The opening round of the 2016 season was one of weather and speed for area kart racers.

(STEAD, APRIL 24) – NNKC, the Northern Nevada Kart Club, opened its season at Desert Park Raceway on a cool Sunday. It was a day with the constant threat of rain that did affect one main.

And the largest field of the day in Senior LO206 had the closest race.

“You know before I went into the race I was thinking, was nervous and didn’t know if I could do it. Then on the start I was thinking, ‘maybe I can get her (Kelsey Nelson) here and stay in front the rest of the time.’ I wasn’t able to do that so we’re going around, I’m trying to find her weak spots,” Zach Rivera said after winning the Senior LO206 main. “Finally coming out of Turns 8 & 9 I was close to her on the last lap and as soon as Turns 1 & 2 came around I just said, ‘let’s just stick in there.’

Then he thanked his father and the family business Nevada Kart Sport. Rivera also had high praise for the new Birel Kart he was racing.

When the green flag waved Nelson got the jump on Rivera and led the charge into the first turn. After that it turned into a private duel for the lead between them.

For most of the Sr. LO206 main Kelsey Nelson was just leading Zach Rivera. In the distance is third place Stephanie Callahan.

Behind the leaders Stephanie Callahan ran a solo third and finished in that position. Further back, fourth and fifth places were held by Gary Guzelis and Jacob Clari.

But up front Nelson and Rivera continued their fight with both karts usually only inches apart and never more than a foot or so between them.

Finally after taking the white flag, Rivera saw his chance and used an inside pass to take the lead. He would reach the checkered flag first with Nelson close behind.

After a race long duel and In the final laps Zach Rivera took the lead from Kelsey Nelson in the Sr. LO206 main.

Prior to the 125 Stock Moto shifter main, one kart had to be push started a couple of times. Once that was accomplished the field was ready to go.

Up front Mike Faker got the jump on everyone and just left the field in his dust. Behind him Jeff Wamre was in second with the rest not that far behind.

Eventually Tom Gardner’s race ended with a spin as some kind of mechanical problem put him out of the race.

Mike Faker on his way to winning the 125 Stock Moto race.

In the end Faker won by a large margin while Dean Andrews came home second ahead of Wamre, Jeremy Kay and Garcia who, in her first 125 race, drove a steady pace.

After the post-race weigh in Faker said, “There’s a lot of new kids racing this year and they’re having trouble with the starts so it gives me a little bit of an advantage. I changed tire pressure, went way up, took a chance and it seemed to work.”

This class is one of the two that uses a standing start and all drivers need to master that part. But having a huge lead can be a mixed blessing for any driver.

Asked about this Faker said, “It’s probably easier to have someone to race. I do better and am faster when somebody is in front of me because I have someone to track down. I play a little too conservative when I’m out in front but when there is someone right behind me it makes me driver better.”

Then he thanked Rodney Rivera at Nevada Kart Sport, the team Intreped and SRS guys for the kart he bought from them.

The F-80 class had a pretty dramatic second heat race. At that time both Turbo Sombatsiri and Ken Brown were dueling for the lead. Contact sent both of them into the barrier in Turn 1 and ended their day.

So when the division’s main began there were only three karts that participated in the standing start.

Up front Jeremy Holm took off and led from start to finish. Behind him Brock Gardner finished second with Jeremiah Golden in third.

After dealing with problems on his kart things went well for Jeremy Holm as the won the F-80 main.

After the race Holm said, “The track was pretty good, I started to see it sprinkle about half way through the race and eased off on it just to be careful just because I had a decent enough lead to do that. Then my visor cleared up and I got back on it to the track is doing pretty good with the sunshine out there.”

He took was asked if it’s easier to have a big lead or be racing someone.

“I think it’s easier because you can judge your race pace easier,” he said. “You can see them in the corner of your eye and slow up a little bit to take care of your equipment.”

Then he thanked his mother and dad that helped him work on a lot of problems his kart had during the day.

When the TAG Masters race began it appeared the race was going to be a family affair. Up front Steve Ryckebosch was being chased by his brother Mike.

Behind the leaders veteran Mike McMullen was holding off John Ryckebosch, Jeff Solvason and Mike Arnold for third.

For the first part of the TAG Master race it appeared the race was between brothers Steve and Mike Ryckebosch.

Lap after lap the brothers Ryckebosch tore around the track until there was contact in Turn 1. Mike wound up off the track in the Turn 2 exit while his Steve was able to continue.

