American Sportsman News

     Apparently, it has been quite some time since rain interrupted the monthly So Cal Sprinter’s race, longer than most could remember. That said, rain indeed greeted the hearty racers that showed for the September race, coincidentally the last race in the four-race Summer Shootout and ninth of the season. I guess so much for Summer.
     David Pease has held the lead in the American Sportsman class since February and came into this race with a 240-point lead over Gary “Mongo” Chez. His effort to extend the lead after winning the last three in a row, got a little easier when perennial front runner “Fast Freddy” Wilcoxon opted to sit out the rainy day at home and didn’t show. When the rain fell almost all morning, many thought that he had made a wise decision. Despite the constant rain, Jim Campbell and his kart renters, new to the class Craig Wright and returning racer Ken Valdez, struggled to get a feel for the karts in the slick conditions without the aid of rain tires. Several spins later, it was time for qualifying.
Racers got a brief reprieve from the rain and were met with a slowly drying track. After skipping practice, Chez did well to set fast lap with a 57.582 over Marty “The Professor” Thompson, David Pease, John Burgess, Jim Campbell, Robert Sharpe, Craig Wright and Ken Valdez.
     Then the rain fell again and Chez, Pease and Thompson decided to sit out the pre-main, which would move them to the back of the grid for the main. The rain stopped before the race was scheduled to run so Chez left to check the track and watch Campbell run in the wet. While he was gone, Pease and Thompson decided to race the pre-main and hurried to get ready to avoid starting in the back for the main with Chez. Chez noticed the two getting ready and decided he didn’t want to be left holding the bag at the rear of the pack and joined in as the duo rushed to get to the grid.
From the pole, Chez brought the field to the green and got a clean start but Thompson found a little traction on the outside and moved to the lead. Pease followed Chez into Monza but when it came time to turn, the kart went straight and he shot up the track. John Burgess was fighting with his carb at the start and was outside of Pease in the fourth spot. As Pease struggled to get his kart to turn, he drifted into Burgess just as Rob Sharpe bumped Burgess from behind. The slight contact sent Burgess spinning up the hill where he stalled. I guess in the battle with the carb, the carb won. Sharpe then made a move to the inside of Pease in Monza. The two went wheel to wheel around the exit of Monza then almost came to complete stop trying to stay on track by the scoring shack as the leaders pulled away.
     Thompson wasn’t the fastest on the track but he stayed out of trouble and avoided the big puddles. Chez tried to stay locked to his bumper but pushed just a little too hard and spun on lap four. Campbell spun avoiding Chez and a lap later, Pease spun when he thought Campbell was going to spin again. Campbell got close but didn’t and it sure fooled Pease as he dropped back from the leaders, trying to get pointed in the right direction.
     Chez clicked off several fast laps and started to reel Thompson in but ran out of time and talent when he spun for a second time. Thompson held on for the win, followed by Chez, Campbell, Pease, Sharpe, Wright and Burgess. Valdez had come out for the warm up lap but stalled and did not take the start.
     Following the pre-main, the rain moved on and the track dried through the rest of the day. Unsure of conditions, Chez and Thompson tentatively brought the pack to the green flag and everyone got through Big Monza clean. Chez moved to the lead on exit, followed by Thompson and Pease. The trio pulled a gap on the field as the laps went by. Thompson tried several moves to get Chez but never could get it done. Pease followed in third, not able to get close enough to mix it up with the leaders. The big mover of the day award would have gone to Burgess. He had started last after spinning in the pre-main and had steadily moved through the field to fourth ahead of Campbell and Sharpe. The effort took something out of him and he began to have a little trouble breathing and pulled off the track with only three to go.
     Chez held on to take the win, followed closely by Thompson in second, Pease comfortably in third, Campbell in fourth, Sharpe in fifth, Wright in sixth, Valdez in seventh and Burgess in eighth place.
     The unofficial season points, not including throw out, are: David Pease with 1747, Gary Chez -195, Fred Wilcoxon -478, Marty Thompson -540, Jim Campbell -623, Rob Sharpe -705, John Burgess -1045, and Grant Sharpe -1191.
     The unofficial Summer Shootout results are: David Pease with 786, Gary Chez in second with 736, Rob Sharpe moved up one position to take third with 551, Marty Thompson also moved up one to fourth with 514, Fred Wilcoxon dropped from third to fifth with 448,  Jim Campbell in sixth with 414, John Burgess in seventh with 235 and Grant Sharpe with the Summer off and 0 points.
