Our Story

Amber and Angela Cope were nine when they noticed something peculiar under the Christmas tree. No, it wasn't a Barbie Dream House, Nor was it a Nintendo game system. This gift, from their parents Darren and Mary Cope, had four wheels and a motor. It had a steering wheel and gas pedal. It had two helmets. This was a go-kart. Christmas day they went out to a large parking lot for the first time. It was very entertaining. They did not know which was the brake and which was the throttle.

Left: 1995 Tri-cities Gold Cup. Angela finishing first and Amber taking thir in the "Yamaha Class".

Their parents say they are just happy that the girls had an avenue by which to burn all their energy.  "They stay on the go full time, that's one thing about these girls, they won't sit still."  Their competition will attest to that.  Amber, who is one minute older than Angela, won the IKF Region Six Junior Piston Port Championship in 1998.  She finished second in the Gold Cup circuit that year.  Angela, meanwhile, won the Junior Sportsman title in the Puget Sound go Kart Association the same year.  In 1999, in five Gold Cup events, Angela grabbed three poles.  Both dominated at the club level.

Left: Amber and Angela at age 12 in their new professional driving suits.
Below: Bremerton Raceway, Amber and Angela lining up on the grid.

Amber and Angela also ran a Winter Go-Kart Series out at the Bremerton Raceway.
This series taught them alot of driving technique because our weather produced rain, wind, sleet, and snow; and they drove in all of it!

Left: 1998 PSGKA Gold Cup driver introduction.
Below: Amber and Angela going for the checkered finishing first and second in the "Junior Sportsman Class"

Something the twins don't have in common is driving style.  "Angela is very aggressive," father Darren says.  "She makes more things happen.  If there's a hole there she believes in going for it.  If it takes her out, well, there was a hole.  "Amber is more patient.  She waits for something that is a good pass, and she goes for it.

Amber finishing first and Angela second in the "Junior Piston Port" class at the PSGKA gold club at their home track with friends and rivals, Patrick Daily taking third place and Gary Cline finishing fourth with the "Tony Kart" strongly dominating this class.

1998 PSGKA Gold Cup winners in the "Junior Piston Port"

Amber and Angela's final year in go-karting was with great accomplishment. In the year end points at the Puget Sound Go-Kart Association Awards Banquet, Amber clinches first place champion in the "Junior Super box Class" and second place in the "Junior Sportsmen Class". Angela grabbing first place champion in the "Piston Port" and "Yamaha Light Classes". Angela also took track record speeds in the "Yamaha Light" and "Yamaha Heavy" classes. Both Amber and Angela received Sportsmanship Awards.

Amber and Angela's accomplishments in their seven years of driving go-karts include 50 first place wins and setting on pole position 20 times in the Pacific Northwest. Angela also set new track records at five of six tracks in the same region. Not only did they learn to drive go-karts, but they also achieved endurance, discipline, and self esteem in a sport which is now growing in female attendance.