In case you missed it in the pics thread, our own Derek Wagner has a ride with an Australian shifter kart team in the Florida Winter Tour Karting series. This weekend's race is at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In practice today Derek was running lap times 5th fastest out of more than 30 karts and less than 1/2 a second off the leading time. Should be very interesting tomorrow when they race. Racing starts Saturday morning and his progress can be followed with live lap times, race postitions with chat window at: http://www.floridawintertour.com/fwtlive/index.php Derek is running in Rotax Masters class. Let's cheer him on! Amy
Thanks for the support a couple clarifications. The karts are not shifter karts, they are water cooled 125cc with a clutch and electric start. They run about 27hp, and have a power valve to give great mid range performance. The class is Rotax Sr. this is anyone 16 years and older and represents the top class. There is a master class for those 35 years and older, Max Papas is running that class. Last but not least there are 50 karts in his class, the practice results are used to determine qualifying order, its almost like qualifying a day early. We are very excited considering Derek has raced in almost 1 yr. The Arrows chassis is incredible and the team is very good. Our team manager was a Crew Chief in the Craftsman Truck Series last year. Thanks for the support. Mike, Derek, and Melissa
Hahh funny. Well Qualifying is over and with only 2 good laps due to mechanical problems Derek droped to 18th for the first pre-final. Our pipe came loose and pulled away from the header, it also rubbed on the brake disk. Once Derek came in from the run we found a siezed needle bearing in the clutch which also slowed him down. Our time was quicker than yesterday but the field droped its time another .2 of a second. The field is tight, if we can stay out of trouble we should be able to move into the top ten for the final later today. Mike
