Kart racing has been an integral part of my training and progression into sports car racing. There is no better bang for the buck than racing karts. Even more so, there is no better means of gaining seat time in an intense racing environment than at the Summit Point Kart endurance races. 500 miles of racing split between 3 drivers gives a driver 3 to 4 hours of seat time. That seat time includes car control, maintaining situational awareness, passing, defending, being fast off-line, protecting your line, and avoiding the inevitable crashes that result in any racing environment. To the uneducated observer it just looks like a bunch of adults noodling around in toys, but after karting for almost 3 years now I can testify that it some of the most intense racing around!
We did our first SPK 500 in the fall of 2011. You can see details of the race, karts, and course at
For 2012 it would be Andrew, Casey, and me. The course was a little different than 2012. It was run in the opposite direction from normal. There was also a chicane in the back straight and changes to several turns. It was a great course compared to the previous year. The back straight was slower with the chicane, but the course felt faster and more technical. Our team started out slow, but after a low point mid-race where I had two bad karts in a row we clawed our way back up to 11th. Andrew set the second fastest RX7 lap of the race after the top 5 teams upgraded to RX250. Our next race is the 24 hour - that's right 24 hours! - enduro in June.
Plotting the Best Line
Old Glory on My "Racing" Flight Suit
The McCulloch Boys Doing a Pre-Race Radio Check
Qualifying
Thumbs Up Before the Start
1st Stint
The "Tin Man" Walk After a Driving Stint
Andrew Radioing Lap Times, Casey in the Background
The Red Line
Spins were so common at the exit of turn 15 that this red line was painted. Any kart that crossed it was immediately black flagged and required to hot pit. The fastest line was as close as possible without crossing it. This shot was taken after I had already started cutting across the track for turn 16. I tried to get within an inch and was only black flagged for crossing it once throughout the race.
Andrew Hurting After a Driving Stint
Random Guy Getting Down on a Banana
Photo is the work of Yenns.
Andrew Monitoring from the Pit Wall
Andrew Finishing the Race
Team Shot - The Green Stigs
Porsche Race Cars on the Main Circuit
As we were leaving Summit Point we were treated with a few Porsche Boxter racecars doing night laps on the main circuit. They were there with a Porsche Club event. These were not normal boxters, but fully prepped race cars. It was an excellent sight and sound to witness.
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