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 Track Maps Ivor Wigham's European Rally School
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Pocketbike race, Middle Georgia Kart Track, Dublin - August 2nd, 2009The Middle Georgia Kart Track in Dublin, Georgia is AWESOME and now it has been extended with a few more turns and a long back stretch. This track was built by Phil Herrin for his sons (one of them is AMA racer Josh Herrin) and he did a great job with the track, buildings (including showers!), and landscaping.The words of the day were HEAT, HUMIDITY, RAIN, and HEAT! Did I mention the heat?! The day was overcast with threatening clouds all around, but we got through all the class heats dry. Then the skies opened and everyone who had access to rain tires (Tod, Steve, Randy) started to shod their bikes. But luck to us as the rain went away and the track dried enough for the class mains. More pictures can be seen HERE.
Super production heat 1I got the holeshot and get to lead (yeah) until the last turn of the first lap when the flood gates open and Randy flies past followed closely by Steve. Come on - let me dream a little longer!Tod comes through the inside on the new back section. I try to hang with him, but he's not punchin' a big enough draft for me, so off he goes. Then Beth passes me on the outside at the end of lap two - but she must have felt sorry for me because she jumps off of her bike in the dip in the back section and graciously lets me pass. I think she might be giving me a "thumbs up" from her prone position, but its hard to see in the video. No other real action after that and I end up 3rd. Helmet cam video 1 Open class heat 1I had another good holeshot (woo hoo, I'm in front), but only get to savor it until the end of the new back section when Randy zips past.Tod flies past me at the end of lap 2. Not much more action (some footage through lapped traffic) and I end up 3rd. Helmet cam video 2 Super production heat 2I adjusted my clutch before these next series of races so I don't get any more holeshots, I start off fourth into the first series of turns behind Steve, Randy, and Oscar. Randy gets tired halfway through the first lap (it must be exhausting being that fast) so he lays down just after the new back section (nap time). Steve, Oscar, and I carry on. Tod passes me on the inside at the end of the first lap (that seems familiar) and then rushes up to play with Steve through the back section leaving Oscar and me to mix it up. I finally get around Oscar and it appears that Tod has backed off a bit - so I try and push harder, but it turns out that it was just an illusion - he's gone! No more action, and I think I finish third (Beth must not have run this one)!Helmet cam video 3 Open class heat 2I start way in the back - so no holeshots. Tod and Randy break away as I try and make my way through traffic up into third. No more action - other than some quick shots through traffic.Helmet cam video 4 Super production main raceI start in the front row with Tod and Randy. They both jump out front followed by Steve. I get around Steve after the new back section and am still kinda with Tod and Randy, but they must be just verifying the amount of traction available on the slightly damp track because they start stretching their legs!Beth comes around me on the outside at the end of lap 2 (again) and she starts gaining ground on Randy and Tod. Through laps 3 and 4 I'm hanging with Beth (woo hoo)! At the end of lap 4 she backs off and lets me pass. It turns out she had a breaking handle bar which finally let loose. Moral of that sentence - Beth beats me with one handle bar! I thought I had a third place now in the bag - but at the beginning of the final lap Steve and I collide sending me slightly into the grass - I make up some time, but not enough. Where's my 4th place trophy?! I tried hard! Helmet cam video 5 |
