Race Report - Los Angeles Karting Championship

A l Kart
k t Club
l b
Los Angeles
Come see what all the buzz is about!
May Newsletter produced by Joe Stalker
Race Report
As the halfway point approaches for the 2009 season, LAKC is proving to be the premiere kart club in Southern California, if not the nation. Not even the doom
& gloom of the nation’s economy could keep the 120 + racers from coming out to do battle with their fellow competitors. As the sun crept up over the speedway
grandstands, racers began to flow into the facility lining up for registration. No one would be disappointed with the Weather Man’s forecast of low 80’s for the day.
After wrapping up the morning’s two practice sessions, D. W.’s first call to the grid was for the FTK sponsored, Rotax Masters. Paul Bonilla would set the pace
by a couple of tenths over Andy Seesemann & David Busby. Bonilla would check out in the Pre-Main leaving Seesemann, Busby & Dzurilla to settle things among
themselves. Busby was forced to drop off the pace while Seesemann & Dzurilla traded positions several times. Seesemann would have the edge at the line by a
half second. Bonilla was poised for a hat trick as he began pulling away from the field with no one to offer a challenge. Meanwhile there was a three way battle
shaping up between Seesemann, Dzurilla & Tyler Brooks. Busby was also on the charge from his mid pack start and would join the party by the mid way point.
On lap 10 Bonilla would be forced to retire with mechanical issues, handing the lead over to Seesemann. A lap later Busby would take over with Brooks in tow.
Busby would cross the line first ahead of Brooks and Dzurilla. But Busby would receive a DQ in post tech, thus handing the win to Brooks. Seesemann would move
to the third spot.
Twenty HPV-1 competitors filled the grid for the P-1 Engines sponsored event. Jacob Drew would lay down the quick lap, earning the pole over Willem
Elsdon & Christian Brooks. Drew would grab the hole shot at the start of the Pre-Main while both Brooks & Willy Axton displaced Elsdon. The trio would swap
positions several times before Axton crossing the line by the narrowest of margins ahead of Drew with Brooks just a kart length back. After a red flag delay and
a re-grid, eighteen drivers would answer the call to the grid. Jacob drew would waste little time taking over the lead from Axton and would run off pretty much
unchallenged. Chris Trickle was the “BIG Mover” finishing second after starting eighth. Noah Grey also had a good run, coming across in third for his efforts.
Ethan Barrett was just too much for the field of fourteen Fleming Motorsports Kid Karts. Taking top honors with Pole, Pre-Main & gapping the filed in the Main
by almost 20 seconds. Anthony Sawyer was P-2 for the day while Nic Fusco was edged out in the Main by Mark Polunin.
Bruce miller was on another planet for the Karttech sponsored Shifter/DD2 classes. Greg Smith decided to park the Rotax for the month and dust off his shifter
kart earning the runner up spots to Miller. Jeff Armant & Maryeve Dufault would have their separate battle in DD2, with Armant taking the “Hat trick” for the day.
Dakota Dickerson & Jonathan May were Top Dogs in their SSC Rotax Jr. & Mini classes. Breanna Miscione would qualify P-2 in the Jr’s but later would be plagued
with handling issues. Jeremy Kane shadowed Dickerson for most of the Main but could not mount a serious challenge to “D.D.” Miscione across in third after Nick
Silva was force to retire after just 3 laps. In Mini-Max Jonathan May was front row all day and cruised to a victory ahead of Adam Lavelli & Noah Grey, taking his
second podium of the day.
G-Phactory Rotax Sr. division was shaping up for a repeat of the March race with Erik Jackson setting the pace in qualifying in what looked to be a White
Tornado. Paul Bonilla second, Brett Sheffer third. Jackson would take off in the Pre-Main leaving Bonilla to fend off Dylan Stalker who had got by Sheffer on the
first lap. Bonilla starting off pole would grab the start from Jackson while Stalker would get by Jackson for second. Jackson would soon return the favor and set
his sites on Bonilla while Stalker fought an under steering kart. By the halfway point Jackson caught and passed Bonilla for the lead but Bonilla stayed tight on
Jackson’s bumper. With three laps to go the leaders came into lapped traffic, which allowed Stalker to creep back on Bonilla’s bumper. Stalker made a move with
two to go and held on for second behind Jackson. Bonilla a half a kart length back in third.
Jonathan Miller & Gabriella Robles would put on an afternoon show in the Hyper Engines World Formula. Eric Nelson would have the pole but would be shuffled
back to third within a few laps into the Pre-Main. Miller would take the win with Robles second and Don Felber in third. Miller would take the Main win but not
before swapping positions several times with Robles. Jason Bunch across in third.
Pitts Performance sponsored Jr-1 would see a field of seventeen take to the grid. Jacob Drew would narrowly grab the pole over Willy Axton & Christian Brooks.
