The debut of the Champion Ron Fellows Karting Challenge (CRFKC) hit the track at Goodwood Kartways this past weekend and it kicked off with a bang! The inter-club challenge that pits the TRAK and MIKA kart clubs together for a four-race tour featured an impressive 173 drivers for the one-day event, including over 100 Briggs & Stratton racers.
It was a beautiful day and the big packs of racing created a great atmosphere around the Goodwood facility. As a tune-up event leading up to this weekends Eastern Canadian Karting Championship race at Goodwood, some out of town racers joined in on the action and took advantage of the deep grids.
A special podium ceremony kept many on hand with great prizes being handed out alongside the beautiful CRFKC trophies.
CKN correspondants Neelan Nadesan and Max Preston were on hand, snapping some pictures and taking notes on the days racing activities and have broken down the race winners in each category.
Here is a review of the Senior classes in competition. Click here for the Junior class reports.
Briggs & Stratton Senior
Briggs & Stratton Senior was the largest class of the day with 36 karts taking the track in the most exciting race of the day. Kyle Edgar was the pole sitter starting along side Goodwood’s own Marco DiLeo. The two had a close battle in the closing laps of the Prefinal setting up a showdown in the Final. DiLeo took the holeshot and was followed by Jonathan Treadwell and Edgar at the conclusion of the opening lap. On lap five Treadwell drove to the lead as Edgar followed through to second.
From there the top three remained together until the end of the race as Treadwell was untouchable for the win. Sean McPhee had a strong fourth place finish after only racing a few races last season with David Miller completing the top five.
As a preview to what should be the largest class at the ECKC next weekend, Briggs Senior will only get closer and more exciting as more drivers join the action from outside the Toronto region including defending Canadian Champion Jean-Francois Lafontaine.
Mike Rogers scored a victory in his return to karting action, competing in Briggs & Stratton Masters (Photo by: Neelan Nadesan/CKN)
Briggs & Stratton Masters
It was another big turnout in Briggs & Stratton Masters and the race was dominated by drivers who have recently come out of retirement. Eli Yanko took the lead heading into the first corner and he was followed by David Anderson and Mike Rogers, who was making his first start in years. Anderson wasted no time to get to the lead and he took it on the second lap with Yanko slotting back into second.
Late in the race Rogers started making his way to the front of the field taking second away from Yanko on lap eight and lead the next time by from Anderson to take the win in his come back race. Quin Dewsburry finished fourth further down the field with Todd Ricard rounding out the top-five.
Rotax Max Senior
There was a quartet of drivers vying for victory in the Rotax Senior Final on Saturday as Kevin Monteith would pull off the win in his Kosmic Kart. Marco Signoretti (Energy Kart North America/Energy Kart) snagged the lead from the outside of turn one at the start but a few laps later, Monteith dove down the inside of turn nine to retake the lead. He was under pressure throughout the race from Signoretti, Tyler Kashak and Taylor Gates as the four drivers were in a class of their own all day long. With Signoretti not being able to make a move on the Monteith, Kashak would pass Signoretti in turn one on the final lap then again in turn five after the Energy pilot countered going through turn four. Gates tried to follow Kashak through in turn five but slight contact with Signoretti’s rear bumper made him lose momentum ultimately forcing him to settle for fourth. Anthony Tolfa finished fifth in the final.
Kevin Monteith showed great strength on the heels of the ECKC opener (Photo by: Neelan Nadesan/CKN)
Rotax Max DD2
Tyler Kashak completed the sweep in the two speed rotax category as no other driver would be able to come close to him during the day. Max Preston took a break from reporting to finish second in the Final behind his teammate with Dante Lerra scoring the last step of the podium. John Cariati came home fourth ahead of Stuart Clark who was running at DD2 Masters weight in preparation for next weekend.
Rotax Max Masters
Rotax Masters was the first final of the day as Juliano Romagnulo (VSR/TonyKart) started the final on pole position and quickly opened up a commanding lead over Alexander Mankovski and Derick Boyle. Boyle was quickly gaining ground on Mankovski early in the race but would eventually run out of time and come across third position with Mankovski in second and Romangnulo taking the first round of the series in easy fashion.
Tyler Kashak was untouchable in Rotax DD2 (Photo by: Neelan Nadesan/CKN)
Click here for the Junior class reports.
The second round of the CRFKC takes place in early August at the recently renovated Mosport Kartways.