 |
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Troy Berry
Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 236
Location: United States, Nevada, Reno
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject: Rotax Grand Finals and Driving Styles |
 |
|
After following the discussion on the Rotax grand Finals this past year, I am curious as to what people think will happen this year when they all come here to the USA. It is interesting to hear the experiences from USA drivers and the driving styles they encounter when racing over on the other sides of the pond. The universal opinion seems to be the driving styles are more aggressive there than here in the US. The USA teams seemed to have a interesting time adapting to this style and we were getting hammered?? I'm not saying we can't be or are not aggressive in our driving style, but we seem to be behind the curve when competing against the driving styles from around the world. It seems to leave us at a disadvantage. So the question is, what can we expect at the Rotax Grands in the USA this year? Will the officiating be in line with what generally happens here, or there? I assume the Rotax international body is officiating, and the international competitors will assume its "contact" as usual. It seems we like a little less contact, a more clean driving style here in the US. So what will happen. Will the US drivers become more aggressive like the other teams, or will the officiating be more in line with US practices and will the visiting drivers have to chill out a little? You guys who race the Supernats might have something to add! Yea, I know, this is top level racing, and they are gonna be stupid fast, no matter what. What do you think? 
_________________
The art is in the details
Reno Racer/ Tag Masters #57 |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Britt Robinson
Joined: 22 Mar 2012
Posts: 72
Location: United States, Washington, Richland
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would assume business as usual...
_________________
I am a precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics. - Mater |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Martin Colligan
Joined: 30 Sep 2012
Posts: 29
Location: United States, Alabama,
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| In Canada we do fine in the Grand finals ... D'ont know why the US drivers could not addapt when they go to Europe ... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Troy Berry
Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 236
Location: United States, Nevada, Reno
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:49 pm Post subject: Go USA |
|
|
http://www.ekartingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=118852&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=Official&start=150
| jim rogero wrote: | | jeff grose wrote: | we had limited time driving like they do and BLOCK everywhere..
Jim
Are you saying that there was a different style of driving this year ? |
Jeff, I wouldn't say different from other euro events, as they drive differently compared to the US... I think the track's layout promoted more blocking than other tracks... They had tougher rules and penalties for "hitting from behind" than years past... It was tough to pass with the blocking, and sometimes when you tried to pass you ended up getting passed by 1 or more karts. Danny Formal's father told me after one of his son's heat races that he was he was yelling at him "not to pass"... I watched the race, and every time he would try and pass he would get passed by 2 or 3 karts...
The Chassis set up differed from the "blocking line" to the "racing line".. To block, you needed 3 more teeth to come off the now tighter corners.. You also needed added front grip for the blocking set up, as you were working the front tires more by turning in early... Bottom line, one needs to have a set up for both, and the driver needs to practice both lines...( in 4 rounds of practice)
In past events, when you were blocked, you just moved them out of the way from the rear. |
My question goes back to the officiating. Will the playing field be leveled by the Americans being on home soil? Or is the rest of the field already level and we have to catch up as Ferucchi suggest here:
| Santino Ferrucci wrote: | Me and Santino here. We are reading this stuff you guys are writing and nobody is on the boat. First off, we know a lot of these kids having raced in England and just finishing our first year of kf3. Fact is guys, TRUTH IS, they are better racers. We,learned this from racing there full time. it cant be candy coated.
The level of the Rotax worlds compared to a kf3 is on an itlaian club level at best. In the first heat Santino ran he was shocked at the contact, getting taken off twice, once being spun into a 360 on the straight. That doesn't happen in KF and was shocking. So the style was to be super aggressive, more than normal. Passing wasn't a problem as portimao is a great racers track. passing required precision as most of the times after the pass you had to go up hill. it was a definite separator of skill. Just like KF you pass and protect. I don't know what Jim is talking about with gear for passing and such. You cant bandaid Not being able to carry exit speed when passing. this is a problem in america, passing cleanly and not losing any momentum. We ran a 70 sprocket, the lowest so we didn't have to worry about getting hammered on the straight. So with a small gear he had to pick his passing spots wisely, pass cleanly and carry the momentum.
We have said this before about passing. One of the differences in Europe is that when we pass here (euro) we don't lose more than a tenth a pass. If you are losing more than that you made a bad decision and the karts you passed are going to be on your tail. In Rotax as KF the lap times are similar. It's the losing 4-6 tenths a laps that gets you stuck with the dogs.
As far as conditions changing, that's racing. A kart is a kart and rain is based on ability way more than set up. Portimao was the grippiest track, when wet, that we have ever been on. It was the same for everyone. We raced the CIK Europeans in France and the first time he was on slicks was qualifying and the rain conditions were not the same twice. We get 4 short session in the CIK races. One session is enough to learn a track and a few laps in the wet to find the grip is also sufficient. Karting is a great tool when used properly and when you move to cars you get very little time if any to test. So if you can't learn a track quickly then you are done. The kids that test f1 on Friday morning are in an f1 car sometimes for the first time and are expected to light it up never testing it. That's pressure. We know a few of the kids that have done it.
