CUT THE BS, RULES ARE NOT THAT HARD

[Debbie Kuntze]

This is why I read these forums. I haven't heard one word about radios at the track, here I have heard a lot of opinions. Sometimes I end up championing someone else's idea (even if I don't like it), because the majority want it. If radios are on the agenda for the RR committee, I might have to rethink my position on them. I especially liked the thought of using for practice, not for racing. It's a way to start then build from there.
Deb K

[scott berkheiser]

Ardy,

Whether the WKA cares about Road Racing or not the Road Racing committe that was formed by the WKA does. It is made up of promotors and long time racers who want to see Road Racing grow. They are going to the WKA board shortly with thier recomendations. Lets hope the board will listen.

I've also found the members to be receptive of ideas and willing to listen.

Scott

[scott berkheiser]

Debbie,

I have just started using radios so I can give you an opinion on racing with and with out. To me the radios are a luxury you don't need them to win. Actually I haven't won a race with radios... I find the biggest use is communicating what the kart is doing to the pits. It is kind of like a 2 way pit board. The person on the radio can rarely see much of the track anyway. The thing that is helpful is he can let you know what is going on behind you. In a laydown you have no idea who if anyone is back there. I just don't really see how the radio could effectively be used to block someone.
It also helps in the races where you are running by yourself, atleast you've got someone to talk to.

Bottom line is they are nice to have if you want them but you are not at a disadvantage without.

Scott

[John Clasen]

Deb Harpur (girlfriend) you couldn't have looked at the names on this thread and made a statement like that. I can see at least six names of people on this thread that have made outstanding contributions to karting. Currently, those same people are working very hard to come up with a set of National rules for the 250 division. The 'complaints' you are hearing I believe relate to the frustration of working with organizations that don't or won't or can't listen. We are the one'e in the trenches. We pay the bills, and we won't be ignored or dissed any longer. You my dear are a breath of fresh air on the IKF board. You may not have all the technical background necessary but at least you listen and try to make fair minded decisions for those who have to live with the BOD's decisions.
Lover Boy

[Deborah Davidson-Harpur]

JR you finally admitted the the world that I'm your Girlfriend

Obviously I have not seen the people you are referring to at the BOD meetings, although I do admit I recognize quite a few of them.

I look forward to the suggestions that the IKF members are currently working on to submit to the Committees, and BOD. I would hope that any of the ones that are not currently serving on Committees will send in a letter requesting to serve on one in the division in which they compete.

As for being a breath of fresh air..... you just made my day!

[Russ Warr]

Deb,

I thought I was close to your heart!!! Oh well I guess i will just have to go on without you....

Russ

P.S. I don't mind sharing you with Tom and JR .... what do you think.... are you game???

[Deborah Davidson-Harpur]

SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!



Can't let JR think I have been untrue!
Seeing as you and I are just good good friends

So what if I only get to see you during the races that JR does not attend? Being as he is such a good friend of yours, I am POSITIVE he does not mind you keeping me company at the track while Tom and Terry are busy putting my kart back together!

[Russ Schaeffer]

Deb,
I never realized what a scamp you are. I thought you said I was the only one for you.

Russ Schaeffer

P.S. Am I Russ1 or Russ2?

[Marc Miller]

OK OK... enough is enough.... get a room you guys!

Back to the subject.... which was?? I forget with all the foreplay going on.

MM

[Russ Warr]

A lot of things happen under those custom kart covers!!

Russ

[deborah d-harpur]

Mark the subject was BS

[Russ Schaeffer]

To All,

Thanks to everybody for posting a reply. Many key people have responded with excellent ideas. The one thing all the answers made evident was that a clear rule structure and class intent are very important for rules to have consistent and uniform enforcement. If I was going to suggest any input to the IKF BOD it would be to fully define the main intent
for each class and that will provide the guidance for future rule changes. And on the same note the leadership of the BOD needs to define the direction that they want karting to go and then the organization will have a focus and a plan to follow for the future.
Thanx to all.
Russ Schaeffer

[Deborah Davidson-Harpur]

Hey Everyone! I just re-read my last post, and when I said the subject was BS I meant that was the name of the subject, not that that the thought of the subject was BS.

Just figured out it could have been taken in a not so nice way by my friend Russ S. (now to be known as kartstud) and by anyone else out there in cyberland... just wanted to clairify that

[John Skuja]

JR, and all,

Our team was at the recent IKF Road Race Grand Nationals. I have personally never experienced such a huge boon-dogle in rules enforcement as went on with the IC/E and Unlimited classes. From the vague enforcement of the 6" body clearance rule, to the random enforcement of what is OEM and what is not on the 250 singles. This all resulted in people yelling, screaming, telling officials to put rules and competition licenses where the sun don't shine, and finally the return of the Duffy by the person who was given the trophy by default and under his own protestations.
First of all the 6" rule is a safty regulation, right? Then why was it required for the 250 IC/E entrants to slice up thousands of dollars of fiberglass/carbon fiber and the Unlimiteds were not asked to?
Why are entrants told before a race that the reed cages of their engines would not be an issue, and all those same people were DQ'd for that very reason?
Why did the racer that was handed the Duffy say, "In can't accept this because I'm as illegal as everyone else!" But he was still given the Duffy because his engine had not been post-race teched, and no one wanted to hear his protestations.
Duffy Livingston would be appalled that the trophy named after him has so little meaning to the rules enforcers that these kind of travesties can be perpetrated upon a class of guys that just came to race.
Yes the rules for the 250cc classes need to be changed in a big way. Most of what I've seen of the 250cc guys, singles or twins, spending money is not an issue. If it were, Mike Hemmingway would not be making the money he is cutting barrels for 250 singles. To get parity between the twins and singles is not the point, but creating a single 250cc class, with the same rules for both, but two divisions, two races. either run them together on the race track or seperately, but don't justify rules because we have to keep costs down. I was witness to IKF's great cost cutting efforts when I saw an 80cc shifter engine putting out 29.2HP on a dyno because of a very vague rules structure. That kind of HP has to cost lots of $$$$$$, and the life of the kind of hand grenade can't be very long.
Cost savings is for 100cc piston port classes, not 250cc machines with $1500 data acquisition systems. These guys came to karting because for 20% of a Formula Ford budget they can go faster. It is the premier event in karting, something that people watch in awe. (8 sec. a lap faster at Laguna than the Nascar boys).
It is time for the IKF to realize that the 250cc guys are the cream of the crop, and encourage and help to promote the pinnacle of our sport, not nit-pick drivers out of the series with arbitrary rules enforcement and rules passage. (the 6" rule has been ignored during the last three RR Grand National events!!!!)
We as a team will continue to support IKF events and we hope we will see a clear effort to stabilize the rules, and their enforcement (this goes for local events too, where the same rules we will see at the GN races should be enforced, no surprises that way, eh?) we will also be looking to the formation of a truly professional international series for serious racers and their crews.

[ August 25, 2001: Message edited by: John Skuja ]

[Larry Ferguson]

John,
We are new to the ICE 250 class. What exactly is the 6" rule that you keep mentioning in your last reply? Please explain this so that Randolph doesn't run into this problem when the time comes. Thanks.