Drew would only complete one lap with Axton back in eighth. Brooks would be the winner in the Pre-Main followed home by Alec Karas and Josh Kurtz.
Brooks would lead every lap of the Main, but it was Drew who put on a clinic getting his kart up to second by the half way point. Alec Karas coming home in third.
Empire Kart sponsored Tag class would see G-Phactory teammates Adam Zeen & Shawn Cricca nose to bumper the entire afternoon. Zeen would take the pole
by .145. Cricca the pre-Main by .226. The two would battle each other in the Main with Zeen making a move late in the race to take over the lead. BUT, he forgot
to protect at the hairpin on the last lap and Cricca capitalized and took over the lead with a half lap to go. Cricca’s margin was .118 over Zeen. Jason bunch third.
DPK’s HPV-2 was the last of the days competitors. The trio of Jarrodd Torres, Matt Meisberger & Eric Reschke would be the ones to watch. Torres was quick in
qualifying but Meisberger would take the Pre-Main with Reschke in the second spot. The Main saw Meisberger & Torres inches apart until lap 8 when Torres
spit a chain. Reschke couldn’t reel in Meisberger and came across in second. Dane LaTorre with a good run for third. Noteable was Chandler Campbell who was
having a GREAT run up to forth when the steering components decided they did not want to play anymore. Luckily she was able to bring the kart safely to a halt
out of the remaining racers way. You’ll get em next time Chandler !
Our May event is shaping up to have a great turnout with the IKF round 5 a few weeks out. We will also be adding a one off PRD class for those who wish to
prepare to run the IKF race.
See ya on the 16th
Joe Stalker
“Red Gloves Rule”
Notes from the Board….
Starting with the May race, grid position for qualifying will be determined by lap times from the second practice session. This
means that you will need to have your transponder on the kart for the second practice session. Those racers that do not make the
second practice session or go out without their transponder will be gridded at the back for the qualifying session.
Both member and non-member entry forms are available to download at the club web site. You can fill it out on the computer,
print it out and save yourself some time on race morning. The forms can be found on the downloads tab on the LAKC home page.
We are changing our race day schedule to make things a lot simpler. The practice, qualifying, pre-main, and main event running
order will now all be the same for each class. If your class is first up for practice, you will also be first up for qualifying and the races.
The schedule will be available on the club web site several days before the race.
We will be broadcasting live timing and scoring information on the i-card system for the rest of the 2009 season.
The club will have 2009 IKF rule books available for sale for anybody that would like to have a copy. Please ask at registration if
you would like to buy a copy.
LAKC will be hosting our annual IKF Region 7 race on June 5th, 6th, and 7th. The club needs members to volunteer and help out.
Even just a half a day would be helpful. Contact Chris LaTorre at (661) 714-3668 if you can join us.
We are including the Spec PRD class in our May 17 race so all the Region 7 PRD racers can come out a get tuned up for the IKF
race at CalSpeed. This class has attracted some of the best drivers around and their race at LAKC should be a lot of fun to watch.
951-694-5306
Tech Notes
714-289-0432
Your cat has nine lives, my Rotax has ten; here’s how…
By Francois Doran @ Karttechonline.com
Rotax arrived with a great engine package to add to the sport. As much as they would like to call it user friendly, there’s some tips that you need
to know that will, in the long run save you some money and keep you going through out the race week-end without having to end the race day
prematurely.
Maintenance: You know it by now, it is inevitable; you will get your hands dirty. Rotax like to mentioned user friendly, true in a way, you don’t need to
push start it nor a twenty pounds external starter to get the engine going! Now the bad news; that’s where the “user friendly” expression ends!
Keep in mind it a race car, for each hour on track spent with your Rotax kart or any other kart; you should have to invest 2-3 hours toward chassis
and engine preparation.
Keep in mind, when I mention “engine preparation” I refer to external components that does not require to brake the Rotax seal. Now that we are
minded to get our hands dirty let’s start.
The Carburetor: Simply as a reference, 60% of the time when a Rotax customer has a complain about the engine, it is carburetor and half of those
racers have the carburetor internal fuel filter clogged.
On race day, keep that 12mm open wrench along with a brake cleaner can handy and clean the internal fuel filter twice a day. If you decide to take
it off the aluminum nut to clean it, don’t forget to re-install it, a missing internal fuel filter is an automatic DQ. Make sure the external fuel filter is
in good condition. If you use the Rotax external fuel filter there is no restriction as far as where to mount it. If you use any other brand, you can
only connect it between the fuel pump and the carburetor. If mounted between the fuel tank and the fuel pump, DQ!
Fuel Pump: Keep the diagram!! Everyone at one point changed the fuel pump gasket and assembled it without being quite sure of the proper order
that the gaskets go to. That’s why they give you a diagram with the package. But keeping an eye on the fuel pump is a great idea. Over time, oil
accumulate in the pump making the fuel pump less efficient. You don’t have to clean it after each race day, but after each week-end at least.
