Grand Forks go-karts off and running for the season

On a near-perfect summer night, go-kart racing returned to Grand Forks.

The Forks Karting Association was able to get in its first complete show of the season Wednesday as the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the season for the go-kart racers, ranging from young kids to adults.

A number of the younger drivers have used the short go-kart track as a training ground for competing at River Cities Speedway, located as well on the Grand Forks County Fairgrounds.

The track's first night of the season last week was cut short by rain.

Not this week, though, as the association completed its first show.

Roughly half of the season was lost due to the pandemic.

But the Forks Karting Association hopes to complete the rest of the season.

1/5: (From left) Junior 2 Yamaha-class drivers Kaileigh Martinson, Evan Hendrickson and Charlie Good speed around turn four during a heat race at the Forks Karting Speedway on Wednesday night. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

2/5: Junior 1-class drivers cruise around the oval track at the Forks Karting Speedway in Grand Forks during a heat race on Wednesday night. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

3/5: East Grand Forks driver Claira Minske (2) leads the pack around a turn at the Forks Karting Speedway during Wednesday's novice rookie-class heat race. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

4/5: West Fargo's Tate Magnuson speeds around the edge of the Forks Karting Speedway track during Wednesday's Senior Medium-class heat race in Grand Forks. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

5/5: Rylan Thompson, of Thompson, N.D., takes the lead during a novice rookie-class heat race at the Forks Karting Speedway on Wednesday night. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald