 Red Bull Driver Search |
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 Jun 14 2004, 12:01 PM
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#1
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Really Old Corner Carver  Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21  |
Well..... my son Matthew did it!!!! He qualified here in Atlanta at Andretti Speedlabs for the Red Bull Driver Search. Last night was the last night to qualify after almost three months of intense competition. And it came down to the wire.
Two of the top four qualifiers were there last night, a brother and sister combination, John (14) and Mary (18) Mossey. They both qualified last year and both have considerable karting experience driving Rotax karts. Coming into the night Matthew was .05 seconds out of 4th place (Mary had a 29.48 to Matthew's 29.53) and they were only taking the top four, so it was a do or die evening. Everyone used the same kart. Matthew made some good runs and finally managed to get a 29.60 (his best run ever was a 29.53) which Mary eventually tied. It wasn't looking too good for a while. Then Matthew pulled out a 29.46 to grab the 4th place spot. Mary and family panicked and she went out to try again. After about 16 minutes she ripped a 29.45 to steal 4th back by .01 seconds. Matthew kept trying but couldn't quite get there. Matthew and Mary had two 8 minute runs left. Mary went first and decided to do back to back sessions against her brothers better judgement. A little more than halfway into her runs she pulled a 29.36 to further seal the lead but that was as good as she would get. So it came down to Matthew's last two sessions. Matthew was consistently in the 29's and on his 14th run managed a 29.39... close but not enough. By this time everyone was sweating. More runs pass. Then... on lap 27 Matthew comes screaming around with a 29.30!!! He did it!!!!! Pulled it out by .06 seconds!! I really hated it for Mary, she really wanted it very bad, but needless to say, apparently Matthew wanted it a little more. So now the next step is the run-offs. The Run Offs will take place at 2 outdoor go-kart tracks, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast, in July and August. Each event will have approximately 150 qualifiers and will take place over a 3 day period. The events will be organized by Red Bull and the qualifiers will compete in equal karts provided by Rotax. Up to 10 drivers will be selected from the Run Offs and invited to attend the Semi Final in September. So keep your fingers crossed for us. I suspect the Matthew's lack of karting experience will begin to show during the next round. He's only driven karts about 7 times now, once at Goldspeed when about 40 of the SCCA guys rented the track several years ago and about 6 times at Andretti. So if anyone out there would like to help Matthew and maybe let him share a ride in a kart at an autocross or anywhere else, I know he would greatly appreciate it. He definitely needs to get into something faster now and get a little experience with more speed. Needless to say I was pretty proud. I would have given anything when I was a kid to have an opportunity like he's had. He's always at the autocross's with me so maybe you can come by and give him a little more encouragement. For more info you can go to http://www.redbulldriversearch.com |
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Jun 14 2004, 12:17 PM
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#2
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Apex? What apex? Group: Advanced Members Posts: 245 Joined: 7-January 04 From: Portland, OR Member No.: 106 |
Congratulations, He should be very proud to make it this far.
(I only wish there was something like this for me a few years ago (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ) (I am only 22.) |
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Jun 14 2004, 01:26 PM
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#3
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
Thanks!! He IS very proud (and exhausted!). Like you, I wish I had that opportunity when I was young. I just hope I can help to move him on to the next level.
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Jun 14 2004, 02:47 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 166 Joined: 25-December 03 From: nYc Member No.: 39 |
Wow..wow... that's great. I can see you smiling as you wrote, proud papa! Congrats.
I kept joking my wife that our 7 weeks old daughter is going to start karting as soon as she turns 4, she just ignores me everytime... |
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Jun 14 2004, 03:11 PM
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#5
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
Yea, I just got off the phone with my ex and she doesn't like the idea of him driving an open wheel car (or kart). Her new husband wants him to drive a dirt kart and Matthew said NO WAY!!!!!! That's what I say too. We'll see how it goes... In the mean time, I've signed him up for a karting school on June 25th at Charlotte...
http://www.endurancekarting.com/2004/2004%.../RaceSchool.htm |
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Jun 14 2004, 07:00 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,226 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Danville, CA, USA Member No.: 27 |
That is WAY COOL! Congrats!
We NEED more pure bred AMERICAN drivers to compete with them foreigners.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) How old is he? How did you start him off? |
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Jun 14 2004, 08:33 PM
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#7
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
He turned 14 in April. I started him off by riding in my car during autocross's!!! Seriously, he has little to no kart experience. Most of his experience (except for once in a kart at an indoor track here) was during the qualifying! That's what blows me away!
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Jun 14 2004, 08:37 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 166 Joined: 25-December 03 From: nYc Member No.: 39 |
Holy crap! The boy's a natural, eh? Let's see, 14 yrs old I was...growing my hair and playing drums...which got nowhere!!
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Jun 14 2004, 11:34 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 697 Joined: 25-December 03 From: Athens, GA Member No.: 45 |
very cool steve, very cool. the step father can suck it if you ask me. sorry thats lame. he shouldnt have a say
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Jun 15 2004, 02:27 PM
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#10
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,766 Joined: 10-April 04 From: New Orleans, LA Member No.: 303 |
Way to go, Matthew!!
