Riker Racing #00

This past weekend Riker Racing was at Greenwood Valley Action Tracks with the RTS 270 #00. After being rained out the previous weekend, we were ready to get back to the racetrack. I had picked a #46 the previous week at sign in and that was what number was used this weekend. There were a total of 16 cars in the Regular 270 class. In practice the car seemed to be working pretty good, but we made some adjustments after to hopefully make it better for the heat race. I started 4th in my heat out of 7 cars. After falling back to 5th at one point, I was able to make it back to 4th place and finish there. This finish got me a 8th place starting spot in the feature race out of 16. On the start there was a wreck that collected a couple of cars, us not being one fortunately. I drove most of the race around 5th and 6th place, avoiding every wreck that came my way. Towards the end I was battling back and forth with a few cars, but wasn't able to advance any spots. With just about 5 laps to go, there was a caution caused by the leader, giving me another position which happened to be 4th place. When the green flag waved we had 5 laps to go. Although there was a car close behind, I was able to hold onto my spot and come home with a solid 4th place finish. It was a really great night for us, as we have been having some bad weeks recently. This finish was a confidence booster for me, as the top 3 cars were fast, competitive, and experienced drivers. To race with them up front was something I hope can happen from here on out. We will be back in action this weekend at Greenwood Valley Action Tracks, and off the following week for a family vacation. Thank you for your continued support!

-Alyssa Riker

Riker Racing #00

The past two weeks we raced at GVAT weren't ideal for me. Two weeks ago, we started figuring out the handling of the car with the new installation of the steering rack, but were not able to finish out the feature due to engine problems. This past weekend was our last week and I was able to finish the feature in 12th spot. This was not what I was hoping for, but with having engine and handling problems the last couple of weeks, coming home without anything broken was a win for us. Recently we purchased a new car to run in the 2015 season. It is a 2005 RTS which we hope to have a lot more luck with in the coming season. We will be attending a few swap meets to find the parts we need for this car in the next couple of weeks, and also will be trying to sell our current Dominator car. Now that racing is over, we will be working hard to get our new car together for 2015 along with me finishing up my first semester as a freshman at Kutztown University! Thank you for all of the continued support and hopefully we will bring home some better results next season!

On June 8th we went up to GVAT ready to do better than the previous two weeks. I went out for both Rookie and Regular practice and could feel that the car had more speed than the other weeks and it felt pretty good. We made some minor adjustments and went our for the heat. I started sixth in the heat and got a good jump on the first start. I was running in third place behind the leaders most of the race. With one to go I caught up to second place and sneaked in underneath her in turns one and two and made the pass to get second place. In the feature I started second place and was passed pretty early on by the third place car. I ran with her the whole race following her and waiting for a mistake. I just couldnt get around her until the last corner. Coming out of turn four, she got really loose and once again I got under her. We drag raced to the finish line but I ended up coming up about a tire length too short. Overall it was a pretty successful night. Even though second place would have been great, third felt just as good because I knew how much better the car was from the week before. Hopefully we can continue to be consistent and get our first win of the 2013 season!

Once again we went back up to GVAT on the first of June. The track was really slick and loose during the practice we got so it was hard to judge how the car would act. With burning up the piston the week before, we were hesitant to do anything drastic to the motor. I started second in the heat and ended up finishing in sixth place was pretty disappointing. The car just had no speed so we knew that something had to change and wasnt right. In the feature I was starting in sixth place and the car was a little better but still not right. It had no speed at any part of the track and it was just a mess. I wasnt happy with the finish but I was happy that we atleast finished in one piece. Later we found out our major problem was that when my dad was putting this new motor together, he accidentally put the piston on backwards. I was happy that it was only a stupid mistake and not something more serious.

On May 25th we were back at GVAT for our second race of the season. We had a bigger field than usual in the Rookie class which consisted of 12 cars this weekend. I picked number 39 which got me a 9th starting place. It wasnt the best starting place but it was better than picking 12th place. In practice the track was really slick and the car felt great. I went back out with the regulars after and I could see a big change. Since the track was getting drier the car wasnt handling as good. Before we went out for the heat we made some adjustments and were on our way. In the heat I was starting 9th and made it up to 4th place. The car was good but it needed more so we made some motor adjustments and were ready for the feature. In the feature I started 4th and made it up to third by the first lap. I was running close to the second place car the whole time. We were pretty even and I was sure that I would get a top three spot. With one lap to go the motor bogged down and was just putting around the track to get to the checkered. I got passed by two cars and was just happy I crossed the finish line. I ended up finishing in 5th place our of 12. It was definitely a disappointing night because we knew we had a good car. With a new motor in the car and some other adjustments, we well go back up to Greenwood to continue our season!

May 4th was our first week back at the track after a long off season. We headed back up to our home track of Greenwood Valley to start off our season. I went out for practice with the rookies and regulars to see how the car would handle with our new rear tortion bars. After making some adjustments we went out for the heat. I started second and finished in the same place, never loosing too much ground on the leader. Come time for the feature I was ready and excited to get back out on the track. I started second and stayed on the outside of the leader for about a lap, but eventually fell back in line behind him. After a couple of cautions and a lot of green flag laps, the checkered flag flew and I had earned second place. Overall it was a great night for us. For it being our first night back with a completely new set up and the ever changing track conditions, we were happy with the results. Thanks to everyone for the support and we hope to bring you guys back some more feature wins this 2013 season!

