THE BIGGER THEY ARE, THE
HARDER THEY FALL: OLSON DISAPPOINTS IN SECOND ROUND OF JHR SPRING 2003
CHAMPIONSHIP
____________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
March 2, 2003
Ventura, CA – Today was Round Two of the Jim Hall Karting Spring 2003 Championship in sunny Ventura Beach, California, and first of only two rounds driven during each season on the challenging “B-track” configuration. The B-Track includes additional turns from the inner section of the JHR raceway. Round Two was full of exciting races in both the sprint and shifter karts, where racers battled to gain season points.
It was also a dismal day for shifter kart racer “Pete” Olson, who had finished last month’s Round One of the Spring 2003 Shifter Kart Championship just one point behind points leader Charles McClave in the total standings. At the end of Round One, Olson looked to be in position to have a shot at the winner’s trophy in his rookie shifter kart season, an unheard of occurrence at JHR. But today, Olson watched his hopes for another Championship trophy slip away with each lap. The Maryland native seems to have a real problem with consistency, a factor that appears to have emerged as an occasional weakness in an otherwise talented racer.
Today, Olson not only qualified last on the starting grid, but barely managed to finish 5th in the first “heat” race. Olson was still hoping for a win in the second “heat” with its infamous inverted grid, but was passed by his competitors, one by one, on each lap.
It was on the third lap of the race when after a short-lived lead, a frustrated Olson showed spectators a dangerous display of uncharacteristic poor sportsmanship.
As Bill Lord attempted to pass Olson on the outside during the exit of turn one, Olson swerved directly into his kart, causing a violent impact and almost forcing Bill Lord off the track.
Olson was black-flagged and put on warning for the remainder of the race day as a result of the incident.
“I wasn’t even thinking at the time, I was just so frustrated” said Olson from his home in Hollywood. “Later on during that lap when Bill tried to take me again, I gave him ample racing room and let him get an honest shot at passing me. That wasn’t just because I didn’t want to get formally penalized in the points today, it’s also because I know that what I did before was just a cheap shot. And I also know why I was doing so poorly, it’s because I didn’t make it out for “B-track” practice and it cost me. It cost me big. I of all people should know how valuable practice days are.”
Olson’s inconsistency seemed to result not only from his lack of experience with the B-track, but also his inability to stay smooth and focused while racing the powerful shifter karts. Although seemingly a natural in the 6-speed, 90mph karts, far too often Olson tries to make up positions through heavy throttle application rather than the finesse which helped lead him to the winner’s trophy last fall. Scrubbing off speed in violent slides only gives Olson’s competitors a chance to catch up to him and complete a pass.
For the racer who had two victories in only his first shifter kart race day a month ago, today’s 5th place finish in each heat and 6th in the main race had to be sorely disappointing. And, of course, these finishing positions move Olson back significantly in the total points standings relative to the other racers.
Can Olson turn things around for the remainder of the season? Only the last few race weekends will decide the final outcome of the JHR Spring 2003 Championship.
We wish Olson the best of luck in his next race day on Sunday April 6, 2003.
For more information on Pete
Olson, visit his website at: www.peteolson.com. And to follow the Jim Hall Kart Racing
Series, log on to: www.jhrkartracing.com.
- - - -
Charles Schepens
Schepens Promotions
29000 West Nine Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
________________________________________________________________________