Waterford Hills Michigan Race?

Craig Halseth · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2001 8:38 am Post subject: Waterford Hills Michigan Race?

I'm just about to end my first year of road racing in the Michigan/Ohio area. For years, I've attended SCCA club races at Waterford Hills, near Pontiac, Michigan. It's a fantastic 1.5mile course. Can anyone tell me why there is no kart race there, or if there ever has been? I would love to work with getting something going at that track if possible. Is there any interest? Waterford Hills Webpage

David Cole · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2001 9:59 am Post subject: Waterford Hills Michigan Race?

Michigan Kart Club use to race there and used to host a WKA National race there. As far as I know, they have a noise ordinance that won't allow us to race at Waterford. That's what I remember.

Brian Kay · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2001 5:21 am Post subject: Waterford Hills Michigan Race?

Karts can easily beat the sound limits at Waterford. The real problem(s) are:

Ordinances: The track can only be used X amount of days per year. Those days are filled up way in advance by CAR events.

Attitude: Karts are "unsafe" and do not belong at car races.

The guy who is the real expert on this is Erik Skirmants. He ALMOST had a green light for us to run in conjunction with this years historic races at Waterford. Not sure I should give out his contact info here, but I'll point out this topic to him so he can shed some light on our chances.

BTW - If you're new to karting you may not be aware that we run on tracks like:

Mid-Ohio
Grattan
Gingerman
Putnam
IRP
Blackhawk
Gateway
Road America

All the usual CENDIV SCCA tracks! Pretty cool eh?

Brian K - www.t2racekarts.com

Ardy Sadeghi · Joined: 06 Aug 2001 Posts: 128

Looks like an interesting track!! 1.5 mi!, as long as it is smooth... would be nice if we had an event there... If MKC had an event there.. would love to try a new track... sure would be nice!!

Ardy Sadeghi · Joined: 06 Aug 2001 Posts: 128

I promissed Brian I would try to help get the test day. Erik

if you get any test days, Please do let us know.. I would be interested, and may be one or two others...

Frankie Schaffier · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2001 12:13 pm Post subject: Waterford Hills Michigan Race?

I raced at the last kart race held at Waterford. There was an issue with the noise, but we ran little deflectors over the holes on the pipes that made things better, but not where it needed to be.But the track was OK with that and with working together, the noise issue can be overcome (I think). But the bottom line is noise and schedule was not the major reason that karts where asked to leave Waterford and not come back. I also have raced Vee's there after the karts had been gone for quite some time, I asked one afternoon in the club house what was the possibilty of karts returning. The anwser was no.
Now I understand that time has moved on and personal at the club has changed, so maybe, it won't hurt to ask..
But just thought you may need to know that the noise and schedule was not the issue at that time, even though noise is what sparked to problem.
And you are right Waterford is an awesome race track for karts. I hope Erik, that you do get karts back at Waterford.I'm moving back that way again, and would love to drive that track again..

Plus, someone has to keep an eye on Charlie

Frankie

Marc Miller · Advertiser Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1834

Here is a tidbit of information that MAY, but probably not, might explain the reason karts are not asked back at times.

I was working at a track in the Southwest for a company giving rides.... and had the opportunity to meet the track owner. Very nice guy and racetrack and didn't mind having the karters scheduled from time to time to come and run an event. He had this to say.

"I probably wouldn't care so much if I lost the karting guys. The biggest pain is when they show up in 20-40 ft haulers, pull out 5 karts, lay out awnings, spend more money than most of the SCCA regional drivers that race here, then complain about the $60 practice fee."

He explained that the karts were awesome and he has one himself, but the track is usually left rather messy, with cups, shop towels, gas/oil stains etc.

I think karters can "nickel and dime" situations a lot... I have done it before and the longer I have been involved in karting, you begin realizing how much it can hurt the sport. There are tracks, dealers, shops trying to make a living and 90% of karters want something free. This is a rarity in most other businesses.

I hope that management @ waterford don;t take this view as it would be yet ANOTHER great addition to racing in the midwest, and a third top level facility in Michigan, which has 2 of the best road courses in the midwest as it is in grattan and gingerman.

MM

Doug Welch · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2001 1:46 pm Post subject: Waterford Hills Michigan Race?

If there was ever a car track that cried out for shifters it would have to be Waterford Hills. I know that noise would be a problem but also that track is in very high demand and they don't need karts to make revenue. Not only that, a 125 shifty might just set the overall track record and they couldn't have that.

Doug