     The American Sportsman class has been invited to race in the Masters Karting League Invitational Race to be held Nov. 10, 2007 at Cal Speed Raceway in Fontana. Anyone interested in renting a kart to race this race can contact Jim Campbell or Gary Chez via the club.

     With only two races left in the Summer Series and three races left in the season, the August race represented the turning point for several racers with any hope to catch David Pease for the American Sportsman class championship. Front-runner “Fast Freddy” Wilcoxon, always a favorite, had been shut out of the win column up to this point in the season. Marty “The Professor” Thompson had found his way to the winner’s circle only once and Gary ”Mongo” Chez had two wins to his credit while Pease had won four times and when he didn’t win, he still managed to finish second, resulting in a 195-point lead going into August.
     Missing from the fray, John Burgess still had repairs to make after crashing out in July and Grant “Sleepy” Sharpe slept in once again. I guess he is taking the summer off. Fortunately, Jim Campbell rented two of his karts to Aaron and father Ken Valdez to boost the entries to eight. Welcome newbies.
     Wilcoxon had experienced a variety of motor woes and crashes throughout the season but had high hopes for the August race after borrowing an engine from primary power plant supplier Thompson. The new Tecumseh engine proved to be a potent bullet as Wilcoxon clicked off fast time through practice with a 55.131, almost half a second faster than Thompson, Chez and Pease.
Despite the hot, breezy conditions, Wilcoxon turned fast time in qualifying for the second time this season, with a time of 55.217, followed by Thompson at 55.545, Pease with a 55.678, Chez with a 56.033, Robert Sharpe with a 58.317, Jim Campbell with a 58.571, Ken Valdez with a 1:01.714 and son Aaron Valdez with a 1:04.043.
     Pre-race predictions were high that Wilcoxon would gap the field from the start of the pre-main. Not wanting to disappoint, Wilcoxon punched off early after a bump from Pease but was passed by a hard charging Thompson in Big Monza. Wilcoxon regrouped and retook the lead on the next lap and never looked back as he led the remaining laps to the checkers. Thompson made it interesting by cutting some fast laps toward the end but ran out of time and finished second. Chez had slotted into third behind Thompson at the start but couldn’t hold off Pease for the position and ended up fourth, followed by Campbell in fifth, Ken Valdez in sixth and Aaron Valdez in seventh. Sharpe opted to sit out the pre-main to avoid the heat and would start last for the Main.
     The scheming for the start started early as Thompson’s only chance to beat pole sitter Wilcoxon would be with a good start and a significant push from Chez in fourth. Pease also needed help from Campbell to keep up and make it interesting. At the green, Wilcoxon took off and beat the Thompson-Chez train into Big Monza as Chez just didn’t have the power to push that he had hoped. Wilcoxon led past the scoring shack with Thompson right on his bumper followed a kart length back by Pease, Chez and Campbell. Wilcoxon led the train into the Sandbox but just as he started to brake for the turn, Thompson was too close and gave him a little bump sending the two spinning off to the outside of the corner. A kart or two back from the fracas, Pease saw the tire smoke then the wide-open track and jumped to the lead followed by Chez and Campbell. As the pack entered Little Monza, newbie Ken Valdez got swept up in the moment and spun out and stalled, ending his day early. He would be relegated to watching the rest of the laps from the infield.
     With a clear track in front of him, Pease settled into a steady rhythm and never looked back. Chez tried to apply pressure but his kart seemed down on power and he couldn’t keep the pace. Thompson got going again and caught and passed Chez for second but ran out of time to catch leader Pease. Wilcoxon got turned back around after the spin and took off like a ball of fire, turning high 54 and low 55-second laps trying to catch up. He eventually finished fourth behind Chez. Robert Sharpe saved enough for the main as he moved from the last place on the grid to finish fifth. Campbell had been as high as third but fell back to sixth at the flag, followed by Aaron Valdez in seventh and Ken Valdez in eighth.
     The unofficial season standings after the August race (not including throw outs) are: David Pease with 1584, Gary Chez -240, Fred Wilcoxon -315, Marty Thompson -560, Jim Campbell -608, Robert Sharpe -680, John Burgess -990 and Grant Sharpe -1028.
