second time out! Next week we
hope to head down to Lasoski for some more racing fun!
9/16/06
We
had both karts back at Thunderlake this week. Nash ran good in the
combined rookie class by finishing 3rd behind two other really fast
advanced guys. He drove a good, clean race and successfully avoided
several wrecks that occurred right in front of him. Brad ran the Jr.
Amateur class for the first time tonight. He ran very well for his first
time out. We still have some things to work out with his kart and once
we do I am confident he will be up front battling with the front
runners. It will take him a few races to get used to the new field of
opponents, etc. Overall another great night of racing for our team.
9/9/06
This week we were back at Thunderlake Speedway. The track combined the
Rookie Beginners with the Rookie Advanced again so we had some great
competition! Brad was unable to participate due to some other
activities. We had some mechanical difficulties in the heats that caused
Nash to run much slower than usual. I managed to resolve the problem by
the feature and Nash was back up front. He led the feature for a very
long time before finally letting two other cars by in one bobble.
Overall we had another good night and will be back again next week!
9/2/06
This week we headed back down to Lasoski Speedway. As usual the track
was great and the people very hospitable. Both boys had great nights
again; Brad won both heat races and Nash ran off with the feature. This
will be Brad's last time out in the rookie class; we plan on moving him
up to Junior Amateur next time out at Thunderlake.
8/26/06
Nash ruled the rookie class tonight! He was by far the fastest kart in
the entire rookie class (beginner & advanced combined). In 2 of the 3
races he lapped the entire field at least once. Brad was unable to make
the show again this week due to a prior obligation. Next weekend we plan
on heading back down to Lasoski Speedway.
8/19/06
No
racing this week due to Thunderlake being rained out.
8/12/06
Brad was unable to make it out tonight due to a prior obligation so we
just took Nash to do battle at Thunderlake this week. The track put all
the rookies together again this week so Nash was racing with the
Advanced guys all night. He did really well running 3rd behind two of
the Advanced karts all night long. The kart ran great, Nash drove
smooth, clean races and we had another great night of racing action.
8/6/06
Both boys were super fast tonight and except for one other kart were the
fastest on the track for the Rookie class. They again ran both the
Beginner and Advanced rookies together due to the number of rookie
karts. Overall there were around 7 or 8 total. Brad had a great night
except for getting spun out in the feature and having his team mate
t-bone him! It was a pretty hard impact but both boys came out with
little or no injury. The karts only suffered minor damage and I will
have no problem getting them fixed for the next race.
7/30/06
Another good night for both boys. This week they ran the Rookie Beginner
and the Rookie Advanced together so Nash was definitely at a
disadvantage to the advanced guys but he still did really well. He raced
hard and drove a smooth, clean race.
Brad was really fast this week and gave the other advanced guys a good
run. He continues to improve each week and we hope to move him up to
Junior Amateur soon.
7/16/06
This week was Brad's first night in the Rookie Advanced class. He did
well but there are a couple karts that are just fast! We have some work
to do to outrun them. I will have to look his kart over really well and
look for anything to get it a little faster. This will be good
experience for him and will prepare him well for his move up to Junior
Amateur later this season.
Nash did really well. He was by far the fastest Rookie Beginner on the
track. In his heats he lapped the entire field and in the feature he
came from a very slow start to catch the front runner and overtake them
for the lead. It was extremely hot this week with temp close to 100
degrees but everyone made it through unscathed. Next scheduled race is
July 29 at Thunderlake.
6/23/06
So
far this season we have had a lot of fun racing the karts. Both boys are
doing really good and are definitely among the fastest in their class.
Brad will be moving up to the Rookie Advanced this week and Nash will
stay in the Rookie Beginner for a while longer. Last week was a really
good night; both karts ran great and both boys were fast. I expect to
move Brad up to Junior Amateur before the end of the season. Nash will
have to stay in the Rookie class since he is still just 5 years old.
5/29/06
My
racing buddy Mark Paris ended his battle with cancer today. Mark passed
at his home in Independence surrounded by his immediate family. Mark's
wife Diane said Mark passed very peacefully. Everyone who knew Mark
knows how he always had a joke or something funny to share and in
general was just a fun guy to be around. We will all miss him.
11/22/05
For
2006 our team will be redirecting our efforts from my racing activities
to those of my son and nephew. Nash Braley (age 5) and Brad Taylor (age
8) will be behind the wheels of our new racing karts. We plan on running
a limited schedule at Thunderlake Speedway and possibly Lasoski
Speedway. I want to start off slow and easy focusing on keeping it fun.
We will probably only run twice a month but we may change that depending
on what the boys want to do. In fact, we may even head down to Sedalia
this winter and check out the action in the coliseum. I hope to get some
pictures of the boys and their karts up soon. I am really looking
forward to getting the boys on the track; it should be a blast!
2005 News Archive
|
