jakefrench.com - results

2006 results

Year In Review Rotax MiniMax

- 2006 16 races with 13 wins, one 2nd, 9th place and 11^th place

- 2006 NTK Polar Bear series Champion

- 2006 NTK Fall Series Champion

- 2006 KART National Champion

- 2006 KART Southern Series Champion

- 2006 Rotax National qualifier

- 2006 11th place at Rotax Grand Nationals

- Current track record holder at North Texas Karters Denton, Texas, JRP Speedway Tulsa, OK, Heart O’ Texas Speedway Waco, Texas

- Article published in August 2006 National Kart Magazine (Making of a True Winner)

- Article published in Sachse newspaper (High Speed Thrills)

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11-12-2006 NTK Club Race Denton Texas - Last race of the year and Jake continued his winning streak. He qualified in the top spot and went on to win the pre-final and final. Great way to end the year! This race was also special as Jake had Uncle James and Aunt Carol visit with their grandson Landry. See some pictures here.

9-29-2006 NTK Club Race Denton Texas - What a beautiful Texas weekend! We had some guys call us from out of town wanting to come race at NTK in Denton. Well the only problem was Jake’s kart was completely taken apart because we had not planned to race anymore this season. I worked all week and got it back together. We got to the track early Saturday and had a great day of practice. Jake and I spent the night and woke up to a perfectly sunny day! The day started off GREAT with Jake qualifying on the pole out of 8 racers and setting a new track record. Jake continued to pour it on winning the pre-final and beating his own track record! In the final Jake held nothing back taking the win and once again smashing the track record! Jake showed great consistency and speed this weekend! The track record was 40.35 and when the day was over Jake smoked it with a 39.67!!!! We are really looking forward to 2007!

9-18 thru 24 2006 Rotax Grand Nationals Elkhart Lake, Wi. - Another long week of racing! We started the trip on Saturday. This time we shared the trip with DJ, Gabriel and Greg. Arturo Marquez loaned us his 34’ trailer and we were off. With 5 people in the truck we decided to drive about half way and spend the night. This was the first time I’d ever taken a trip like this, I usually drive straight through. I have to say this was very re-freshing! We got up Sunday and finished the drive to beautiful Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Greg had reserved us a camping site in Plymouth Rock and WOW it was gorgeous! We woke up Monday and headed to the track for our first day of practice. We got everything unloaded and walked the track before practice started. The track layout was awesome with elevation changes and lots of neat turns. Jake took to the track and learned it quick. By the end of the day it was obvious Jake was fast! The next two days the track was closed so we stayed at the camp. Jake and Gabriel did home work and Greg, DJ and myself worked on the karts. With the AMA Super-moto guys there we had to be on the track each day at 8:00am and the weather was very cool in the morning. Thursday was another practice day and again Jake was posting some very quick times. The last practice session was pre-qualifying. On lap 5 (of a 15 minute session) Jake got into the back of a kart that was slowing because of motor trouble and the flag man gave Jake a rolled black flag and Jake came off the track. Jake was upset and I let him know it was only a rolled black and that meant a warning and to get back out there. Well the kart wouldn’t re-start and that session was over! Jake still managed 3^rd in his group and 8th quickest which means he would be in the top 15 in the “A” group. Friday brought RAIN!!! We put the rain setup on and prepared to qualify in the rain. It rained hard and started to let up before we went to the grid, so I set the kart up with 90% of our rain setup. I did this with the chance it wouldn’t rain while Jake was on the track. Well that would have been true but they let the “B” group out first and although the track was wet it really didn’t rain. The minute Jake’s group took to the track the rain came and I knew I had messed up. Jake did the best he could and managed a 15^th place start in the pre-final. With the rain still coming down Jake knew he would be in the eye of the storm! Starting 15^th out of 32 racers in the rain was going to be difficult. Jake worked his way up to 11^th and was really moving forward, but on lap 8 he and another kid got together causing Jake to fall back to 13^th where he would start the final. Saturday brought sunshine and beautiful weather. We knew starting 13^th was going to be a challenge! Jake got a great start and started moving to the front! Jake had caught one of the lead packs and was running 10^th when he came up on a kart a little to fast and locked the brakes up causing he and the other kid to spin. They got going pretty quick but with only 5 laps to go Jake only managed to get back to 11^th where he would finish. Jake did post the 3^rd fastest lap time of all the racers in the final while in traffic!! Jake did an awesome job and once again made new friends. Jake continues to gain the respect of his fellow drivers and shows that he has what it takes to compete at the National level. Dad needs to make better calls and we will be on the podium next year! Thanks to DJ Ortiz, Greg and Gabriel Bargas, Bob Schabel , Dirk and Clint Korte and Arturo Marquez for all the help! Also thanks to my sponsors that made this trip happen: Ernie Sanchez (Forsythe), Mike Jones (Erosion Solutions) and Jeanette Conger (Grandmommie) and of course my AWESOME, LOVELY and BEAUTIFUL wife. See more pictures take by me and Bill Heck from Photos ETC by clicking here.

