[Gary Osterholt]

Also search Modesto GP

[Gary Osterholt]

[Gary Osterholt]

Go to Youtube.com and search Modesto Kart, you’ll find alot of videos.

 

[Gary Osterholt]

Photos and Videos are all over Facebook, Twiitter and Instagram.   I’d guess 15-20 karts have bene destroyed so far.

[Gary Osterholt]

If I was a betting guy that a third temp track would go on the ProTour, because I think you’re right Modesto isn’t going to be a one year deal.

Gary

[Gary Osterholt]

I think overall the forums have been on a declined for a long time.  And it’s been a year since the change and don’t see that as a reason.  EKN has changed once in what, 10+ years.  People hate change, people complain about change, sooner or later you get over it.

As far as your question, I pick and choice what threads I look at.  The title of this one was very confusing.   Which is the only reason I opened it.

And another reason for a possible lack of comments on EKN.  EKN has never really been an enduro attendance.  EKN is more about sprint racing.  Bob’s has always been more about 4cycle dirt and enduro’s.

[Gary Osterholt]

I talked with Darren from ONE Racegear earlier this week.

Have you tried to call?

[Gary Osterholt]

Conspiracy for sure.  I think David just wanted you to work Rob.

[Gary Osterholt]

To fit in the XL from Ribtect, I’d need to get under 240lbs.

[Gary Osterholt]

I’m like Chris.  I have a very long torso.  I’m 6’7″, but only wear a size 32″ inseam pants.  I tried a Tillett seat a few years ago when I was driving alot more.  As an recommendation from the chassis importer, they seat lasted two laps.

I have a custom DeepSeat that Charlie Frear made for me over 10 years ago.   It’s been patched a few times.  Looking to get a copy made of it.

I also have a Ribtect seat.  I have an XLT, just need to lose some weight to fit into it.

Gary

[Gary Osterholt]

Pre 2009

 

MY09 and newer.

 

The easiest way is to look at the clutch cover.  The MY09 has a 3rd bearing built into the clutch cover.

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17279]Personally I would love to see the G1 class back but its not going to happen. What I would love to see is a new emphasis on driver quality instead of driver quantity. If we take it to the extreme and stuff 700,800 or more drivers into the event do you really think it will be a better event because of it. I don’t. [/quote]

You are completely right.  The time schedule sets the number of groups, which in turn limits the number of drivers.

SKUSA is one of the few US organizations that has a leader system, at least for the shifter guys, with S5 to S2 to S1.  And yes it would be great to have the best 40 or 80 drivers in every class, the issue is that the SuperNats is a one off event for some and is also part of a season long series for some.

How do you get the best quality drivers?  After reading about the Rotax Worlds, even where you have to win your way there doesn’t always mean you are a quality driver in all aspects.

It’s are hard thing for sure, glad it’s Tom and SKUSAs job to make all the decisions.  It’s obvisous over the years they are doing alot of stuff right (of course not every decision is the best), as the event continues to grow year after year.

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17282]Adding extra time to the overall program….Now that I think about it, it’s easier said then done…this will shift the awards ceremony to a later time as well…I do not know what the agreement with the Rio is…maybe skusa has a set number of days and hours they can rent the place…I guess all we can do is hold our breath and hopefully it might make a come back…[/quote]

Honestly, look at the schedule.  You can’t add more groups.  The max is 16 groups.  Unless you cut the 3 heat races.  Which is nearly impossible when you have the ABCD format for the heats with karts over 40.

Friday a driver is on track 3 times.  practice, qualifying and 1st heat race.

Saturday if you add another group the day that’s already 13+ hours long will be even longer.

Note:  I have NO afflication with SKUSA.  I’ve just been around the sport long enough to see that scheduling a race is alot harder than most people realize.

 

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17278]I totally get the small turn out during the pro tour for G1. BUT, for supernats this class can pull in 30-40 entries…I say don’t remove anything. Add it to the program. Since it is a business, an extra 30-40 entries would help the pockets [/quote]

Looks at the schedule you’ll see the event can ONLY have 16 groups.

http://www.superkartsusa.com/dmdocuments/snats-xvii-competition-schedule.pdf

On track schedule

Wed. – 8am – 7:20pm

Thur – 7:30am – 6:40pm

Fri – 7:30am – 7pm

Sat – 7:30am – 8:30pm

Sun – 7am – 4:15pm

Breaks – 40min, 30min, 30min, 30min, 20min

I wasn’t there this year, but the 3 years prior the night always ended up going longer than scheduled.   I can only imagine with all the rain this year how long the days were.

So honestly, where would you put G1?  People always comment about not enough practice or too short of a practice session.  So please tell us where to add another group or class?

 

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17260]Bring back G1 just for the Supernats! KZ2 had 39 entries…I am sure G1 could easily be 30+ if they ever brought it back. [/quote]

And remove what class?

TaG Cadet, Jr, Senior, Masters, S1, S2, S4, S5 are all ProTour classes.

85, 62, 88, 44, 28, 62, 82, 27

Those classes aren’t going anywhere.

Rotax Jr – 41

DD2 – 44

KZ2 – 40

Love or Hate the Morning/Afternoon deal, it works.  That leaves 16 groups in how the schedule is corrently laid out.

