If you could pick one racetrack in the U.S. to race on.....

Jussy Rusit

Fun Factor is directly proportional to mastering a difficult track...which requires a good combo of equipment, and driving skills. Combination of high speed and low speed corners,drastic elevation changes, Blind-apex corners, and Long enough straights for drafting.

One of the nice things about living in the San Francisco area is the close proximity of the 2 world class tracks that has this combo: Sears Point and Laguna Seca.

If I were to choose between the two: Sears it is since its only 15 minutes from Home

David Cole

Glad to see you made it hear Charlie. How was the north?

I would also have to include Mid Ohio also.

Doug Welch

I like Gingerman. Its fast, has some interesting high speed corners and very, very safe. The facilities are top notch and the management really likes racers.

Doug

Erik Frank

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm beginning to see a pattern here....

1. If I was to pick a race to make on the west coast, it would have to be Laguna Seca.

2. If I was going to drive north, I would either stop at Mid-Ohio or head all the way up to Elkhart Lake (whew, that's a long tow from Texas!)

3. Heading east, I'd head for Road Atlanta, or VIR.

All of those tracks are definately on my wish list! Every time I watch a race at one of these places on TV, it makes me want to run it on a kart. The AMA superbike race this past wekend at Mid-Ohio was fanatstic, and really seeemd to showcase how technical that track is. Road America looks FAST and scenic. VIR looks really fantastic as well, and very scenic. Maybe the ultimate clubtrack?

Do they race karts at Road Atlanta?

Locally (by that I mean Texas/OK), we are lucky to have a few neat tracks. Oak Hill Raceway in Henderson,TX is one of the most fun (1.8 mile) roadcourses I have ever run. It is very technical, and very racy. A close second would be Hallett in Oklahoma, because it is an extremely technical and challenging racetrack. However, Hallett has fallen out of my favor because the pavement has really gotten bad, and it was very bumpy the last time we raced there (broke a kingpin bolt there). The Motorsport Ranch is very nice, too (and fast!).

-erik

Scott Davis

Erik, I have raced at Elkhart Lake, Mid-Ohio, and VIR. They are all excellent facilities. If you ever get the chance you should try to run at them.

Charlie Tackett

Hey Erik, if you were watching the bikes at M-O on TV this weekend, just for reference, the front running sprint 125s run lap times quick enough to get them into the top 15 or so of a couple of them classes, like the 600's.

Jonathan Gashel

Erik

I agree with most if you get a chance to run at Road America its a wonderful track. This year was the first time there in a FAST kart and it was a joy to run

now looking forward to goin to Mid Ohio and accucally getting to race there this year.

Jonthan

Erik Frank

Sometime, I'd like to get a group of kart racers together from down here in the Texas area and "road trip" to one event at a significant track like the ones mentioned. Maybe do this once a year. It would accomplish many things: a)allow us to enjoy one of these cool tracks b)meet fellow karters in different parts of the country c) race with other clubs and organizations.

Of course, we'd expect the same thing to happen from anyone up north, east, or west, to come and visit and race with us down here in Texas!

There's nothing like trying to maintain 135 deg water temp on a 125cc when its 100 degrees ambient!

Greg Maxwell

I can't believe no one has mentioned Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C. It could be renamed 125 Shifter Park! WOT turns, use of all the gears, hard braking points and 2.25 miles. All those other tracks are great, but Kershaw is great for 125 shifters. Just my 2 cents, Greg

Terry Tilton · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 58 Location: Austin, Tx

I have to agree with Erik. Oak Hill raceway in Henderson Texas is like racing at Spa. Elevation, wide open corners, hair pins, sweepers, out in the woods, it has it all. If they repaved it, put in a decent paddock, it would be, without a doubt, one of the top if not the top shifter kart tracks in the country. I have been to Laguna (working on a pit crew team for a Winston West team, we won btw) and got to go for a few laps on it. It would be a lot of fun on a 125 (they raced 250's the weekend we were there) but the karts get airborn going through the corkscrew. Tough corner.

Charlie Tackett

Erik, that one big race where people travel to from all over the country to run on a premier track already happens every year...its called the Road America SuperNationals. IMHO, what Vegas is to sprint shifters, RA is to long track. Take a look on this site at the story on this race last month. That first photo shows the 125s on the pace lap coming down into turn 5. SO many of them, they disappear off into the distance!

Have heard good things about Kershaw, but it's a very long haul and also a comparatively new track. While RA is a big draw and a great track, IMHO, there are certainly more challenging tracks for a 125 sprinter.

Mike Weaver

Although it's my "home track", I'd have to say Road America. It's long, smooth, challenging, and just plain gorgeous country. We try to make it extra special for the racers with great trophies, Cheese Cows, the brat party, camping, etc... Every year we try to do something more!

My next favorite, NOT home track is Mid-Ohio. Although I still suck at that track, it's pretty fun!

John Clasen · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 563 Location: San Marcos, CA

This thread sorta reminds me of that bumper sticker that says "The worst day of fishing (racing)is better than the best day at work". That may not be completely true but I think we are really fortunate to have some of the best race tracks in the world to run on. Hopefully if the 250 IC/E phenomenon continues to grow here in the States (and Canada) we will be able to join forces with other groups from around the country to run on tracks such as Road America, Mid Ohio, Road Atlanta, & Sears Point. Remember, next year on the weekend of May 19th, the World Super Kart Challenge returns to Laguna Seca where we will run 250 F/E, 250 IC/E, and Formula 125! I am informed that the karts have a date at Mid Ohio in October 2002, perhaps we can join forces and bring the 250's out in force for that one as well?

J.R. Clasen
World Super Kart Challenge

John Clasen · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 563 Location: San Marcos, CA

Hello all! Hopefully we can get some schedule information posted somewhere regarding karting events for next year at such renowned courses as Road America, Road Atlanta, Mid Ohio, etc. Out West, the karts usually run at Sears Point every Thanks Giving Weekend so that would be a good one to put on the calendar. In addition of course, the World Super Karts Challenge will be back at Laguna Seca the weekend of May 19, 2002.
As for the best track in the USA, it is hard to describe the look on the faces of the drivers as they came off the track after our first practice session at Laguna Seca this past May at the World Super Karts Challenge race. Sheer ecstasy! They (the drivers) all kept saying that "the video just didn't prepare them for the 'Cork Screw', it was just beyond belief!"
My suggestion is we drive em all.....and then drive them all again!
J.R.

Erik Frank

Hmmm...I guess I'll have to go 250cc racing next year!

-erik