Pictures above from the Florida Winter Tour Race #3 and #4 Homestead Florida 2007, Rotax JR class. Click on image to see a larger view.

Florida Winter Tour 2007 Races #3 and #4

Race #3

Winter Tour race number three and four on the reconfigured Homestead Kart track was a lot more fun than race number one and two. Cody was under the watchful eye of Adavanced Karting for both races. Donald and William where a great help and it showed in Cody's finishes both races.
We started out early Friday morning, 2am to be exact , making the six hour drive to Homestead Florida for Friday practice sessions. Cody slept while I drove we arrived there about 8am just in time for practice.
Unfortunately the only practice tires we had where pretty much junk; a big lesson learned never again will we practice for such a big event on junk tires. Cody seemed to be a lot more comfortable on the reconfigured track at Homestead and did pretty good during practice. We didn't turn in any real quick laps but considering the tires he was on we did great. Friday went smoothly by the end of the day both Cody and myself where ready for a good twelve hours sleep.
Saturday we woke up at six am had breakfast at Denny's are arrived at the track about seven am. Changed tires putting the new tires on for the race and checked everything over before qualifying. Cody qualified 21st out of 34 Rotax Jr's which put us back with all the trouble when the green flag dropped for the pre final.
Pre final saw Cody go from 21st to tenth place only to be docked ten positions for cutting corner when there was a big wreck in the first corner. He gained no poistions by cutting the corner but avoided the wreck but was still docked. So in the final Cody started 20th only gaining one position in the pre final.
Final was a great race with Cody going from 20th to finish in 14th. Not a bad day and his best finish in the Florida Winter tour to date. As a bonus no broken or bent parts all we had to do is mount the new tires and we where all set for the next race Sunday.

Sunday turned out to be a rather cool day for down here in Florida but the racing turned out to be great. Cody qualified 17th which is our best position yet to start a race with the Winter Tour. In the pre final there was once again a big wreck in the first turn at the start, Cody avoided the wreck worked his way up to 4th place when another kart got on top of the front of his kart bending his brake pedal. He continued on to finish 21st not bad considering it could have been much worse. In the final Cody managed to avoid all the wrecks including the first two corners after the start and worked his way up to 12th place. Cody did a great job holding onto that position even though in the later laps the kart wasn't handling very well. The 12th place finish was like a win for us as it was our best finish to date racing it what is the best field of Rotax Jr's we'll find at any event.

All in all it was a great weekend and made for an enjoyable ride home knowing he had gone out there done his best and showed everyone that it won't be long before he is running up front and on the podium. The final races of the Florida Winter Tour are here at out home track, OGP. Stay tune for and update on that at the end of March.

Special thanks to all those who where cheering Cody on during both races and Adavanced Karting.

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