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Austin Elliott ~ Gold Rush Series ~ RACING REPORT ~ July 25, 2010
Ending the IKF Super Series on a high note was a positive way to go into the opening race of the Nor Cal Gold Rush series. Race #1 of the 5 race series kicked off last weekend at Prairie City Kart Club in Rancho Cordova.
This has always been a difficult track for us to master. In the past we had trouble with lap time consistency, the kart set up and gearing for the best power as this track has a long straight but several tight turns, hair pin turns, and hills to climb, not to mention the track is narrow and clean passes are difficult.
Austin decided we should go and test prior to this race to see if we could get some of these issues worked out before the weekend's race. We worked hard on Thursday and still found ourselves struggling to get the kart free enough to run this track fast and smooth. The asphalt surface already had a ton of grip and our kart was binding up...we knew our lap times weren't fast enough to run at the front.
We headed back to the track on Saturday of the race weekend to try it again. The weather nearing 100 degrees, we were hot and frustrated. Applying everything we've learned from Wes Boswell in the past 2 months, we kept moving forward, making the necessary changes that would free up the kart. Running practice on Saturday 6/10th a second off the leaders, our competitors were feeling positive that they would be able to beat Austin the following day... It was the end of the day and we kept pushing on...
One more chance to find speed before the last session on Saturday, we make the only two changes that we had left that we knew and out to the grid we go. I started him up and off he went. I waited at the fence line with my timer, waiting for him to come around so I could see if the changes were better or if we'd have to leave unsuccessful. Along side me on the fence were many other Jr.2 competitors, waiting with their timers. Several of them had us beat by half a second. They were happy at this point, I'm sure they were thinking "how could he find the needed speed at the last session of the day?"
So here he comes...he comes around, I click my timer and look down to see. Hallelujah!! we found it! We found 5/10, then 6/10th then 7/10th, with each lap came more and more speed. I just looked to the sky and thanked God. I couldn't keep the smile off my face. I couldn't believe it. The pressure left me like a speeding bullet. We left the track knowing we had a chance to do well the next day at this race. We left our competitors scratching their heads...
And Well he did!!! Out to qualify, Austin lays down a 3/10th lead over the field of 23 Jr. 2 karts... but then comes a late qualifier getting Austin by 2/100th of a second, so we start off-pole...
Onto the heat race and the battle is in turn one... Austin makes it through but has trouble getting a fast pass on the karts that got in front of him, so while the leader was quickly pulling away, Austin was stuck back behind "the girl"...she holds him up for a short while then Austin won't take it anymore and makes a risky pass... ½ track back from the leader, he starts pushin, and pushin, head down and driving intently... I could hear the music from Jaws playing in my head as I watch him gaining ground on the leader with each lap... In my mind I say he doesn't have enough time to catch him, it's only a 10 lap heat race but each lap he is gaining on the leader... I hear this voice behind me, one of Austin's competitors from last season telling me "he's gonna catch him, Sandra he's gonna pass for the win"... I say no way there isn't enough time. Lap 5, lap 6, lap 7, lap 8 (the Jaws music is playing in my head), all of a sudden Austin is 5 kart lengths away then 4, then right on the leaders bumper and it's the white flag lap. My mouth is completely dry and my heart is pounding out of my chest! The announcer is yelling into the mic., all I could hear is Austin Elliott this and Austin Elliott that! The two racers go around the corner and down into the "snake pit" where I could not see that part of the track. All I could do is rely on the announcers calls, he says "Elliott makes the attempt but didn't get it!", next corner "Elliott making another attempt... and he makes it stick!!!", he yells out loudly. He makes the pass and right then I see him going up the hill and he's in the lead, racing around the next few turns and crosses the finish line :) I can't believe it but it's true. We pass tech and with smiles on our faces we head back to our pit to wait for the Main Event.
The announcer calls the Jr. 2 class up to the grid for the 16 lap Main Event. This time Austin starts on Pole, he gets a great start and comes out in 1st. The off-pole driver pressures him for several laps and then Austin starts to pull away, each lap he is gaining 1/10, 2/10, 3/10, until he has a 5/10th of a second lead and he cruises to Victory
He wins the first race of the Gold Rush Series AND the streak continues...
Dixon, California ~ March 7, 2010 - 14 Kart Field in the HPV2 class
Three weeks ago while testing on the Prairie City kart
track, Austin was working with his teammate on getting through some of the corners more quickly for the
upcoming race in May. They both made the final turn and onto the straightaway at full speed, Austin sticks his
left arm out of the kart to point his teammate by to take the lead. A second later the exposed tire grabs his
glove and then his racing suit and sucks his hand and forearm down in between his tire and bodywork,
unfortunately there is only about a one inch or so gap in that area... His body violently jerked up out of his
seat and his arm looking like rubber, it was pulled down toward the asphalt but he was able to pull his hand
out before it went completely under his rear wheel...
