Robertson Racing Goes 3G

JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor

Robertson/Turner Racing added a third generation this summer to their history of Shelbyville based auto racing, when the youngest member climbed into the driver’s seat and sped off down the track.

Clark Robertson of Shelbyville took up the Robertson racing mantle 16 years ago, a week after his oldest son Clayton was born, following in the tread marks of his father and race car driver Tony Robertson. Now, on any given Sunday, Conner Robertson (age 5) has the pedal to the metal at the quarter midget track in Taylorville.

Two years ago, this reporter did a story on Clark, and during the interview 3 year-old Conner was ripping around in a go-cart in the same gravel parking lot his dad used to when it was owned by Largent New Holland Farm Implements 25 years ago. Conner has been bustin’ to get in a car for the last two years and start racing. In the meantime, his dad, Clark, finished high in the points in the Modified Division at Macon Speedway and was named the 2007 Daily Union Driver of the Year.

With that hunger to drive inside Conner, Clark has decided to invest his time and money in the future of Robertson/Turner Racing. This year, Conner turned five, old enough to race. His dad bought him a chassis and roll, bought him an engine, and put it all together in time to start the season.

The Christian County Quarter Midget Association races at Taylorville and the drivers, age 5-16, race every Sunday in various divisions. Conner is in the youngest division.

His car is an open wheel sprint car that weighs about 1/10th of what his dad’s Modified race car weighs. Conner’s car weighs 250 pounds and runs on a 4 hp, 120 c.c., 1 cylinder Honda engine. Dad’s car weighs 2400 pounds and runs on a 430 cubic inch engine as he speeds around a 1/5 mile bull ring at 68 miles per hour. The cars in Conner’s division are restricted to a speed of about 28 miles per hour and the drivers are heavily monitored for safety.

The cars and drivers are inspected and the engines are occasionally torn down to be inspected. The drivers wear seat belts, a Hans device, a neck collar and arm restraints to keep their arms in the car. They are put in divisions by their age, ability, and weight. The races and the cars have a sanctioning body. Not just anyone can get in a quarter midget and start racing.

In addition to their cars being sanctioned, the new drivers have to come to three practices before they can be approved to race. A trainer has to sign off on each new driver.

“Hardly any kids get hurt for the number of kids driving and the speed they go,” said Clark Robertson. “When kids flip, they get right back in the race. They have a safety record of about 99.6 %.”

Conner’s races go 20 laps or 20 minutes, which ever comes first.

“After 20 minutes the kids get tired and then they don’t drive as sharp,” said Christine Robertson, Conner’s mom.

Conner and the other quarter midget drivers at Taylorville are encouraged to take advantage of practice time on the track every Thursday, so they can improve and stay sharp for their race that Sunday. Conner and his quarter midget opponents race the same season, from April to November, that his dad does at Macon. There is two weeks in August when the quarter midgets will not run at Taylorville, but they will then return to race every Sunday until the end of the season.

Spectators can watch the quarter midgets every Sunday free of charge at the Taylorville track behind the Christian County Fairgrounds. The drivers sign in at 10 a.m. and the heat races start about 11-11:30 a.m. The features usually start about 2 p.m.

Conner has done well in his first season. He has won a feature race, won two heat races and has a 2-day regional race under his belt. Conner has one sponsor, Woodpile Primitives Country Furniture in Shelbyville.

Conner’s dad, Clark, has accumulated quite a few sponsors, none more important than Don Turner his partner in Robertson/Turner racing. Turner is a millwright, like Robertson, who lives out of state, but believes in Clark and has invested in him.

“I have appreciated all my sponsors through my career,” Clark said. “They get me to the track to start the season, then its up to me to do the rest.”

Clark’s sponsors are Don Turner, Farm House Restaurant, Best Wedding Chapel, V.F.W., Shelby County D.A.R.E., 1st Federal, The Rosebud Cafe, Wades Meat Market, Shelbyville Dairy Queen, John’s Upholstery in Cowden, Monical’s Restaurant, 2nd Street Power, Barnes Machine and MuddBoss Videos.

After years of driving his way up among the Modified points leaders, Clark got a different car before the ‘08 season. He worked out some bugs in the carburetor and was racing better this season, until a week ago when he had engine trouble. Normally, he would try to get the car back in shape and on the track, but he made the decision to invest in the start of Conner’s career.

Clark may have to return to the track in someone else’s car this season, currently 8th in Modified points. However, next year he will be back in his own car to start the season and steadily looking forward to the pay off of his investment in Conner’s itch to drive, the day when he and Conner can race on the same day at the same track.

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