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I would like to be the first to thank Craig for all he has done for karting in Colorado. It will be sad not to see you in the paddock next season, you always have had fun with racing and that is what its all about!
Thanks Again Craig
KR
Craig
They race up there. There are tracks in both the Calgary and Edmonton area. I can give you names if you want, I’ve some very good dealers up that way. Rotax is big with them. It’s been fun and I hope all things go well with you.
geeees Craig, Just when your seven year house exspansion job is about to be done. I shure will miss the Craig reports.
You really should take at least one kart with ya. Maybe leave the other at your “summer house”
Good Luck buddy. When is this going down?Craig,
I for one will miss you when you’re gone. Always a smile on your face, a tough compeditor no matter what the position and you ARE the epitome of a racer. Thanks and it’s been a pleasure knowing you.
I hear they have a hockey team up there and it’ll get you through the cold winters.
Take care fellow racer and God Bless you. :cheers:
I am Chaz’ overwhelming sadness.
I’m sad, because I will miss my friend and I was about ready to have some work done around the house.
Story about Craig:
I was flagging at Bandi the night that Craig flipped the kart as he described.
It was early – 3rd or 4th lap. He came whipping around the last turn into the front straight, hell-bent-for-leather. He wasn’t going all that fast (compared to a TaG of a Shifter), but he was taking that turn at his kart’s ragged edge. He he came, that all-copper kart and that goofy purple suit he used to wear back in the day, head-down, doing everything he could to keep pace with or catch the leader. As he came out of the turn, he started to bicycle. No biggee, I thought, those 4-cycle guys do it all the time. I figured he’d settle the kart and carry on, but no, not this time. The dreaded number 50 just kept going higher and higher on two wheels. he passed me on the start/finish line on two wheels. Then finally, kind of like the guy on the tricycle on the old Laugh-In show, ol’ Number 50 just gave up and turned turtle- a slow,easy almost surreal roll – on top of Craig, right in front of his wife who was at her first (and only) race that season, snapping pictures on her camera.
I don’t know if I heard a scream or not. Those potato-diggers are a noisy bunch. Several spectators ran for his, kart, but Craig was out from underneath it immediately and ran, like a shot, to Mar to give her a big hug and to assure her that he was okay.
Although I didn’t know then, I now know what a rollover is like and in retrospect, I think Craig was damned lucky and a damned good sport. After he got his spousal unit calmed down, he picked up his kart and headed back to the pit. Next time up for the class Craig was there, back of the field, but ready to race. On the grid, I made it a point to ask him if he was okay / good-to-go after the roll. he said he was, and his race proved it. I don’t remember how he finished, but as I recall, he did finish and that was what was important. That night, Craig showed us all what kind of stones he really had. It was a night I’ll never forget.
For me, Craig Mansfield came to represent everything that is good in amateur racing. It never seemed to be a win/loose proposition for him. He showed up, raced, and gave it everything he had. he raced clean and fair. Never gave an inch but knew when to get out of the way. You could not ask for a better competitor or friend.
You shall be missed my friend. More than you know.
This kinda puts a lump in the back of my throat Craig!
I’m happy for your new oppurtunity and the excitment of a change. But I have to say you will be sorely missed as one of the racers I took for granted would allways be there. You show up with guest drivers who need the escape and in some cases the carrot dangled in front them. You brought Rodney out to race again. It was really cool to see your generosity. You had an excellent performance at the Imi Csc race in a pretty deep field. It was fun to watch your face coming to the scales not to mention the podium! Your podium and the response as well as Ron Reeds podium response in Greeley with the “silent wave” were a couple of the highlights of our season last year.
Also when we were looking to get Roman started, you walked us around and explained things and made some introductions. Just took the time to get people you didn’t know pointed the right way. Were not the only ones you did that for.
Keep a kart! The racing where you are going will be richer because of it.
We’ll miss you Craig.
