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Wednesday, January 24, 2007 PART I: First Year as a Racer Posted by Michael Jones at 03:07:26 PM
Phew! Feels like forever since I've wrote in this thing, it's hard finding things to write about when the only thing going on is another annual edition of NASCAR changing things and forgetting about their most important asset, THE FANS.
Anyways, I decided to start a series of articles concerning my first year being behind-the-wheel. I've been around dirt track racing since 1999, and was immediately addicted. I wanted to do as much as I could to stay involved with it, and so far I have.
As I said in my first post here on my column, I announced at Linn County Speedway in Pleasanton, KS and Heartland Park Topeka's Dirt Track in Topeka, KS last summer... and I've always wrote articles and been a huge fan of getting results up for all to see. I decided why waste more time, I want to get behind-the-wheel of a dirt car and fulfill my life long dream of being a race car driver... more importantly, a dirt race car driver.
I purchased a Camaro Factory Stock from Jason White mid-summer in 2006, with the intention of purchasing a motor for it and going racing in 2007 at Lakeside and other tracks. However, I realized it was not really what I wanted to do, and I've never been a big fan of doing something unless my entire heart was in it.
So, needless to say, I sold the Camaro and realized I couldn't fight off my addiction for open wheel cars, more so, SPRINT CARS. The speed, the scene of the drivers working the wheel through the turns, I love everything about them. So, I set out to find an affordable way to get into sprint car racing, and I ran across MOLS, the Midwest Outaw Lightning Sprints (www.molsracing.com).
The Lightning Sprints (also known as Mini-Sprints) are the size of a midget, but run on 1200cc motorcycle motors. Until you see these cars in action in person, you can not appreciate the speed and intensity level these cars are accomplishing! It's simply unbelieveable. I was also very pleased to come across such a great group, and that's what MOLS is, everyone helps each other out, fellow drivers lending a hand, and I will stand by my word that finding a better series director than Bob Douglas will be hard to do. His devotion to the sport and helping it grow is important to have, and he's got all of it!
So, I made up my mind this is really what I want to do. I saw a couple cars come and go... I hadn't saved up too much money yet so I wasn't ready to invest money I didn't have. Until about a week ago when my buddy Chris Schofield (CWS9) linked me to this great deal on EBay. The car was a 1998 Henchcraft with a Suzuki GSX 1100F motor. He had set the starting bid on $1000!!! I was stunned... he also placed the car in the wrong section, so had he put it in the right section in EBay Motors, I'm sure the car would have sold for a lot more, but... I won the auction at $1575.
I am very excited to say the least to start my racing career with a great group of people that have the same desire I do, to go out and have a good time while racing these quick little beasts!
That'll conclude Part I, the car is being delivered in two weeks, now it's time to start getting it ready for race season. Obviously, I have not acquired any safety equipment and the car is going to need some maintenance to get it ready and safe to be on the track. I'll talk a little bit about that and more in Part II of this series....
If you are like me, and interested in getting into VERY affordable sprint car racing, be sure to check out MOLS. They continue to grow every year and I will guarantee you that you will not find a better series/group to race with. www.molsracing.com
See ya at the races!
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All Times are CDT Tuesday, Oct 7th[06:00 pm] "Wide Open" on Hot Talk 1510 KCTE [07:00 pm] I-35 Speedway Show on RacinBoys.com [07:40 pm] KCIR Show Friday, Oct 10th[03:00 pm] Scott and Kirk join Kevin Kietzman on Sports Radio 810 WHB Saturday, Oct 11th[07:00 am] "Track Talk" presented by Kenny's Tile on Sports Radio 810 WHB
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