A Force In Karting

[Michael Jansen]

Hey Everyone:

It's been a few days now since Race The Rockies @ THE PEPSI CENTER has passed so I've got a few observations to throw out:

The race rocked. The track was smooth for a temporary track. Plenty of passing zones. The barriers were well placed and the runoff areas (where possible) were safe. Instead of cones used to highlight the track they used glued to the ground plastic reflective traffic line seperators. Very easy on the karts!

Sure, the attendance could have been better attended since the numbers were right under 100. But for an inaugural race I consider that not bad at all and those that raced, won. Those that stayed home lost.

Best of all? Was it the 5-6 television cameras? Was it the interviews of the winners once they cleared the scales? Was it the Top notch Tech? Was it the officiating crew and flaggers? Was it knowing that this would be shown later this month at 8PM on Dish or Direct TV? Was it the 300/150/75 dollar prize money for the top three? Was it the jumbotron everyone was watching? I don't know but I saw a lot of smiling faces from everyone including the spectators milling around the pit area asking questions and not your ordinary friends of family either, potential customers and future racers.

I say this because in the few short years Jim Kessling's been here in Colorado involved in karting I've seen the following:
1) top notch track in a major metropolitan area
2) a guy who will go out of his way to personally thank the racers for coming out to his events or coming out to just test and tune
3) Television exposure at both this event and at the Rotax Grand Nationals a couple years ago. Can you sell that to your potential sponsors?
4) Just a fun guy to hang out and have fun with. Isn't that what it's all about?

If any of you have an opportunity to race here I guarantee you won't be disappointed. If Jim says he's going to do something I wouldn't bet against him that's for sure! Many people said he wouldn't pull this race off yet he did and it was a roaring success.

I'm just dissapointed not because I kissed the barrier and wadded up parts, rather that my engine gave up the ghost and I DNS'd the main. Next year...
_________________
Mike Jansen
Political correctness: a doctrine, fostered by a delusional illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end