6 minute read
CALVMX Flat Track
Round 3 | JuLY 20-21, 2024
Camp Lockett Event & Equestrian Facility, Campo CA www.calvmx.net
By Steve Caro | Photos by Judd Neves
The month named to commemorate the birth of the Roman general Julius Caesar was also the time for the third round of the 2024 CALVMX/Fast Times at Camp Lockett series to be held. Under the typical Southern California July temperatures of 100-degree heat and cloudless skies, the adherents of oval track racing gathered at the Camp Lockett Event and Equestrian Facility for their weekend of oval competition.
Saturday’s program featured points paying main events for the two-wheeled competitors, along with support classes for three and four-wheeled competitors. The triple digit heat combined with constant breezes was a challenge for track maintenance, requiring a balance between keeping the course surface moist enough for the kart and quad contingent, yet not so much as to create a slick surface for the two-wheeled competition.
The combined Adult Mini and Youth 12 and Under classes led off the Saturday main events. At the wave of Chief Starter Craig Crossland’s green flag, nine-yearold Thomas Chavira dropped the hammer and rocketed into turn one with the lead. Giving chase were Adult mini entrants Dustin Chapin and Art Leva. Chavira absolutely dominated the oval with a smooth style and skill set that belied his youthful age. Barely backing off for the turns, Chavira was first across the line, with Chapin and Leva (scored separately) crossing behind him.
The Open Expert Class C Traction finale featured a duel between veteran competitors Brad Roysdon and Adam Lesley. The start saw Roysdon leading into turn one, with Lesley inches behind him. The two began an eight-lap duel of side-by-side racing that allowed for no mistakes. On a rapidly drying surface, Roysdon found the traction he needed to fend off Lesley’s relentless challenges to take the win as the dust clouds dissipated.
Roysdon and Lesley returned to the oval later in the afternoon for the 50 Plus Expert finale. Repeating their earlier match, the two barreled into the first turn at the start side-by-side. The deep throated roar of their four-stroke powered machines reverberated across the oval as they circled the oval in the search for that one bit of extra traction. In a display of hard, but clean racing, Roysdon edged Lesley for the victory in a close duel.
Additional main event winners on Saturday included Jason Rice in the 100cc Two-Stroke Kart B finale. He was joined by Chance Rose who topped the Pull-Start Open Novice division and Chase Taber in the Outlaw Kart main event. Thomas Chavira added to his win total by topping the Youth 12 and Under Open Intermediate class.
Sunday has become the de-facto scheduled day for the kart classes in all of their various configurations. Of the 16-races on the program, 11 of the main events featured karts.
The Heavy Weight 125cc Kart A division was the first main event taking to the oval in the afternoon. In a race that was filled with innumerable spins, off-track excursions into the infield, and a rapidly drying out track, Mark Espinoza emerged from the melee with the win after a tight battle with the twin-engined machine of David Kimmel.
In the Run-What-You-Brung Kart A main, Colton Howe was the top driver. Sprinting into the lead coming off the pace lap, Howe rapidly built a multisecond lead over his pursuers. In a display of smooth, controlled driving, Howe took an uncontested victory.
When the class is not depleted by mechanical issues, the Outlaw Karts never fail to provide a show of close competition. In Sunday’s afternoon finale, the featured battle was between Chase Taber and Kaylee Butler. Although scored separately, (Taber in the modified division, Butler in the “A” portion), the two put on a battle royale for track supremacy. Their full-throttle attack on the oval saw the lead pair rapidly power thru the eight lap main. Taber kept his winged speedster pointed in the right direction as he fended off the hard-charging Butler to be first across the finish line. With their being scored separately, both Taber and Butler garnered first place points for their efforts.
Four quad racers lined up for their Open A division finale. Included in the lineup was the husband-and-wife duo of Robert and Kera Berry. At the start, it was Michael Thomas getting the perfect start to lead the pack into turn one. Running a close second was Robert Berry who challenged Thomas during the initial stages of the race. Using the traditional technique of hanging off the quad while cornering, Thomas kept a fast pace, eventually pulling away from the pack. Thomas kept things in control to take the win, followed by Robert Berry.
Other Sunday main event winners included Ray Roben topping the Adult 100cc A karts, with Chance Rose taking the win in the 125cc Kart B class. Chris Ashton took top honors in the 100cc A Karts, and Chase Rogers was the victor in the Cadet Karts 8–12-Year-Old A class.
Rounds five through seven of the series are still to come this year. Numerous class championships are still to be decided. As always, any and all competitors are welcome to join in the monthly meetings with whatever type of race machinery interests you.
