Official Rock Island Grand Prix Discussion Thread

Kathy Gerst · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject:

As part of a Jr driver team, I know the guys appreciated the extra lap time and the pre-final race. I, as the mom of the young racer, just required more TUMs Laughing

My son ran this race last year for the first time, and he loved it. We were back this year, and already making plans for next year. This is one of those races that is addicting. I have told several others that even if they don't race it, just come to watch it. Rock Island Grand Prix is an class act Event!

To be honest, racing makes me (the mom) nervous, and street racing even more so. If it weren't for the safety features that the RIGP crew builds in, and my sons love of this race, we wouldn't do it. Thank you all for all you do. I know that planning this race takes most of the year, and it truly is a thankless job most of the time. Please take any criticism as just a way to improve for the future and not a personal attack on this year. If we all didn't love the RIGP and what you do, we wouldn't keep coming back.

Keep up the great work, and thank you all for another great race weekend.
Kathy
& w/ G2Racing.net
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Kathy
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Terry Riggins · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:41 am Post subject:

Todd Bolton:

jeff corson · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 141

Keith Bridgeman · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:47 am Post subject:

I also vote for three practice seasons on Sat and a 5 lap qualifing.
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Pat Kelly · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:28 am Post subject:

I'm in favor of shorter quals for sure. But what Terry tried to say is that turnover & pickup time means they can't just lop 7-8 laps off qual and give another 7-8 lap practice (using shifters as an example, where practice ran 7-8 and in Moto qual was 13 laps). So is everyone on board for 5-lap practice and qual sessions, for example? Again, it would be okay with us... Or hell, I'd go for one 7-lap P session followed by two 4-lap sessions. First one to get acclimated a little better, others are just checking changes. But all competitors/classes gotta be on the same page.

Thnx.
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Pat Kelly
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Timothy Fields · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 17

I agree with both of Rick Fulks' post. Very well said. Congrats on your win as crew chief and to Michele.
Tim

Jordon Musser · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

Shorter qual
shorter (but another) practice.

Longer main? only if you smooth the jump leading on the main straight.. LOL Smile

lappers.. the BIG difference (spoken from experience) between lapping in karts and lapping in cars is two fold. 1) MIRRORS 2) RADIOS. The driver being lapped knows a LOT more about what is going on. It still amazes me that lappers can't just GTFO of the way, but they can't.. maybe it stems from the reason they are being lapped during a sprint race.. dunno..

Maybe the back 10% of the field after qual should be required to have one rear view mirror :-p (kidding!)

Doug Harden · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject:

What if you HAD to qualify within some small percentage of the top 3-5 karts or you DON'T qualify?

Ernie Epperson · Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 48

Here is another idea Idea

How about having 2 short practice sessions, with a short 4 lap qualifying, and 8 lap pre-final. It gives spectators a better show, and will increase the crowds on Saturday.

It would increase sales for the venders, and gives the fans a taste of what's going to happen on Sunday.

It also gives a racer a second chance to better themselves if they were off on qualifying.

And gives Rob Howden chance to get the crowd worked up into a frothing frenzy one day early Laughing

It can be done.

Ernie/ Go Kart Dad Extraordinaire
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Ernest Goes Racing

Johnny Johnson · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

5 Laps is a bit short for qualifying for a 30-35 second track. 7 or 8 would be about right. The tires aren't even up to temp before lap 3.

Although I didn't have lap traffic problems in recent years, it did affect me two times before. I believe it cost me the win both times. I could see both sides of the argument here. The guys up front want lap traffic out of the way, and the guys getting lapped want to be out there as much as possible.

If you throw in an extra time on the track, either a pre-final or another practice session, it might give the RIGP officials the reason to remove lappers. This way everyone gets those extra 5-6 laps, and if you get lapped you usually are getting the flag with 5 or 6 to go, or less.

My 2 cents....