OLSON TAKES FIRST CAREER
POLE; CHALLENGING “B” TRACK RACES RESULT IN RECORD NUMBER OF CRASHES FOR JHR
COMPETITORS
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For Immediate Release
May 6, 2002
Hollywood, CA - Yesterday was Round 3 of the JHR Spring 2002 Championship Karting Series in sunny Ventura Beach, California, and the only round of the season run on the difficult “B” track configuration. Although Olson took his first pole position at JHR, accidents were the theme of the day - some minor, some rather spectacular. In addition, the battle between “Pete” Olson and veteran Steven McClave continued with a massive tangle between the two in the second race. As Olson and McClave are now learning, their fratricidal war on the track is costing them both good finishes.
Olson took pole yesterday [1st place in qualifying] for the first time at JHR. When asked where this fast time came from [Olson was a full second slower on this track configuration last fall], Olson simply said, “I think a lot of it is simply the result of more experience with the kart. I had some experience on Super Bikes before this, but the difference with a 500 or 600cc Super Bike and a kart is night and day. I mean, people don’t realize that things happen faster in a professional racing kart at 60-70mph on a half-mile track, as opposed to dicing at 100mph on a two-mile track on a 600cc bike. This is because drivers are racing closer together since the track is not nearly so wide, and also because the corners come up faster due to the significantly shorter length of the track. I know that the two types of racing are too different to be truly comparable, but I guess I am just saying that a lot of people come in to karting from other motorsports and think it will be easy, as maybe even I was somewhat guilty of believing - but then they realize that karting is totally different. It’s more like a quick street brawl at 30-70mph as compared to chess at 50-100 mph. And the Formula cars I will start in the fall will be more like chess at 145 mph - I can’t wait!”
Despite some fast driving and
ending McClave’s reign over the B-track pole position, Olson wound up in the
back for once: 2nd, 5th and 5th, due to being
placed back in post-finish penalty determinations as the result of hitting a
competitor, Bill Lord, off the track when attempting a pass Bill Lord during
one of the final laps. As of today,
Olson is second to McClave in the point standings. We wish Olson the best of luck in the next race day, just a few
short weeks away, on June 2nd, 2002.
For more information on Peter
Olson, visit his website at: www.peteolson.com. And to follow the Jim Hall Kart Racing
Series, log on to: www.jhrkartracing.com.
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Charles Schepens
Schepens Promotions
29000 West Nine Mile Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
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