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It is interesting that you left Byron out as he is taking a bigger finacial risk on the state series than any of the track owners and his race is the cap stone of the series and it is his race that has recieved the most attention nationaly. While I know you believe this is a track owners series, it is in effect a racers series. It is the racers in this state who have made this series sucessful and it is the racer with whom we should be most concerned.
What the state series has shown is that through cooporation between owners and race promotors, everybody can profit. Track owners have a profitable date for a race, racers have a big event at which they can race. If the series gets too large (too many dates), no doubt it will hurt the club programs and that is a very real concern and from a track owners prespective, it must be considered. However, racers like varied venues and if we have more varied venues for them in which to play, the better for the racers. And since this is a racers series, their needs must play a larger role in determining where we race and how many races we have.
You are quite correct, I do not “own” the state series and I never have said I did. When some one came to me about the series, I have always referred them to the track owners that are handling that individual event for it is the race promotor who is in charge of that event. And I would argue, neither do you. You have two dates in the series. You do not control nor do you “own” the other 5 events. As you know full well, I have never tried to influence the operation or out come of any race at your track nor have I attemped that at any of the other tracks. I have been asked procedual questions by track owners but I have always made it very clear that I am only giving an opinion and that the final decision is theirs and that I will suppport their decision.
As karting grows in our state, there become more opprotunities for karters. The folks in the Springs what to organize a street race. There is talk of a full blown kart race with the Denver GP next year. If there is a change in ownership at CRE or a change in management attitute towards the state series, why shouldn’t each of these events be considered for inclusion in the series? The racers would love it and would respond very favorably. It would benefit the series, it would benefit the racers and it would benefit the track owners for as the profile of the series expanded, so too would be the number of racers. Everybody wins.
One of the problems with the series is how things are handled at the different venues. From tech, to race direction, to the grouping of classes, and a host of other issues, the differences of how these things are handled has and is causing problems. Maybe its time for the series to have an owner for it sure dosen’t have one now.
There has been a rumor going around thqt you have to do a certain number of CSC races in order to go to Steamboat. The only thing you need for Steamboat is to show up and pay the entry fee. If you only do one CSC race this year, Steamboat will be the best.
I use Big T, good guy who really works hard to keep his fuel clean and water free. He keeps it in doors, heated and air conditioned. During the summr, he flters it with a chamois to remove any condensation that may form in the barrels.
Two years ago the Rotax engines did experience an unusual number of bottom end failures. It was traced to faulty bottom rod bearings. They have long ago changed to a better bearing and failures are now very rare.
I think the reason the Rotax can survive on less oil can be traced to the under stressed nature of the engine. The Rotax turns far less rpm and has a very low compresion ratio compared to the other engines. The Rotax is igintion limited to 13,800 rpm and delivers max hp around 12,500. It runs on 93 octane fuel. All the other 2 cycle enges run much higher rpm and much higher compression, so they need more oil and higher octane fuel.
I think we have a real challenge for us at Bandimere next weekend. Since we can not rev near as high, we will be at much lower rpm coming off the slow corners than the other 2 cycles.
We are running as per the Rotax manual. We use VP MS93 with RS7 oil. For break in, we did two 15 minute sessions with rpm limits as per the book. We used 33 to 1. After beakin, we switched to 50 to 1.
I talked with SSC today. They told me there are two certified technicians in the state certified to re-seal Rotax engines. One is Stacey Cook, the other is Travis Roberts. They assured me these are the only two guys certified in the state of Colorado to put seals on Rotax engines.
Its now official, the SuperNats will be held in the parking lot of the UNLV stadium. Grab your masks boys and girls, the Halloween party is in Vegas this year!!!! Check out the SKUSA site for more info.
Before we get on the “we gotta change the weights” band wagon, lets remember that IMI is a very friendly Rotax track. The lack of a slow corner or two, really helps the Rotax. At a track with more technical corners, the Rotax should be at a bit more of a disadvantage compared to some of the other engines. Because of the difference in power curves with the various engines, some engines will have an advantage over the rest. At IMI it may well be rotax. At Bandimere, ????
I want to thank everyone for your support and kind words. I have no problem with teching any and everything up to breaking the seal. If the seal has to be broken, then it should be done by a certified tech person. In this case, sending the engine to a Rotax shop is the proper way to handle it. First, they have the tools and the expertise to certify the engine is legal. If its out, the the owner pays, if its legal, the protester pays. Fair and simple.
Rod raised a question that should be answered, is the integrity of the Rotax seal in doubt? In our case, ours engines still have the orginal seal directly from SSC. Since they pulled two off the self and shipped them the same day as orderd, I have no doubt they are just what ever came done the line that day at the Rotax plant.
If a service center makes an illegal engine and it is discovered, that service center is subject to a very large fine and the loss of their Rotax certification. IMHO, that is too high price to pay for the few $$ they get for an engine. The service centers just don’t do it, pure and simple.
But lets look at it another way, we were a lot faster than most of the field. For a second, lets assume equal karts and drivers. Do you have any idea how much power we would have to have to make that much of a difference. We’re talking 10 hp here folks. To do that, the engine would have to be highly modified, not just a simple blueprint. No service center on this planet would do that and put their name (seal) on it.
I completly believe the “seal is the deal”. Do I think every Rotax engine is equal, no, but I don’t think there is an illegal sealed engine out there. Rod, you will always find individuals who don’t think the seal is effective but it is and the motors are relatively equal.
Jon
There are several options for motels. At the corner of US285 and Wadsworth (about 2-3 miles from the track), there is a Holiday Inn, Hampden Inn, La Quinta and a former Comfort Inn, the Lakewood Inn (good value). North of the track at I-70 and Colfax (about 2-3 miles), there is a Days Inn and several other chain motel/hotels. South of the track on C-470 and Ken-Caryl (about 4 miles), there is a Holiday Inn Express. I’m sure there will be others who will chime in with their preferences. Let me know if you are for sure making it, will come out and give you a warm Colorado welcome.
@Marc Elliott wrote:
please tell me it isnt buffalo bills, if not please enlightnen me
Marc, BB is not in Vegas (its 30 miles outside) and the SuperNats will be in Vegas. Does that help?
Scott
Just start in the back. If you get lapped, don’t try to get out of the way, that could be worse. Just drive the line, try to be predictable and consistant. Nothing worse than a newbi wandering around the track, thats how wrecks are caused. If you get a blue flag, or you know the leaders are coming up on you, the best thing you can do is just drive a little soft down the straight so the faster guys can get by safely.
Hey Dennis, just remember, even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut. It was our day and it wasn’t. Greg had the main in the bag when he ran afoul of laped traffic. No ones fault, just a racing mishap. Greg told me later that if had know there were only two laps to go, he would have waited for a better spot to pass. But since the guys had been shown the blue flag, he thought they would be looking for him to come by. He knew his brother was on a tear and knew he was up to second. So he wanted to get these guys between him and his brother for a little insurance. We don’t even know who the laped guys were. Just bad racing luck.