     The Summer Series points as of August are: David Pease with 623, Gary Chez -95, Fred Wilcoxon -175, Robert Sharpe -210, Marty Thompson -292, Jim Campbell -357, John Burgess -496 and Grant Sharpe -623.

     The July race introduced the new and improved Adams Motorsports Park, formerly the Adams Kart Track, to the So Cal Sprinters. The most visible “improvement” is the addition of huge motocross style dirt jumps to the infield.  According to the Adams Motorsports Park website, AMP is now home for super moto and the new off road Trophy Karts as well as the famous kart track. While there was some grumbling about the possible dirty track and hay bale barriers, the track crew did a good job cleaning the surface and racing proceeded as normal. As one driver who has made a few and witnessed several trips through the grass on the infield, I am hoping that nobody drops wheels and ends up in the kart destroying bales exiting the slippery Sandbox turn. 
     While the top three in points made the July race, several of the regulars were missing from the grid. Marty “The Professor” Thompson decided to go on a much deserved Hawaiian vacation with his very own “Maryann,” Grant “Sleepy” Sharpe slept in, again and hoped his absence would influence the race director to start a little later in the day. Jim “Pease” Campbell was on hand, sans kart, after getting tied-up at his river house and running out of time.  And 2006 class champion Jerry “The Gray Flash” Florez was spotted cruising the pits looking for a ride after experiencing race withdrawals after taking the season off. Fortunately, Chez convinced June newbie Oscar Jackson Jr. to rent a kart again. Jackson in turn found motorcycle racer Niels Ohlsen to rent the other ride, which brought the entries to seven.
     The weather was warm and humid but still a nice break from last year’s “face of the sun” temps and a few raindrops and a steady breeze greeted early arrivals. The warm Summer breeze was better than no breeze at all but the steady headwind and slick track conditions cut into lap times for the strictly limited American Sportsman class with fast time through the two practice sessions going to newbie Jackson with a 55.411. Although a newbie kart racer, Jackson is an accomplished race car driver as is evident by his fast time.
     Pease picked up the pace from practice and qualified with a time of 55.480, followed by Chez with a 55.585 and Jackson with a 55.980. John “one more race” Burgess was still nursing his old motor and qualified with a 56.827, followed by Robert Sharpe at 57.371. “Fast Freddy” Wilcoxon killed a motor on the first lap and pulled off without a time and Ohlsen came in under weight so his time was disallowed and he would start last.
     Pease brought the class to the green for the pre-main with Chez on the outside. Chez got a good push from Wilcoxon to move past Pease at the flag. Pease expected to get a push from Jackson but he didn’t get the memo and instead made it three wide going into Monza, something only the narrow American Sportsman karts can pull off at Adams. Pease saw his life pass before his eyes and slammed on the brakes, effectively dropping him to fourth behind Wilcoxon as Jackson went after Chez in the lead. 
     Chez bobbled and opened the door for Jackson to move into the lead. As the two battled, Pease played catch up after passing Wilcoxon. Burgess could see the group in front of him swapping positions but struggled to make up time as Ohlsen tried to get a handle on the unfamiliar kart in sixth after Sharpe opted to stay in the shade for the pre-main.
Chez got a bump draft from Pease on the main straight and the two passed Jackson, shuffling him back to third. Pease then moved past Chez for the lead with three laps to go. Chez had his hands full with Jackson on the last lap as he tried an aggressive pass in the fast Snack bar turn. The two got together and spun giving Wilcoxon the second place spot followed by Chez, Burgess, Jackson and Ohlsen.
     From the pole, Pease led at the green and into Monza thanks to a push by Chez and Jackson. Wilcoxon trailed but figured the action between Jackson and Chez was not over so he followed closely, ready to pounce.  Burgess and Sharpe lined up to follow the leaders but Ohlsen was nowhere to be found after breaking a throttle cable on the grid and not getting to the flag.
     The group stayed in line for several laps as Pease pulled a slight gap. Jackson saw Pease getting away and moved to pass Chez as Wilcoxon watched. Two laps later, Chez drafted past Jackson down the straight but slid up in Monza. Jackson saw an opening on the inside and tried an over-under move on Chez. The two ran out of room on exit and slowed abruptly. Wilcoxon had to take evasive action to avoid contact and snap spun backwards into the pair. Seeing an opportunity to pick up a spot or two, Burgess tried to get past Wilcoxon as he struggled to get going in the right direction. The two came together and Burgess was done with a bent axle.