Steve, it's great that you have found his natural talent, and that you can both share it together. So many Dad's are too busy with themselves to pay any attention to their kids. My father was my basketball coach from my first year of Biddy basketball (age 6 or so) through my elementary 8th grade, and even in AAU in high school. To this day, I am convinced that this is the main reason that my father and I are so close. He invested time in me, and I truned out fine (no heckling on that one!). Your son will appreciate this time more andmore the older he gets. In fact, I still love going out and shooting hoops with my dad! |
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Jun 15 2004, 03:06 PM
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#11
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 364 Joined: 6-January 04 From: Somewhere past redline Member No.: 101 |
That's really cool Steve. It's fun to do things together that both of you share an interest in. He'll remember these times long after you're gone.
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Jun 15 2004, 03:20 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 105 Joined: 21-May 04 From: Weatherford, Texas Member No.: 343 |
QUOTE (bruecksteve @ Jun 14 2004, 09:11 AM) Yea, I just got off the phone with my ex and she doesn't like the idea of him driving an open wheel car (or kart). Her new husband wants him to drive a dirt kart and Matthew said NO WAY!!!!!! That's what I say too. We'll see how it goes... In the mean time, I've signed him up for a karting school on June 25th at Charlotte... http://www.endurancekarting.com/2004/2004%.../RaceSchool.htm His stepdad has no say. Dirt karts are fun, but thats obviously not what your son wants. Chances are that he will never go pro, and you don't want him looking back saying "I wish they had let me drive what I wanted to drive". Why is she anti-open wheel? Just thinking that a car without fenders must be more dangerous? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) Congrats to your son. Hopefully that practice will help. Wish I owned a kart, I'd let him drive it. Hell, it sounds like he is probably better than I am. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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Jun 15 2004, 06:03 PM
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#13
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
Yea, she doesn't want him getting hurt, just being a mom I guess.
But he is very serious about not driving a dirt kart. I mean VERY serious. I'm not sure what the underlying reason is but he's determined he's not going to do it. I told him he ought to do both, the step dad was offering to sponsor the whole thing for him. But Matthew can't stand the step dad so maybe that's it. I found someone here that will let Matthew drive his sons old kart (his son is 19 and doesn't use it anymore, a Yamaha KT100, VERY nice kart...) for $50 per autocross. That includes tires, fuel, everything. All Matthew has to do is show up. So for now that's what he'll do. That will actually be a whole lot cheaper for me too since karts are SO expensive. So we're BOTH pretty excited. I've had a lot of email from people here offering to help and voicing their support and it's all greatly appreciated. It's been his dream to race and now he's getting his chance. Hopefully some day in the future you'll be reading about him racing somewhere!!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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Jun 15 2004, 11:13 PM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 647 Joined: 30-December 03 From: Paris, Texas Member No.: 74 |
That is awesome. Good Luck in the future!!
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Jun 15 2004, 11:55 PM
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#15
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 697 Joined: 25-December 03 From: Athens, GA Member No.: 45 |
oh man now i have to worry about losing to both of you. it was bad enough losing to you, but now your 14 year old son is gonna kick my ass also. oh well guess ill get used to it
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Jun 16 2004, 12:00 AM
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#16
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Benched Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 535 Joined: 16-March 04 From: Northern California Member No.: 273 |
You might have a future F-1 driver one your hands (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) give him a big congrats from the guys here,I don't think they would object (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
My son is right with me too,I havnt done Karts w/ him I think I should give him an opportunity.I know he loves the fact we are building a car.He sure does get into it. He talks like its his (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) wants a seat there in it.Boy I don't know what to think about him getting out there (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) guess I will have to let go one day. He's got his name"dad says its mine" on the first track car I had,chompin at the bit and the same age as yours (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Good for him... and you Steve.Good luck on the next stint! Tony |
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Jun 16 2004, 12:30 AM
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#17
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
I think it's a dream that many kids have, it's just that most of them never get the opportunity. Sometimes I feel a little guilty spending the money I do on my car while all he can do is ride or watch. I've promised him that when he gets his learners permit he can co-drive my car in autox's. He turns 15 next April and I hope to get that permit shortly after that. He already thinks he can beat me. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Of course, the way he's going, he might be able to!!!!! But I figure what better place to learn how to drive AND make him understand that the track is the place to go fast, not the street.
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Jun 16 2004, 01:43 AM
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#18
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 105 Joined: 21-May 04 From: Weatherford, Texas Member No.: 343 |
QUOTE (bruecksteve @ Jun 15 2004, 12:03 PM) I found someone here that will let Matthew drive his sons old kart (his son is 19 and doesn't use it anymore, a Yamaha KT100, VERY nice kart...) for $50 per autocross. That includes tires, fuel, everything. All Matthew has to do is show up. $50/autocross?! Sounds like that guy is doing it more for the love of the sport than the money. After gas to get the kart there, gas for the kart, tire wear, and all of that... all he has left is enough to buy some taco bell and a 6-pack. Now thats a cool guy. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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Jun 16 2004, 01:53 AM
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#19
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Really Old Corner Carver Group: Advanced Member Posts: 1,209 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Atlanta Ga Member No.: 21 |
He races an old Spitfire in a prepared class with his wife and he said it's no big deal to put it in is trailer and haul it out there. I figure it's saving me a ton of money to do it that way instead of buying it. He's going to help get it setup for Matthew next week. He really is a cool guy.
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Jun 16 2004, 02:20 AM
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#20
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 439 Joined: 14-January 04 From: Texas Member No.: 128 |
Congrats to Matthew, and cheers to the cool dude renting the kart for cheap!
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