Butler Cox

[Butler Cox]

@gunter desanti wrote:

…. Most of the top brands are represented in Co.,Arrow, Birel,
CRG, GP, Sodi, Intrepid. How about the kart dealers get together and organise a Mini Kart Expo/Track day.Show the customers what you got to offer. Gunter

Gunter,
That’s an excellent idea. Perhaps this Expo/Track day could also include gathering all the Colorado club representatives, track owners/operators, sanctioning bodies such as SKUSA-Mt., shop owners, as well as racers & families to host group panels/seminars/work sessions with the purpose of strengthening Colorado karting, devising joint plans to help bring new people into our sport, figuring out how to to that.

In short, if there were to be the Expo you suggest, then it would be a good venue to also work on the economic development that could benefit everyone, especially those folks who derive their livelihood and/or their passion from this sport.

If this were to happen, a lot might be accomplished…especially if Stacey brings all those cheerleaders. :loony:

[Butler Cox]

@stacey cook wrote:

Craig,

We actually have 2 of the local tv stations coming out for some coverage along with the local paper so please comb your hair..

We are also setting up a few extra activiites such as the MG tire golf challenge. A green set up in the middle of the track 100 yds away. throw $5 bucks in the kiddy for charity and closest to pin wins a set of MG tires.

More to come…

Geezers…Got canes? Might be a putting contest, but only with a cane. Putters not allowed. Entrant supplies cane. Age 55 +. Must not be a current member of USGA or PGA. 5$ in the “kiddy” for this one too. Prize to be announced. Stay tuned.

Also stay tuned for possible GeezerPool contest. More later! :loco

[Butler Cox]

@Mike Cunningham wrote:

Cook is a crafty one. You need to watch out for him. And yes im running your class. 😀

:hi Am looking fwd to YOUR craftiness!

[Butler Cox]

stacey cook wrote:

Butler sorry I’m just to old and will leave the racing to you youngsters :boo: though those few laps in that shifter today tapping on your bumper sure was fun. :hehehe

🙁
Not too old…just so busy being there for all of us.

[Butler Cox]

@Lee Seigel wrote:

Hey Butler I’m 54 years young I just look old cus I been road hard and put away wet way to many times 😆 I might just enter the Beano Race to be the youngest guy on the track for a change :dance:

Time to ride hard again! Might just have to cut your Beano ration, though, if you’re only 54. But between you and me we make 65 so you’re on! :woohoo
Looking fwd to meeting you.

Oh-Oh… did I word that right? 😀

[Butler Cox]

@Mike Cunningham wrote:

I think Mr. Cook should come out and play. I think is has forgot what the fun is all about. Come on guys and gals help me get him back on the track for this race. It would be speical. :wave

Hey Mike,
He was sure in fun mode today. Nossir, he hasn’t forgot fun. Suckered me good. Ask him, he’ll be delighted to tell you. :win

PS: Have you had a chance to speak with Rick about that lifty gizmo yet? I’m in worse shape than a couple of weeks ago. Trains will do that.

Stacey, today was just a warmup, right? You are going to race, right. None of this orgman or announcing excuse, right. You got time for a few laps, right? Heck, there’s all that lead in Darren’s truck and you can at least do the Beano bit before the BBQ. That’d be cool. Sorta like A.J. doing a parade lap :look

[Butler Cox]

Look fwd. to seeing codgers w/ Vampires! Might be we can get the Vamps to suck Rotax blood. :redmen

So how really old is Lee Siegel: a Wrinkly, a Geezer, or a Feeblie ❓ (48-50, hell they’re barely Wrinklies :loony:)

[Butler Cox]

@Roger Miller wrote:

Anthony- On behalf of PPKRC – we agree!! The Karting community needs to come together to not only support Grand Junction and Stacey/Family, but also all tracks and Clubs. We need to focus on the positive aspects of this sport, having fun!! We as a club will be supporting GJ along with every other track in the state in as many ways as we can. Look forward to see everyone at GJ.

Thanks Roger, on behalf of all of us at GJMS.

Maybe you can seduce a bunch of old codgers to come one over. More about that here:

http://www.thecoloradokarter.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5813&start=20

[Butler Cox]

@Craig Mansfield wrote:

Hello Hello HELLO, AT OUR AGE WE NEED SOME LOUD NOISE TO WAKE US UP.
I am in for the beanio class. Over sixty and slow, I am getting my DD2 repaired this week. I do have a question if a certain person is two weeks short of sixty. Is there an ID check at tech? or will the tech be understand and be in the class also? Jed how many days are you short?
:loony:

Craig

Well…only if they card you at Rite-Aid when you buy Beano.