Lucy, Roman and Rick
Well bud we said our goodbyes at the last CSC race.
Just like you I started racing at 51, hence my kart number.
Was a joy racing with you in the past yrs, great guy with the right outlook–race for fun.
Take care #50
Well Craig, my Dad and I only got to know you this past year, but you’ve been a big help regardless to our tough first season. Never against lending a helping hand, or loaning a part…even off your own kart (just provided you didnt need it)! Never got a chance to truly race against you, but a great competitor nonetheless..on and off the track, Colorado doesnt know what it’s gonna be missing. At the last CSC race this year, you helped me knock 2 seconds off my lap times! :sun:
Good luck in Canada, I hear they’re crazy about their motor racing, Karting especially. You should fit in just fine. :cheers:
Is this move happening before the Banquet? Hopefully you’ll be able to make it and reminice all night. 8)
Craig,
I ditto what everyone else has said about you. One point I want to make is that you are to karting, what we at times all loose track of. You are into this sport for fun, friendship and the thrill of racing. We can all race karts at different levels, but you have always kept things in perspective. Have fun, keep smiling, make new friends and keep coming back for more.At every GGP meeting you had one goal: “How can we get people to attend this race and get them interested in this sport?” You had guest drivers, from the military, and were always bringing new ideas to the table to help grow this sport of ours.
You taught us how valuable life can be, and how to deal with adversity. We are all stronger and more aware of how bad decisions can change the lifes of others. Your commitment to MADD is to be commended.
I envy the folks in Canada that get to share your passion. They are the lucky one’s.
Not to offend any of the people who have performed the National Anthem at the CSC races over the years…. But, Nobody has ever belted it out like the lady you brought to the GGP this summer. That was a “proud to be an American” moment that I, as a Viet Nam vet, will always cherrish.
Safe journeys buddy, and good luck to your wife and her new location. I hope to see you next year at the GGP showing Jansen how to get down and do twenty.
Curt
Craig,
You definitely helped the Ray family get into this sport. Our first venture to IMI for a race as a spectator you took the time to give us the tour of what you needed, what was expected and what to expect. Your sales pitch must have worked, the next week we had a kart to race in your class. You taught me personally, that there is always time to help a fellow racer or just have a conversation with them.
Get to Greeley next year and there will be a kart in the trailer for ya.
Thanks again
Bill
P.S I think we should turn this into a celebrity roast.
Boy do I have some “Celebrity Roast” bullets for Craig!
Are you going to make the banquet? It is funny that I turned in my votes for the awards earlier and you one of my nominations in a certain category and possibly others have the same feelings too. If you can make it, it would be good because we did not all get in our good byes. I would have been hanging out in your pit at The Track being all mushy if I would have known.
Anyway Craig, you’ve allways kept me grounded in this thing. When I’m up to my butt in alligators, you show up with a smile. It’s what it should be.
The whole karting community has been with you through times that required friends and were very personal, they’ll allways be friends Craig. Proud to be one of them.
Rick
Craig,
I can’t add much to what’s already been said. I’ve really enjoyed participating with you in on- and off-track events.
Best of luck to you and your family and I hope to see you at the races again sometime.
Charles
Craig………You have always been a positive in a sometimes negitive karting world, there will be a void in the karting community without you. 😥
Please stay in touch and come back and race, I’ll be glad to give you a hand if needed.
Mikey :cheers:
It was 2004 when I decided to stop by Bandi and check out the local races after my initial arrival to USA. I Met Rod and when asking about the person tah could help me getting in to Karting…. His answer was Craig. Met Craig, talk about the topic and offered to buy his two Karts with Animal Engines…. thats when the Fun Started. A year later again Craig was there to help me find my First TAG Kart, he took me to my first Race at GJ and showed me the good the bad and the ugly of Racing…. Man you will be missed.
Take good care of your self and stay in touch.Thank you for everything and Enjoy Life.
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