Ifn Sl JAMES 47075715 3 IB'fz'm.V £ED MOTORSPORTS DEVEL.OPMENT SKIPBARBER·Com (866) 736·5319 Staff Ecitoal Publisher Curt J
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A DAY AT THE TRACK WITH IfN Sl JAMES 47075715 3 IB'fZ'M.V £ED MOTORSPORTS DEVEL.OPMENT SKIPBARBER·com (866) 736·5319 STaFF eCIToAl pUBLISHeR Curt J. Paluui ., ... - '" ,. .'" ... , [email protected] cec:~rn~~t3.:2009 - .JanUaRY 2010 aSSIS'TCIr1T eCITOR Mike Burrell [email protected] aOVeRTISlnO Francine Jaworski [email protected] ceslof"l Sen D. McCartney [email protected] CIFlC:ULaTIOn Francine Jaworski [email protected] conTRIBUTlnc; eCI'tORS John Copeland Derek Daly Tom Godfrey Quentln Haines Vahok Hili Garry Lobaugh Bob Markiewicz Arle Ouimet Mike Unger Bruce Walls Greg Wright eCITORlaL Ol=l=lces National Kart News 51535 Bittersweet Rd. Granger, IN 46530 574-277-0033 Fax 574-277-4279 www.nkn.com e-mail: [email protected] National Kart News is published monthly by National Kart News, Inc. located at 51535 rnrrrton SimULaTion Bittersweet Rd., aT Home Granger, IN 46530. Postmaster: Send Address changes to National Kart News, 51535 Bittersweet Rd., Granger, IN 46530 Subscription rates: $22.50 a year for 12 issues. Allow 6-8 weeks for the first Issue. DRIVERDEVELDPMENTSERJES~ - - - -- - -- ------------------ the pack. There was a scatter of cars everywhere, I lost 9 positions, and then gained 6 back by the exit of the next corner! After a silly race I went from 5th to 14th and back to 5th in the space of three laps. I suppose the lesson was to; expect the unexpected and deal with it - My dad was not impressed but kept telling me to keep talking to Reggio (my engineer). Miller Motorsports Park in Utah was another struggle in qualifying but after a lot of changes, the car was really good in the race. However, I got a bit too ambitious after a restart and got my front wing damaged with an overly ambitious overtaking move (big lesson!). After a pit stop for a new nose and wing (and without a full course yellow) I finished with the smashing result of 20 something ... ugh I don't even remember. I was fast but I had yet to put practice, qualifying and the race all together without incident. My dad was still a little concerned that the steep learning curve might be a little too much for me but he was also very aware (and happy) that the lessons were coming thick and fast. After Utah, he told me to keep talking to Reggio. my relationship with my engineer, Mike Reggio, would be one of the keys to success in the season- he kept saying talk to Reggio. exs:aec:-rTHe unexpeCTec <:================ anc DeaL WITHIT. Virginia International Raceway was next up and the lessons started to pile up. It was probably one of the worst races of the year because I think there were a total of five or six green flag laps. I was never really on the pace all weekend but that was not the real drama. Unbelievably, Adam Christodoulou (who eventually won the championship) brake checked the field on a restart that by the time the effects got to me in fifth place, chaos broke out. I was just coming out of the last corner and had to jump on the brakes without being straight and had a massive screeching 360 degree spin right in the middle of Introducing 40 mm!!! I.Available 50 mm or 40 mm High Quality Ceramic Ball :t Available Steel or Ceramic balls Steel Ball Benefits - EasyAxle Changes - Simple Oeaning - Concentric Axle Support -True Axle Rotation - Longer Axle Ufe - No Axle Misalignment Patented Removable Concentric Outer Ring Snap Shield Solution '~. -_- -_-__ __ - - - - ',;; - -- - '!JvDRIVER DEVELOPMENT SERIES STIC:KTO THe Next up was the high banks of Iowa Speedway aaslcs ... - at night and I was on a mission. The racing was The TV cameras captured incredible - just nuts at times! It was the closest everything at the New Jersey racing I was ever involved in and I now have a Motorsports Park at the first completely new respect for the Indy Car guys (and doubleheader of the season girls!). I got a feel for the type of concentration level it with live coverage on HDNet! takes to race wheel to wheel with someone for multiple Reggio and I were not "in laps and at such high speeds. Dad was my spotter and tune" yet and before the he talked me through the whole race even to the point of official sessions he asked having me slow down on the last two laps with a "don't me to not be so descriptive force it" message as I considered lapping some back with the handling of the car markers. I