Canadian Karting News

Driver News - Kyle Stevens - Edmonton’s shining star has risen

Kyle Stevens of the “2 4 Racing TeaM” has made the move to Senior Kart Racing for rounds 6 and 7 of the Edmonton and District Kart Racing Association Club Series at Stratotech Park, home track for the 15 year old Junior turned Senior. On the double header weekend of Aug. 27 & 28, 2005 Kyle and Mentor Goldie Trelenberg talked the junior’s dad into moving up to the Senior Class. “It wasn’t a hard sell, said Kyle’s dad Mark, we did not achieve our goal at the Canadian Nationals this year and after 3 years as the Alberta Junior Champion it was the right time to move”.

Kyle turned 15 on July 4th this year and raced 2 of the Coupe De Montreal races at the SRA Karting facility with Ron Arsenault and his PSL MaxJet Team in preparation for the Canadian Nationals in Jr. RotaxMax. As usual Kyle showed up to the Nationals sporting a funky hair design. This year was PSL jet black with PSL orange and gold highlights. It was an up and down week for the 15 year old, 3rd fast in practice Friday, qualified 12th and then was caught up in a crash in the second heat race Saturday putting him 14th for the prefinal Sunday. With Christophe Bosclair beside him for the prefinal the 2 worked together to finish 2nd and 4th respectively in the wet Prefinal Sunday. It was looking good going into the final for the Alberta youth but after switching back to the dry set up for the final he fell back to 13th overall. The kart developed a major handling issue that got worse as the laps counted down. “We missed the set-up when we switch to the slicks for the final, said his crew chief dad, the kid drove his heart out but could not over come the front push in the technical infield sections”.

After coming home a little battered but a lot more experienced, they moved to the senior ranks at the EDKRA club event. So to make his debut they decided to go “big”. Competing in all 3 senior classes in Edmonton on a double header was the order of the weekend and Kyle rose to the challenge. Running in Senior Honda in a borrowed Ital Kart from his Auntie, (Cathy Wood), his Senior upgraded CRG Blue Damon in RotaxMax, and the PCR Pavasi ICC Kart they own and have only practiced in 3 times.

“I was not worried about running all 3 classes”, said Kyle; “I have been fitness training and eating well thanks to my mom, plus Goldie does a wicked job on tuning my chassis and engines”. “I think it was harder on him and my dad, than it was on me”, he laughed. “Plus they had to keep on eye on my team mates and Sister Alexandra in Jr. 2 Honda and Rylan Boutin in Jr. 1 Honda.

Kyle smashed 2 track records during Qualifying on Saturday and now holds 4 different class track records at Stratotech Park. He finished 1st in Sr. Honda, 5th in RotaxMax (after starting in the rear at 13th for being 1⁄2lb. shy on the scale after the prefinal) and 1st in his first ever ICC Shifter Class race. He then returned Sunday to capture 1st in Sr. Honda again, 1st in Sr. RotaxMax and 2nd in ICC by only a kart length at the line to Aaron Peterson of Calgary. With 4 wins and a 2nd in 2 days for the 15 year old, he is definitely going to be a force to reckon with in 2006 and a candidate for the clubs Iron Man (boy) trophy. Especially as the 2006 Nationals are to be held at his home club ( www.edkra.ca) and track (www.stratotech.ca). He undoubtedly will be a hands down favorite to watch for next year as Kart racers travel to practice and set up for the toughest 5 days in August.

Kyle thanks his sponsors who with out them it would not be possible to achieve the many opportunities, awards and championships he has had in his first 7 years as a Junior Kart Racer. Aluma Systems Inc, Motospeed Kart Shop, Doug’s Place Collision and Doug’s too, Academy Mechanical, Rifco, River City Electrical, Graham Ryan Consulting, In More Detailing, R.A. Hodgson Design, Amalgamated Mining, Dynamotive Auto Service, family, friends, and clients of Dynamotive.