What a game! Congrats to the Seattle Seahawks, and everyone that is part of the 12th man. Going back to the Super Bowl for the 2nd time in a row. Woot!
PGP Junior Kart Race – Jan 18th, 2015
18 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – How things can change around as far as the weather is concerned and how you deal with it in a racing environment. With the rain, for these young racers it was the best training on how to control a “slick” tired kart against the forces of “nature”.
It was a mostly a dry surface in the first heat to a downpour for the second to a damp track for the final race. Taking things at this age is nothing new as many professional drivers got their start in karting. Pure seat of the pants driving one inch off the surface brings those forces of nature right up thru your body.
Doing this enough builds muscle memory that becomes automatic without thought as in most everything that is done repeatedly. Doing this in the changing weather/track conditions like that sponge soaking up water these young driver’s take it all in and just get better.
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The podium standers this race are:
1st – Mason Buck
2nd – Samuel Barrera-Gracia
3rd – Jon Karagounis
PRO-AM Race At Pacific Raceways
17 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – Over 25 entrants came for the PRO-AM race at PGP this day. Eager to start off the new year with a win in the series and with all so equally matched it comes down to your driving skills.
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To that end when everyone is so closely matched and for the most part driving in a pack throughout the race at times leaves no room for running out of your line. All the karts have bumper protection all around mostly for the protection of those who come out for the thrill of running around the track but not for nurffing your competitor.
A solid red flag brought one of the early heats to a halt for that very reason. This is not a demolition derby nor are you an officer practicing pit maneuver or even a lineman blocking for a running back. Being aggressive as a driver is a good thing but not at the expense of your competition.
It takes no skill to push another rider out of your way to gain another spot and it’s not sportsmanship in any way. After a stern red flag talking to by PGP an official on what it means to race fair things calmed down to some very good racing. The top three placers in the two classes are:
PRO
Maurice Shawver- 1st
Chris Beasley- 2nd
Cem Aykan- 3rd
PRO-AM
Aaron Penn- 1st
A.J. Johnston- 2nd
Mateo Deleon- 3rd
Practice Tree Series Event Two
17 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – The first Practice Tree of the New Year brought out more racers to the event held at The Sports Page. The word is spreading of the fun and comradely had at the series event. Good food and drink and updates on the projects in the works had your attention while practicing up before the serious competition began.
No different than on the track, it was all friendly till the lights came on and the game was on. The big difference here is that many of the players will never race against each other on the track until the end of the season King of the Hill competition due to running in different classes.
Now toss in a few who do not race on the track but enjoy the competition – the practice tree event offers a lot – and to the finalists a fist full of colorful cloth.
With three events left in the series and a reaction fueled run you could pick up the championship. Check Pacific’s web site for next date and come out for some fun.
Images of all the fun are now available – click here to go to the album.
SAMPLES
Amateur Kart Race At PGP – Jan 11th, 2015
11 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – With a multitude of classes offered by PGP, the amateur class got their chance to race this weekend. What a great way to start into a motorsports racing. Zipping along at 30 mph with your butt one inch off the ground is a blast no matter what your age is.
All drivers must weigh in at 190lbs. That means that if you weigh 150 you must add 40lbs of weight to the kart, this puts everyone on an even playing field. Jump on the scales with all your gear, no hedging here as you are checked after each race as you also change karts. This also prevents this is my favorite kart because of its number.
Rain or shine now your skills as a driver come to the front as it should be in a racing format. This day’s race though had a lighter than normal, no doubt many still sleeping in after the big win last night by the Seahawks. Got to give them that and looking for a bigger group next race.
Also going on this day PGP’s lead instructor schooling a pair of young driver’s on the sport of karting and by the looks on their faces as they run the circuit says everything. There is no mistaking an ear to ear grin even with a helmet on. White board diagramming showing how to enter a curve on the track or properly what line to follow for the fastest way around the track. As many people know many race driver’s got their start karting and progressed from there. Give PGP a call to see when you may take part in these classes.
Amateur Race podium placer’s are as follows: Aaron Penn grabbed the top spot with Ben Gonzales getting second and a very surprised and happy Todd Jensen placing third.
