Tillsonburg Outlaws indoor kart racing season begins
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Lets get right to it.
The first Tillsonburg Outlaws race on Tuesday, May 7 went off in beautiful weather with some exciting race results.
BEGINNERS
One never knows what is going to happen Week 1 in the Beginner class but they went almost caution free all night. We will have to work on restarts another time. You would expect that returning drivers would have an advantage but rookie drivers Aiden Maynard from Blenheim and Logan Lapierre-Cassie from Brantford were very close in speed right from the first lap. Indeed, experience did win out when Rayse Meyer of Courtland took the sprint and the 1st main wins but it was Paige Smith of Woodstock with a daring outside pass on the last lap of the final main who took that race win. It was not enough to knock off Rayse Meyer from the winners podium but it was enough to create a three-way tie for 2nd. Hmmmm, this is going to be an interesting group.
JUNIORS
In the Juniors with returning champion Jacob Sheridan defending his title, the results were all but wrote in the book. But wait. His younger brother was not going to let him win that easy. In fact, Nick took the overall win with two firsts and a 4th. Colby Bennett from Port Dover took 2nd overall despite having some misfortune in the 2nd main.
Reigning champion Jacob Sheridan from Mt Brydges decided to play it slightly safe the first week as there were a couple of rookies gunning for him to prove they could run with the fastest driver. Jacob held tough and used his on track smarts to bring home 3rd overall.
Tristan McClay and Kyle McGlone who both moved up from Beginner this year were on the pace most of the night but were not able to hold it for top positions. That will come with more miles guys.
SENIORS
With Kate and Bea Courtnage returning to Senior, any other driver who wants a shot at winning is going to have to be good. Well, as luck would have it, two other girls look like to have what it takes. Katherine Summers proved she could run with them last year but graduating Junior, Amber Meyer almost won the sprint and hung on a long time in the first main. We are going to see lost of Amber and Katherine this year.
Eric McGlone, who is close to rookie status showed he was game to run at the lead pace and once he or his team figures out his loose kart will figure into the mix this year.
On a side note, the three Juniors who came up and ran the 2nd main to try the Seniors on for size looked pretty darn good. One of them even made it mid way through the pack before pulling off for unknown reasons. It looks like when they get a chance, there is going to be a pack of Juniors ready to take on the existing Senior division.
EXPERTS
Scott Scott Scott. Yes I know. The Expert results sometimes seem a bit redundant. I have to do it again. Scott won time trials. Scott won the Sprint and Scott took 3rd in the main. Scott won the overall... Scott KELLY from Stratford that is. He was the MAN this week.
After rushing the warm-up at Saturday's practice and blowing up his fresh motor, Scott Kelly put in some used parts and got back on the track for the race Tuesday. Good thing he did too, because in combination with a different frame bottom, he proved he could run consistent laps at a speed that most could not match. Best results ever. Way to go Scott. If you keep beating me there may be a rule change. LOL.
So that pretty well wraps up the nights racing.
Next race is May 14 . Action starts at 7 p.m. at Chesterman Power Products just west of Tillsonburg on Hwy 3.