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| February 06, 2012 News |
| EKN Paddock Pass: Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - Musselman Honda Circuit |
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During the years that the Howden Media Group produced Super Kart Illustrated Magazine, the publication’s staff often reserved a page or two when laying out the race reports to reflect back on the weekend. This space was dubbed the ‘Paddock Pass’ and was used to detail some of the highlights that helped make the event so interesting. Here on eKartingNews.com, we already provide unmatched session-by-session updates and daily race coverage from big events throughout the year. The one thing that has been missing in these timely reports is some of the behind-the-scenes information. As we have done on several occasions this summer, EKN will bring added coverage of every Trackside Live event with the new ‘EKN Paddock Pass’, which will help fill in our readers on our thoughts of what happened on-track and what was being talked about off the racing surface.
Start off the New Year
When you live in the northern part of the country, there’s simply no better way to escape the bitter winter cold than a weekend trip south to a kart track. For the EKN staff, this particular escape was an early start to the new year as we were able to attend the first round of the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. We are very pleased to have been able to add the series to our Trackside Live program for 2012. Like us, the atmosphere in the paddock was enthusiastic, as it signified the start to a new season. This race helps set the tone for the year, and it did not disappoint from our standpoint, as the strong entry numbers are positive and the racing kept us on the edge of our seats.
Gatorz-Style
With this being our first visit to the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas, we were introduced to a new race staff whom with we had not worked with yet. Andy Seesemann has put together a great crew to run the COTA events, and many local karting enthusiasts from the track helped make things run extra smoothly. With over 100 drivers, the paddock was packed and in order thanks to the Musselman Honda Circuit staff and the COTA crew. A printed schedule kept things moving Friday thru Sunday, including a much-welcomed lunch break for the workers. The mode along the fence line was all business with plenty of on the line for the series, but talking with people they seemed relaxed and enjoying their time at the track. The racing on-track was exciting and with the exception of Sunday’s podium due to flights, the podiums were well attended. We are really looking forward to the Phoenix round.
New for 2012
In the paddock were some notable changes. The first big change was the Buddy Rice Karting operation all decked out in blue…Energy blue to be more exact. Nearly all their drivers from 2011 have made the switch with the operation and came out in full force for the opener in Tucson. Scoring three wins, two by Christian Brooks, BRK is well on its way to providing some growth for the Energy brand in North America. Stepping up its presence at the track, Rolison Performance Group is now decked out with a professional looking tent program to go with its trackside support. With nine drivers under the RPG tent in Tucson, team principal Mike Rolison was busy over the weekend keeping their Kosmic entries at the front of the field. A fresh presence to the paddock was the new-look Billet Performance Karting squad from Colorado. Now working with Team Urban Racing, the operation scored its first two wins of the season with John Crow at the wheel of an Arrow DD2 Masters entry.
 | The 2012 season is underway with a great opening event in Tucson setting the tone for the year
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Bang for Your Buck
When it comes to track time, the Challenge of the Americas has that in abundance. Seesemann provides a unique approach to his practice days, providing the classes with five sessions of different lengths. As a racer himself, he has designed the schedule to provide what he believes is an excellent line-up of sessions. He opens with two eight-minute sessions to allow drivers to get a quick feel for the track and their baseline set-up. Instead of being off three teeth on your gearing and being stuck out on the track for 20 minutes, drivers can get some quick and basic data on their set-up. The third and fourth sessions are 12 minutes long, providing the competitors with enough time to run heat race simulations as the track begins to rubber up. Lastly, Seesemann caps the day off with a 20-minute extended session with a hot pit, that gives drivers and tuners a chance to try new things and make adjustments throughout the session. It’s really an excellent way to customize the practice day to its full potential. In Tucson, drivers enjoyed over 70 laps of practice.
The racing itself continued the theme of massive track time, as the Challenge of the Americas offers a morning warm-up, 15-minute hot pit qualifying session, and extended racing with 17-lap Pre-Mains and 25-lap Mains. This series offers great value to its racers.
