Okay, I'm a blog slacker. Sorry about that. I think it's the heat. But our "cold front" came in today and the heat didn't get over 100*...just high 90's. So, here I am again!! LOL!I rea
lly don't know if I can relive the last few races. They've been nail biters for us. But nothing compared to the last race of the summer series. In checking the points total for the series, Hunter was in the lead. But the last race would determine the Summer Series Champion. If Hunter won Summer 6, he would win the series. If he got 2nd place to his buddy Reilly, he would lose by only 1 point. Wow.
So, imagine my surprise when I found out on Friday night at practice that Reilly would not be racing on Saturday. A small part of me was elated that there would be no real pressure (Hunter could lose to the other kids and still win the series), but a larger part that was really bummed that he wouldn't be able to really "race" for the win.
Anyway, a couple of other parents agreed with us on that and put in a call to Reilly's parents to see if they co
uld help out in any way to get him to the track on Saturday to race. When they walked in to register on Saturday, I had to tease about my mixed emotions of them showing up (We really wanted them there), to which Reilly's dad teased back, "well, we couldn't let you walk away with it!" No, no you really couldn't!!
Heat 1 qualifying didn't go too well for Hunter. He was having some issues with the kart set up and was spinning off the track in some areas. Then came the Heat 2 pre-final race. He got behind Reilly for 2nd and just wasn't able to make a pass, so 2nd it was and 2nd was where he would start for the final.
For the Heat 3 Final, we told Hunter to go out and do his very best and if he could get ahead of Reilly at the start, he very well could hold him off for the race...hopefully. The boys rolled out on the track, lined up, came around the last corner toward the race director and....GREEN FLAG...Go! Go! Go!!!!
Hunter jumped out to the lead and for 11 3/4 of 12 laps held that lead. However, Reilly was on his tail and would nearly pass him on the same corner for many of those laps. Talk about stressed out parents watching!!!
Then it happened.
On the 2nd to last corner, Reilly made his move to pass. However, this is a banked turn and momentum will push a kart on the inside, low line, up higher...and who was in that high line? Yup. Hunter. The two collided and Hunter spun off the track. Fortunately, his kart was still running and he was able to get back on the track and finish the race. Hearts were broken, but that is racing.
Both boys were devastated. Reilly didn't want to win like that. Hunter didn't want to lose like that. But both are such good friends that it didn't take long to make up and hang out again.
But that wasn't the end. The Race Director decided (probably in the interest of safety and after hearing from corner marshals watching this corner) to penalize Reilly one race position and award Hunter 1st place.
So, we have a champion racer in the house, but more importantly were all the lessons learned that night:
GOOD Sportsmanship in ALL situations is paramount to being a great athlete.
SAFETY counts in ALL aspects of racing.
And GREAT friends can be GREAT competitors!
We're looking forward to the Fall Series season.
See you there!