So there are no excuses to be made. The performance was disappointing to say the least. I wish Santino got a chance but a steward with an agenda ended that. If it wasn't for Don Formal we would have never checked the reeds so at least it ran for the two heats. Thanks Don. Now with the worlds coming to america the kids can do thousands of laps if that helps but it doesn't help race craft. Our kids need to race abroad or practice passing. Lunge (or dive bomb) in really deep passing keeping momentum to get lost afterwards. There are many tricks we learned and can be taught. Santino taught Juan Carrera some in Florida and it paid off for Juan.
There are a few more things that team USA didn't do that other teams do but thats not the way team USA operates. As a team WE should have done a lot differently to have had better carburation and gearing. There will be no excuses next year for anyone and Santino hopes to qualify for the race as in his words "no junior is coming to the US and standing on top of our podium". |
I agree with Jerry that we got some serious talent here in the US.
| Jerry Brown wrote: | I read the thread -and re-read it and read it again...... Man,I have to chime in. I watched every single practice I could, Every Heat and every race at worlds -I saw no Driver in the Jr or Sr class leave anything on the table out there. DD2 and DD2 Masters almost the same.
I watched these drivers through the year, raced with many of them, practiced with almost all of them. Raced Nationals with all of them, FKCS with many and My home track is OGP.
There is no level of competition that I am aware of in our country that exceeds that present at a LOCAL race at OGP - the Canadian team are frequent visitors as are drivers from MANY other states and countries - The level of compettion in the FWT surely rivals that I saw in Portugal and I can not Imagine anyone anywhere from any country working harder than these guys did to prep for this race. I saw these drivers do THOUSANDS of laps in those karts (very few wet) prepping for the event - most of them are champions in other series as well as Rotax nats and the level of competition they bring leaves me in awe of their abilities.
there were almost 280 drivers from 53 countries - the best of the best - we sent 16 - we were 7th in point standings in the nations cup - HELLO - In my humble opinion thats pretty damn good - Even our dream team of NBA stars can get a good scare out there on the world stage. Every Single driver we sent was a threat to win - We have and had the talent and the desire - we got very little from lady luck this year and we had a few wet drivers out there that are incredible in the wet with the PROPER TIME to set up the equipment - Formal is part FISH - that kid in the wet at NATS was something to see.
We keep working -We keep growing them - we keep doing what dedicated serious karters like the Rogero's and Askew's (and MANY others) are doing and America's time will come - soon.
Jerry Brown |
It seems like our teams and support are as good as any, so I think we can do as well as the Canadians.
_________________
The art is in the details
Reno Racer/ Tag Masters #57 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Robby Mott
Advertiser
Joined: 20 Aug 2001
Posts: 308
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have heard from many that some of our "top" American drivers over there were not willing to share information with the other American drivers.
Too much ego to share with your fellow team mates.........sad!!
Hopefully that will change this year at NOLA. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Martin Colligan
Joined: 30 Sep 2012
Posts: 29
Location: United States, Alabama,
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| If true it's sad ... I know the Canadian DD2 masters were exchanging set ups and help with drafting in that long straight in Portugal ... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Brian Robson
Joined: 24 Jul 2001
Posts: 145
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| not sure about Jr, Sr, or DD2. But the 6 DD2 masters worked together in Portugal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Oscar Aguilera
Joined: 18 Jul 2001
Posts: 1614
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
its a badd ass race. and all the drivers that make it to the worlds are the best of the best. there are also a ton of drivers all trying to get to the final, so naturally,,,there is more aggression.
go race the super nats to see what it takes to race at that level.
as for the sharing of info....i was on the first and second US team. and no one went with the plan on sharing. we also took our own chassis, so there was less need to share.
HOWEVER!! at an event this large...and going as a team....everyone would benefit from working together. especially with the chassis being all the same.
the other countries are smaller and they have a series that race at a high level all year long with closer proximity to the same tracks,,,less travel means most drivers will make the entire series.
as for the aggression of across the pond drivers??? IMO the direct drive classes is what is needed for our drivers to get a smooth, calculated aggressive style, and still race clean.
alan rudolph and some of the other drivers with alot of experience are used to that kind of driving. the first 2 team i went with all had that kind of experience and aggression.
and remember ...all the engines are fairly equal at that event. there is no dynoing multiple motors, ignitions, clutches, to get the "best" stuff.
so IMO the best driver tuner will win over there. and they always do.
you want to teach you kid to drive a kart IMO, get a leopard and take the clutch off...a formula y or some other direct drive kart,
just my opinion. i was very flattered when the late tom argy told me that i was the most aggressive american driver he had every seen....but i do get into crashes...so the 2 go hand in hand sometimes? and sometimes you just win??
just my opinion |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Go Top
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Login to check your private messages
Login