Images are now available – click here to go to the album.
SAMPLES
High Performance Sport Driving Day At Pacific Raceways
10 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – The High Performance Sport Driving Day was a real school on the reality that grip is paramount today at Pacific Raceways. Manning the race course was the watchful eyes of ProFormance Race School instructors and the Lost Mines Safety Team manning the corner stations.
Their eyes on the lappers kept things safe and if someone is going beyond their skills they are brought in to discuss what they are doing that would warrant the black flag. Beyond a doubt it has to be the best way to learn you and your car’s limits under whatever the weather conditions.
To take advantage of this go to Pacific’s web site or give them a call for upcoming dates.
Images of all the action are now available – click here to go to the photo album.
GO HAWKS!!
4-Stroke Fall/Winter Series Race At Pacific Raceway
04 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – As in most motorsports that race on a laid out course in a series format you have to deal with the weather and to have a plan-B. Rain tires were that plan for this day’s race. The constant drizzle put off any thought of a dry race surface.
Included in this plan-B was waterproof protection for rider and kart. Many forms of covering for the air filter on the 4-stroke motors and just as many forms of protection for the riders. Waterproof from head to toe was a prime objective. The constant drops on the visors had many wiping them off only to get them covered again after the rider in front of you hits a small flow of water as the rain tires do their job biting for traction and shedding water.
Forward motion and centrifugal force created rooster tails that were hard to avoid. Thank goodness for the head to foot protection. No one knows what the next race weather will bring but the ability to race under these conditions, makes anything else a piece of cake.
Great job by the PGP crew to run the race under these weather conditions. Go to the PGP web site for upcoming dates and action.
Images are now available in the album – click here to go there.
World Formula
1st- Davin Strudivant
2nd- Ken Porter
3rd- Lawrence White
LO 206 Heavy
1st- Geoff Newman
2nd- Doug Huggler
3rd- Tony Williamson
LO 206 Light
1st- Kyle Wick
2nd- Kevin Cangie
3rd- Kevin Janders
Fall Moto GP Series Event At Pacific Raceways
03 Jan 2015 Kent, WA – As the GP Series goes the weather will play a part for the riders to contend with. Snow, rain, and sunny skies have presented their challenges to the riders. Today it was Fog.
Up and down it went but never lifting and at times the fog was so thick that anything faster than a human can run became zero visibility or what is known as “Whiteout” conditions. Luckily at the time the youngest of the riders were on the track and their slower lap times gave time for the fog to lift by the time they got to that part of the course.
Who knows what Mother Nature will put out for the next series race but whatever it is there are a few riders that the weather seems to have no effect on as one young rider was off his bike and watching the remainder of the race before the second place rider finished. Like I said, he was not affected by the weather. Besides he is a “very skilled” rider and it showed.
This was the last race in the GP Series for the 2014/2015 season; see you when the series starts again.
Images with some great views through the fog are now available – click here to go to the album.
Happy New Year!
31 Dec 2014 Kent, WA – May 2015 discover you fresher, happier, healthier, more joyful, more cheerful and more satisfied. Here is wishing you a Happy New Year from all of us at See It Imagery. Race Season is around the corner!
PGP Amateur Race At Pacific Raceways – Dec 27th, 2014
27 Dec 2014 Kent, WA – The last Saturday of 2014 put the Amateur drivers around the PGP course. Mother Nature provided the rain part of the “Rain or Shine” operation of the kart track.
Driving in the rain at speed in the most part is helped by your tires and its tread, take away that tread and the traction you had is gone. In a kart it is seat of the pants driving and trusting your instinct on how far you can push the traction you have. I have to think the knowledge you gain from the kart translates to the bigger machines like in Autocross or pure Road Racing. The rain or shine opportunity in the karts are a great way to learn how to control what you have under you no matter what it is.
When it was over Mateo Deleon was the winner, followed by David Cheng in second place, and Angelique Brouard came in third.
Check the PGP web site for info for dates and operating hours.
Images are now available – click here to go to the album.
