BC Regionals at Quesnel

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

Another great race! We had great weather and the racing was fun. The kart track at Quesnel is truly one of the best tracks around...fast and technical! BCKCA, ASN/CIK and the Cariboo Kart Club put on a first class event. And again, as I was at the Port Alberni, BC Street Race, I was the only US driver there.

Early Friday morning, I packed up my sweetheart, our two dogs and my kart trailer, and we travelled for 12 hours to get there, however that was my fault. I like to lollygag, enjoy the scenery, stop at all the historical monuments, etc. Plus, the little 4-banger Isuzu Trooper requires tender care in it's old age. We travelled from Monroe, across the border into Canada, northeast to the city of Hope, then north up through the Frasier Canyon region into the Cariboo. Beautiful country! Besides the countryside, we were able to see several eagles, mountain sheep, a coyote, deer, marmots and a variety of birds, plants and flora (found lots of sage... helps keep that "dog" smell from overpowering us). We got there about 8pm on Friday and too late to do any testing. So we dropped off the trailer and went into town to check into our motel. We arose early to a quick continental breakfast and drove back to the track to set up our space, prep the kart, per-tech and make a drivers meeting. Basically, the qual and pre-final were going to be held Saturday, and the final on Sunday. Unfortunately, little mechanical problems gave me very little test time to feel out the track. During my qual run, the chain fell off. Oh, well. Looks like I'll have to race cold, with no track knowledge. I hate it when that happens! I took fifth, but I was well off the pace. Anyway, we drove back to the motel and compared my notes. I just couldn't figure out some of the turns. Hmmmmm..... Well, back to track early Sunday morning. I fine-tuned the jetting and gearing, prepped the kart, and started asking some of the drivers about the course. Seem as if I was looking but not seeing! Well, a few practice runs with some new track knowledge and I was losing 2-3 seconds off Saturday's times. Yippee!!! Anyway, at the opening ceremonies, the race officials played the American national anthem just for me! A little embarrassing but a very nice gesture that I'll remember for a very long time. Well, to make a short story long, two of us got tangled up at the first turn, and after dicing back and forth between 4th and 5th, I took 4th. A fine day indeed! We packed up all the stuff and headed home. We decided on an alternative route. We took the southwest route through Marble Canyon, drove through the mountains to the backside of Whistler, along the Squamish fiord, through Vancouver, across the border and on to home 14 hours later.

Thank you to the wonderful people up north in Canada for allowing us to be their guest. However, next year, look for this American to capture a podium finish...eh?

Stephen Burnstad · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2001 7:01 pm Post subject: BC Regionals at Quesnel

Didn't anyone tell you Stephen? 4th place doesn't get invited back next year!

Just kidding. I am glad you enjoy racing up here with us. We are supposed to be on the new track for the next race in September. Are you coming up for that?

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

Stephen,

Does a bear go in the woods? Of course... and in the meantime, I'm trying to scheme how to beat Trevor!

S

Stephen Burnstad · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2001 8:48 am Post subject: BC Regionals at Quesnel

Only thing I can think of would be if I let him lap me and when he came around again blocked him from passing me so as to let you go by.

He has a pretty good strangle hold on us but he is beatable. I just hope it rains the last
three races. Last time it rained I had him by 1.8sec for qualifying.

Jake Thompson · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2001 10:01 pm Post subject: BC Regionals at Quesnel

Stephen, I thought i'd reply to your comment in the World Finals topic, in this topic, it fits better here.
I opted for Portland instead of Quesnel. There's no competition for Shifter's at the Regionals, and were not going fast enough yet in our ICA for it to be worth while. If Chilliwack gets their track you'll see me there! Hopefully we'll have learned how to squeeze some ponies out of a liquid cooled direct drive

Jake Thompson

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

Jake,
There was a good number of F/C's, 80cc's and ICA's. The F/C's were smokin'!!!! I really like that ICA CRG/Maxter watercooled package. I'm not racing for awhile. Getting ready for a few weeks in Hawaii in August.
S

Jake Thompson · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2001 10:17 pm Post subject: BC Regionals at Quesnel

I actually raced the FC class at the First regional, but it wasnt in my kart. So i couldnt run that again in Quesnel. No one seems to run 125cc moto at the regional so i didnt want to go to Quesnel to race in a 3 kart Moto field. Hopefully they get the new Chilliwack track done for the third regional. it would be nice to race my ICA against those guys again. The Maxter's are definitely fast, but im hoping that my new Vortex is going to be faster. Time will tell!