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20FOCUS-JUNE2013theydecideifkartingssomethingtheyenjoyenoughtopursuemoreseriously.Fouryearsexperiencewithever-increasingsuccessonthetrackinspiredCodytoseekevengreaterchallenges.AsarookiedriverintheMosportInternationalKartingAs-sociationsclublevelCodynishedthe2012seasonthirdinpointswinningfourracesoutright.Thedriversatclublevelaremoreexperiencedsothecompetitionsdenitelymuchstifferhesays.Andowninghiskartheaddshasofferedtheopportu-nityforfurtherimprovement.ThetiresImrunningnowarebettersothekarttakescornerswithoutdrifting.WiththemovetohighercompetitionCodyneededsponsorshiptodefraytheincreasedexpenseaswellasamechanictotunehismachine.Thersthewouldndinhishometownthesecondhefoundliterallyathome.Isentasponsorshiplettertolocalbusinesses.ImgratefulfortheenthusiasticresponseIgotbothcashandproduct.MydadhadbeenmybiggestfanwhileIranarrive-and-driveandnowhealsobecamemymechanic.JeffFentonsmilesashedescribeshismechanicalback-ground.Imstilllearninghelaughs.ButIvefoundthemoreyousearchforknowledgethemoreyound.Thepairagreesthatthekeytosuccessonthetrackistotunethekarttoitsdriver.EachdriverhastendenciesstrengthsandweaknessesJeffexplains.Thebalancingofgearschassisandtiresreectthose.Onthetrackthebestbalancedkartalmostalwayswins.Race-dayconditionsCodycontinuesalsode-mandadjustments.Ahotdayrequireslowertirepressure.Andnomatterwhattheoutsidetemperatureisoncetheracestartsthetireswillheatup.Thatchangesthehan-dlingquiteabit.In-racechangestothekartsperformancealsocreatedifferentdrivingstrategies.Somedriverswilltunepre-racetomaximizetheirkartsperformancerightoffthestarthopingtogetaheadofthepackandnursetheleadtothenishline.Butlikethetiresyourkartwillcometoyouasitwarmsupmeaningitllperformbettermidwaythroughtheracethanitdidatthebeginning.Ifyoucankeepcloseuntilthathappensyoullhaveagoodchancetochallengeforthelead.SowhichstrategyisbetterItsapersonalpreferenceaswellasyourposi-tionstartingtherace.KartingdeterminespolepositionexactlyasIndyandNASCARdomeasuringspeedonqualifyingrounds.Asmanyasadozenkartsmaylltheeldwhichoftenrunsasatightly-bunchedpack.Thedriversskillbecomescriticalsincethereislittletoleranceforerroratsuchclosequarters.Thesekartscanreach100kmhourinthestraightawaysandaccidentsdohappenJeffre-ports.Duringaraceitshighlycompetitivebutoffthetrackeveryonesfriends.Codyrunsa6.5horsepower4-strokeHondaengineinhisracingclass.Thatmightnotsoundlikeapowerfulcombi-nationJeffadds.Butwiththetotalraceweightofeachmachinehoveringaroundthe335-poundminimumitsureis.Notsurprisinglythefeelingofcontrolledpowerispartofthesportsattraction.IdenitelyenjoytherushofthespeedCodyadmits.Hisinvolvementhesayscantanddoesntendwithraceday.Ipracticeeveryweekendthetracksfree.Ifyourenot100percentintoitafterhoursandduringthefollowingweekitllshowupinthenextrace.Jefflikensthecostofcompetitivekartingtoplay-ingrephockey.Tiresareourbiggestsingleexpenseheex-plains.Theyrechangedregularlyandofcoursewecarryvariouskindsfordifferentweatherconditions.JeffFentonandhissonCodyneartheirScugogIslandhome.Continuedfrompage19