THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 1996 TAG: 9609070068
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Chesapeake Close Up
SOURCE: Janelle LaBouve
LENGTH: 66 lines
Bo Gurkin's brown eyes gleam when he describes how his sleek, multicolored Go Kart rockets along the roadway.
Ramming the pedal to the metal is old hat to the 8-year-old, who has won nine out of 15 races this season. But the thrill remains for the Georgetown Primary School third-grader.
Bo belongs to Hampton Roads Kart Club and Langley Speedway Karting. This was his second year to participate regularly in weekend competitions at the Langley Speedway in Hampton where the season lasts from April to October.
He says drivers draw a number to determine their starting position in a heat race. The outcome of the heat decides starting positions in the feature race.
``It's fun to drive and it's a lot of competition, which I like,'' Bo said. ``I like winning, and I like going fast.''
Fast means about 60 mph on Langley's oval course and 45 to 50 mph on the road course.
``It is really a tight, tight track with only room for two karts on the turns,'' he said.
Right up to the finish, the youngster keeps himself psyched up by concentrating on the competition.
``I just wait for (the driver in front) to make a mistake,'' he said.
During one recent feature race, Bo said the driver out front had a ``big lead.''
``I tried to pass on the outside, but he pushed me out of the groove,'' Bo said.
When another driver passed, Bo dropped back to third place.
``Then, for 12 or 13 laps I was trying to chase them down. On the 19th lap, I passed on the front straightaway and led the rest of the race,'' he said.
Donnie Teel is Bo's crew chief. Teel and Bo's dad, Robert Gurkin, keep the Briggs & Stratton five-horsepower engine and the kart race-ready.
The driver can't judge the speed at 60 mph, the elder Gurkin said. But they can feel the pressure on their chest and on their helmets.
Gurkin says that for drivers who wear the proper equipment, karting is a safe sport and a good sport for families.
``We work at this,'' Gurkin said. ``We're dedicated. The whole family enjoys racing.''
Full name: Bo Gurkin
Hometown: Chesapeake
Fond memories: ``Learning how to read and color inside the lines and get along with other kids.''
Parents: Robert and Ellen Gurkin
School: Georgetown Primary School
Hobbies: Go Karting, baseball, football and soccer
Last book read: ``Charlotte's Web'' by E.B. White
Favorite game: The video game ``Street Fighter''
Describe yourself as a color: ``Blue, because I like it. It's pretty, it's bright and it's dark.''
If you could be any animal, what would it be? ``I'd be a tiger. Because they wrestle and they're aggressive and I like their stripes.''
What irritates you the most? ``Rude people''
Favorite movie: ``Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco''
Favorite TV program: ``WCW Monday Nitro''
Favorite way to spend a day: ``Outside playing with my friends''
What would you choose for a last meal? Spaghetti ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot by CNB