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September 6, 2008 -
Well I am going to cut Annita a break and send this out. Somehow she
is a little overwhelmed with school (homework) her new job working at
Dairy Queen and being the Skyview HS Cross Country Running Team
Manager. Hopefully the new job will payoff with some racing support
next season since the owner is a Sprint Car driver himself. For
Annita’s last race of 2008 I made a gear change and new shocks, first
practice run the car was really lose so we scaled car and adjusted
cross weight and dropped some tire psi on Rt. Rear. Next practice went
well. I know she has it figured out when she came in and told me the
cars a little tight on entry and lose on exit of corner but don’t
change a thing cause I like it! And so did the stop watch. In the
first heat she started in the back row but made up to 2nd.
In the Main she took control of the race on the second lap and
finished in 1st place by a couple car lengths. In the post
race interview Annita thanked all her sponsors and then took her last
1st place trophy (in the Bandolero) up into the stands and
gave it to her long time supporter Henry Hedberg, who has been
cheering her on and advising her for the last 3 years only missing a
couple of races. Mostly so he could catch a Vintage race at Miller
Raceway or Laguna Seca. For the season Annita finished 2nd
overall only missing a tie for 1st by that error we made
last month not making minimum weight, live and learn.
It’s that time again
Annita will move up next year. So the Bandolero is For Sale and Annita
will drive the Baby Grand next season. Yes, that means I am out of the
car again but the better driver will be racing next season. Ouch that
hurts the ego. I would like to thank GoGirlRacing’s sponsors for there
continued support this season and hope that they will all be back next
season - Kurt Braun
August 16, 2008 -
This weekend the rain held off for us, which was good since we have
had a bunch of rainouts this season. I didn’t get much practice this
weekend because I was power shopping for school clothes while Dad
prepped the car for the races. I was able to qualify in 2nd
place and finished 1st in the heat race. In the main I was
in the lead for most of the Main Event but Carly Meacham (#77) was
able to get by me in turn 4 on the inside with 3 laps left and held me
off until we came around for the checkered flag and I was at her door
when the flag came out giving me a 2nd place finish for the
Main Event it was a good race and Carly got her first win of the
season.
August 2, 2008 -
I started the
weekend early test driving a Legend Car for 60-70 laps.
It was so fun I was smiling from ear to ear and I was told I did
really well, even though I couldn’t see over the steering wheel. I
would need a different seat to fit right. My Legend lap times were
consistent with cars that qualified mid pack, not to bad for my first
time in a Legend. I would have gone longer but I decided I should save
some energy for my race. My car was feeling great this weekend
qualified first. But I only finished 3rd in the heat race
because of inverted starting order and finished 2nd in the
Main. It was a long two races because we had a lot of crashes/restarts
left and right.
We will be taking next weekend off, then
back to it on the 16th.
July 19, 2008 -
Last
weekend was a long one. Racing started off well with a second place
finish in the first heat race. On the next heat race it was going
good work my way up when #77 lost control and came down across the
front of my car. After a quick check I tried to stay out on the track
but didn’t want to damage the car anymore then it was. So the second
heat was a DNF(did not finish). We went to work fixing the car, it
needed a new bumper, spindle, and some duck tape to fix the broken
fiberglass. We also took out ten pounds of ballast weight looking for
a edge on the faster #17. We got the car fixed on time to start the
Main race but not enough time to reweigh the car. I was holding
second place firmly but still not able to catch the #17 so I finished
in second place. Sadly when I went into tech I was under the min.
weight by 4lbs so I was disqualified and was not allowed to keep my
second place points. Lessons learned the hard way (scales change from
race to race) don’t count on old info without time to double check it.
It really hurts since it didn’t improve the car but that is racing.
Hopefully the rain will hold off this weekend and I will get a chance
to practice in a Legend Race Car before racing the Bandolero. Thank
you again for all your support.
July 12, 2008 -
This
weekend the Sprint Cars were at the track, this made the track
extremely slick and made all the cars hard to handle. I had an okay
weekend I got a 2nd in the first heat, 1st in
the second heat, and a 2nd in the main. In the main I was
at the #17’s door when the checkered flag came out, so close but not
quite there. It’s been a great season so far and I would like to say
thanks to all my sponsors, without them I wouldn’t be racing: Collins
Construction, Spenard Builders Supply - Kenai, Outlaw Body and Paint
for painting the car every year, Burdick Enterprises for the Royal
Purple oil and chain lube. Special thanks, to Fat-Fab for always being
out at the track and willing to pick up the pieces if needed. Also,
another big thanks to my support team which is everyone who supports
what I am and what I want to become.
