March 13 - Phoenix, Arizona - Day 1 of 3 Days

Adriano Bilotta, and Jeffrey May, Senior and Junior champions in the 2005 SRFKC Briggs and Stratton World Formula Class, travelled to the Bob Bondurant Superkart School in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday, March 12.

The all expense paid scholarship provided by Briggs & Stratton, Power Source Canada Ltd. and the SRFKC is part of the objectives of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship to help kart drivers improve their skills as they to move up the racing ladder.

Innisfil Kart Club's Adriano Bilotta was accompanied by his father Sam and mother Diana, while Hamilton Region Kart Club's Jeffrey May was accompanied by his father Randy.

On Monday morning, Bilotta and May attended a classroom instruction session headed by Bondurant's Superkart School Chief, Alan Rudolph.  Rudolph is one of North America's most respected kart experts both on and off the track.  His depth of knowledge and experience, combined with a professional approach to teaching and learning is a winning combination for students.

Alan explained and demonstrated the fine points of what a driver needs to learn and know about the challenges of a race track, the physics of a racing machine and the mental conditioning needed to put everything together in the "driver's package".

Then it was onto the track for a day long session of hands-on track and personal instruction for Adriano and Jeffrey.

Alan's effectiveness in the classroom was exceeded only by his expertise at the track.

Using a provide-the-knowledge - learn-by-example method, Alan in his kart used a lead, follow, pass routine followed by corner-by-corner observations of Adriano and Jeffrey's skills, followed by "chalk-talk" suggestions for improvement.

A very effective learning method indeed, as improvements in Adriano and Jeffrey's style and smoothness were readily apparent from trackside.

The emphasis of Alan's instructions is learning.  No lap times are taken however the speed increase through the day was obvious.  Interesting - not a single spin or off-track excursion all day.

When pushed for an interim report card nearing the end of Day 1,  Alan commented, "Adriano and Jeff pretty much know what they are doing... my job is to help them with fine tuning... track position, brake and throttle balance technique, carrying speed through the corners... sometimes slowing down in some places make you faster all 'round... that's what we're here to learn".

There is no question that Adriano and Jeffrey are competitive.

After the team did their compulsory morning check for news from Canada on CanadianKartingNews.com,  Day 2 for Adriano Bilotta, and Jeffrey May were at the Bob Bondurant Superkart School Briggs and Stratton workshops with Chief Instructor Alan Rudolph.

The day was spent completely disassembling and reassembling a kart from chassis, to steering, engine, carburetion, electrical, body and tires.

Adriano and Jeffrey, joined by fellow student Nasus Robb from Jackson Mississippi, worked through each component of the kart under the watchful eye of Rudolph.  "Adriano has real kart savvy", said Alan. "He is a team player who knows the kart and how how to work as a team with others".  "Jeffrey is younger, and like a sponge about learning things about the kart... back home, Jeffrey now has the knowledge to work more closely with his father-tuner Randy... the driver-tuner relationship is key".

Adriano was impressed with his day, "Alan did a great job helping us understand the engine", said Adriano.  "I am really happy to know more about the engine cylinder and piston assembly and how fuel mixture and ignition timing affects engine performance and what can go wrong... I always wondered what they meant when they said an engine "stuck"... now I know why, and hopefully how to avoid it".  "Good settings and proper warm-up and run-in means everything and the engine lasts longer", said Adriano.  "I might even be able to explain things to my dad now!"

Jeffrey May was really watching what was happening..."Adriano learned about engines, but Nasus smoked him on the tire changing".

The rest of the team stayed away from the classroom session to prevent distracting the drivers.  The day was not all work as the team enjoyed the evening together and took time for a boat ride.

TIP:  If you are ever in Phoenix with Sam Bilotta... don't ask him how to get anywhere... if you do... better have a full tank of gas!
 

Day 3 of the Briggs and Stratton Bondurant Superkart Advanced School saw Adriano and Jeff are back at the track for a day long session of advanced driving technique training with Chief Instructor Alan Rudolph.

Alan Rudolph's training style of lead, follow, pass continued from Day 1, this time with a considerable increase in speed.  The 125cc karts TAG-style karts were put to the test by Adriano and Jeff and they rose to the occasion without an "off" all day while consistently lowering their lap times.

The lead-follow-pass training technique by Rudolph created several battle between Jeff and Adriano as they practiced their new skills of brake, throttle and steering control.

The training shifted to instruction by Rudolph focusing on different techniques for qualifying and race tactics and effective methods for standing and rolling starts.

Alan continued the "chalk talk" sessions between track practice periods to give feedback to Jeff and Adriano and reinforcing what had been leaned.

Graduation Time...

At the end of the day, Certificates of Graduation were presented to Adriano and Jeff by Alan Rudolph who reminded them that while the training course was completed, the big task was to take what was learned back home and continue to practice their new-found skills.

The trip was rounded out with Jeffrey and Adriano being taken for a thrilling ride around the Bondurant Firebird road course with non other than "the man" himself Bob Bondurant .

It was easy to see that Jeffrey and Adriano were excited as they shook hands with Bob and were buckled in beside Bob in the brilliant red Corvette.

The Corvette engine growled as it thundered down the pit lane, leaving two long black tire marks.

At the end of the run, Jeff and Adriano were grinning from ear-to-ear.

A fitting climax to a fantastic life experience !

Jeffrey and Adriano extend their thanks to
Sunoco, Power Source Canada Ltd., Briggs and Stratton and ASN Canada FIA.
In particular, they thank Ron Fellows for his support of karters,
 and Alan Rudolph of Bondurant's for being such a great instructor.