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Probably like many, I’ve observed this post and resisted the urge to respond. One question in my mind though (and perhaps this has already been answered)…
Why did the front range track owners turn down SKUSA for a date for 2013?
There may be perfectly good reasons for turning it down. However, it seems to me that if the track owners don’t want a SKUSA date, they aren’t likely to want a new “state series” date either. I like the idea of bigger fields, more fun, more inclusiveness, less politics and BS – but I don’t really think another series is the answer.
I’ve been involved in running a series – it is not easy. It’s not any fun either. Jim’s crew does a great job with the Rotax series and the SKUSA guys do a great job as well. The current club series folks all do a great job too. Do we really need to reinvent this??
For what it is worth, a SKUSA run championship with 1 race at Miller, 1 at GJ, and 2 on the front range (with one drop) seems like a logical solution to me. You could drop the race with the farthest travel and still be competitive/have a shot at winning the whole thing. With Rotax, TAG, and shifters already included, it seems like you could add a few more “local options” and include just about everyone.
The “ladder” for karting would be:
1. Rentals: Unser, IMI, TTAC, AK, GJMS, SBR, etc.
2. Club Racing: CJKC for kids, Track Clubs (SBR, IMI, GJMS, etc.) – allow anyone to run what they brung…
3. Regional Racing: Racing the Rockies, SKUSAAnyway… that’s my one cent since it’s probably not worth two…
We’ll continue to race wherever we are welcome. It worked pretty well last year.
Just want to let everyone know that SKUSA moved the race from IMI last year all on their own sending me an email about it, nice personal touch. Glad they did as having a race on Labor Day weekend (not my recommendation) would have cost me a bundle in rentals and they did not want to pay much for track rental. Judging from the turn out they had the gang from Miller must not have showed like they thought and it sure would of been wiser to pick a better weekend.
SKUSA has not been in contact with me since then so they must not be interested in having a race at IMI so don’t think they were turned down and the front range tracks won’t have a SKUSA race.
Concerning a state series I would be fine with a group of racers organizing it and would support it for sure. There are plenty of kart tracks available in this state so who even cares about having a race at Centennial.
I don’t see why it can’t happen in 2013!
Eddy and Guys time to chime in, PPKRC is willing to host a meeting at SBR to talk about this and try one more time to see if a state series can be pulled togehter. PPKRC will announce a date for the meeting ,mostly likely some time in January, place to be determined. If you all remember PPKRC/SBR, IMI and GJMS already put together most of the structure for this to occur we just need to get THE Track more involved. A meeting with all the drivers is one way to figure out how much REAL support there is for this to happen. Lee has a good point related to how this needs to come together, the clubs, promoters and drivers need to make this happen. Tried this before the other way , even I got frustrated trying to make this happen. A first year of just getting everyone together at each track is a good start for Colorado. Bottom line guys it’s going to take everyone making the effort to go to each track as a group and racing the tracks that have a class structure for the majority of the racers out there.
This will be the last time PPKRC try’s to bring the state together, it’s far more work then anyone realizes to make this happen. Talk is cheap, actions will speak volumes as to whether the support is really there for this more forward.
Roger Miller
Several posts above make a lot of sense.
Some of you long-timers know I’ve been around racing awhile (karting off and on since 1977, and sports car racing since 1963). I have made much of my living since the ’70s from racing like IndyCar, IMSA, and many other major Series’. I haven’t kart-raced for a decade, but have witnessed many things in my time — those that worked and those that did not. I only mention all this to pre-qualify my comments.
Here’s my simplistic view from the perimeter… overall, karters are karters and get along fine and just wanna race. These relationships are priceless and enduring, and a big reason karting is so great. But if pushed into a corner, racers will go where they feel most welcome. Stacey and Brad and JB get along great and have for a very long time. I’ve never seen any of them do anything for monopolistic purposes. The gap seems clear in that some owners are willing to do what’s best for our karters, others not as much. All told, don’t we have six tracks including Pikes Peak and the revitalized SBR to host a State series?
Beyond, as I’ve said for years, it seems all this would take is one person acting as a go-between between the racers and the track owners. A Driver’s Representative, if you will. If any track owners can’t get along, why exactly does that need to preclude such a series? I’d recommend the first year of such a series might encourage larger participation by hosting only one race per track — so all can afford it amongst their other pursuits during this economy. Always better to build slowly than to tear down suddenly. From a racer’s standpoint, the idea of racing at several tracks for one championship — especially for those posting here who can’t afford too many races at the moment — is very enticing and fun, and defines the best of why we race.
When a national pro series in cars takes shape, the track owners typically don’t work together at all. Why would they need to? In theory anyway, it seems a relatively-simple matter of creating a series, working the dates and fees with the track owners, and carrying on in the direction everyone wants. Anyone not participating will soon shine brightly as the Problem Child.
