Kari's summary of the 2006 season...
The 2006 season has been the most challenging season yet. With the split with my long-term partner Troy being one of the most difficult things to endure, I was able to pull things together to get out and race on my own. I attempted to race in both the Short Tracker Division and the Figure 8 Division with my main focus being on the Figure 8 so I could get the Rookie of the Year Title.
The season started off rough with racing on 3 wheels for the first 2 weeks! (The right front hub cracked and broke in the first week, and the rear axle snapped in the second week). I was also black flagged countless times for "smoking" on the track, although most of the smoke was attributed to tire smoke. With the help of Mark Bronstad, the "smoke" problem was fixed and I haven't been black flagged since. The bad luck at the beginning of the season did put a hindrance on my Rookie points lead.
When I won my first Figure 8 feature race in August, I felt that all of the hard work, frustration, and efforts had finally started to pay off. I was the first woman to win a Figure 8 Feature Race at Raceway Park. I am also only 13 points out of the Rookie of the Year Title with 1 week to go. I'm still hanging on to hope that I will be able to capture that title.
It has been difficult as Troy and I were a team for the previous 7 seasons, but my fellow racers have really pulled me through some tough times by assisting me with whatever parts or muscle I needed. I really appreciate all of you guys! It's been a fun season, probably the best of my whole racing career so far! The family atmosphere at Raceway is just awesome and I will be sad when the season is over. I just can't wait until next year!
I've also had a great time driving a Legends car in a few events at Raceway Park. Thanks to Tim Brockhouse, I was given the opportunity to experience firsthand the power and skill it takes to race one of the Legends cars! It was a blast and I know that with seat time I could be a competitor! (visit the Great North Legends website for more information)
Another highlight of the 2006 season was being asked to drive the pacecar in the Nature Valley Grand Prix Bicycle Race. The event benefited the Children's Hospital, which I was a patient of when I was a child. I was also a keynote speaker at the Yoplait Nouriche Cycling Summit at the Kelly Inn in St. Paul. It was a great experience and I really appreciated the exposure I gained in a new venue.
This site was last updated 09/09/06