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

[Larry Dobbs]

I have raced at Road America, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Grattan, Nelson Ledges (does it still exist?), Pocono, Mosport, Laconia, Willow Springs (both tracks), Buttonwillow, Sears Point, Thunderhill, Portland, and Las Vegas. I plan to run Laguna Seca this coming May! Karts race at Thunderhill Willows, CA, and Streets of Willow (Rosamond, CA) several times a year, and this makes them two of my favorite tracks. The most important speed secret I have discovered is how great the kart racers are. I am usually grinning ear to ear just racing 12 months a year! Is this a great country or what?!

[Charlie Tackett]

JR, is that a special race next year OCT at M-O, or just their regular mid-october evenT?

The fall race at M-O is typically a big draw for the 125s, drawing almost nearly as many as RA. THis fall in Mid-October, SKUSA GR region will be running their races on SUnday. Most also will run the Saturday event also. Last year we had about 65 125 sprinters *without* SKUSA. I would not be real surprised if this fall there is close to 100 or maybe more on Saturday. When they were there 3 yrs ago in there were 93 karts on the grid! SInce then, series #s have grown also.

Bring your west coast boys back east for a fall color tour and join the crowd!

[Tim Doll]

Just a note for all you karters drooling over the prospect of running Laguna Seca: There are currently no open kart races at Laguna Seca (haven't been for about 15 years). JR's World Challenge is the only organized kart race at Laguna for the forseeable future, and it is by invite only.

Tim

[Erik Frank]

If I'm not mistaken, the reason for that is noise, right? Basically, doesn't Laguna only get a few weekends per year where the noise restirctions are relaxed? A shame, really. I just hope that track will be there in another 15 years...

Did they ever run karts at Riverside? Any of the SoCAL people ever run there?

[John Kuntze]

I havebeen lucky enough to run Daytona,Sears Point,Laguna Seca,Riverside,Charlotte
Phoenix Itnl.Raceway but for me nothing
can compare to Road America.That was the
most fun I have ever had in karting was racing at Road America.I will sat though
the corkscrew at Laguna is the best corner
to go through that was always a rush even
though I hit the guardrail a cuple of
times

John

[John Clasen]

Charlie T, the two biggies we want to come back to the Heartland for are Road America and Mid Ohio. I am currently trying to organize about four to six events for the World Super Kart Challenge in 2002. One of those of course is Laguna Seca in May and maybe Sears Point in November. The annual October date at M-O looks like a good possibility. We are keeping all options open including running with motor cycles or cars where possible, and certainly welcome suggetions from interested parties. We are putting together an emailing list to get people apprised of coming events, the writing of new rules, etc. We certainly plan to use this forum as much as possible as a means of communicating the message.

I spoke with Rob Howden the other day and I think it is safe to say we can look forward to a new section of SKI which will be dedicated to 250 Super Karts, tech, and event status. Things are really looking up for this segment of the sport!
Best regards, J.R. Clasen

P.S. Thanks very very much Charlie for bringing your talent and wit to the forum here at ekarting news. We all really apprecitate your dedication to this great sport. Thanx.

[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: John R. Clasen ]

[Rob Howden]

Hey there,

JR is correct regarding SKI's upcoming segments focused on the 250 Superkart classes (FE and IC/E). I've been waiting since the start of the magazine for the class to get that first burst of energy and JR's race at Laguna was the ideal catalyst. Watch for more reports and info, as well as a new SKI Team Project in 2002. We're currently finalizing plans to put together a 250 Twin project for next year and we will be attending all the big ones we can, with Laguna and RA at the top of the list. While I haven't confirmed the driver of the Project as yet, I myself will be running alongside the effort in a 250 Single. To keep in line with the topic, I'm really looking forward to Laguna and RA in a 250. VIR and Summit Point sound good as well. I'll scratch Mid-Ohio of my list this October when I take to the track in my 125.

Should be fun.

RH - SKI

[Charlie Tackett]

Hey Rob....what about some of them Canadian long tracks? Seems I recall hearing something about Mosport over lLabor Day weekend. Is that on the long track?

WIll M-O be your first long track race in a 125? YOu brave soul! Should hope the river and come over to Gingerman in September. Good track to get initiated on. Like a great big 2 mi sprint track and also a very safe track....lots of run off room. Not that I'm implyin that you may need, really, I'm not!

