Im glad she is alright, being knocked out is really scary. Impressive to go straight back at it after a crash like that. Good luck in future races! Also, Ive been thinking about going to Battle of the brickyard next year for KA or 206, hows the turnout and track time? And if you dont mind me asking (sort of personal question) how much does a bigger race like that cost? Thanks!
Thereās always a big turnout. I think there was over 400 total entries. KA Jr. had 20 entries, and the LO classes were bigger. I think there was 60 in a few of the LO classes.
Entry for that race was $300 if I remember right, and that included 1 set of tires. Entry cost will depend on organization and whether its regional or national.
As for track time, Friday had 4 practice sessions and qualifying, Saturday was warmup, heat, and prefinal; Sunday had warmup and final. For the number of entries and classes, there was a good amount of track time.
And the worst part of the hospital admission was only 1 parent could be with her because of covid. So mom stayed with her and I stayed with the trailer trying to get updates as they got them.
I am sorry to hear that it went so awful. Silver lining is that she can manage this going forwards, hopefully. Thatās a rough break for a kid.
Itās all good. We didnāt look at it as being awful. It was an experience, thatās for sure.
We had a beautiful final race at NJMP Saturday. Kevin, the race director. Is moving on to head security, so it was sorta bittersweet.
Kevin and Tanguy
As there was only 10 of us, we ran a different format. We did 4 long heats with all karts on track. So basically we did an 80 minute 4 heat race rather than a 60 minute 4 heat race where we alternate team drivers.
My pal Tanguy finally got a good kart and smoked the field. He was even a couple laps down at one point, as his belt broke. I believe he also set fastest lap of the month.
Nick and I had a couple really terrific heats. In particular, heat 1, Nick was relentless and drove magnificently. I kind of squeezed him and he also had some bad luck with a spun kart, but other than one time where he ran wide, he drove great. I think absent his running wide and allowing me to retake him, he woulda ran away with it and I wouldnāt have caught him.
Heās really come a long way and I suspect I will start losing to him more frequently.
Anyways, Team Baguette (Tanguy and Dom) got first and Team Spicy (Nick and Alec) got 2nd!
Heat 1: Nick vs Dad
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Second episode of my Self-Critical series is up on my YouTube page! Check it out and subscribe if youāre feeling sassy.
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Enjoyed that. The whole getting caught up in the battles is a hard thing to learn to avoid. It was interesting watching your decisions to get past.
Being perfectly honest here, so many times I come across vids like yours @tjkoyen and get three minutes in then Iām bored or frustrated, either because of poorly edited content or the way itās narrated. I can eagerly watch TJs start to finish, keep em coming brother.
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I fully appreciate and understand that perspective too. Trying to edit it a little nicer, and inject a little of my own humor in there so it stays light and enjoyable to watch.
Thanks for the feedback. 
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The intro graphics and sequence are very pro.
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I thought it was well done, especially with older footage. Keep it up.
Going to watch this when I get a chance, as I love to hear peopleās decision making process with karting. Hopefully I can learn something.
Here is the first race of my last event:
Really only the start is of interest due to being a bit nuts, after that I was left half a lap down and by myself.
TJ really enjoy the critical video series as itās valuable to see others thought process into race management.
You may consider moving your picture-in-picture of yourself to one of the bottom corners of the frame as I consistently find myself trying to look around it when watching the action in the video which is typically in the top half of the frame.
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Thanks Chris. Good feedback. Iāll see if thereās another spot where it fits better.
Ack. You drove well once free, that much is clear. I do like how you are lapping. Your actual start was good but then the banging commenced. It sort of looked for a sec that there was an opening to your front left briefly, but there was likely someone just out of frame.
You totally got stuffed and not your fault. It looks like the track is at best 2.25 karts wide. If people donāt play nice and try to give each other space in turns, itās one bash after another. I am not sure what to tell you here. Part of me is like āforce throughā the other part of me is āwhy?ā.
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Speaking of TJ hereās his latest coaching feedback. My last race was interesting in that, once again, I had less top end than the other guy. But, I manage to stay ahead 3/4 heats. In quali he broke free. I wasnāt thrilled about that and tried to do better in subsequent heats.
While all of this is fun and I have learned a lot, I think itās time for some āevenā competition. Itās a bit frustrating when you get a slow kart. I called ovrp and am gonna buy one of their margays and try their lo206 league next spring.
It will be very interesting going back to open wheel wells. Despite their weight, I do enjoy the cages and the close driving that comes with it. I am not sure Iād be as inclined to squeeze a guy down if it potentially involves wheel to wheel rubbing.
Looking back: I have made a few vids now where the perils of looking back are writ large. TJ isnāt on my case about it anymore since I keep it to a minimum now. But, in every race where I pressure a guy, the excessive looking that they do absolutely kills their pace. I equate this to being on the phone while driving. You converse poorly and drive even worse. Ryan drives himself off the track once here and gets wheels on the grass a couple times as well.
If I am behind you, and you sight me once, thatās enough. Eyes front. Looking around to find me more than once or twice a lap is a mistake.
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I donāt know how the above sentiment is not shared by more in the karting world, and I canāt see a single advantage of open wheels in regard to racing contexts (but do see plenty of disadvantages and safety issues).
Well the disadvantage of caged karts is that folks learn to think that contact is not a big deal. The type of crashes I see in rentals arenāt typically bad crashes but in an owner kart there would be a bent axle or steering column, something with financial consequences.
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TJ,
I like your video, good information. I have noticed you seems to be a pretty low key in narrating your videos (and the ones Dom has shared) are you like that when racing too? I would like to think I am calm when racing, but the adrenalin is flowing no mater how calm you are.
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