Off the Grid - EKN Food Blog
During our trip in Tucson, we sat down for a number of dinners, thankfully avoiding the chain restaurants. We like trying out local establishments, so here’s our take on some of our stops from this last trip to Tucson. If you’re ever heading to Musselman Honda Circuit for an event, feel free to give them a try:
 | Andy Seesemann and the Gatorz COTA crew put on a great event
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
• R&R Bar and Grill - Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport
DC: I was hungry as crazy when I got there on Thursday night and after picking up Rob at the airport, I enjoyed their burger, as I often do at restaurants. While it was over $10, I enjoyed every bit, and the seasoned fries, as well. Pretty good for a hotel bar. The service behind the bar was not used to a packed house of patrons, so they were pretty slow, but it improved over the nights we were there. Breakfast every morning was full service, all you can eat. I loved it. I got what I needed to start the day off right. Overall, the hotel was about a ‘9’ - great beds, big TV, clean bathrooms, lots of hot water…just no SpeedTV.
RH: I was still full from my early dinner at the Denver airport during my stopover, so I didn’t join David in sampling what the R&R kitchen had to offer on Thursday night. He had a burger, and wasn’t as grumpy afterwards, so I have to figure that it was good. I did thoroughly enjoy the breakfast. Made-to-order omelets, a waffle bar, lots of fresh fruit, just a great set-up. I think this extra touch made the Four Points a great host hotel for the race. I believe that a good hotel can make or break a race weekend, and this place was great. The beds are some of the best we encounter, so it was an ‘8.5’ for me.
• Buddy’s Grill (East)
DC: After practice on Friday night, Seesemann took us to the actual restaurant that provides the track catering at Musselman Honda Circuit – Buddy’s Grill. This is a great little place about 10 minutes north of the track, and it was a casual but classy establishment. The service was A+, the burger was great and there were TVs all around to keep you up-to-date on sports. I highly recommend it.
RH: Buddy’s is a great little restaurant. I’ve been craving a Rueben for months, and it was a fine example. All in all, it’s a solid sports bar and grill. I’d go back.
 | Buddy Rice Karting is among the new-look programs for 2012, picking up three wins in the opening event
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
• Crossroads Restaurant
DC: If you don’t know me that well, I’ll fill you in that Mexican is not my favorite food, although it is growing on me. As most authentic places are, Crossroads is a little joint just north of the Interstate-10 off 6th Ave, although I’m not sure how we learned about it either. Andy and his crew were heading in that direction and I just followed Rob and hopped in a car. I had my typical Carne Asada with rice and beans. That along with the free chips and salsa filled me up quick. Warning, if you don’t have drink yet, don’t hammer away at the salsa…wow, hot! And the live mariachi band brought up ideas to pump up the paddock in Phoenix.
RH: Cole’s all about burgers or pizza, so every once in a while I need to push him out of his comfort zone. No, that’s a lie. Sometimes I just need to go somewhere different, and he just has to suck it up. This was one of those times. Seesemann got the scoop on an authentic Mexican joint, and it didn’t disappoint. Great margaritas, hot salsa with homemade chips, and Chile Colorado, baby! At this point in the weekend, we were two-for-two!
• Silver Saddle Steakhouse
DC: At the end of a long weekend, we sat down for a nice steak at a place that Seesemann ate at last year when we were in town for the SKUSA SpringNationals. I was more hungry then I thought, as I filled up at the salad bar next to the open grill pit and my 10oz. Top Sirloin and mashed potatoes were gone before I knew it. While my steak was cooked too long, it was still a great meal to end the event.
RH: We passed by this steakhouse last spring, and didn’t go in, but luckily, Seesemann and his crew made the stop. He said it was a great little find, and I have to agree. Salad bar was old school, my striploin was good and all the sides completed things nicely. The Silver Saddle was a decent capper to the weekend’s culinary line-up. So far, Seesemann hasn’t steered us wrong.
Complete Coverage
For the entire coverage of the event, head over to the EKN Event Page. Audio recordings of the main events will be available by the end of the week. |
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