[Rob Howden]

Charlie,

Mid-Ohio was to be my first 125 road race but ironically, Marc and I were taking about the September Gingerman date early today, as a way to get my feet wet. What is the actual date of the race?

As far as Canadian tracks go, the Mosport long track event you're thinking of is run by the Mosport Kart Club on the facility's Driver Development layout that is utlizied by the Bridgestone Racing School. It's really just a long sprint track...you couldn't run a major-league F2000 race on it for example. The race is a SKUSA Ontario event as well.

The big Mosport track had karting events way back (70's and 80's) with the 250cc guys as part of the major weekends with title sponsorship for the series, I believe. As far as new venues, I'd think the Pro track at Shannonville (Belleville, ON) would be great and the new raod course at Cayuga will be brought into fray very soon. Its a big track will three different configurations and lots of runoff.

There are some options, although enduro racing just doesn't have a huge following in Ontario. And I don't know if the MKC or DMSS would travel that far.

RH - SKI

[Mark Horne]

Road America, Mid-Ohio, Grattan. These tracks I have raced at and all three are excellent.
Wish list:

Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, No longer possible but: River Side.

Europe:

SPA SPA SPA, Hokenhiem, Monza

[Charlie Tackett]

Mark....Ted's first choice was the Nurburgring...the original.

GUlp, well, ROb, I hate to admit it....but I agree with Marc, (phew, there, I said it!) I personally don't think Mid-Ohio would be teh best bet to get your feet wet on a long track...especially this fall when there could be close to 100 karts out there with you.

Gingerman with theDMSS is September 21-23rd. I think the CES runs there in Octber. It is a big sprint track, but you still get up some speed on the Phoenix rd straight. I think we were hitting 107mph there when we had a DA system on the kart. A good mix/variety of types of corners, some rather gentle elevation changes. A track that favors driver and chassis set-up. Regardless of the series, it seems to draw a good deal of shifters who come to 1-2 enduros per year, on a non-SKUSA weekend, should be around 40-50 125s. Doesn't have the speed and challenge of Mid-O, but it would be a good first track. ANother thing to consider is tha the fall M-O race has no Friday practice...probably get a couple of very crowded 10min sesions Saturday am and that's it. At Gingerman, there will be a Friday practice...potential for fair amount of seat time.

Last year at an impromptu meeting at the track, the possibility of a race in Canada was discussed and was generally favorable...especially the mention of Mosport. THe DMSS does get a few Canadians running the series as regulars. Heck, this weekend we are heading to West Virginia. Ted was hoping it was the big track at Mosport Laboir Day, we'd be there for sure!

BTW, looks like we may be getting a drag race in order.....up to three so far! Look out Jon Force! Bring that thing over for a 4th entry

[ August 07, 2001: Message edited by: Charlie Tackett ]

[David Cole]

The DMSS Gingerman date is Sept. 21-23, same weekend as the CES-IRP race. So unless Marc drops why down in the points, which I hope doesn't happen, he will probably be going down there. We wish it wasn't the same weekend but tracks give you what they can.

DMSS is keeping Canada in mind still. We haven't forgoten about Mosport. BLUE, CANADA!!!

[Marc Miller]

David is right...

unfortunately I am committed to running IRP, which is a great track, albeit painful in a shifter though.

We will be back at gingerman 2 weeks later (oct 7-9) and hope that people will come out to race with us then too...

I wish they weren't scheduled on top of one another, I have missed two grattan races this year (MY FAVORITE TRACK AND VOTE FOR MOST CHALLENGING CIRCUIT) due to conflicts and it is frustrating to miss a race like that 30 minutes away to drive 8 at a track that is not even remotely as fun to drive. Oh well, such is racing and I am gunning for a championship.

MM

[David Cole]

Marc, It is my goal in 2002 not to schedule DMSS events the same weekend as another long track race. I hate not seeing you get beat by Ted at Grattan

Thats for the pie thing Charlie

[Marc Miller]

Is that you Charlie? hehe

I guess that was a challenge, cuz I would rent Grattan to open up that can of .... *grin*

MM

[ August 08, 2001: Message edited by: Marc Miller ]