Further back McMullen, now in second place, eventually slipped to third when John Ryckebosch got past. But up front there would be no catching Steve Ryckebosch.

Asked what happened Steve said, “Just hit the little curb on the inside, it pushed me out a little, he (Mike) wasn’t braking and he just smacked me. So that’s basically what happened. It almost took me out, I went sideways luckily controlled it. The track wasn’t bad, it started to sprinkle towards the end but once it dries out it feels good.”

Then he thanked his wife Lynn for her support.”

Off and on again rain played a part during most of the mains until the storms moved to the south. But for one race it had a dramatic effect.

First up in the line up of mains was the Jr-2 LO206 class. When they launched their main the track was dry but by the time the field was on the downhill run to Turn 8 it was raining at that spot.

Rain in Turn 9 collected most of the Jr-2 LO206 field with the exception of Aiden Hawkins. That particular main was canceled.

The NNKC usually races on slick tires due to the fact it rarely rains here during their season. These tires work great in dry weather but any rain on the surface makes it like driving on ice.

Well the entire field, with the exception of Aden Hawkins, wound up in the barrier. The race was called at that time.

During the pause race official talked with the driver’s parents and found that two karts had been damaged. As a result the parents decided not to try and run that main.

So the results are a merge of qualifying, heat finishes and points. In the end Hawkins was credited with the victory.

Tarron Graves reached the checkered first in the Kid Kart main.

After waiting a short while the track tried out and the Kid Kart racers ran their shortened race. In the end Tarron Graves reached the checkered flag first followed by Mia Wright.

Mia Wright was the runner up in the Kid Kart main.

In this class with the youngest racers driving low powered karts just finishing is a victory as these drivers are earning their racing spurs.

Finally the day ended with the Junior 1 LO206 division.

The 206 is a new motor that is replacing the original Clone motor. It’s more dependable and comes sealed so it can’t be worked on. The effect is an increase in karts as it makes for a more level field.

When the race started Brooks Anderline took off and showed the pack his heels. Behind him Wyatt Sander held second place.

Further back Asa Fourley and Heavyn Hill were having a close duel for third until contact put both of them off the track. However they were able to continue.

In the end a delighted Anderline scored his first ever victory followed by Wyatt and Korey Sander. Further back Gourley ended up fourth with Hill and Adrian Brown finishing fifth and sixth.

A delighted Brooks Anderline is on his way to victory in the Jr-1 LO206 main.

After the post-race weigh in a delighted Anderline said, “This feels Awesome. I just took it conservative, didn’t overdrive it and I just didn’t push it.”

Then he thanked his parents and Cole Nelson for their support.

Now except for testing Desert Park Raceway goes dark until NNKC’s next event on May 15.

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RESULTS:

Northern Nevada Kart Club – Round 1

Desert Park Raceway – April 24, 2016

+ Kids Kart: 1. Tarron Graves, 2. Mia Wright

+ Jr-1, LO206/Clone: 1. Brooks Anderline, 2. Wyatt Sander, 3. Korey Sander, 4.  Asa Gourley, 5. Heavyn Hill, 6. Adrian Brown.

+ Jr-1, Los06/Clone*: 1. Aiden Hawkins, 2. Jake Guzelis, 3. Chase Dulude, 4. Bryce Berry, 5. Issac Bourque.

+ Sr. LO206/Clone: 1. Zachery Rivera, 2. Kelsey Nelson, 3. Stephanie Callahan, 4. Gary Guzelis, 5. Jacob Ciari, 6. BrandonWalsh, 7. Zak Koch, 8. Jason      Anderline, 9. Rick McLeod, 10. Chris Wright, 11. Kelly Chinander, 12. Nat      Sombatsiri, 13. Brud Beaudoin, 14. Max Glenn, 15. Jed Spangler.

+ Tag Masters: 1. Steve Ryckebosch, 2. John Ryckebosch, 3. Mike McMullen, 4. Jeff Solvason, 5. Mike Arnold, 6. Lexus Kay.

+ F-80/125: 1. Jeremy Holm, 2. Brock Gardner, 3. Jeremiah Golden.

DNF/S: Turbo Sombatsiri, Ken Brown.

+ Stock Moto 125: 1. Mike Faker, 2. Dean Andrews, 3. Jeff Wamre, 4. Jeremy Kay, 5. Pandora Garcia.

DNF: Tom Gardner.

* – Result is a merge between qualifying, heat finishes and points.