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…read the original post-Its about F1 not coming back to Indy (US) next year. This has nothing to do with Indy Car Racing (IRL) ..I guess now it does.
that kid was lucky his head didnt land ON the top of the wall he was cartwheeling on! He would have surely be decapitated. As it was- his steering wheel took the impact.
I asked for it…I dont need to support anything Nascar is fine without me.-It’s all good, some of my best friends are sprint car drivers and win at it.
I personally don’t understand going in circles-thats all-as I said its all good.
Just a little bashing -I think Nascar can handle it-whats the moto-if youre not bashing your not racing. In open wheel if your trading paint you’re flying over over the next guy!
Just having fun guys…(‘:cheers:’)…better then watching an all day bump and grind yellow flagfest called racing-I mean Nascar?
I know that sooooo many people LOVVVVVE nascar but I dont get it. How much EXTRA commentary and banter can people actually endure in that arena-the announcers alone are enough to go out back and shoot yourself in the head!I agree wholeheartedly but Mr. Ecclstone doesnt like to listen -Yes lets take off the wings and get the F1 cars so they can at least race in dirty air- AND get the money back to this galaxy, let alone earth, -like that will ever happen????.
Nascar is pricing itself out of its market as well-isnt Rousch looking for a way to race next year? I know I’m going to get hammered for this one…
For my viewing dollar I think the Rolex Grand Am series is hard to beat.
2 classes at the same time-good stuff.Anything that involves a track that turns both directions-(in the same race) and a car that can actually handle turning both directions in the same race (WHAT A CONCEPT!) is better then the alternative. The few road courses that Nascar drives doesnt count.
dont know Garrick if you’re a nascar fan but I’m just venting my view on the sport-as Craig Neff so eloquently displays ITZALGUD or something like that.
bring it on…
cheers, j
Doug can you share the side pod rules again? Also I remember that we will not be allowed to run w/ radiator protection screen. Thanks…
I thought we were talking about the July 22nd race. As I understand it-there will be a B—Load of people. Lots of folks coming from out of state to get ready for the Grands. I’m not sure but I think Jim wants to split Masters because there will potentially be more then a full field.
Remember that this is more then a club race for the Rotax folks! This is qualifying for a National event. The split for this race makes sense. I’m not sure that this idea goes beyond the July 22nd race?
…this driver needs lots of shaking out! 5 mins doesnt do it-I need a few weeks prior to the race weekend.
As a competitive tennis player in tournaments you get a five minute warm up before a match. That isnt the time to improve your serve or shitty backhand.
Just a time to hit a few balls and go through all of the shots quickly.Kind of translates to karting I think. Warm up shouldnt be mistaken for a practice day.
all my rookie opinion…this thread is now officially beat to death.
IMI was a good lesson-no 20 lap mains because the day dragged on. Even without the wind bursts and rain we never would have been done before dark. I’m a rookie but I’m fit and the last 10 laps of a 20 lap main are what I’m waiting for. In a 30 plus field a 20 lap main means that if you hang in there and finish you might not do too bad. A ten lap main is like having an appetizer in Italy and then getting back on the plane.
A five minute warm up is great-just in case your power-valve blows off!
Yes to the split-more fair to the true Rotax qualifiers-the Grands is a big deal.
More of a big deal then a club race. After all-we are talking about the larger classes only.Just my rookie opinion…
splitting is fine w/ me-I’m not running both classes-only Rotax-now the MG guys wont be tripping over my sorry rookie a___. Well come to think of it I was tripping over some MG’s last time at The Track.
6.12.5 Blue Flag w Orange Stripe: Indicates that the driver is being overtaken by a faster, lapping kart. The driver is to allow those attempting to pass to do so safely and without difficulty.
The rule should be written accurately- it should say ‘…the driver is about to be overtaken…”
The current rule makes it sound like they show a blue flag when the driver is actually being passed.
I learned some new things on Sunday as a newbie that might help others. Hopefully what I learned is correct-let me know if it’s not. I had a camera on and really wanted to finish. My goal was to get good footage and finish and definetly not screw anyone else up in the meantime. In my heat race I spun in the hairpin on the first lap and was playing catch up the rest of the race. Eventually I started getting blue flagged. I THOUGHT I was to let others by and so took a different line and pointed to the side I wanted them to take. Problem was, there was no one right behind me! I just lost lots of momentum by pulling to a different line and slowing to let cars by that weren’t there YET. After lots of this, I kind of figured, screw it, I’m going to keep going and If they get right behind me and I can do it safely, I’ll let them by. After the race I asked some folks and concluded that when I see their nose I will lift or brake and allow the pass. Until then I am still racing with the guys behind me that aren’t lapping me. The other problem with moving over nicely is that the cars you’re actually racing come through behind the car/s you’re letting through.
Anyway I hope I’m learning this accurately, j
Its all good Ben-just say it that way next time. We appreciate you wanting to wear one-it’s very cool footage. cheer, j
Well put Tom-
You’re a pleasure to race with and get to know as well.
As a newbie, I have no idea of the money that you more advance racers have spent or spend. I have no idea of the time and effort you all have put in. I take the attitude of the beginners mind. All I can do is come to the Track twice a week and practice with my limited budget, beat up van and heavy ass weighted kart. I have been in the dark on these Mojos, I dont even have much experience on MG’s for God’s sake. I have a super limited budget with a wife in school etc. I dont know from week to week if I will even be able to stay in the sport due to our financial obligations. I come strictly for the experience. Believe it or not there are guys like me that dont NEED to win.