escaped a 145 MPH crash when Alex Ardoin issues and just cover the tripped over a back marker and did a complete spin just basics, inches from my nose in turn one before he slammed the wall. I went on to finish second In front of a massive crowd The basics worked (mainly NASCAR supporters!) and as we drove home I felt (at least on Saturday) good about my personal performance and began to feel that it as I was fastest in every was beginning to come together. My dad also felt good as did Reggio. session (wet and dry) put it on the pole and won my first race - what a thrill. It gave me the confidence that I could actually beat these guys. Reality however set in the next day when I struggled in qualifying and could only finish 8th ..... TaKe WHaT THe c:aR Cilves vou. <=====::::::::l talk about a rolier coaster. I learned how to win and lose all on the same The second of two doubleheaders took place at Autobahn Country Club weekend. My dad told me to keep talking to Reggio. near Chicago. This would technically be my "home" race considering I live In Indianapolis. I had lots of family and friends there and I really wanted to put on a good show for them. My two main competitors, Dempsey and Christodoulou were in a new desiqn of chassis and my dad suspected that the chassis appeared to be quicker. I finished third in race one (uneventful but not fast enough) and got by far the biggest cheer on the podium because we had imported the crowd. Unfortunately, race two was one of the most active races of the season, but for the wrong reason - I had to be defensive all day. I had an absolutely atrocious understeer turning left. I actually theuqht my front wing was broken! However, after suffering through a race where all I could focus on was my mirrors, I managed to finish 5th. Reggio discovered that three of my tires were Can you face the difficult off track challenges and become stronger? Milwaukee was the first oval race of the season and my career. It was a complete and utter disaster. We didn't get to qualify because of torrential rain so we had to start by practice times. I lined up 3rd on the grid behind my teammate Richard Kent. Most of us had never raced on an oval before so we didn't really know what to expect. At the drop of the green flag I had a great start and thought I could pass for the lead. As my teammate and I headed into the first corner side by side, neither of us realized what a horrible result would ensue. We collided, sending both of us into the wall and out of the race. That event marked a really low point in the season. Many unfortunate things were said that really made it tough. I was mad, my dad was mad, tensions were high within the team, but I feel that I developed a ton of mental strength that weekend and started to learn how to persevere through difficult times. Racing is always going to be difficult, but if you can learn to push through the toughest of times you will be mentally prepared to deal with almost anything. As we drove home I knew my dad was concerned however, his motto is always not to keep me from difficult times but to equip me to handle them. I also knew he would tell me to keep talking to Reggio. DEC 2009 - JAN 2010 800-942-0033 DRIVERDEVELDPMENTSERIES. .- -. ~---~ __ .-. -~ .'-- . - _ .::::._..:::.......= the proper road course compound but my right front, was This was a race that I should an experimental back up oval tire that was an EXTREMELY have won. I was the fastest carl hard compound. We literally bolted on the problem. What driver combination everyday but a lesson it was dealing with the mismatched tires and it seemed little consolation. I was having to be defensive. At this stage Reggio and I were really mad at the outcome and beginning to really understand each other and I had a during the week I told my dad that pretty good understanding of the car and what it liked maybe I needed to become more and Reggio had a pretty good understanding of what I conservative instead of aggressive. liked from the car. Dad told me that instead of taking anything from my package, I should instead add to it - I should add paTlenc:e IS a VIRTue C====j~ patience. My talks with Reggio were ... and your friend. really paying dividends because I now Another new challenge awaited me in Quebec, had a fast car almost every session and Canadaand my first street race! I told my dad that if it wasn't fast enouqn, we knew what to I thought I could win the remaining four races. It doto make it faster.