-Alyssa

On Saturday October 13th we went to Greenwood Valley Action Tracks once again. It was my birthday that day so the whole family came along for the long night. For the heat I started first and led the whole race, which led to another heat win. The car ran good but could definitely use some more corner speed. The feature came and I was starting first. Within the first couple laps I dropped back to second place. The first place car was fast and moving quickly. I was able to hold off all the other cars and finish with a solid second place finish. Overall it was a pretty successful night with only one left to go!

On Saturday October 20th we went to Greenwood again for our last race of the season. This was our last race of the season so I wanted to finish it off on a good note. I started fifth in the first heat and finished in third place. I had to redraw since I finished in the top three and picked a 21 which got me a third place starting place in the feature. The car was running great and the motor was fast. There weren't any major changes made before the feature. I was staring third in the feature out of 13 or so cars. On the start I stayed with the first and second place cars and followed them for a couple laps. Once we started getting into lap traffic, the first two cars were getting bunched up by them. The first place car couldn't get around a car so the second place went to get around them but hit one of the lap cars and got them all loose. This gave me the inside line in turn three and I took it. I passed them all for first place. I led the rest of the race while passing more lap cars. I ended up winning and getting my second feature win! The car ran awesome and nothing could have been better! It was a great way to finish off the 2012 race season. Thank you to everyone who has helped us throughout these past two years! Hopefully next year will start off the way we ended this year!

On September 29 we traveled back out to Greenwood Valley Action Track again for another race. I went our for Rookie and Regular practice and the car was pretty good. I was set to start first in the heat. On the start the second place car got a good jump on me and passsed me on the outside. Not to far behind was the third place car. She caught up to be and passed me soon after. From there on I ran the rest of the race in third place and finished there. In the feature I started 6th place. Within a couple laps I was up to 4th. I was passing the third place car on the inside, hit his back tire, and spun out in turn one. From here I had to go all the way to the back which was 13th place. After that happened I drove hard and was passing cars every lap. I got all the way back up to 4th. I was following the third place car and was staying with him, then all of the sudden the first place car who had a straight away lead on me, locked up and spun out. This brought be up to third place which is where I finished. Overall it was a great night and finish.

On October 6 we went up to Greenwood Valley once again. This week, we are going to see my dad's point of view of that day.  

Not the best of nights on 10/6/12  at GVAT. 13 cars in the rookie class gave us two heats of 6 and 7 cars. Alyssa started 4th place in the second heat, on the start the the top two cars didn't go and bunched up the field, going in to turn one Alyssa had a head of speed and run into a slower cars right rear tire sending her car again up in the air and almost into the outside wall. Gathering up the car and down shifting she again took off to catch the pack. The car was turning great but we were needing some forward bite. With the recent engine changes and a different tire combination all she was doing was spinning the tires real hard coming off the corners. I had some ideas how to fix this and were back to the pits after a disappointing heat finish of 4th. Feature time brought some hope. We had a sweet burning plug, back to a set up we know gives us some amazing bite coming off the corners and Alyssa was ready to do battle. While lining up Alyssa noticed the brake pedal was not in its correct location. Knowing this was not safe and she couldn't race this way she pulled off on to the infield, when I looked at the pedal I could see the master cyl pedal rod was missing The pin had fallen out and must have been out on the track. I felt terrible Its my responsibly to keep the car together and safe. I failed this week and took a chance away from Alyssa. Well there is two weeks left to try to get another win for the 2012 racing season. Thanks again to all our supporters.

Last weekend we raced up at Greenwood Valley once again. The weather was perfect and we were ready to get back out there after our first victory two weeks before. I picked a #15 and it got me a third place starting position. Once again the track was still way to wet to practice on for rookie pracice, so I went back out with the regulars. I was keeping up with them and even passed two cars that were running slower than I was. In the heat I got a good jump on the second place car and passed them befor the first corner. The car was running good and handeling okay. I finished in second place out of 7, but I was not close enough to the leader to be competitive. After I got off the track, I forgot to go over the scales so they put me back in the line up. I ended up having to start 6th of out 7 to start the feature. Inbetween the races, we made some changes to make the car tighter to see if it would handle better in the corners. The feature came and I was starting 6th. By the time I got to the first corner I was in third place.From there I tracked down the second place car in two or three laps and picked up the second place position. Another two or three laps later, I started catching the leader quickly. Soon enough she slowed down and I passed her. She pulled off the track and I was now in first place. I had easily a straight away lead on the second place car. I knew that if the car kept handeling the way it did and I was consistent lap to lap, I would have feaure win #2 no problem. With three laps to go, coming out of turn four, the motor died. It was still running but would not get to the high rpms needed and it was just done. I pulled off the track angry and upset because I knew I could have had that race won. The car was handeling perfect and the car felt really fast. We later found out that the magnito bolts fell off and that was our problem. Its really upsetting to know have worked so hard, finally get a win, have another one in sight, and then just loose it so fast. We have known that this car is competitive and that I am improving week to week for a long time. Hopefully win #2 is not too far away.