James Dean and PSL win BRSKC Grand National on the new CRG-PSL BIG AL chassis

3 août 2009

James Dean Laderoute of D.D.O Montreal took home the coveted Bear trophy at the Ontario Grand Nationals. The day began with heavy overcast and by late afternoon it was picture perfect.

The best of the best came out to race regardless of the forecast looking to get the coveted Bear trophy. Like a scene out of the movie Gladiator, the drivers of each division marched onto the grid and mounted their chariots prepared to do battle. The Micro-Max Rotax division had a race
within a race. There was actually two divisions combined, Micro-Max Rotax and Novice Tag. Only two drivers, Taegan Poles and Tyler Ripani were racing in the Tag division.

James Dean, racing in the Micro-Max division qualified in first with a time of 49.075. The pre-final was filled with action as James Dean in the #77 kart and Clay Van Eerd in the #88 battled it out till the very last lap with a photo finish ending.

The finals were even more exciting with James Dean starting second on the grid and Van Eerd on pole. James Dean made a great pass right off the start and took the lead. Van Eerd answered back with a draft pass on the straight of lap three. It was back and fourth until lap eight when James Dean tried to overtake Van Eerd going into the chicane.

The left side of his kart went off the track and a four second gap now separated the two drivers. James Dean gained the four seconds back and was now drafting down the straight. Laderoute made the pass and looked over at Van Eerd as if to say; “Hi Clay! How’s it going? It’s me again. What a great race! Are you having as much fun as I am?” Now you probably think I am exaggerating, well I’m not. He stared at Clay halfway down the straight and didn’t miss a beat going into turn one. The jousting continued until lap eleven when disaster struck James Dean who was in the lead. Van Eerd made a very risky pass which resulted in James Dean spinning off the track. A twenty second gap now separated the two with five laps to go. James Dean finished in second, four seconds behind Clay Van Eerd and Nick Saunders followed in third.

The incident in question resulted in a black flag and penalty for Clay Van Eerd who would end up in second and the Bear going to James Dean Laderoute. Remarkably, this is only the seventh time that this young driver has ever raced. It’s his first season.

James Dean commented "I really don’t think Clay did it on purpose. He’s a great driver and a really nice guy. I just wish I had five more laps because I was catching up."

"I really want to thank my coach and mechanic who had to leave early, Chris Green and my sponsors McKibbin’s Irish Pub, Thought Technologies and PSL."

Canadian karting news (canadiankartingnews.com)