In all the years I have been associated with racing I have never had a day that was as frustrating as today (sunday). Our on track performance was dismal at best as I could not find the right combination for Lauren or myself. I was extremly overheated and then the extra long wait for the chicken dinner removed any drive that I had. With damaged equipment and a bad attitude we decided to pack up for the day and move on to something relaxing and fun. I live by the rule that if its not fun or profitable its not woth doing! There was definetly no profit and I plain ran outa fun. Realizing its late in the season its time to regroup and put a bit more effort into the racing program. My own daughter said that there was something wrong but she could not pinpoint the one thing. We salvaged the day by attending a party and having a good time. I want to thank Hank kacala and Mr Simpson for covering for my frustration. I'm not one to give up on anything but today proved to me that it can happen.

Jim, i,m almost positive in ALL your years of racing it probably was not your most frustrating day. I thought your threshold for pain was a touch higher. Any way Nick lost and everybody lapped Jesse except Mike P (Could not find him).
Thank You.R.J

once upon a time(31 years ago) i was a new guy...... and at my first grand national( 2 months after i started racing......i got lapped.another time ,.....roughly 10 years later,,it happened again.It all comes down to preparation.....if your not prepared to race.......stay home!

Karting can be the best of times and the worst of times. Last weekend we traveled to VIR. Several tanks of gas and 10 hrs later we arrived in Danville Va. at the NC border. It was around 4 pm. and 100 degrees. We had to wait two hours for the pits to open so we could go in to setup. We enter the pits, open the trailer, and the skies open up to a quick downpour. We setup the canopy frame, drop the trailer, soaked, we head to the motel for dry clothes and a shower to end along day! Friday practice, both karts are fast. After mounting up two sets of new tire for Sat., we head to the motel for relief from the 95 degree humidity, a shower and out to Texas Steakhouse for dinner. Adam had turned 21 on Tues., so he runs up a bar tab! Back to the room, early to bed as the drivers meeting is at 7:30 am. After all this, Sat., we sit in the rain till 1:00, when the day is a washout. Back to the room to get ready for Sun.. Sunday. Sunday starts as the alarm goes off at 5:30 am to be at the track as it opens at 7 with the weather forecast worse for Sun. than Sat.. As we get to the track the rain stops. The drivers meeting is at 7:30. As soon as it ends, everyone takes their vehicles to the track to start drying the track. The track dries, the two mandatory rounds of practice are done, mandatory quiet time is over and at noon an abbreviated racing schedule starts, finally! Races one and two are done so we make our way to the grid. He ends up winning easily. Great! We get through tech, hurry back to the trailer to get the other kart for race five. The race starts, he wins going away. After a long drive, the entry fees, the motel, the sets of tires, the rain, the heat, we get some results. With emotions running high we go to tech. We get DQed with an intake port off by the thickness of a sheet of paper(.003)!!! I must have crushed the cylinder gaskets after tech at Road America. Shoot me now! Then a 10 hr. ride home after being up since 6 am., to reflect on a very exhausting and frustrating weekend. However, we(all of us)as karters don't give up knowing there is always the next race. And when we do well we appreciate it more! Either way it's time we spend together as a family. Especially, as the kids are getting older and never home, that time is getting less and less. It's also time we spend together as a karting family! Although we haven't been able to make a race here(MISS Batavia) every race we spend with our WKA families. So it's back to work getting ready for Putnam Ind. ,in two weeks, to see if we can do better knowing there is that chance after all the time and money it could be just as frustrating as the last. Keep the faith, karting is FUN! Rich

Rich your post makes me feel good. We only drove to Avon. Being prepared is one thing, being mentally prepared is another. I just plain ran outa fun that day. Rich , your right, The time and money spent with the kids was the best money I have ever spent.