Seriously, thanks a lot for your interest and I hope the word gets around so we can get some strong participation from UT and CO achey-brakeys. And thanks to Eric for his post above. He’s right on.

Actually, we board the train from NY tomorrow at 0-dark-30 and God willin’ and the Creek don’t rise, should be back at home in Paonia in 3-4 days. And no, I don’t take my laptop on board. Gotta have some time away from that thing!

The intent of this geezer race business is to provide a venue(s) for 60+ newbie, and low-time karters to race against peer-experience O.F.s. I know there are some codgers who’ve been racing for a while and are darn good shoes ‘cuz they race a lot. They’d likely wup us so I’m hoping we can get enough truly low-time geezers together so we can race on a par with each other. We’ll even allow wrinklies and feeblies.

Which brings up the DD2 thing: My feeling is to allow DD2s if the driver isn’t a ringer as above. The DD2s are faster than no-box 125 TAGS, but if that’s what someone has, then I’m all for it. Since they are faster than straight TAGS, we’ve thought about some sort of handicapped start, like maybe they start a few seconds later or something like that. Or the DD2s race against each other as far as the podium is concerned. Please, anyone feel free to post your thoughts about this.

Without falling into the pitfalls of past (and present) class bloat my intent is to create events in which oldies can get started and have fun learning and horsing around with folks that are fairly even in experience and hardware. Having started a few months ago, I’ve learned that there’s no way a 72-year-old can compete (yet!) against 35+ guys in TAG Masters. They just have better reflexes and vision. I’ll probably be 80 before I get that fast.

It’s OK to race in TAG Masters with just a few other karts, but when several SKUSA or other faster-than-stink guys show up, then I think we’re in the way and/or at higher risk of being punted and risking physical or kart damage that’s unnecessary in terms of what many of us can afford. And us OFs ought to have a clear shot at trophies, too.

I have spoken with many karters about this idea since the mid-60s and have learned that this category of racing is very club-specific. I’d like to take this to a level where codgers can go to other tracks and compete against true peers. Not only is this a way we can get our jollies, but it could be a way to draw more new blood into the sport, thus helping everyone. A lot more about this later.

And if any of you Front Range Clubs are into this, then please pass the word and tell your codgers we’re planning a hoot here at GJMS October 16-17. They’ll have a great time!

So, come on over, dive in and we can talk more about GeezerSpeed in person. And wait ’til you see the trophy you might win! Or the slow food for geezers only. :popcorn

[Butler Cox]

Calling All Old Farts! (60+)

Grand Junction Motor Speedway

Invites You to the Beano Brigade’s Class Race at the

Colorado vs. Utah Border War

Who’s the best Golden Oldie in a Kart?

Join us October 16-17, 2010

The winning geezer takes home bragging rights plus the
O.F’s Traveling Trophy. This trophy may be kept by the winning Geezer (or their club)
until next year when the battle will resume at Miller Motorsports Park.

We’re the Old Guys in the TAG Masters bunch.
If we have enough 60+, non-ringer drivers, we’ll put on our own show.

If you don’t have your own TAG (non-shift) kart, race your son’s, daughter’s, grandkid’s,
or we have a TAG (regular) and DD2 kart you can rent.

Camping & RV space available at the track.

Don’t let the young dudes have all the fun!

Call for info:
Butler Cox
970-270-4840

[Butler Cox]

Stacey has informed me he’s laid in plenty of canes :dance:

[Butler Cox]

Eric wrote:

Dear Mr. Cox:

I need to suggest a correction….. in your statement that included “…..we’ll likely be THE entertainment…..” I might respectfully request the removal of the word “likely.”

Thank You for your considerations.

Dear Mr. Wunrow,

With all due respect, we would humbly suggest that, when considering the activities of members of the ersatz sanctioning body ABRL, which as I’m sure you’ll recall is the Achey-Brakey Racing League, nothing is ever definite. Therefore, it is part of the rules of ABRL governance, that any and every event, action, direction, or activities connected thereto, be hereinafter appended with the adverbial description of likely, unless possible is substituted.

And that, of course, pertains to all aspects of what we call racing, although some may consider the R word a misnomer when describing ABRL events since some of our members have been noted to say, at driver’s meetings, well…we’ll likely drive in the correct direction…but a senior moment, a.k.a. brain fart, might intervene. Hence the ABRL requirement for Beano in the kit…except as a fuel (kart fuel) additive.