7-17 thru 23 2006 Rotax East Grand Regionals Ocala, Florida - This was a really long week. Monday, day 1 which is the first day of practice…Jake was so sick he actually passed out. This was due to heat, the previous week at bible camp and an 18 hour drive to the track. I took him to the hotel and we missed the entire day of practice. Day 2, this was another day of practice. Jake was still not feeling 100% but we knew we needed to practice. Jake took to the track, but with everything that had happened I forgot to tell Jake to seat the new ring in the motor, so right off the bat we were down on power all week!! Jake did 3 practice sessions before calling it quits. Day 3 was an off day and boy did Jake need that! Day 4 was just a little bit of practice then right into several match races between groups. Jake finished 8^th in all three races which put him starting 11^th in the final. Day 5 was the final where Jake would finish 9^th out of 34 racers! The front 10 were nose to tail down the long straight and reaching drafting speeds over 74MPH!!! What a great finish considering we were under power from both the motor and the driverJ. This secured us a spot for the Rotax Grand Nationals. See more pictures from Florida here.

6-21 & 22-06 - 2006 KART Sprint Nationals in Tulsa, OK. - Oh where do I begin? With the crew (Granmommie, Jake, Mommy, Daddy and Morgan) we headed to Oklahoma early Wednesday morning. We got to the track around lunch and setup camp. Practice started at 3:00 and Jake took to the track. Jake was fast right out of the box, but would stay at the same speed for most of the sessions. We struggled to find more speed and would just call it a day around 9pm. Thursday was race day and the weather was not looking to good. Practice was supposed to start around 4:00 but mother nature wouldn't allow that. KART will run in the rain but with lightning all around practice was postponed. Finally the rain stopped and the track dried enough for everyone to go out on slicks. Everything we tried and learned in yesterdays practice was history. Jake still managed to be fast despite no rubber being on the track and sections of the track still wet. We got the kart ready for qualifying and waited our turn. Jake went out first and it almost proved to be a big mistake. The grid steward decided to send out 5 karts for qualifying and when Jake was coming around for his second lap it was apparent that he was going to catch the 5th kart slowing his lap time down. On Lap 3 he did and had to slow down. Luckily he ran a fast lap before catching the 5th kart and took the pole! The pre-final got off to a great start with Clay and Jake going at it for the lead. On lap 4 Clay setup Jake perfect getting inside him in turn 2 but then Jake got him right back in turn 4. It wasn't done yet, still on the same lap Clay got passed Jake one more time before they got to turn 6!!!! Jake would stay close but couldn't get around him and Clay would take the win. In the final Jake got a great start on the outside but would run out of room trying to pass in turn one causing him to check up and almost spin! This allowed several karts to get by and sent Jake to 5th place! Determined, Jake set out to show why he is a great racer. Not giving up he started to pass karts (SET A NEW TRACK RECORD) and by lap 7 he was running in 3rd and closing on 1st and 2nd. Clay had caught up to the leader, Alex and pressured him for the lead. On the last lap Clay got into the back of Alex sending him off the track. This allowed Jake to get under both of them and battle for the lead! With Clay in the lead Jake had one last chance to set him up in the very fast banked turn. Jake went high into the turn getting a run down the bank and ended up right next to Clay at the finish line!!!! I knew Clay had won but it was so close! Jake missed by just a few inches! After the race Alex's dad protested Clay for rough driving and the protest would stand giving Jake the win. It's not the way we wanted to win but Jake showed he deserved it with qualifying on the pole and setting a new track record in the final. See pictures of the weekend here.

