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Suver, Oregon | Hello race fans, Max Mulkey and the Tillage Radish race team were back in action today for round 9 of the 10 race Oregon State Championship series. Todays race was held at the Pat's Acres Race Course in Aurora Oregon.
The local weatherman's prediction of a chance of showers gave way to a steady drizzle for till mid afternoon. This had the team scrambling to find the right set up for the wet conditions. After a couple of practice sessions and many changes to the kart Max was the fastest in qualifying. Pat's specialist Grant Hiezenraider was 2nd, and Nick Fergusen was third. (Max and Nick entered today's race tied for first in the points standing.)
The team made yet another change to the chassis for the first heat. Max was able to power into the lead at the start, and led a couple of laps before spinning in turn 8. Max recovered quickly, but not before Grant was able to power past. (The chassis adjustment left the kart loose in the turns.) Grant went on to win, with Max 2nd and Nick 3rd.
For the second heat the team reversed thier previus adjustment and moved some ballast around to improve the rear grip. The start for the second heat is inverted, so Max had to start from the 3rd row. He made a brilliant move into the first turn and was in third place out of turn one. By the end of the first lap he had moved up to second place and was sonn pressuring Fergusen for the lead. The two drivers battled hard in the wet conditions, but it took Max 6 laps before he could get past. Nick pressured him for the remainder of the 8 lap race, with Max holding on for the win.
By this time the rain had stopped, and the track was slowly drying. This left the Tillage Radish team with many questions on what set up to use for the main event. The rain tires came off, and the slicks went on. The slicks came off and the rains went back on. Heads were scratched. Tums were sourced. Tums were ingested.
In the end the team decided to do what ever Fergusen did. Rains tire stayed on. Dad chewed his nails.
At the start Hiezenraider went to the front, Max slotted in behind, and Nick was third. Max pressured Grant for two laps, going into turn 5 Grant got loose and spun right in front of Max, allowing Fergusen to slip into the lead. Max was able to get back going in second place, 10 kart lengths behind. After two laps Max had closed the gap and began to pressure the leader. On lap 6 he dove to the outside in turn 8, but had to back off and leave room for Fergusen. On lap 7 He again tested Nick on the outside of turn 8, only to come up short again. Lap 8. Turn 8. Max now dives to the bottom, gets along side Fergusen, and stays next to him for the length of the main straight and takes the lead going into turn one. Max proceeded to pull out a small gap and win the 10 lap main event. Nick finished second, and Grant 3rd.
Max now has a 10 point lead going into the final race of the season October 10th.
Thanks for your interest, Max and Garth.
(Sorry for the recycled pics, it was a busy day.)
Edited by Grasseed 9/27/2010 00:04
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The Tillage Radish Ripper wins again! (Race report and pics.)
