Joe,
It’s been a busy morning so here’s my comments about the whole event:
1) I am amazed how many mechanics and drivers don’t know the rules. It stinks knowing the time, effort, energy and sacrifice involved getting to this event was negated by not following the rules. I saw way too many DQ’s caused by kids working on their karts on the track when the rules say you had to bring the kart off track, fix it, then rejoin.
2) Wow, that’s the most karters I’ve ever seen anywhere!
3) I have a newfound respect for cornerworkers and officials, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and I understand that now.
4) Colorado boys did great! It was hard for me as a worker not to show bias towards the local talent. It was all I could do to not cheer Kyle on to victory and all the others.
5) Thank God Little League dad lives on at a National level too. I saw a few examples that made me shake my head.
6) I was amazed at how focused drivers and mechanics were to the task at hand. It made me realize that physical preparation is an important part of a racers makeup but the laser like focus by the top echelon is something to be emulated for success. Mentally they were sharp.
7) The single most inspiring person I met was a racer by the name of Eric Lazar. By himself he drove 19 hours straight to make the race only to show up at George’s doorstep at CRE (oops wrong track gotta get ONSTAR or GPS!) He got to Centennial having never driven here the day of qualifying and heat races and finished. When I asked him what was wrong with the kart he said “a lot of things but my goal was to finish, had I had more time to prepare the kart and practice I’d have done much better.” He had the biggest smile on his face each and every time he got out of the kart. Oh did I tell you that his goal is to make it to the next Grand National race and improve his results? All this from a guy who’s paralyzed from a motocross accident and has to strap his legs in so they don’t spasm and hit his hand controlled brake and gas lever. Kudos to George at CRE for pointing him in the right direction and to let him pit under your tent. George, you have my respect with such a simple gesture. I wish you all could have met and talked to this gentlemen. What an inspiration.
ALSO: I enjoyed meeting after the days events new people who I’ve only heard about, the Seesman’s, Cooksey’s, Howdens to name a few. I am thankful that even though I might be old in numbers I still have the ablilty to jump when needed (graceful or not!) and avoid serious carnage when a kart goes off track flying towards me. I couldn’t have pulled that one off if given 10 more tries I think. And the applause for catching a beer single handed was just plain fun. Jim, can I ask how many bottles of Jaeger you went through for the whole event. I called the sports books in Las Vegas and they said the over under was 130 bottles… 8) I’m not telling you which way I bet!
It was a fun experience and I am looking forward to the same type racing at the TaG Worlds here in a few months. We really are lucky to be living here. Several tracks all within an hour and two National Caliber events in the same calendar year. Perhaps with the lessons learned and a little luck our way we’ll take home even better results.