6-17 -06 - NTK Club Race - With some Minimax racers coming in from out of town we decided to show up and race summer 1. This would give Jake some great practice before the KART Nationals the following week. This would also be the first time for Jake to race his new kart. Jake took to the track for qualifying and showed that he would be hard to beat taking the pole. In the pre-final Clay Davis would give Jake some pressure but then Jake hit his groove and took the win. In the final Clay would show Jake once again that he belongs up front! On the first lap the two battle with Clay taking the lead. Jake followed right on his tail, getting a run in every corner but just could not make the pass. On lap 5 Jake set Clay up coming out of turn 6 and they drag raced down the back stretch where Jake would stay on the gas in the braking zone for turn 7 and complete the pass. Jake not only started to pull away but set a new track record breaking his own record set early in the year. Read about the track record here. We are ready for the Nationals!

5-13 & 14 -06 - Kart Regional 3 in Waco Texas - Stick with me because this was an action packed two days of racing! We got to the track Friday and setup camp. Not only were we racing Saturday night and Sunday, but I had an extra kart to wrench on! Good friend Dirk Korte and his wife Debbie had planned a vacation over a year ago and it just happened to fall on this race weekend. I offered to pit for their son Clint who happened to be tied for first in points in the very competitive Rotax Jr. class. I had my work cut out for me because Jake was tied for 1st in his class too! Saturday was hot and sunny making this short Waco track fast. I sent Jake and Clint to the track to get their 1st session on a drivers track. Things started to pickup as qualifying was getting nearer. Jake landed the pole with Clay Davis right on his tail. I missed the setup for Clint in qualifying putting him close to the back in the pre-final. Jake got a bad start in his pre-final which allowed Clay to get around him. Jake stayed right on Clay's tail and tried a late pass going into a tight turn. This turned out to be a bad move on Jake's part because it would send both he and Clay spinning. Luckily they had gapped the others and were able to turn it a round with Clay taking the win. Clint drove a solid and smart race in his pre-final landing him a 6th place finish. In the final Clay and Jake would put on another great show, racing nose to tail every lap! On the last lap Clay goes a little wide in the hair pin and Jake stuck his kart to the inside. They would both come out of that turn side by side where they bumped sending both of them into the grass. Nether driver lifted off the gas and made it back on to the track where Jake would hold off Clay for the win!! This race had everyone on their feet. Clay and Jake put on an awesome race and showed AWESOME sportsmanship after the race. Clint raced hard in the final making moves to land him a 5th place finish. Sunday we woke to the sound of rain! The best part about the KART series is they will run in the rain as long as there isn't lightning. We got to the track and it continued to rain. Looking like it wasn't going to let up I started with the rain setups on both karts. Jake took to the track first. This was the first time Jake had drove in the rain so he was very careful. After about 5 laps the rain tires started to heat up and Jake put the hammer down! WHAT A SIGHT! Racing in the rain with 8' rooster tails coming from each tire. Clint took to the track next. This was also Clint's first time in the rain. Clint did an awesome job as well. He showed awesome kart control picking up speed on every lap. Knowing that heavier rain was coming they decided to start the race from Saturday's qualifying. This was good for Jake and bad for Clint. With the track still wet I sent Jake out for the pre-final with rain tires where he would cruise to a victory. Clint also ran his race on rain tires. Clint put on a driving clinic in the rain starting 7th and finishing 3rd. The bad weather moved out and Jake started the final on the pole. Jake got a great start and motored to an early lead. Clay Davis got tangled up with another kart which caused him to spin but Clay would put on the ride of his life coming back to finish 2nd and Jake taking the win. Man was I glad to see that race over!!:-) Clint also had a great start putting him in second. He and Clayton Austin would battle it out lap after lap, but Clint held the spot taking home a very SOLID 2nd place finish! I'm am so proud of Jake and Clint for hanging in there all weekend! I would also like to thank Debbie's parents Phil and Kay. I would not have been able to keep of with the boys if it wasn't for them! WOW what a weekend!!!!

4-29-06 -NTK Rotax Max Challenge race - We arrived at the track early Saturday morning hoping to get some much need practice since Jake really hadn't been in the Kart since Tulsa but mother nature wouldn't allow that. The track finally dried up after lunch and Jake took to the track. He was able to get a few practice sessions in before controlled practice started at 5:00. Jake qualified first with Alex right on his tail. In the pre final Jake got a great start and was able to open a small gap and cruised to a win. The final wouldn't be so easy. The temperature had fallen to 56 degrees and the humidity was 80% making the track very slick. I missed the setup which made Jake have to earn this victory. Alex got a great start powering pass Jake into turn 1. Jake was all over Alex for 10 laps trying to pass in almost every turn. On lap 10 Jake was able to complete the pass in turn 7 and went on to win his 5th race for 2006!

