GO-KARTER LONG IS GOING PLACES.Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor Noun 1. sports editor - the newspaper editor responsible for sports news newspaper editor - the editor of a newspaper On Monday, Patrick Long Patrick Long (born July 28, 1981) is a race car driver. He was born at Thousand Oaks, California, USA and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He currently drives for Alex Job Racing in the Rolex Sports Car Series. of Oak Park turns 16. He'll finally be old enough to get a California driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something . Except Long is hardly your inexperienced teen-age driver. He's one of America's top Go-Kart racers. On Sunday, he won the U.S. Championship for Formula A in Marshalltown, Iowa Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. It is the county seat of Marshall CountyGR6 and the home of Marshalltown Community College. , zooming down the track at speeds of 90 mph. Next month, he'll leave for Europe to prepare for the World Championships Sept. 11-14 in France. It will force him to miss the first five days of his junior year at Oak Park High School. In February, he heads to Italy, where he'll become a driver for CRG CRG Centre for Research on Globalisation CRG Council for Responsible Genetics CRG Contingency Response Group CRG Citizens for Responsible Government CRG Corporate Renaissance Group CRG Columbia River Gorge CRG Consulting Resource Group CRG Columbia Resource Group , one of the world's largest chassis makers. It will probably mean the end of Long's days as an Oak Park student but the beginning of his pursuit to one day become an Indy Car driver. ``He's the first American to make it on a European chassis factory ride for karting karting Driving and racing miniature, skeleton-frame, rear-engine automobiles called karts or GoKarts. The sport originated in the U.S. in the 1950s after the first kart had been assembled from unwanted lawn-mower parts. ,'' Long's father, Jon, said. Long, 5-foot-6 and 120 pounds, has been racing Go-Karts since he was 8. His dream is focused on becoming an Indy Car driver. ``What's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. right now is a lot of big companies are sending scouts to Kart races,'' Long said. For Long to compete against the best in Europe offers invaluable experience and exposure. Final plans for his schedule in Italy haven't been decided, so he might end up coming and going between Oak Park and Europe in the spring. Either way, he's expected to end his days as a regular student and pursue independent-study options because of his busy racing schedule. ``From the last two, three months of racing, I'm learning so much bigger stuff in these bigger cars,'' he said. As for obtaining his driver's license, Long needs to complete two more two-hour driving sessions. He's looking forward to getting his license, ``not for the speed but the freedom,'' he said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: A top U.S. Go-Kart racer, Oak Park student Patrick Long, middle, shows off U.S. Championship for Formula A trophy he won Sunday. Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion