Race #12 Getting up front

Not much work needed on the kart leading up to this race.  Just had to get a friend to trade with me so I could go.  Lian has been getting busy with marching band and picked up a little bit of a cold before this race so we tried to keep her rested between sessions on the track.

Before I describe the action, I wanted to share this trophy picture from the night race two weeks before.  Things finished so late that they postponed the awards until this race day.
 

Night race awardees.  Ladies placed one-two!

Practice went smoothly and we made a small adjustment to the rear track to help a push condition.  She seemed comfortable with the kart and the speed was good so I was optimistic we would have a good day.  Lian's starting positions were to be 4th and 3rd in Heat 1and 2 respectively in a field of six racers.  

Starting outside on the second row, Lian had a strategy to improve her position right at the start of the first heat.  She knew that the second place driver started very fast and she hoped to stay on his bumper and gain on the third place kart through the sweeper.  This strategy actually put her slightly ahead of the pole sitter!  Unfortunately, she pinched low and tangled with the number one starter costing them both several positions.  Here is the video from the GoPro and the sidelines.

Lian went on to finish 4th in that heat.  Heat 2 went uneventfully and she finished where she started in 3rd.  This placed her 4th for the Feature start.  She was going to have to run hard to finish on the podium.

She wanted to try the strategy again that almost worked for her the first heat.  Attached is another video of an exciting start.  Notice the right hand of the leader.  He thinks that the start is going to be waved-off (the flagman had waved of several already).  He started slowly and this helped her strategy.  She was able to get ahead of third-place and hold that position to the finish!

I'm very proud that she backed-up her second place with a third place.  She is definitely a force to be reckoned with out there!  We didn't get a podium picture because it was again very late when we finished all the races but here is our driver at home with her prize.

Maybe that flame hair does make a difference!