Friday, July 9, 2010

Summer League Race 1!!

Summer’s here and that can only mean one thing; the 2010 F1 Race Factory Summer League Series has finally started! Twenty six racers signed up for the first of eight races of fast, fun, indoor kart action held every Tuesday here at F1 Race Factory. This promises to be the best league yet with a wide spectrum of talent driving these beasts, capable of 45 mph.

Tonight’s action saw the dreaded “Black Flag” issued to one, yet to be named, racer. Better luck next time Robert Moorhouse! Nobody escapes the watchful eyes of the track officials; these guys do a bang up job that’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination. I know, I’ve done it and ended up confused even before the racers left the pit lane! Give them the respect they deserve and if that doesn’t work slip five unmarked dollar bills into a plain white envelope and slide it across the table.

Hey! I’m Italian it’s in my blood.

Now for the good stuff.

Qualifying saw twenty six racers vying for the top spot and Group One was headed up by former F1 Race Factory employee Justin “The Arsonist” Bayles with a time of 29.591.
Group two was up next and some guy in a red Santa suit named Steve “Kandyman” Lattanzi led the charge with a 29.504.

The only drama prior to the qualifier was a weight issue with one of the new and lite as a feather racers. Anthony, you got to eat more of the candy available. Good golly I have a cat that weighs more than that! Anthony ended up sitting on a mountain of extra weights but drove his heart out the entire night. Good job!

I would like to welcome Doug Smith, Scott Lodding, Anthony & Al DeNapoli, John Vanderwey, Chris Kautz, Don Angel, Dana Lanzaro and Matthew Lamanilao to the fold and we hope to see you weekly. What a great way to spend a Tuesday night so on Wednesday you can call in to work and say you are so sore you feel like you were in a car wreck and can’t move your arms so you won’t be in that day. I recommend you do this only once or you may find yourself in the unemployment office meeting lots of new people.

Heat One Results are: Eric “Yellow Helmet” Dickinson, followed by Mike “Pyramid” Davila, Bryan ”New House” Weaver, Chaz “I can drive anything” Baca Jr and Chris “10lbs Lighter” Webb.

Heat Two Results are: Steve “Kandyman” Lattanzi, Austin “Kipp Van Winkle” Kipp, Keith “Don’t hit me“ Sears, Charles “Wideload” Crowe, Matthew ”Here I come” Lamanilao.

“B” Main saw Kyle Tatman all the way from Tucson lead the way into turn one and he managed to stay out front for the majority of the race. This was until hard charger Jason Burstein on a mission to the front, with some contact along the way and Kyle went from fighting for the lead to stuck against the wall and sent back to seventh. Tatman put his nose to the grindstone and by race end took a disappointing 5th place but showed true talent in making his way back up toward the front. A first place finish is in his future so he is one to keep an eye on. Clean racer with lots of heart. Jason Burstein took the win and was as close to a Black Flag recipient as you can get.

Top 5 “B” Main: Jason Burstein…Ryan Barnicle…Don Angel…Robert Neumann…Kyle Tatman

Now for the “A” Main: Starting from pole position and now in total focus mode Steve Lattanzi had something to prove. Proving that winning the Winter League Series Championship was no fluke. The task at hand was to win this first race. Forty seven laps later gave proof that the 54 year old was back on track and taking no prisoners, at least that night. Even though he is afraid of heights the top spot on the podium felt like home.

Austin Kipp kept his distance in second place but the contest for 3rd and 4th was back far enough so that Mike Davila and Eric Dickinson posed no threat for the lead. Getting stuck behind Davila is no picnic as Dickinson can attest to. The big gainer in the field was Justin Bayles who started way back in 11th and by race end was in the last weigh out spot of 5th. Great run thru the pack and we saw no flames, smoke or angry hand signals from any of the passed. Welcome back safe and somewhat sound Justin. We missed you but not your lead foot.

Top 5 “A” Main: Steve Lattanzi…Austin Kipp…Mike Davila…Eric Dickinson…Justin Bayles

We do this again next Tuesday July 13….. 7pm with check in by 6:30.

Remember to Keep the Rubberside Down!