Victory in Houston

Southwest Roadracing Association brought it's kart racing schedule to Motorsports Ranch on May 4-6, 2007. The most populated class was once again the TaG class and the Formula 125's, but it was the KT 100LTD Heavies that counted to me, your humble host, Katykarter.

After an excellent Friday practice at this track, my first exposure to this new track, Saturday morning practice brought a lot of unanswered questions. My new data-acquisition instrument wasn't working properly, I threw a chain and had an engine sputter maliciously at the end of practice.

Swift/PPK fielded two team karts in the Yamaha KT 100 lights on Saturday, one driven by team principle Colin Walker (pictured), the other driven by Venezuelan racer extrodinaire Oscar Moran. Both karts prepared by PPK motor-guru Frank Newsom. Unfortunately, the #22 kart driven by Oscar dropped out of the race with a broken chain. He had a fast kart and was driving it to victory when the chain failed. This chain problem was a reoccuring problem this weekend, although several other issues clouded the team's efforts. Oscar was pressuring the eventual race winner, Steve Miller, when the mechanical failure took place, breaking his heart and sending the rest of us on a chain-driven re-assesment of our karts. Colin hung in there with a fast kart and through attrition benefitted from a podium third place finish. Colin is the other team principle, the swift-boy of Swift Racing, a lifelong racer still going strong at age 77.

Although there were no team karts racing Sunday, Frank Newsom (pictured), came out and supported me, your humble author, Katykarter and helped me to finish the 30 min. race in second place. The kart handled magnificently and the motor never faltered, giving me what I thought was a podium second place finish. Post-race inspection proved fatal for Kari, the race winner. She ran across the scales 8 lbs. too light, disqualifying her and propelling me into 1st place.

I'll take it. See you at the next race, June 8-10 at Henderson, Tx's Oakhill Raceway, the home of Southwest Roadrace Association.