Yr faithful svnt,

H Manney.

[Butler Cox]

:redman
As part of the upcoming GJMS Border War weekend, we invite any age 60+ (give or take a few) karters out there to come join us at Grand Junction Motor Speedway the weekend of October 16-17th for the First Annual Geezer Border War & Beano Race. We’ll supply BBQ and the Beano, the rest is BYOB (in bottles or on two legs).

The class will run in our own slot if we get enough to warrant. In fact, we’ll likely be THE entertainment during the early cocktail seating.

TAG only, low-time drivers preferred. Normal TAG rules apply, except for one addition: Adding Beano to fuel is prohibited. (You may use it elsewhere.)

At GJMS we have for rent a TAG and a DD2 should any low-time pilot want to arrive & drive. The DD2 may enter the O.F’s race, provided they’re not a ringer.

For you younger hotshoes that are planning to come, bring your racing elders for fun & speed for the whole family. There’s plenty of camping space and lots of fine accomodations plus nearby wineries for after-race activities.

More details as they filter in. Please PM me if you or someone you can cajole is interested.

[Butler Cox]

Roger that.

[Butler Cox]

These are indeed fine posts.

I’d like to comment from the perspective of a newbie who returned to kart racing only three months ago (prior kart racing was early 1960s: Pro-Oval and Endurol), one who has again become addicted (as the Cooks will attest), and as someone who has had some track safety experience with Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, CT and other places.

The past year in Colorado Karting presents all of us with an opportunity that we shouldn’t lose, or we may lose pieces of something we value highly.

In that regard, I heartily agree with Ron Rudolph’s and EW’s points #1 & 2 emphasizing safety and a safe future. As a karter for a long time to come (God willing & the Creek don’t rise), I hope safety guidelines/policies/rules/whatever you want to call it are going to happen. Not because I value my old hide, but because I’ve seen karting struggle with ups and downs since the 50s in the States and to me it has always seemed a sport that ought to be much more popular.

Successful karting, as in any sport, is about marketing, and safety (internally amongst the participants and externally as perceived by the public) is one slice of marketing.

Ever since the late 50s there’s been lots of talk about the future of American kart racing. If it
is to ever experience broader and more sustainable growth, I think safety (as well as perceived safety) has to be a cornerstone…not just at a few places, but at all venues and with all participants. This is not mean’t to slight any one place or group, it’s just that everyone in the sport has to row in the same direction with pretty much the same oars or we all lose something.

IMO, kart racing is a healthy, indeed great learning experience for any age, and certainly a very worthwhile venue in which to teach kids worthy values. Shouldn’t we value that worth and grow it the best way we can?

Any motorsport can be dangerous, but the negativity that can result from the danger can be
mitigated so the sport can grow and develop into something better. EW’s remark about Sir Jackie Stewart is spot on for F1 and his example has helped set the development pace for other forms of racing. The France family, Bruton Smith and others (including many, small local track owners) did similarly for stock car racing. On a personal note, I can recall how tragedy at Watkins Glen galvanized the town, the racers, the racing organizations in F1 and sports cars. In short, the entire sport. The result? You see it on TV every season.

I realize that by now probably several concepts are being bandied about. Well, how about we begin pinning down the beginning somehow? As EW says, sensible guidelines can be a start.

Isn’t a Colorado Karting Association (for lack of another or better same for the moment) a good start? An organization by, of, and for kart racers, track owners, kart shops, kart vendors, more. A something where all interests can work out the kinks. A something that works in the interests of all pieces of our sport.

Maybe it’s time in Colorado for a framework for the sport. I’m not one who wants over-organization, paralysis-by-committee, over-regulation, but I was pretty deeply involved with the sport of professional skiing and saw how a fractious bunch of pretty neat people in time hammered out something that grew hugely from what it was in the 50s. From the outside looking in, Colorado Karting has similarities to skiing and ski racing/freestyle in that regard for amateurs as well as aspiring pros.

I’ll be glad to help any way I can and have some business/sports/marketing experience to bring to the table.

It’d be pretty cool to look back 8 years from now when I celebrate my 80th birthday with my 14 year-old-grandson after a season of seriously safe and sane, but still wild and woolly racing on a statewide circuit in a popular sport and safe sport, especially one my skeptical wife would enjoy watching.

It can be done. It should be done. We owe it to those who’ve gone before. The wind in the apex would be unfortunate.

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