8/3/05
IKF REGION 11 FINALE
Dixon, California — This weekend was the season finale for IKF Region 11 at Kinsmen Kart Club in Dixon, CA. The pits were full, the weather hot, hot, hot as were the points battles. The crews and drivers were tense as all brought out there best equipment ready for battle. What a place for battle it was at Kinsmen, Fast, Furious, plenty passing zones, and G-Force was tilting the neck of some, and bruising up ribs for most.
Cody Kay walked in Jr. 1 Briggs as did Tyler Agan in Jr. 11 Briggs. The battle started in Jr. Puma. Jessica Brunelli grabbed fast time but with plenty of mix up in the heat race and to start the main, in the end Jessica had the time to run down Weddle but not to pass him. Timothy Weddle got the win sticker with Brunelli second and Jon Ban third. Sr. Superbox was up next. The man in black Ricky Luther decided to come out play after a 8 month hide out and set fast time. He would go on to win uncontested followed by Brice Clark and Josh Weddle.
The Scribner Plastics Sponsored Animal Briggs had a great show. Thomas Merrill got fast time by two hundredths over Joel Chavez; and with right finishing order; Merrill could have gotten the championship. However, Merrill got the win sticker and Joel Chavez got the championship. Thomas Merrill won every race he ran this year. Chip Mooneyham got the win in the Briggs Masters class.
In Jr. Comer there was a stacked field. The top four were all right there battling at the end. Greco brought it home followed by Teves, Kay and Potts. Jr. Shifter 80 was next up and these kids were flyin. Cody Hodgson set fast time of the weekend with a 29.317 lap time in his mean green machine. Laura Hayes and Alex Schutte were right there but Cody had the power and the chassis and drove away in style. Cody Hodgson got his first win in Jr. 80 with Hayes second and Schutte third.
Jr. Sportsman had Alexander Rossi Motoring away. It was clear Rossi had horsepower and was never threatened. Jessica Brunelli was second then Alberico and Crouse. Another Scribner Plastics sponsored Sr. 80 Shifter class took to the track. In the heat it looked as if there would be a four kart battle, but when the main came Emmick Enterprises Gary and Jesse Gwin stole the show and teamed to a four second victory over the rest. It was Gary Gwin followed by brother Jesse, Mike Wright and Anthony Valerio.
Sunday was the closer point battles. Sr. Superbox heavy took to the track. Paul Carey led most of the main but with three laps to go Bryan Stephenson ran down Carey and passed him. Stephenson got the win with Carey second and Dave Steele third. Jr. Superbox had some lead changes but Dylan Albiani showed his talents. His chassis was working and he drove away from the field. Giles O’Kane was second in his Top Kart and with Rothweiler third and Alberico fourth.
Masters Shifter 80 had some battles, Boyd Ferry ran down a blocking Rick Gutzke making an awesome pass through the dirt for the win. Gutzke was second with Steve Dow third. The big Points battle was in 125cc Parilla. The top three were all within 80 points. Ricky Luther got fast time. Scribner, Third in points won the heat race. On the start Scribner got the point and ran away with it. Luther was second and Bartolero was third. Nick Dunn got the points to stay in first and take the title. Sr. 80 was next up and was boring for the win but what a show for points. Eric Schutte was plain faster than everybody. He sleepwalked to an easy victory. However, John Van Ngiem finished second which was enough to take the points lead by five points for the championship over Gary Gwin who finished third. To finish the point’s battles was 100cc Parilla. Coberly and Giffels were separated by 35 points coming into this race. Giffels was fast and did his part to take the win. However Coberly was second to take the championship by 20 points.
Next were two cash purse races. TAG Pro which was a $1500 purse and top two receiving Scribner Plastics Bodywork and Masters 80 shifter with $1000 cash purse and top two receiving Scribner Plastics Bodywork. Mike Wright was a cheetah when money was dangled in front of him because he controlled this race with ease. However with just a few laps to go Rick Gutzke put a nice pass on Boyd Ferry for the second spot and a set of BODYLINE. Erik Bartolero got fast time for the TAG Pro race. He got the lead on the start but faded fast as did Cory Gwin. With Luther getting a big lead after passing Bartolero, Brady Halbasch and Chris Scribner didn’t have the laps to run him down. Luther got the big money and BODYLINE as did Halbasch, Scribner was third and Bartolero was fourth.
