Official Thread: US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals

David Cole · Last edited by David Cole on Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:21 am, edited 1 time in total

This week on EKN is 'Rotaxian' week as the best from all over the country will gather at the Miller Motorsports Park for the 2011 United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. This will be the first year under the MAXSpeed Group, with over 200 drivers scheduled to take part.

eKartingNews.com will be trackside beginning Wednesday as the event officially gets underway with a full day of practice. Qualifying and round one of the heat races will fill the schedule Thursday with the final two rounds of heats and LCQ's on Friday. Saturday will be decision day with Prefinals and Finals to decide this year's champions and Team USA for the Rotax Grand Finals in November.

EKN's coverage will include daily reports along with results/updates here in this thread along with extra bonus items coming as well. If you can't view the thread here, watch updates on our Facebook page or our Twitter page over the three days of action.

If you have any questions or comments, let us know by posting them here. Thanks.
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Marc Miller · Advertiser Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1834

The event has kicked off well! This year should have solid coverage from EKN as well as the live scoring being offered. Visit www.gorotax.com for information about the live scoring or schedules. The US Grands page has direct links here: http://www.gorotax.com/index.php/Rotax-Max-Challenge-US-Grand-Nationals.html

The GoRotax facebook page should have plenty of photos and updates on it as well today!
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"Luck is when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Director of Brand Development (MRP/Birel) www.BirelAmerica.com /
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Professional Driver/Driver Coach - http://www.themarcmillershow.com

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

EVENT SCHEDULES:

WEDNESDAY: http://www.gorotax.com/nationals/2011USRMCGNScheduleWednesdayv1-1.pdf

THURSDAY: http://www.gorotax.com/nationals/2011USRMCGNScheduleThursdayv1-1.pdf

FRIDAY: http://www.gorotax.com/nationals/2011USRMCGNScheduleFridayv1-1.pdf

SATURDAY: http://www.gorotax.com/nationals/2011USRMCGNScheduleSaturdayv1-1.pdf

OVERALL WEEK SCHEDULE: http://www.gorotax.com/nationals/2011RMCUSGNSchedulev1-1.pdf

LIKE the GoRotax Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/pages/GoRotaxcom/107014626024187
_________________
"Luck is when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Director of Brand Development (MRP/Birel) www.BirelAmerica.com /
Advanced Instructor - MRP Speed Schools - www.mrpmotorsport.com
Professional Driver/Driver Coach - http://www.themarcmillershow.com

Nate Waterfall · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:32 pm Post subject:

Good luck to everyone!!! Bummed I couldn't be there!

Keep your eyes peeled for 193, the duct tape covered old Arrow Bmax in Senior.... It just may do quite well Very Happy

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Nate Waterfall
Forza ICA!

jeff grose · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:45 pm Post subject:

When could we see a list of entries Question

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jlgracing
#31 Gillard/PDBAmerica
IAME Leopards by P1 Engines
Tag Sr./FKCS/WKA
Driver: Jesse Grose
Remember: "No matter where you go,there you are"

David Cole · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:48 pm Post subject:

jeff grose · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject:

What service Very Happy

Thanks David
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jlgracing
#31 Gillard/PDBAmerica
IAME Leopards by P1 Engines
Tag Sr./FKCS/WKA
Driver: Jesse Grose
Remember: "No matter where you go,there you are"

Ken Maxfield

The local Salt Lake City TV news did a story on me and my son and the upcoming Rotax Grand National race. They shot some video of the facility and track in the story, if anyone wants to see what a wonderful facility Miller Motorsports park is, take a look.

Link

Ihor Bilyy · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:07 am Post subject:

My championship predictions (3 in each class, no order):

Micro: Philip Varner, David Malukas, Anthony Gangi
Mini: Austin Versteeg, Patricio O'Ward, Devlin Defrancesco
Junior: Oliver Askew, Dore Chaponick, Jeremy Doll
Senior: Jonathan Kotyk, Philip Arscott, Nick Neri
Master: Brent Harper, Andy Seesemann, Scott Holmboe
DD2/DD2M: Kristina Vorndran / DJ Ortiz

Good luck to all Arrow drivers. We will be back next year

Charles Kaneb · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:51 am Post subject:

Not many entries from the Northeast - looks like only Kristina and Gary were able to get a Massachusetts passport accepted at the Mississippi River border crossing. Good luck to Jeremy Doll, as well as Mike and Daley Pagano.
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Rob Howden · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:53 am Post subject:

EKN Trackside Live: Wednesday Update

Hello Rotax fans,

We are now on-site here at Miller Motorsports Park for this year's U.S. Rotax Grand Nationals, and there is definitely a level of increased intensity in the paddock. Official practice has been underway for a day and a half now, as we are currently on our lunch break, and there are two more runs through the order this afternoon. During the final rotation, I will post the top-10s from each group to this official thread.

There are over 200 drivers in the paddock this weekend, and the practice sessions have already been fairly intense as everyone chases the fast drivers. We're expecting qualifying times in the mid-58s for the Senior class, and everyone knows it, so they're all judging their current speed against those expectations.

The cool factor has been bumped up thanks to the participation of NASCAR Sprint Cup stars Jamie McMurray and AJ Allmendinger. McMurray is running his beautiful JMK kart, the custom machine that he built using his contacts in the Cup community. We'll get some photos of the kart up here on EKN to give you all a look. Allmendinger is running an Arrow, tuned by AJ's long-time wrench Tim Pappas.

The paddock is pretty high-end here at the Grand Nationals, as big league haulers are the order of the day. There are several totorhomes and 40+ foot stacker trailers in the pits, and the actual team pit areas are very impressive. Ocala Gran Prix has a 120' x 40' tent to house their massive team, and a complete kitchen has been assembled to provide meals for all the team members. OGP's line-up of tuners likely has double (or more) the championships than the entire team combined, as is the trend in the paddock. While there are 200 drivers here, the mechanic line-up could provide us with an all-star race all on it's own. These guys are making money instead of spending money, and for this scribe, it's a shame not to see them out on the track.

The facility here at MMP looks great. The MMP garages have been made available to the drivers, and they are full. The garages provide excellent coverage from the elements and really add to the panache of the event itself. We'll work on getting photos ASAP, to bring you all a good 'feel' of the atmosphere.

As always, if you have any specific questions, post them here and we'll see what we can do to track down the answers.
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Bob Baldwin jr · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 3579

Rob: QUESTION : DID TIM PAPPPPAS have to show his AARP card to get in?

Certainly sounds like the big guns have have a lot on the line there .

I do respect the priority of the coverage of the event and look forward to it . As reguards to your comments some people Making Money Some Spending Money Laughing

I was wondering if you might be able to SNEAK in some commentary from the "TUNERS " as to HOW the Track is changing on a Daily basis as the week goes on and HOW the " TUNERS " are addressing the issue .Many of us do have an interest in that . Though I suspect FEW would be willing to SHARE all their karting secrets THANKS for the Coverage.
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting, "Holy **** what a ride!!!".

Jeff Grist · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 74

Good luck to all the racers. This is going to be one amazing weekend. A big salute to the Max Speed Group for taking on this effort in such a short time frame.

Howden clearly has brought his A Game to the weekend. In his first post he used the word panache. It just doesn't get any better.

My friend............ Book it!

Jeff Grist

Rob Howden · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject:

Bob Baldwin jr · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 3579

THANKS ROB KEEP THE TECH INFO COMING
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting, "Holy **** what a ride!!!".