Evansville Thunder On The Ohio.
Junior Acheivement fund raiser go kart race. June 23-24 2000
For the past 3 years Bellsouth has been competing in the Junior Achievement fund raiser race here in Evansville IN. during the Thunder on the Ohio Unlimited Hydroplane Races. During that time I ( Rick Rideout ) have been the cheif machanic for the two cars. ( My wife Vicky works for Bellsouth ) Last year we won the Grand Prix with one of the cars. This year they asked me to drive the #42 car.
This is the Grand Prix Race ( final race ) 30 laps with driver change. I"m in the Bellsouth car #42 in 2nd following the Cinergy car #3. In 3rd place is the Bellsouth car #87 ( Vicky's boss Rob South ). I got under the Cinergy car and took the lead. Shorty after taking the lead the Cinergy car gave me a push going into turn #1 and we both went wide, Allowing my team mate ( Rob ) in the 87 car to get under us both and take the lead. I closed the door on Cinergy ( He started it ) and took over 2nd place.
Here's Rob South and me in 1st and 2nd. The Cinergy car went back to 4th after being passed by the Sigeco car. Driven by a local sprint car driver.
The checkered flag is in the air and its a 1-2 finish for Bellsouth with Sigeco car in 3rd.
That's me after the race. I was happy with the out come. Bellsouth which was the primary sponser of the entire race ended up 1-2 for the day. I won pole with the fastest lap in qualifying and I won my heat race even after starting in the rear. ( inverted starting order )
Oh by the way, It was in the 90's that day and very humid and yes I have a winter coat on. There were a total of 4 karts that flipped over and on top of the drivers. Rob South was one of them but didn't hurt him to much and the car was ok also. One other driver was hurt pretty bad and went to the hospital for x-rays. :-(
Here I'm getting my polesitter trophie from Dennis Gage ( from the TV show My Classic Car. ) I went up a total of 3 times to get trophies. Polesitter, Heat one: 1st place and Grand Prix 2nd place. :-)
On the sheet below I was the B Driver for the Bellsouth car #42 with a time of 11.30. :-))) Vickys boss Rob South was the A Driver for the Bellsouth car #87 with a time of 11.35. He had pole until I went out to qualify. hehe Wonder if he'll ask me to drive for them next year?
