STEAD (Oct. 5) — Wonderful fall weather greeted members of the Northern Nevada Kart Club as they wound up their season at Desert Park Raceway. While the titles were already known the day put a cap on several driver’s year.
The race of the day was a place swapping duel between eventual winner Mike Ryckebosch (191) and a determined Dan Harris (16).
Mark Nason, shown cresting Turn 5, ended his year by winning both the F-80 and 125 championships.
Kelsey Nelson ended her first year racing by taking the Sr. Clone championship. Here she’s leading Dave Schilt (12) and Alec Beaudon (95) as they head onto the front straight.
Asa Gourley whips through the final turns on his way to scoring his first ever victory in the Jr. 1 Clone A division.
Gabe Vegors was the Jr. 1 Clone B class winner.
Issac Bourque finished second in the Jr. 1 Clone B main but still won the class championship, his first ever title.
Young Brooks Anderline crests the top of Turn 5 during the season ending NNKC event.
At 72-years young Mike Arnold is the oldest competitor in the NNKC. Here he’s with his mechanic Mitch Kennedy. Arnold will test over 200 laps a week and races for the fun of it.
The race of the day came in the Tag Masters main. On the green Dan Harris got the hole shot with class champ Mike Ryckebosch right behind him.
For the next several laps both drivers swapped the lead as they tore around the course. Back in the pack Taylor Uchytil, stepping up from her usual Clone kart, got a slow start then began to pick off other drivers as the race progressed.
Up front the leaders were nose-to-tail for most of the remaining laps until Ryckebosch opened up a small gap only to have it disappear when Harris caught back up.
In the final charge to the checkered they were nose-to-tail at the checkered flag. John Ryckebosch was third while Uchytil finished a strong fourth.
“I was having carburetor problems early and that’s how Mike was able to get around me,” Harris said after the post race weigh in. “It cleared itself up and I was able to run him but he just had a little more power than I did. It was a fun, fun race.”
Then Ryckebosch said, “It’s my first championship, a lot of hard work, good competition and I feel good about it. Dan’s a great driver and it was tough to get around him but it turned out pretty good in my favor. And I want to thank my brothers and everybody that’s here.”
Only one driver scored two championships and that was Mark Nason. Since he already had the title Nason gave the field a head start and Steve Dow took advantage of the gift.
Next on point was Ben Fisher but Nason was closing in. They had a several lap duel until Nason made the winning pass and roared away to the victory.
Behind him the trio of Fisher, Dow and Harris spent most of the race dueling for third and would finish in that order.
“This was the easier of the two classes this year,” Nason said later. “My 80 was on a rail all year and days like this look easy but it’s the prep time that makes it all possible. And have to thank Mitch Kennedy as he helps me with the set up, do the right changes and I have to thank my girlfriend Jamie for giving me the time to practice.”
When the Stock 125 race began it was all Nason as he led from green light to finish and turned a lap of 46.846 on his way to the victory. Behind him Alex Gray and Matt Koerner finished second and third.
Afterwards Nason said, “I was rockin’ and it felt good. I know this isn’t F-1 racing but you can’t race without a support group, my tuning crew, Mitch and my girlfriend that backs me up and gives me the time to be out and practice so it looks easy. This is actually the first year I’ve ever won two titles, I’ve won a few out there and this year I put the time in the 80 and 125 and they were top notch all year.”
Asked about next year Nason said he’ll race with NNKC off and on as he now has the license and will be competing in the F-3 series at Sonoma since he’s earned the license to compete in that series.
When the Senior Clone race began Dave Schilt, Alex Beaudon and Kelsey Nelson took off with Kelly Chinander following. Soon Nelson, who is the class champion, took second and began a duel with former champion Schilt for the lead.
Once Nelson got into the lead she began to distance herself from the pack. For the remainder of the race Schilt and Beaudon were locked into a nose-to-tail battle.
On the final lap Schilt had a bobble, slid to third, which gave Beaudon the runner up spot. Up front, there would be no catching Nelson this day.
“I started behind Alec but I was supposed to start on the pole. It was really fun battling with them earlier so I want to do it again,” Nelson said. “It’s my first championship and my first year ever racing, been a lot of fun and really cool.
“Cole has won tons of championships and it’s really fun to win it for him because he’s track support now.”
Not to be outdone the junior set of racers put on a show of their own.
In the Junior 1 Clone B group the class champion didn’t compete so that gave Asa Gourley the chance to score his first ever victory. And to say he was excited to take the checkered flag would be an understatement.
When the 9-year-old crossed the line he raised his arms and was pumping them as he headed back to the pits. Jake Guzelis finished second followed by Bryce Berry.
Asked about scoring his first win Gourley said, “It feels really good, I just drove hard and need to thank my dad and family.”
When the Junior A Clone B group started 8-year-old Gabe Vegors took off with class champion 11-year-old Issac Bourque right behind him. Both boys soon gaped the field then spread out themselves.
Behind the leaders Heavyn Hill was holding her own and kept Chase Dulude and Austin Hawkins at bay. Eventually Dulude would get past and finish third while Hill and Hawkins ended up fourth and fifth.
Up front Vegors took the victory with Bourque not far behind him.
“The race was awesome and Issac was really close. So I just concentrated, looked at the track and where I was going to go,” Vegors said later.
For his part Bourque said, “It’s my first title and it feels good.
Even though there are three or four Kids Kart drivers only Brooks Anderline has been consistently showing up. He gets his laps and is getting faster and faster every time he’s on the track.
In fact the club makes a point to give him a first place trophy everytime he shows up.
At the other end of the age ladder is 72 years young Mike Arnold, a veteran racer himself he competes for the fun of it and puts in a lot of practice miles between races.
“I rode scrambles when I was young and those were before motocross,” he said. “Due to family and work I stopped but when I came here, and found the club was so close, I got a kart and started racing it when I was 68 eight. Now I practice three times a week and do 80 laps here every time.”
Now he’s gotten a kart for his wife and they both get on the track for practice sessions.
After the final checkered flag of the season waved the club will start preparing for its banquet in early December. Then in March drivers will assemble again for a tune up race first then start their season in April.
RESULTS
Desert Park Raceway — Oct. 5
Northern Nevada Kart Club — Round 8
Kid’s Kart — 1. Brooks Anderline
Jr. 1 Clone B — 1. Gave Vegors, 2. Issac Bourque*, 3. Chase Dulude, 4. Heavyn Hill, 5. Austin Hawkins
Jr. 1 Clone A — 1. Asa Gourley, 2. Jake Guzelis, 3. Bryce Berry
Sr. Clone — 1. Kelsey Nelson*, 2. Alec Beaudon, 3. David Schilt, 4. Kelly Chinander
Tag Masters — 1. Mike Ryckebosch*, 2. Dan Harris, 3. John Ryckebosch, 4. Taylor Uchytil, 5. Mike McMullen, 6. Randy Ryckebosch, 7. Mike Arnold, 8. Zachery Rivera
F-80 Senior — 1. Mark Nason*, 2. Ben Fisher, 3. Steve Dow, 4. Dan Harris, 5. Jeremy Holm, 6. Gerg Jaime (DNF), 7. Dan Votino (DNF)
Stock 125 — 1. Mark Nason*, 2. Alex Gray, 3. Matt Koerner, 4. Mike Faker, 5. Milas Mills, 6. Jeff Wamre (DNF)
* — 2014 Class Champion