4-1-06 - KART Regional 2 in Tulsa Oklahoma - Jake and I arrived at the track Friday and excited with the track layout. They have a huge banked turn that you take wide open. This turn was Jake's favorite part of the track. We unloaded and Jake and I made some laps around the track and had a blast following each other on this very fast track. Friday night we went to our hotel at Motel 6 and that turned out to be a nightmare. Long story short: DON'T EVER STAY AT A MOTEL 6. They will double book you (even if you have a reservation) and refuse to give you a room! We got a room at the Double Tree (THANKS VIC) and got some much needed rest. Saturday was more practice and Jake was really starting to get a handle on the track dropping his lap times every session! We closed the day by watching some roundy round races next door at the 1/4 oval track. Sunday started off by waiting for the track to dry out after a hard rain Saturday night. The first practice session Jake was making his way past a kart in the last turn when they touched wheels sending Jake completely in the air perpendicular to the track!!! All I saw was Jake's floor pan and I started running fearing the worst! About that time I heard someone yell that Jake was back on his wheels and limping his kart back to the pits. Jake had some how managed not to flip. Making his way back in I could tell that it had scared Jake, but I can tell you it scared me worse! He was okay but the Kart wasn't. It bent the wheel, axle, brake rotor and side pod. We only had a short time before qualifying and there was a lot of work to be done. Luckily I had all the spare parts so Jake and I got busy replacing and banging everything back into place. (Thanks to Phil Baker for changing the tire on the bent wheel). We got it back together just in time for qualifying. I let Jake know that if the kart (or Jake) didn't feel right just to bring it in and we would start in the back. Jake took off and by lap one he had the pedal down and landed a 2nd place starting position for the pre final. Hannah found some amazing speed Sunday landing her the pole. The pre final got under way with Jake all over Hannah sticking the front of his Kart in just about every turn, but he just didn't have the speed to make it stick. On lap 6 Jake went for the lead in a tight turn and made contact with Hannah spinning them both. Luckily they got going and didn't loose a position with Jake finishing 2nd. The Final was much the same as the pre final for the first few laps, but then Jake started over driving while trying to stay with Hannah causing him to fall back and finish 2nd. We had a great time and look forward to going back for the Nationals in June. See pictures here.

3-11-06 - KART Regional 1 @ NTK - Sunday was unseasonably warm with temperatures in the mid 80's making the track very sticky. Jake started qualifying on a new set of tires and was fast right out of the box earning him the pole position. In the pre-final Alex Tartaglia got a great start and drove around Jake on the outside of turn one! Jake followed him close for a few laps then made his move coming out of turn number 3. Jake slipped by and never looked back taking the win. The final was 16 laps and Jake was ready! Jake got a great start and ran all 16 laps in the lead crossing the finish line with the win. This is a great start to the series and we are looking forward to Tulsa in April. See pictures of Jake and friends here. Also see Jake's lap times by click here.

2-12-06 - NTK Polar Bear3 - Sunday was cold and windy. Jake had another strong performance by qualifying on the pole and finishing 1st in the pre-final and final. Jake seals the Polar Bear Series Championship in Rotax Mini Max by winning 3 out of the 4 race series. Last race is February 26th. We may race another class or travel to a different track since you can drop your worst race in the PB series. Thanks to the Davis's for driving up from New Mexico! Clay Davis finished a very strong 2nd behind Jake. Also congratulations to Clint Korte for winning the Rotax Jr. class.

1-29-06 - NTK Polar Bear2 - Sunday offered great weather and some great racing. Jake had another strong performance by qualifying on the pole and finishing 1st in the pre-final and final. Jake also got to try out his new helmet before it goes to paint. See pictures from the weekend here.

1-08-06 - NTK Polar Bear1 - Jake was on his own this weekend because Daddy was the race director and Mommy was the pit steward (or pit mistress as she called it). Jake had to set air pressure, lube his chain and fuel the kart in order to race (this has always been Daddy’s job). He was also in charge of gathering his driving gear and getting to the pit area on time (this is always Mommy’s job). Jake proved responsible and reliable by following through with the tasks he was given. It certainly showed on the track. Qualifying went off without a hitch, he got the pole position. Jake held the pole position for an 8-lap race finishing 1^st in the pre-final. Starting on the pole again in the final Jake and Evan Brown entered turn 1 side by side and Evan moved out for the lead. Jake took back 1^st position in lap two and never looked back. Jake took the 1^st place finish in the Polar Bear 1 race. Special thanks to Dirk, Clint and everyone that helped make this weekend a success. More pictures here.