Go-kart drivers and their crews scrambled to switch from slicks to treaded tires when the sky suddenly exploded with rain and hail over the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit on Sunday afternoon.
But that didnB次元官网网址檛 dampen spirits during the remaining races of the second day of the BC Summer Sprint Series, a brand-new series of races launched this year by the Vancouver Island Karting Association and two other clubs.
About 95 karts raced at the VIMC on Saturday and Sunday at the first stop on the Summer Sprint Series, hosted by VIKA. They came from all over B.C., and as far away as Lethbridge, Alta and Washington state. The series will continue at the West Coast Kart Club in Chilliwack in August and Kartplex in Oliver in September. Points will be compiled over six races B次元官网网址� two at each stop B次元官网网址� to determine the winners in seven separate classes for different ages and kart makes.
B次元官网网址淲e all have the same rules and the same classes,B次元官网网址� VIKA president Gary Smith explained. B次元官网网址淲e are working together to grow the sport.B次元官网网址�
Each driver gets two practice sessions, followed by a qualifying round, then the pre-final, then the final. The fastest lap time in the qualifier gets to start at the front for the pre-final, and a driverB次元官网网址檚 finish in the pre-final determines where they start in the final. The winner of the final, of course, gets the trophy.
The Summer Sprint Series races arenB次元官网网址檛 the first events VIKA has held at the VIMC this season. TheyB次元官网网址檝e been racing at the track since January, with more events scheduled until October.
Originally known as the Capital City Kart Club, VIKA raced for years at tracks in Cassidy and Youbou, but sat dormant from 2003 until 2021 when Smith got races going at the VIMC. They started with karts in March, and had 60 racing by the end of the year. There are more than 100 racing at regular VIKA races this year.
Smith credits the location at the VIMC, just west of Duncan, with the rapid growth of the revived club. Because of zoning, karts are the only vehicles that can race at the VIMC, although full-size vehicles and motorbikes can use the track for other purposes.
B次元官网网址淭he track is beautiful,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 really helping.B次元官网网址�
The track is more than just appealing to the eye. While most kart tracks are flat, level courses, the VIMC track goes up and down a slope. Drivers can also go four-wide on corners, something other tracks donB次元官网网址檛 have room for. And then thereB次元官网网址檚 the technological advances at VIMC, like video replay.
B次元官网网址淭his is hugely unique, high-dollar, first-class stuff,B次元官网网址� Smith said, standing outside the VIMC control room. B次元官网网址淣o go-kart facility has this.B次元官网网址�
VIKA has members from all over the Island. Smith acknowledged that most come from Victoria, but numbers from mid-Island are increasing.
SmithB次元官网网址檚 grandfather started the original Capital City Kart Club at Western Speedway in 1970. Smith himself started racing in 1972 at the age of three-and-a-half, and raced karts until 1990 before moving to bigger vehicles, eventually following his father RoyB次元官网网址檚 footsteps to NASCAR. About a dozen members of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame got their start in karting, with Smith set to join them this year. Several hall of famers are still involved in VIKA and played key roles in making last weekendB次元官网网址檚 races run smoothly.
Smith expects more drivers to flock to VIKA in the future, as the IslandB次元官网网址檚 best-known race track closes its doors.
B次元官网网址淚 think it will grow next year with the closing of Western Speedway,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淒rivers will have no place go, and theyB次元官网网址檙e addicted.B次元官网网址�
Drivers on the weekend ranged in age from seven to the mid-60s. But itB次元官网网址檚 the kids that Smith likes to watch the most.
B次元官网网址淭his is the reason I got back into it,B次元官网网址� he said, gesturing to the seven- to 11-year-old drivers as they lined up to start their final on Sunday.
B次元官网网址淚 love the community. I love that we all help each other. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how I grew up.B次元官网网址�
Summer Spring Series winners for Day 1 (May 7)
Senior Briggs/4 Cycle Open
1. Braydon Otto
2. Mitchell Nursey
3. Doug Litherland
Junior 1 Briggs/Tag Cadet
1. James Bedard
2. Mason Bemister
3. Branded Moria
Junior 2 Briggs/Junior Tag
1. Tanner Bouman
2. Joey Jay
3. Kayden Martens
Tag Masters
1. Alan Burnell
2. Sam Beswick
3. Johnny Sutton
4 Cycle Open/Tag Sportsman
1. Tim Tchida
2. Mark Parry
3. Hazen Furtdado
Tag Senior
1. Kristian Dinkov
2. Ian Pirie
3. David Nyki
Summer Spring Series winners for Day 2 (May 8)
Senior Briggs/4 Cycle Open
1. Rick Payne
2. Braydon Otto
3. Robbie Horvath
Junior 1 Briggs/Tag Cadet
1. James Bedard
2. Branden Moria
3. Mason Bemister
Junior 2 Briggs/Junior Tag
1. Tanner Bouman
2. Charlotte Baye-Pearson
3. Kayden Martens
Tag Masters
1. Alan Burnell
2. John Webster
3. Michael Chalk
4 Cycle Open/Tag Sportsman
1. Alan Zaalberg
2. Janel Church
3. Carl Wilson
Tag Senior
1. Kristian Dinkov
2. Ian Pirie
3. David Nyki