The tracks eager to participate deserve the accolades that follows cooperation, for the good of the sport. The ones that don’t also get just what they deserve.
One note… when I raced in the early-’80s here, we had one of the weakest states in the country for karting. A very few people here dedicated their entire lives to changing that, at great personal sacrifice and expense, at risk of losing everything — and they succeeded to the benefit of all Colorado karters past and present. Just look at the drivers who’ve come out of Colorado since! This was no accident. It seems to me the ones who made this happen, during the years we struggled to be on the national map, deserve a bit more gratitude for developing a ready-made market for those who followed.
Good Luck, I sincerely hope this can be worked out.
David:
I have never been contacted by Skusa. So I just assumed they didn’t want to run an event on a short challenging track like SBR. I guess it’s to hard for the shifter guys that can only drive on tracks with a long drag racing straight away.
Also I think a state wide series should be a step in your ladder for the racers and teams that don’t have the deep pockets or desire to race at a regional level
Sincerely
Lee Seigel
SBR Motorsports ParkBrad and Lee – thanks for clearing that up. I was curious as to why there was no SKUSA front range date and I guess we have a clearer picture on that.
Here’s another thought for a “State” series in 2013. Since the goal seems to be to maximize participation at lowest reasonable cost, why not just select a club race date from each track to make a state championship. For example, you could take a GJMS, IMI, SBR, and even AK (run it in conjunction with the CJKC) date from their existing or to be published schedules and create a “State Schedule from the Club Schedule”. It looks like TTAC is going to schedule a “run what you brung” weekend as well so that could mean 5 dates at 5 different tracks.
It’s pretty simplistic and obviously puts each club/track in charge of their “round” with little or no central authority, sanctioning body, etc. If nothing else, if everyone knew and agreed what the dates would be then you could really determine by the actual participation what the potential size and opportunity for something bigger in 2014.
I think the “run what you brung” approach might work best for this. I liked what SBR did last year with the cadets (really the only thing we have experience with)… it didn’t matter if you had a Rotax, LO206, Comer 80, etc. You were a cadet and you ran with the cadets. There were 4 stroke animals, micro max’s, mini max’s, LO206’s, etc. As Don mentioned, the CJKC did this at IMI alongside the IMI Club Series and everyone had fun. The kids didn’t seem to really care that there was a mix as long as they had someone to race with. There were differences in speed and ability which of course raises concerns, but it never seemed to be a real issue.
:usa: Post Re: State Series (again)
:usa: I agree with everyone that a state event would be great. I have two events in progress. Grand Junction
and SBR (date to be set) for the RACING FOR HEROES events. It would be easy to set this up as a series. I am
currently working on a third event in Denver. The reason for holding on the SBR date at this time. When and if cows fly you will be quite happy with the outcome.Craig Mansfield
303 242 2929I am in the process of doing what everyone seems to want.. Let me get two more steps in place and I hope that everyone will be happy with my proposal. A state series with rules etc.
Earlier in the thread I wrote:
As always racers (consumers) vote by where they race and spend money. Locally, nothing will change until there is an alternative. All bets are off when a new track comes to town.Not getting my hopes up but…………………..
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/12/prweb10202881.htmOne of our fellow karters has spoken with a rep from this thing and he said the kart track will not require a membership.
Cris
Yea, sure you won’t need a membership but you would pay $200 to use the kart track but before any of this happens they will need to sell 200 memberships for $25000 and they will each have to pay $3500 per year dues. Fat chance selling that one!
@Brad Linkus wrote:
Yea, sure you won’t need a membership but you would pay $200 to use the kart track but before any of this happens they will need to sell 200 memberships for $25000 and they will each have to pay $3500 per year dues. Fat chance selling that one!
You might be right but who knows.
When I posted that “new track” comment I was (kind of) hoping you would respond by telling us you had enough fill dirt now and are moving forward with the new track you had laid out.
Cris
I have almost enough dirt, only missing the karters!
Remember the other rich snob racing country clubs that were never built? Genova, Ring of the Rockies, and one more that I forgot the name.
@Brad Linkus wrote:
I have almost enough dirt, only missing the karters!
Remember the other rich snob racing country clubs that were never built? Genova, Ring of the Rockies, and one more that I forgot the name.
Field of Dreams, Brad- If you build it they will come.
Yes I do remember all of those “country clubs” and that was my first thought when I saw this “new one”. I just found it ironic with the post I made.
I applaud anyone who has enough disposable cash to join a club like that and race expensive cars. Those are the same guys who pay for my products and employ my customers who are also my friends. 100% of them are rich by my standards and 95% of them are not snobs. Hell, if I could afford it I would join one. We are happy racing karts and I am sure your kart traffic will increase exponentially with a new track.
Think of it as urban re-development.
PSA for IMI- If anyone has any extra fill dirt- Please haul it up to Dacono so we can get this party started.
Cris
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