Josh Klapperick’s introduction to the sport of go-kart racing was a crash course.

Saturday, October 20, 2001

Josh Klapperick’s introduction to the sport of go-kart racing was a crash course.

Feeling his rear wheels slip while rounding a corner on the .6-mile track, Klapperick figures he hit the brakes instead of compensating with his steering wheel – a classic rookie mistake. The go-cart flipped. His helmet hit the pavement.

Aside from some scrapes, Klapperick walked away unharmed. But he wasn’t so sure about getting back in the driver’s seat.

The 11-year-old eventually overcame his apprehension and, a year and a half and 17 trophies later, has overcome all the opposition as well. He won the Junior I Novice Briggs points title this past season at Iowa International Raceway in Marshalltown.

It’s been an impressive run for the sixth-grader at Hawthorne School, who was running about 30 seconds off the pace when he began racing in the summer of 2000. This year, he took home 17 trophies while racing in 19 of 20 point series events.

The road to the points title was exciting. Trailing by 1,300 points with two weeks remaining, Klapperick closed the gap and then some, winning four consecutive races to take the crown by 1,900 points.

&uot;The last two weeks, our goal was to just finish ahead of the leader,&uot; said Josh’s father, Jon. &uot;We didn’t care if he won. We just wanted to gain points. The guy he beat had been doing it for three years, it was his last year in the division, and had never won a points title. He was pretty bummed. He thought he had it won when he was 1,300 up.&uot;

Klapperick will move up a step next year, when he’ll compete in the Shifter Class with a go-kart that will go Klapperick will move up a step next year, when he’ll compete in the Shifter Class with a go-kart that will go about 20 mph faster than the one he drove this year, which topped out around 60. It had a 5-hp Briggs and Stratton motor with a restrictor plate limiting it to around 4 hp. They sell for around $2,000 new or $1,600 used – fully equipped, including safety gear – and maintenance is mostly limited to weekly oil changes and yearly tire replacement. Gas usage is minimal. The race entry fee is $25.

It’s one of several sports in which Klapperick participates and, it’s safe to say, the most exciting.

&uot;It’s more of an adrenaline rush,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s more fun than anything, I think.&uot;

They’ve also gotten to know each other better with the weekly 150-mile trips to Marshalltown, a schedule that’s easier to maintain with what Jon Klapperick calls a &uot;very understanding boss.&uot; He’s part owner of Interstate Molding.

It was Jon Klapperick’s love of racing that sparked Josh’s interest. He’s raced dirt bikes, and sold a race car to get started in go-karts.

Jon Klapperick feels the experience has been not only fun but beneficial for his son.

&uot;He’s a better person for doing this,&uot; said Jon Klapperick. &uot;He’s more calm, he has more patience. He’s learned a lot about himself.&uot;

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If anyone is interested in racing go-carts, contact Jon Klapperick or Iowa International Raceway.