Look at the entries 7 classes this year sold out.  (Either 40+ or 80+)

2 Class were between 40-80 entries, both at 62.

And two class were less than 40.  Which were s1 and S5, 2012 the entires in those classes were 24, 25.  2011 the entries in those classes were 24, 17.

S1 will grow next year as more people move out of S2.  S5 will hopefully continue to grow with both in the 30+ next year.

I know a lot thought KZ2 would be down this year.  Some even feared that it would be the last year for the class.  All due to the fact that most of the Europeans were at a race on that side of the pond.  But look at the entries  2013 – 40 , 2012 – 33. 2011 – 37

Now moving on to next year, TaG Masters could probably pull in 60.  Which might only leave two other groups/classes.  KZ and what else?

If you look at 44 per group.  The max number of entries would be 704.  And this year it was 603.  85%.  SKUSA is a business, so I know Tom and the gang will have the classes that will bring the most entries and will also make sure the “core” pro tour classes are featured.  And I know Tom loves the G1 class, as that’s the class he ran, but it is a business.

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17081]Are you kidding? Tech Talk 4 days 16 hours since last post Chassis and Handling 6 days 10 hours Shifter 11 hours 38 minutes. This thing has been dying a slow death since the switch. Brian [/quote]

Brian,

I’m not talking about the switch.  In general, forums have slowed down across the internet in my opinion.

And as far as the EKN forum.  I’ve been a member since the start back in 2001.  And even looking at the old forum before the switch, in my opinion, the number of posts, etc was lower than what it was 4-5 years ago.

[quote quote=17082]Facebook is where all the buzz took place. Am I the only one that noticed that most of the Drivers in the top level series never post on EKN, nor have they ever?[/quote]

I’m no top driver, but I think to go with what I stated above.  Over the years more and more poeple have realized, myself included, that a lot of the time the internet and EKN just isn’t the place to talk about certain things.  Personally the heated threads are great, but most of the time they do more harm than good.

 

 

 

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17077]
How does this not strike anyone as a supply issue? I said it once, and I’ll say it again. If you want to continue to take the stance that it’s the drivers and teams fault and that the spec’d tire supplier are in the clear you can expect to see entries diminish, especially from international drivers and teams. Having $800 of wets hanging around in your trailer is great, until the spec tire gets changed. [/quote]

Really?

People spend half the year planning for this race and don’t plan on having at least one set of rain tires with them?

 

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=17070]To be clear the “Buzz” that I see missing is the lack of smack talking and general anticipation before the event, and the lack of bragging and/or complaining after the event. Compared to past years it was nearly nonexistent. [/quote]

Lack of complaining?  I assume you mean besides the rain tire issue.

Personally I see more communication on Facebook and Twitter now than on the forums.  I know the old forum diehard lovers will say the new forum aren’t good and etc, but in my opinions the forums have been slowing down over the last few years in general.

[Gary Osterholt]

[quote quote=16659]Shame on anyone blaming anyone other than the guy in the mirror. And for Howie’s topic of price gouging, shame on anyone or any shop that was involved. [/quote]

Agree completely with you Tim.   Only thing I’ll add, is I don’t see anything wrong with pay more for the parts, tires at the track.  Maybe 50% more is ok.  But to pay 500%+ is insane.

[Gary Osterholt]

Yes MG has an importer and warehouse, which is in South Florida.   You have to remember though, SKUSA purchases direct from MG.  The tires (dry) used in a SKUSA event are labeled SKUSA.

 

[Gary Osterholt]

Wade,

Honestly, as a newbie, Support is the key.

It’s a personal prefences on 30/32 or 32 chassis.  I know one Master drive that swears by the 32.  Others says they like 30/32 or even all 30.

Brand wise, OTK (Tony, etc), Birel, CRG, Top Kart, Merlin, Haase are all good brands.

Gary

[Gary Osterholt]

Check out the local club website for the club.

http://www.flkarting.com/

Should have some info or someone to contact.

[Gary Osterholt]

Hey Wade,

First thing I’d ask is where do you plan on racing?

Do they have a Rotax class.  I think about karting is it’s very localized on what’s popular in that area.

Rotax is a TAG.  TAG or Touch and Go is a genetic name for a group of “like” engines.  The cost is similar for each.  Rotax is just a single engine class, but can also run with other TAG engines.  Which is why I said where do you plan on racing above?

As far as the kart, about any kart can win.  Some are easier to tune, but again go with what’s local or at least have a local kart shop that can assist you.  For a beginner, most of the time it doesn’t matter what kart you drive, the learn curve is steep.  Buy some tires and go drive drive drive.

Gary

[Gary Osterholt]

The track has been around for a while.  FKCS looked at going there back in the early 2000s i think.

 

Gary

[Gary Osterholt]

Mr. Koyen,

The bad part is that a few ruin it for the rest of us.  Typically how it goes in karting or really anything in life it seems.  With the website business on the side, I hate playing bill collecter.  Most of the people I do sites for are friends and I’m really just trying to help them out.  But at some point in time business is business.  It amazes me when you shut off their website or email, they find a way to get in contact with you very quick.

 

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