Air Box: After each day at the track, make sure to clean your air box. If the filter seems damaged or to dirty, don’t take a chance and change it.
Spark Plug: Denso offers a range of spark plug covering from a cold day to the most boiling hot summer day. I like to use the IW27 for outside
temperature under 75degF. From 76F to 85F my choice is IW29. From 86F to 100F the IW31. With my experience, I notice that the best running
water temperature for the average engine is around 150F. Few times a year on very hot day in the desert, you might see engine temp reaching
over 180F/190F. When this occurs I would recommend switching to an IW34.
Clutch (older model): Some drivers will go through 3 clutches per season; some other will keep the same one for 2 seasons. What is the difference?
Maintenance and driving style!
Driving: No brake and gas at the same time, avoid complete stops and go in the pits. Don’t push your shifter buddy with your kart because he
doesn’t have someone to push start him! Bump drafting is ok, but avoid pushing much slower kart.
Maintenance: After each day I like to remove the clutch drum, clean it and inspect it for any possible crack. Remove the clutch support; make sure
the ends are not broken. Clean the clutch and the shoes with brake cleaner, try to see if the three main post are solid and not about the brake
off or already broken. Clean the bearing with brake fluid and grease up with Motul grease, it does a great job.
Power Valve: It is all about making sure it is clean and free. Take the entire assembly off and clean it. Make sure the gasket is in good condition.
Clean the valve without using anything that will leave a mark on it such as sand paper or wool steel. When entire assembly clean, make sure you
don’t install the valve backward as it happen too often!!
Starter: With time and vibration the brushed inside the starter have a tendency to brake off or come loose causing the starter to be completely not
responsive. Before it happens to you on the grid, take a look at the internal component of your starter, clean it with brake cleaner, if needed use a
soldering gun to reconnect the brush. Once soldered on properly, cover with a thin coat of orange hi-temp silicone.
Exhaust system: Drill out the three rivets and install small nuts and bolts. This way it is easier and faster to keep an eye the condition of the stinger
and the packing. These items should be inspected after each race week-end. When installing the exhaust system on the exhaust socket, add a
small bead of hi-temp silicone on the outside of the socket, this way the excess of silicone overflow outside the pipe instead of inside causing
restriction at the exhaust and therefore less power. Let the silicone dry for at least thirty minutes before starting the engine.
Around the Track...
LAKC Driver Profile
Name: Noah Grey
Age: 9
Hometown: Dana Point, California
Parents: Phillip & Denise Grey
Years Karting: 3rd season
Current Class/ Chassis: HPV1 - Top Kart; MiniMax - Kosmic
Sponsors: Aliso Electric, Inc. ; Sterling Construction ; Merrick
Motors ; Christopher Mahr & Associates ; numerous friends and
family who are fans
Accomplishments:
2009 Captain of the George White Football Team; Riding
my mountain bike up Cholla and down Rock It; Boosting airs out of the 9-ft. pool at the Laguna Niguel Skate
Park
Goals: Win an HPV1 Race!
What you enjoy most about karting: It’s fun and exciting!
Hobbies: Mountain Bike Riding, Surfing, Skating, Snowboarding
Favorites:
• Foods: Carl’s Jr. Super Star
• TV/Movies: Mall Cop
• Kart Track: Willow
• Race Series / Driver: F1 ; Timo Glock (Toyota West)
• Driver: Kimi Raikkonen
Most Memorable Karting Moment: Driving my HPV1 from 12th place to 3rd place in the final race
Most Forgettable Karting Moment: Flipping in my Kid Kart
LAKC 2009 Schedule
May 17
June 5-7 IKF
June 14
626-814-2008
909-793-9695
July 18 Tri-C / July 19 LAKC
August no race
Sept 26 Tri-C / Sept 27 LAKC
October 25
949-206-9906
November 8 Rain Option
8 of 9 Races - Rain or Shine
Gates/Registration open at 6:00am
714-841-2700
Practice at 8:00am
Saturday open practice $45
Saturday Pre-registration available
Saturday Night Camping $20
$10 to leave your trailer overnight
Rotax Max Challenge presented by Mazda local series
Race dates subject to change without notice
951-897-0550
818-891-5759
760-864-1320
909-981-9611
April Race Winners… Congratulations !
Spec Honda: Bryce Miller
125 Shifter Open: Tim Hepburn
TaG: Shawn Cricca
Rotax Masters: Tyler Brooks
Senior Max: Erik Jackson
World Formula: Jonathan Miller
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Ne y 16 th Rac
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Los Angeles Kart Club
23123 Wildwood Rd.
Newhall, Ca. 91321
Kid Karts: Ethan Barrett
HPV-1: Jacob Drew
HPV-2: Matt Meisberger
Junior 1: Christian Brooks
Rotax Junior: Dakota Dickerson
Mini Max: Jonathan May
DD2: Jeff Armant