Summer Camp is Complete and we're off racing!

This past weekend, the Andersen Racing staff enjoyed yet another successful camp for young karters looking to get an edge up on the competition. Tagged as a Competition Camp, the event began on the first day of this year's official summer, June 21st. As a five day long program, it was a challenge for me to make sure that all of the camp participants had a fulfilling experience and came away with useful tools to put toward their own future in racing. There were some who were experiencing the Andersen Competition Camp for the first time, and others who had participated in all of our previous camps. Surely, our unique mix of drills and exercises pushed every driver to their own personal limits (while still having a great time!). Among the attendees were Michael Melancon of Atlantic Beach, Florida and Michael McCarthy of Clearwater, Florida. McCarthy, who is the smaller of the two, is a regular driver for our team and has attended every camp we've hosted so far. He is building a reputation and resume for top racing talent, and he benefited greatly from our in-classroom discussion on theory for racing and technical application. At 10 years old, he has a bright future in racing and we all enjoy being a part of his progress.

Melancon who is 17 years old enjoyed his first experience in the Andersen Racing Competition Camp. Although he too is on our regional team, I really wanted to work with him on his overtaking abilities. He was fast on his own, but he seemed to be the odd man out when it came to racecraft. Michael progressed well throughout the week, and we even went to a local rotax race in Homestead Florida to test some of his new skills. I think he still as some learning to do, but he seemed more confident in passing drivers with less hesitation than his previous outings.

Jeremy Kane and Jacob Duvall were two more of a potent batch of teenagers who took part in the rigorous camp this past week. Kane, a 15 year-old boy from Lakewood Florida just graduated to the 'senior' class of karting, which put him in to a more powerful kart for the camp. He took to it very well and since he has been on our National Team for the past six months, he has shown the talent for top honors in his division. I look forward to what he can show at this year's Rotax Grand Nationals in New Castle Indiana, an event that is coming within the next few weeks.

Jacob Duvall of Neptune Beach, Florida was another first time attendee to the Andersen Camps and was already a top driver in his class. Much like Melancon, the 16 year-old needed to work more on traffic situations than outright driving. Through specially formulated drills that allow drivers to experience real racing situations in a learning environment, Duvall honed his skills as a true racer and as such he boosted himself to a whole new confidence level. Young Jacob hits the track again for competition on July 24th and 25th in Jacksonville Florida. I'm anxious to see how he does!

Among the highlighted drivers in this year's summer edition of the Andersen Competition Camp are also young pilots Colton Elllis and Justin Gordon. These two were a bit less experienced than most of the bunch, but they put out a great effort and showed good advancement through our program. Colton who is 14 and from Orlando Florida has had little time in a competition kart. That didn't stop him however from excelling in the class and keeping pace with all of the other drivers to show that he had talent and understanding for making his kart fast. Gordon is a bit younger at 10 years old, and he excelled as among the best in the single technique drills we placed in this particular camp. When it came to full lap testing and practice, he fell a bit behind, only to catch right back up to win the simulated race on the final day of camp!

I would have to say that a top joy of mine for this edition of Andersen Racing's Competition Camp was meeting and working with a 9 year old driver from River Forrest, Illinois. For only driving 2 years in a kart, Ethan Tyler showed promise to becoming a very talented driver in the sport of kart racing. After starting very far off-pace, Ethan moved along in what I can only call a calculated manner. He seemed very intelligent for his age and that is what I believe to be a trait for long term success not only in racing, but in many aspects of life itself. Young Mr. Tyler also was very receptive to instructor feedback and applied what was taught to him immediately on track. For his first camp with Andersen Racing, I would have to say that I wouldn't mind seeing him again for added instruction and training with the team here in Florida!

This Competition Camp certainly wasn't our last, as we plan to host another week long program in December at our headquarters in Palmetto Florida. We will be attempting to run as close before Christmas as possible without interrupting the holiday or school schedules. If you are interested in participating, call 941.723.3900 or email me at wes@andersenracingteam.com for more information!

That's it for now - come back again next week for another update!!