Buck Beasley
02-18-2008, 09:07 PM
Just wanted to tell those who were interested, how Tristan did at GSS in the Space City Kart Challege.
First off, he was the biggest kid on the grid, giving up 15 pounds to the next smallest kid. He drew the last starting spot on the grid for his heat race.
It would appear he got the hole shot gene from dad. He was up to first in T1. Made a few mistakes and dropped back to third, but stayed focused and made some smart choices in lap traffic to get himself back to the front with one lap left, and held 'em off for the win.
That gave him pole for the 10 lap main,and again he looked like the only one awake when the flag dropped. Led for three laps, then spun it out on lap four T1 and the whole feild went by. This is where it got really good. You could see him hunker down in his seat and really put his heart in to chasing the feild down.
If you've never seen a kid kart race, they run 50cc Comer motors, and they make it a true spec class. Same gearing, fuel, tires, min weight, etc. So to make up ground is really unheard of and he should have been done. But no...........he wasn't done.
Tristan put down six of his best laps ever, and made smart decisions in the heat of the battle. Penultimate lap(got that from the GP comentators) and he's in third with second in his sights. They crossed start/finish side by side with T-Bone on the inside going into T1 flat out. Didn't think it was going to turn out good, but he just threw it in there sideways, never let off, and held the line. My heart was about to come out of my chest as they bumped and battled it out for the whole last lap, and Tristan held him off to bring it home in second.
YEAH...........I'm frikin' PROUD of my kid. Better than a win in my book as he didn't quit, didn't get flustered. He just knew what he had to do and set out to do it.
Chris was there taking photos, and I'm about to bust a gut to see them. (HINT!!!!!!!) Good news is that the close racing and really battling it out seems to have lit his fire again and now he's talking about the Cadet class with 80cc's and running a series. We are going to run a couple more kid kart races, but I see a Cadet for his B-day if the grades stay worthy.
I ran my 100cc TaG, and would have qualifies 3-5th but I popped my pistion on my final practice session before quailfying. GSS was a great Kart facility and the track is very smooth even in karts w/o suspention. I rember when MSRH was that smooth. AHHHHHHHHH those were the days.
Hoepfully Chris will throw us a bone with an action shot of Tristan.(another subtle hint)
Thanks again to Chris for being the man with the camera, that guys can take some world class motorsport photos.
First off, he was the biggest kid on the grid, giving up 15 pounds to the next smallest kid. He drew the last starting spot on the grid for his heat race.
It would appear he got the hole shot gene from dad. He was up to first in T1. Made a few mistakes and dropped back to third, but stayed focused and made some smart choices in lap traffic to get himself back to the front with one lap left, and held 'em off for the win.
That gave him pole for the 10 lap main,and again he looked like the only one awake when the flag dropped. Led for three laps, then spun it out on lap four T1 and the whole feild went by. This is where it got really good. You could see him hunker down in his seat and really put his heart in to chasing the feild down.
If you've never seen a kid kart race, they run 50cc Comer motors, and they make it a true spec class. Same gearing, fuel, tires, min weight, etc. So to make up ground is really unheard of and he should have been done. But no...........he wasn't done.
Tristan put down six of his best laps ever, and made smart decisions in the heat of the battle. Penultimate lap(got that from the GP comentators) and he's in third with second in his sights. They crossed start/finish side by side with T-Bone on the inside going into T1 flat out. Didn't think it was going to turn out good, but he just threw it in there sideways, never let off, and held the line. My heart was about to come out of my chest as they bumped and battled it out for the whole last lap, and Tristan held him off to bring it home in second.
YEAH...........I'm frikin' PROUD of my kid. Better than a win in my book as he didn't quit, didn't get flustered. He just knew what he had to do and set out to do it.
Chris was there taking photos, and I'm about to bust a gut to see them. (HINT!!!!!!!) Good news is that the close racing and really battling it out seems to have lit his fire again and now he's talking about the Cadet class with 80cc's and running a series. We are going to run a couple more kid kart races, but I see a Cadet for his B-day if the grades stay worthy.
I ran my 100cc TaG, and would have qualifies 3-5th but I popped my pistion on my final practice session before quailfying. GSS was a great Kart facility and the track is very smooth even in karts w/o suspention. I rember when MSRH was that smooth. AHHHHHHHHH those were the days.
Hoepfully Chris will throw us a bone with an action shot of Tristan.(another subtle hint)
Thanks again to Chris for being the man with the camera, that guys can take some world class motorsport photos.