     Meanwhile, Pease was gone and didn’t know about the melee until he spotted Jackson and Chez two turns behind him. Chez dogged Jackson into a mistake and moved into second. Sharpe cleared the carnage in Big Monza and moved into fourth, followed by Wilcoxon with another pushed-in front bumper and rear to match. At the checkers, it was Pease for the win; his fourth for the year and second in a row to extend his points lead overall and for the Summer. He was followed by Chez in second and second in both points, Jackson in third in only his second race, Sharpe in fourth, fifth in overall points and fourth in the Summer, a battered Wilcoxon in fifth, maintaining third in both points, Burgess with a DNF and sixth and Ohlsen with a DNS.

     The sixth race in the year-long series, the June So Cal Sprinters race also signaled the start of the four race Summer Shootout mini series. Karters got a break from the summer heat as a steady breeze blew throughout race day and cleared out the June gloom. Robert Sharpe showed up solo for the event as Grant “Sleepy” Sharpe opted to catch up on his beauty sleep and missed the race. John Burgess was on hand working on the kids karts and ran out of time to get his new motor done after his patched together motor expired during the May race. With only six regulars, the race would have been a little sparse had it not been for Gary “Mongo” Chez and his two rent-a-ride racers. Welcome James Klintworth and Oscar Jackson Jr. to the American Sportsman fold.
The two newbies started the first practice off with a bang when they were spotted out on the track in only long sleeve t-shirts. Proper safety equipment is a must and the two were promptly black-flagged. Oops. Once the pair found jackets, the practice sessions went off without a hitch with Chez credited with the quick time at 55.315.
     Typically, American Sportsman racers are about as aerodynamic as a brick standing on a skateboard and the headwind and slick track conditions contributed to slower than normal lap times for the group in qualifying. That said, everyone wondered how the biggest brick in the group, “Mongo” Chez could go so fast after he set the quick time with a 55.055. David Pease, seen trying to hide his bulk behind the front number plate for any aero advantage, qualified second with a 55.238, followed by “Fast Freddy” Wilcoxon with a 56.015, Marty “The Professor” Thompson with a 56.355, Jim “Burgess” Campbell with a 56.884, Robert Sharpe with a 57.135, Oscar Jackson Jr. with a 59.173 and James Klintworth with a 1.01.091.
     Starting on pole for the pre-main, Chez led the group to the green and into turn one. On the outside and on cold tires, Pease slipped up in Big Monza and dropped all the way to fourth behind Wilcoxon in second and Thompson. After a few laps, Thompson drafted up to Wilcoxon and moved to pass on the straight with Pease on his tail. Pease gave Thompson a shove into second past Wilcoxon but couldn’t follow and slotted back into fourth behind Wilcoxon. Pease caught and passed Wilcoxon the next lap and set off after Thompson. Chez continued to lead as Pease moved past Thompson and began to cut into the gap to Chez with a 55.169 fast lap.  Just as Pease closed, Chez made a slight bobble going through the esses which allowed Pease to catch him and get a run down the main straight. Pease made the pass and held on for the win, with Chez in second, Thompson in third, Wilcoxon in fourth, Campbell in fifth, Sharpe in sixth, Jackson in seventh and Klintworth in eight place.
     Pease led the group to the green flag for the main but didn’t hold it for long after Chez got a big push from Wilcoxon and moved around Pease to take the lead in Monza. Pease held onto second, followed by Wilcoxon and Thompson.  The two took off and gapped the rest as Wilcoxon held third closely followed by Thompson. Jackson had made a move up to fifth in the first few laps but got shuffled back, first by Sharpe and then Campbell. Jackson tried to get back up to the battle for fifth but spun and fell back as Klintworth worked to keep pace in eighth.
     Chez dogged Pease the rest of the race and patiently waited for a slip up. On the final lap, Pease spotted Klintworth and Jackson swapping positions ahead. As the two leaders approached, the pair tangled in Little Monza and Klintworth spun. Pease had to check up a little as Klintworth struggled to get the kart going in the right direction in the steep turn. Chez lost a little momentum getting around the kart and Pease pulled away for the win, followed by Chez in second, Wilcoxon in third, Thompson in fourth, Campbell in fifth, Sharpe in sixth, Jackson in seventh and Klintworth in the eighth position.