If I had to win I would at least buy a front end alignment tool-until then I get good folks like Tim George to help. Anyway my point is that I most likely will never have the experience, talent, time, maybe money, to compete on a national stage-nor do I give a s___t! I am here strictly for the fun and experience of racing with excellent folks like Tom, Roman, Jim, Jay, TONY, Mike J, Mike #47, etc, etc.I make it a point to not screw the good guys up-I point to the side I want them to come through on. I learned this from Tom-never really heard it ina drivers meeting however. I look behind me after the hairpin to see if I have bunched a line of drivers. I know where I am in relation to the front runners. I look at the flags and marshals. I know I can always come down the hot grid if I need to. I prefer to be towards the rear of the grid with my level of experience. I am still learning and will continue to have a beginners mind attitude until I die.
My point is that not all of us care as much about winning as you might think. Now I know this is a way-out there concept for most motor head -hard core racers. None the less it exists. I thought I was getting into club racing. I’m glad I’m getting a taste of this level however. You most likely will always see Team BFD, racing out of a beat up van, without a laptop, working from a small tool box, no tire racks in sight and a big smile on our faces. We love the sport and love to learn from you pros. Thanks for having us, j
Hey dont forget about the green newby either…
That was my 3rd race in my life! This is my first season ever. (What were you guys doing in your first seasons ever-I Know Tony was beating up on a few folks in TaG-he’s got raw talent.) Anyway I thought when I signed up for this series it would be split. I was one of the first to sign up. I didnt really know anything about any of it except that Mojo’s would last longer (cheaper for me to race) There would be only 4 races(cheaper yet). Didnt really know what Grands meant? I thought I was going club racing? Jim laughs every time I tell him that. I have finished both mains. I was 11th out of 16 in the first-I think only 6 in front of me are from our series. I finished 6 out of 12 last Sunday. I dont have any ‘Grand’ Illusions but I’m in this thing and I just finished my 3rd race in my life. If we were split you guys might have a better chance-be careful or I might keep finishing. I’m running in the 58’s now-not bad from 1:01’s last week. I moving in the right direction and cant wait to get to IMI.
I also cant wait to take the weight off and strap on some MG’s
I agree with Rick-it should be split. It works both ways however. I was held up much of the race from Mike in #47. Mike and I had a blast and he is usually way faster then me. We talk all the time and just love being out ther. He doesnt choose to spend much money like me and is there for the fun. We had a BLAST out there! I know his kart wasnt right but regardless he has a Leopard and MG’s. I just wanted to finish so I didnt do anything stupid and stayed close behind him. We both made clean passes on each other throughout the race but in the end I was being held up.
On a broader note-I just feel like its a little dangerous out there-maybe because its because I’m new-I dont know. I suppose its good practice. The back of my kart was a mess-good thing I run those wide safety bars. I’d rather be Black Flagged for a safety bar flapping then have
a go-kart as a razor for my bald head.It’s great fun however and the people make it that way, j
It’s nice to hear all of this being discussed.
I raced yesterday and had a blast. My 3rd race ever-2nd Rotax event ever. I finished…which in Tag/Rotax Masters is half the battle. I made it through turn 1 because of smart patient driving. I pulled my best times ever on Mojos because of lots of practice. I’m new. I dont expect much. To beat Jim Keesling made my day. I look up to Jim so for me it was neat. Jim was faster then me however. He was off track a few times. I even let him through once! It was a tough race.I had my best friend Jesse show up to do some recon. on the filming/video side of things as he is working with Jim and staff on getting the Grands televised etc. We had an over the shoulder POV camera on my ItalKart Rotax Masters and a helmet cam on Ben Schumerhorns CRG 125 shifter. We also had a camera running from a distance. We have lots of footage from yesterday. Needless to say after the Masters turn 1 debacle-lots of folks were wanting to SEE what happened. Soon Ian was there and pulled aside Matt and Jesse to look without the commentary from others. I have seen a little bit and will analyze more later. Film is the great equalizer-people tend to THINK they did one thing but the film shows otherwise. I’ll do what I can to get the link up so everyone can see.
Anyway it was a great day all and all-I learned more about blue flagging then I knew before. I was being overly nice. Part of the reason is that I wanted film content, not a broken kart with no footage. There are some drivers however that dont get it! They need talking to. They dont understand and they’re very dangerous. They put everyone else at risk in a sport that is already dangerous. The film shows without naming names.
I think in this case the person/kart is confused. I know I had some close moments. When I saw more then 3 karts in front of me 2 wheeling on various corners I was a little concerned. Tune your karts guys! Test your karts at the Track where you’ll be racing. Know a little bit about what your kart is doing. Get off if you dont feel good about it-at least go down the hot grid lane. My power valve assembly blew completely off in practice-why I have no idea? I went through the whole assembly the night before with a fine tooth comb…I guess the comb wasnt fine enough. Loctite aint a bad invention. The screws backed out within 2 laps. I heard a different sound and planted my ass in a safe spot and waited for practice to be over…hoping someone found the whole assembly-thanks to the guys that had it and gave it back.Lets be as safe as possible-the alternatives aren’t worth it.
Thanks to Angie, Ed, Matt, Ian, Carolyn and all the rest that made yesterday a day to remember. But mostly I want to thank Jim…
you’re alright Jim!
“so is this what club racing is all about???”cheers, j
