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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 29, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 29, 2012
 
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Eric Johnson races down a straightaway at 120 CR 250 Honda class. Johnson, 29, from Shelton, mph on Oct. 9 at Heartland Park in Topeka, won first place and his fourth national title. Courtesj of Eric ~ohnson Kan., at the Kart Club National Championships in the By EMILY HANSON emily@masoncoulzty.corn Journal photo by Emily Hanson Eric Johnson kneels with the national trophy he won in superkart driving at the Kart Club National Championship in the CR 250 Honda Class. Johnson placed first, his fourth national title, on Oct. 9 at the Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. Three to four seconds doesn't seem like much time, but in a superkart going 120 mph on a straightaway, it's enough to win first place. Shelton resident Eric Johnson, 29, recently won his fourth national superkart title in four years. During the weekend of Oct. 7-9, Johnson raced in the CR 250 Honda Class at the Kart Club National Champion- ships held at the Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan., where he won first place both days and took first place overall among three classes of rac- ers. "It was a double header weekend with races on Saturday and on Sun- day," Johnson said. Though he won both races, nei- ther was easy. "I got a decent lead in the Satur- day race," he said. "Then, with three laps left, I got a flat in my left rear tire. The second place racer started to catch me, but I was able to win. I probably only finished ahead by 3-4 seconds. At one point, I was ahead by 20 seconds, so it was a very close i Serving Western Washington for 41 years Superior quality workmanship at an affordable price! RESIDENTIAL . COMMERCIAL ° MOBILE HOMES ** Our Roofs Are Hand Nailed ** 30 YEAR WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY TODAY AND RECEIVE sSO0°° OFF A COMPLETE ROOF SYSTEM i (1500 sq. ft. minimum) ** Not valid with any other offer** ,°. FREE Estimates °°. i Saturday & Evening Appointments Available . • Local Call today to schedule your appointment • 24 hour emergency service l l $ 0 ~~ .~q~l~ dr'il'~ U~~ ~ 0~ Financing OAC ~:~°,~.Lc#A1ROO 111PR i~] Senior discount Page C-4- Shelton-Mason County Journal- Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 race." '~iou're so tired by the end of it," Johnson and his crew put new he said. "It's a workout." tires on his superkart and then hit Though Johnson builds his own the track for the Sunday race. superkart engines, he's not alone "I got out to another big lead," he in the racing endeavor. His spon- said. "This time, with two laps to go, sors are Bill Busacca, a local den- the engine got very hot and began tist, Joe Street from Gig Harbor and losing power. We were able to win it Joe Skillman from Shelton. He said again, though." the three help him out all season. When Johnson returned home Skillman and Johnson drove home with his heavy trophy, he took apart together from Topeka for 30 hours, the top part of his engine to discover splitting the driving time as they that it was completely destroyed, traveled straight through. "A bearing got loose and the Street, a fellow racer, finished in pieces around it exploded," Johnson second place behind Johnson both said. "So, we barely got away with it days of the championship. again. We had luck on our side." "Not only was he responsible for During the two-day racing cham-me being there, he ran two fantastic pionship, Johnson competed in the races," Johnson said. slowest class of racers. However, He said he just has fun with rac- due to his track times, he won over- ing. all first place on Sunday. "It'd be nice to win a couple more With his fourth title under hischampionships," Johnson said. "It belt, Johnson said he's doing pretty was always my dream to move up to well, but his kart needs major work. the big cars and race, but the fund- "It's going to need a full engine ing's just not there." rebuild," he said. Johnson said he and his sponsors Johnson said the superkart sea-do all the work on his kart and he son runs from February to Novem- even builds his own engines. ber with roughly one race per month. "That almost feels better than the Though the season just ended, he's driving part, sometimes," he said. already repairing his kart for a big "I'm building engines for about five race in California in February.guys now, so the word's spreading." "We used to race strictly the A superkart is a go-kart with a Northwest region, but our club is 250-cc engine that can go as fast as down to five or six races a year so 135 miles per hour on a straight- we've been traveling all over and away. Johnson said the engine is a want to race at the national level, modified motorbike engine. too," he said. Though the schedule for next With competitors traveling up season is not yet available, Johnson to 120 mph, Johnson said the races said .he knows there will be at least last about a half hour and are at one race at the Ridge Motorsports least 15 laps. Park outside of Shelton. 'tO Yard: MON-FRI