Features

2015 OGKC Season Gets Underway at Le Circuit Quyon

Published on 04 May 2015

It was a quiet morning to start the day at Le Circuit Quyon as those in attendance could hear the birds chirping in the background of the drivers briefing. A new start to the season meant drivers were given a refresher course on race day activities, but soon after the chirps were muted and replaced by the roar of Briggs & Stratton LO206 machines firing up and rolling onto the track for the first race day of the 2015 Ottawa-Gatineau Karting Championship.

A small club on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, OGKC featured four classes of action; Novice, Junior, Senior and Masters, all utilizing the popular Briggs LO206 platform. A historic track on the outskirts of the little town of Quyon, LCQ was built in 1972 and features a very unique and narrow design with plenty of elevation and challenging corners that require a drivers full attention. An extension was added in two years ago to lengthen the track that now runs just over 40 seconds a lap with a Briggs setup. Passing may be tricky, but the track offers many key elements needed for driver development.

The first race day featured 31 racers, highlighted by an excellent turnout of 12 in Masters. The numbers are growing, thanks in part to the Briggs & Stratton program praised by track owner Paul Lalonde, whose passion for the sport is shown in his dedication to helping grow it not only at his track but throughout the region. The entire Lalonde family chips in on race days to make everything happen, from Registration to lunch duties, to corner and grid marshalling. There is no argument the family lives and breathes kart racing.

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When the announcement of the new Briggs & Stratton Weekly Series program was announced, OGKC officials were one of the first to get in touch with program officials, ensuring their club was included and for 2015 both the Senior and Masters classes are official Briggs WRS classes. Along with a vast array of prizes, club racers can compare their stats and rankings with other Briggs WRS from their region and across North America through the unique program.

In addition to the four official club classes, Le Circuit Quyon also offers an Arrive and Drive class to help introduce new racers to the sport. For a small fee, interested drivers can take part within the club racing day, and during the lunch break compete in the Quyon Arrive & Drive karts, not only towards winning trophies but also an LCQ club championship. It is a great way for interested racers into karts without the initial up front cost, with many over the past two years translating into club racers.

Taking the first race winers of the year were: Connor Bell (Novice), Vincent Lamothe (Junior), Charlotte Lalonde (Senior), Crawford Kilpatrick (Masters) and Michèlle-Ann Sauvé (Arrive & Drive).