An Emergency Room visit and x-rays showed a crack at the tip of the humorous bone at the growth plate, they
cast him from shoulder to hand. IKF race # 2 is in 3 weeks but the doctor tells me the cast must be on for 4
weeks and that he will have to miss the race... I tell the doc that Austin is leading in the points towards
the Championship but the only thing I received back was a blank stare and some words about his arm being more
important than a race!! (Obviously this guy isn't a racing fan)
Just inside of three weeks Austin is referred to a sports doctor in San Francisco by Lisa Caceres. The doctor
is Kevin Stone of the Stone Clinic located in the Marina District. Okay this guy is good!! He’s a bone
doctor/surgeon and takes care of the treatment for many athletes from casual to Olympic level. He agrees to
see Austin as a favor to Lisa.
The day before the IKF event we make the drive to San Francisco. The cast is removed and x-rays taken and
reviewed by Dr. Stone, physical therapy given and an alternative bracing is prescribed for the arm and we head
to the race in Dixon, CA.
Unsure of how he will handle his kart, Austin goes out for practice Saturday morning. Being the jokester
Austin is (he likes to scare his Mom...) I watch as his kart is slipping all over the track the first couple
of laps, it looks like it's on marbles and I can clearly see he can not drive smoothly in the turns.. My
heart is pounding and I realize this wasn’t a good idea. He can’t drive his kart with his injured
arm, so I wave him in. He pulls off the track and up next to me, not even turning his engine off, he asks me
what I need... I tell him he must come off the track as he clearly can’t handle his kart but he assures
me he’s just "warming up." And he takes off, back out onto the track.
Well the kid proves me wrong and goes out to be the fastest in practice and he is awarded to go first out to
qualify... qualifying off-pole missing the pole position by 2/1000ths of a second he starts the Heat race in
the front row. Winning the Heat race showing fastest lap time of the race and pulling the 2nd and 3rd place
positions by 4 seconds, I realize that nothing is going to keep him from this race.
Unfortunately there’s a bobble in the start of the Main event and he is passed by two racers and then
half way through the 20th lap main he rubs wheels in turn one with his teammate and loses two more positions.
Able to catch and pass those two drivers back, he is too far away from the leaders to catch them in the
remaining time and takes TOP 3, third place for race #2.
Better than I expected, we leave the race with a smile. Initially, I told him to just race in the back and get
the points to stay in the hunt for the Championship and we’d try to make it up at the next races but our
driver goes out and runs in the front clocking fast times!! This keeps him in the lead toward the
Championship.
Our next stop is Stockton, California next month for race #3 of the International Karting Federation Region 11
Super Series.
Austin would like to thank his Sponsors, Lisa Caceres of Race Karts Inc. and Kevin Stone of The Stone Clinic,
Ernie Fletcher of The Door & Window Stop, Todd Jones of Fresno Tap Recyclers, his team Kartel Motorsports
and Magnum Racing engines, Stat Medical Billing, Grandpa Bob and Uncle Ron, all for the funds and help to race
this series.
We will be testing and practicing at the Stockton karting track soon and also at the Willow Springs karting
track to get ready for the upcoming IKF Grand Nationals race in June.
Davis, California ~ February 7, 2010 - HPV2 class, 15 Kart Field
The excitement mounted as we pulled into the track with the race trailer in tow. We’re at Davis,
California for the opener of the International Karting Federations Region 11 Northern California Super series
race. This is our first stop of six races reaching tracks from Reno, Nevada to Atwater, California.
Austin is competing for the Northern California Championship… And he would not disappoint!!
Rain poured down on our Saturday practice making testing difficult. Sunday morning would show no rain and the
promise of sunshine started to appear.
Austin heads out for his 5 minute warm up and practice laps… His lap times are fastest and he’s
given the go ahead to go out first to qualify. A little mishap in the hairpin turn puts him qualifying in 3rd
place position for the Heat race.
Getting a great start, Austin makes a move past the pole setter and into the lead… he would be joined
by Campbell, putting heat on Austin for the twelve laps, however maintaining his point position, Austin would
win the Heat.
Onto the Main Event, Austin on pole position… we get the "start em up" sign from the grid but
our engine won’t stay running… four attempts and still nothing… the rest of the karts are
out on track already gridding up and we’re still working on getting our engine started… I see
Austin’s eyes looking at me through his helmet visor… they are enlarged and showing some
concern… I think to myself, this can’t be happening, he needs to do well at this race to move
forward toward the Championship. Just then the engine fires and Austin speeds away… I breathe a huge
sigh of relief.
Speeding around the track and up to the pack, Austin takes his point position in front of Tyrell… as he
goes by Tyrell puts a "high five" hand out to Austin and gives him the head nod. He then takes the
pack around the hair pin and onto the straight… accelerating toward the starting line, it’s a
beautiful start and the Green flag is waved… The Race is On!! 
Into turn one Austin is smooth and keeps on the throttle, up
the hill he immediately starts pulling away from the pack… this would continue for several laps until
he has a nice 2 second lead on the rest of the karts who are still battling for their positions. Our engine is
running strong, it’s showing a nice mid-range to top-end pull and Austin is cruising. Eighteen lap Main
Event and we’re about 11 laps into it when Cervelli sneaks up on Austin and begins to pressure him for
the lead… Austin would deny the attempt and gains a one second lead on Cervelli, only to have it close
up on the white flag lap and around the last turn the two would battle to the finish, Austin would have this
one… Winning the opening IKF Race.
The team is happy and looking forward to competing at race #2 in Dixon, CA on March 7.
