SPARKS (Nov. 30) – Several classes in the Northern Nevada Kart Club are very competitive. Among them is the TAG Masters class and this year the battle for that championship was between two brothers, defending champion Steve Ryckebosch and his younger brother Mike.
Dan Harris chases Mike Ryckebosch past cheering fans as they head for the checkered at the season ending race.
Even though he had the TAG Masters title locked up, Mike Ryckebosch (191) had to work for that final victory as Dan Harris (16) chased him the entire race.
The 2014 TAG Master’s champion Mike Ryckebosch (right) stands with his brother Steve. Both of them dominated the class during the 2014 season.
Mike Ryckebosch crests Turn 5 at Desert Park Raceway at the season ending event.
Mike Ryckebosch leads his older brother Randy over the top of Turn 5 at Desert Park Raceway.
Mike Ryckebosch (191) briefly leads his brother Steve during the early September race. Scott Andrews trails both brothers.
“Steve and I are 55 and 54-years old but we are the same age for about two and a half weeks. And out of all us four brothers we are the most competitive with each other,” Mike Ryckebosch said. “Probably because we’re so close in age.”
Joining them in kart racing are brothers Randy, the oldest, and John, the youngest. Growing up in Southern California during the 1970’s is where they got their interest in motorsports.
“My dad never had a lot of money but he made us a couple of taco mini bikes and, with four boys, he supported us by taking us to boat drags and NHRA events. Dad enjoyed those and it’s kind of cool we were involved at a young age.”
The boys competed in BMX and after high school raced motocross at the old Indian Dunes track.
“And we learned to drive in sand buggies and back in the 80’s all four of us raced Formula Fords with the SCCA at Willow Springs,” he said.
After a racing accident claimed the life of a friend the brothers gave up racing Formula Fords in 1989. Another factor was the increasing cost of fielding a car.
“We also did a little off-road racing with the High Desert Racing Association and raced in the Mint 400 in 1981 in Class 9 and finished in 2nd place,” he said.
Back then the family was involved in the poultry business his father and grandfather started in the 1950’s.
After Steve moved to Reno, Mike followed in 1994.
“In about 1997 or 98′ Steve mentioned he was going to the kart track and check out the races,” he said. “After that we decided to buy a couple of karts and race in the KT100 class.”
As far as racing goes, karting is probably the most cost effective way to go and its very competitive.
“I got into karting due to it being more affordable. What was so cool is that it was as competitive back then and has the same thrill like Formula Ford. But the speed is different although you still have wheel-to-wheel racing,” he said.
Ryckebosch added that it was nice to get back racing again as he and his brothers enjoy it.
“I think Steve has a more aggressive style than I do and if I’m ahead of him it’s usually not for long,” he said. “Then we took a break after about three or four years.”
He did return briefly when his daughter Taylor wanted to try it. She ran a clutch kart while he raced an 80cc shifter. Then later he and Steve returned to the track.
“When we came back Steve and I bought Bill Dement’s karts about four years ago,” he said.
Both brothers are fast but this season the difference came down to being consistent and not having mechanical issues.
“I’ve been the runner up for the last two years and Steve won last year,” he said. “This year the races that Steve finished he won as he had the fastest kart but I was more consistent.”
Asked about the season Steve said, ” Had two DNFs in the first two races. The battery fell off in the first race so I was DQ’d and from then on Mike was so consistent there was no way I could get past.”
As they season progressed both Mike and Steve dominated the class and always put on a show of close, fast racing.
“About mid-season I was being pretty consistent as I finished in the top three. I felt if I could stay consistent I might have a good chance,” Ryckebosch said.
In the final three events of the season it started to be apparent that Mike might have a lock on the title but in racing there are no givens so drivers press on regardless.
“We went down to the second to last race where I had to finish in the top five and Steve had to win all of them. I think he knew with two to go he couldn’t catch me,” he said.
Regarding those final races Steve said, “I still figured I had a chance as you’ve to keep going because you don’t know what will happen. But he always kept me close enough and would still have enough even if he had finished fifth.”
Ryckebosch feels one pivotal race was the third event of the season which Kevin Marshall won. John was second with Mike third but Steve finished eighth due to mechanical problems.
Asked when he knew the title was his he said, “I would say absolutely the second to last race. That was the only time I could really smile about and say it was pretty cool.”
His brother Steve said, “I give him kudos as he drove perfectly. Over the last years he’s matured and mechanically he was sound.”
In the last race Steve sat out, except for qualifying and put older brother Randy into his kart while brother John finished third behind Dan Harris, who pressed Mike all the way to the checkered.
Reflecting on the reasons for his success Mike said, “Rodney Rivera, from Nevada Kart Sport, helped quite a bit. Steve and I raced a few pro kart races and Rodney and Cole Nelson came with us. Rodney helped with the prep on the karts and it’s neat to have them both in a kart shop here. Probably couldn’t have been as competitive without their knowledge.”
Any championship is special, especially the first.
“It just means hard work pays off as sometimes you look at things and I’ve never been the type to give up,” Ryckebosch said. “It’s kind of a personal achievement because it’s something I love to do and perseverance pays off.”
Then he gave thanks to his girlfriend Terese, who is very supportive and Nevada Kart Sport. He also gave thanks to God and his brothers as they all push each other want to beat each other on the track yet are good friends.
Asked about next season Steve said, “I will run TAG and an 125 shifter. It’s fun to be in the same class as my brothers as we can help each other. But it will also be fun to have the same karts because it’s more like a brother melee.”
Answering the same question Mike said, “Will race the masters then depending on what Steve does might run two classes. It would be fun to get into a shifter and do both.”
This Saturday, Dec. 6) all four Ryckebosch brothers join the fellow Northern Nevada Kart Club members at the annual awards banquet held at the Grand Sierra. That’s when Mike will receive his champion’s trophy and jacket to the cheers of his fellow racers and family members.