July 5, 2008 -
This
weekend all the classes were there and we ran a heat race and a
feature instead of 2 heats and a feature. For practice I got to drive
the baby grand and I can't wait till its mine. In the heat race I had
a bad start and then worked my way up to come in first. In the main I
started in the back and again worked my way up to come in first again.
The baby grands ran two features and in the first race my dad came in
last. In the 2nd feature my dad had motor troubles. The
motor threw a rod out of the block. So I had a good weekend the baby
grand didn’t
June 21,2008- Only Annita raced this weekend the
baby grands were in Fairbanks and Kurt's car still isn't working. She
got 1st in the first heat. There was a major crash in the second
involving everybody but her, she was up front when the crash happened
and they stopped the race half way in giving Annita the win and she
won a third time for the main. So all in all a great weekend.
May 31,2008- Started with some rain but it cleared
up in time to race. Annita came in 2nd for the first heat, then 1st
for the second heat, and the main she got 2nd.
Kurt had mechanical problems all weekend and ended
up finishing last or second to last all weekend. On the main disaster
stuck and a valve tried to leave cracking the crank case.
May 25, 2008 - First race of the season ----
FINALLY! Had a great day. Annita was right back the top of her
game (race) and so ready to race. After warming up a couple of times
she took 2nd in the first heat, the second heat she found her line,
went for it and took 1st. In the main unfortunately we lost 2 of the
races to mechanical problems, but she drove hard and took first in a
20 lap main. As a side note Steven Young, who was a fellow KPRL
quarter midget racer, took 3rd in the main,.
Kurt worked out some of the kinks and for the main
didn't finish last and actually past the same car two times.
He's rehooked!
May 24, 2008 - Really disappointed with a rain out
February 28-March 4 2008- We went to Indianapolis
to learn more about the business side of racing. It was great and
there was a lot of great speakers that helped us to understand the
financial, insurance, and sponsorship parts of racing. THANK YOU GUYS SO
MUCH!!!
Nov 14th 2007 - Went to the first Lyn St. James Driver
Development training class in Phoenix, AZ. Did physical and mental
preparedness. Boy was this a bit overwhelming.
Oct 7th 2007-
Accepted into the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program. See
attachment for more information about this years program.
Women in the Winner’s Circle
Foundation or go to
http://www.lynstjames.com/lsj_ddp.htm
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July 7th 2007 - Rained out
July 1st - North Star called the race at 1:00 pm
due to the rain front coming in and dumping water on us.
June 30th - The Holmes family came down from
Fairbanks and uped the count of Bandos to 9. Annita was leading in the
1st heat until Tyler & Travis Holmes got around her. In the 2nd & 3rd
heats the car started doing spins (and it wasn't the drivers fault
this time) As we looked at the car on Sunday we found that the chain
was binding up and the brake was dragging. She's currently holding 1st
place for North Star Speedway Bandolero points and 47th out of 115 for
INEX (600 Racing) Nation-wide Points.
June 23rd - The racing was good and clean this weekend.
Thought we might be rained out but it cleared up nicely.Annita was hot
and fast all weekend long. Lots of good clean exciting passing. in the
2nd heat, Annita come from the back of the pack and took 1st. In the main
race Annita was able to get up and move, she was a least 1 corner
ahead of everyone else at one time.
June 16th - Annita started the evening with a win
which gave her a great high. Took another 1st in the 2nd heat. Was in
2nd catching up with the leader when the clutch went out, good thing
she did come in, the spindle was bent and rubbing on the tire - she
could've easily blown a tire.
June 9th - Annita started with a win! Lots of door
banging in the main, good racing, everyone finished the race.
June 2nd - Trying to get the car lined out and stay
away from the wall. In the main heat she had a driver break a tie rod
and come into her and took her out of the race too.
May 27th - Ran main race from previous day. Annita
got up and walked away! She took first! Then in the second main race
of the day, she thought she'd see what the wall in turn 2 looked like.
She spun and hit the wll. Bent the backend, but thanks to DAD
busting butt & her sponsor Fat Fab she was able to go racing
next weekend.
May 26th - 1st win in the 1st heat, then got stuck
in the back of the pack and couldn't get around. Main race was rained
out.
May 20 - Still learning, no major damage or repairs
(good racing)
May 19th - Relearning to race with other drivers,
finding her "line" on the track and avoiding spins.
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