[Robert Lawson]

As promised, here is what is happening:

 

I spoke extensively with Sam Faasen this morning about the possibility of extremely frigid overnight temps and a very cold high temp for Saturday 4-9-16. We agreed that regardless of precipitation the current forecast trend would be incompatable with water cooled engines and the use of anti freeze would NOT be an acceptable alternative. So, at this point, being only Tuesday, we will wait and watch the forecast before making any decision on rescheduling.

 

A group rented the facility for Sunday 4-10-16, so that as I mentioned is no longer an option for a backup date. Sam mentioned having 2 open weekends on their schedule in the month of May that may be used as alternatives. This is not a high percentage of likelyness though, he already has groups negotiating these dates. As business practice they prefer to take full weekend bookings before single weekend days. I completely understand this.

Right now, we will wait to see how the next 2 days play out with a forecast. I will be going out there regardless of the outcome.

 

So, we do have options. I have not finished exploring all of them so it isn’t possible to mention some just yet. I’ll be back with more as soon as I get info.

Be patient and watch the weather guys!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

What a difference a week makes!

 

Last Monday the forecast was for highs in the 60’s, a few days later the 50’s, over the weekend into the 40’s, and now…..thats right….the 30’s!!!!

No chance of precip but damn cold. Speaking with the Chef today, finalizing all the details on the food, he mentioned that someone has rented the track for Sunday the 10th. There was always that chance although it has never happened before. On that note, we have also never had to postpone or reschedule!

So, our back up plan has changed. Lets hope we won’t need to deal with that.

I do not have another back up date yet, I didn’t speak to Sam in the office today. I’ll do that in the AM tomorrow (uh, at 1:04am I guess thats today!) Tuesday 4-5-16.

 

I’ll be back here before lunch with an update on this. Stay tuned!!!!

 

RPM

 

 

 

 

[Robert Lawson]

Todd,

 

Got it today! (Friday)

 

I also had a couple guys drive over and drop off their fee’s too, none wanted to be left out!!!

Worked on Rich’s kart today trying to help him get ready. He has needed to send his Digatron back to have new connections put on the guage. I hate this set up, the little posts break off the brass connectors and the leads will not stay pluged in. He has still not sent it back so I rigged it up and they will more than likely work for the day. Rewired his water pump and installed a run light so he remembers to turn it on!!!!

The overwelming majority of karts are CIK 125’s, we should see 3-4 250’s, 3-4 CIK TAG’s, 3-4 air cooled karts of different types and just Rich and I in F-125’s.

The forcasts seems to be holding up but the high temp is steadily dropping! Last look said H 50 with partly sunny skies and 0% chance of precip.

We’ll be fine!!! Looking forward to getting lots of video and tons of laps!!!

 

More soon,

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Dave, check your PM’s.

[Robert Lawson]

Mail box had a few more today so we look real good now!

Checking the Accuweather forcast for Grand Rapids 4-9-16 is as follows:

H 62, real feel 67, partly sunny with a chance of shower or T storms, precip 35%

Thats pretty good with what is forcast to be passing through here (there) between now and then.

 

I’ll keep you posted but I think we will have a great day out there!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Bruce, yes!!! :)    Looking forward to lunch!!

Greg, yes!!!! ;)   I’ll be going to the bank tomorrow!!

Mike, no! :(   External cases are welded, test day will answer questions!!!

I held all checks until now, you never know how these things will shake out. We will have enough drivers so I’ll deposit what I have so far on Monday. I have taken a few calls and will be looking in the mail for them this week too.

Remember, your entry must be here by Friday if you want to participate.

 

More coming…..

[Robert Lawson]

Folks,

If you intend to participate in this Test Day you are running out of time!

Your entry must be here (in my hand) no later than mail call on Friday April 1st.

We will not accept entries at the track!!!

 

Those Faasen boys (track owners) are pretty good salesmen I must say! Just off the horn with Curt (the Chef!) on vaca down in the Florida Keys and he talked me into doing not just a Beef Brisket but also a nice  Pork Tenderlion as well. Never should have called after a 3 day fast!!!

The homemade smoker will be working overtime at the track. If the engine needs more repair than Rich did (which looks fantastic by the way!) there is no down side…..I will be over at the MX building taste testing instead of track testing!!!!

Look forward to seeing everyone in a couple weeks!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Rich and I were screwing around out in the garage yesterday and though we’d record and share it with you. It reminds me of Wayne & Garth!!

 

This is obviously the result of “Cabin Fever” and can only be cured with a test day and lunch with 25 friends!!!

 

See Y’all later!!!

 

RPM

 

[Robert Lawson]

Mike,

 

Thanks for the help!!!

 

I also recieved your PM and looked at your ad for the Maxter here at EKN.

Again, thanks for the heads up!!

[Robert Lawson]

Dennis,

You are more than welcome to hang next to us….I just feel sorry for the track owners if that happens!!!! :)

Guys,

We are just about 1/2 way to the number needed to get this done. I have had contact of one type or another from many more so I’ll be patient for another week or so. ;)

Larry mentioned doing a few hotdogs or burgers just in case someone doesn’t like brisket??? Personally, I do not eat red meat but I do make the occasional exception….this being one of them!!!

More to come,

 

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Thanks Mike, I’ll check it out!

[Robert Lawson]

Dennis,

Sounds like you and I should not hang to closely at the track….or in route for that matter!!! :)
I spoke to Eric via text (which I hate doing by the way!) about your experience with the Maxter and some gearing questions. Would LOVE to get my hands on a Maxter KZ but it is just out of my ballpark on $$$.

Missed out on a couple engines here on EKN in the past few months. Looking at past ad’s a few folks got some great deals. I’ll keep looking, maybe something will pop up, you never know.

I have free access to a newer model YZ250 and if nothing else comes up I may just give it a try. Might be fun at MIS!!!

 

Guys,

Ardy asked in a PM when the “drop dead” date for entry is as his guys are still building up their package. I will not take entries at the gate. This isn’t a “business” for me, and making $$$ although nice, is not why we do these things. Think about it…..where and when other than Grattan in April/Oct can you get a decent road course, all to yourself (+/- 25), for the entire day with EMT, safety/marshalls, and don’t forget the best part….LUNCH all that and more for under $200!!!?????

You can’t. THAT is why we do this.

So, yes…there must be a deadline. Leaving time for checks to clear, I really need to have all entries here by the 1st of April.

Bruce was first, not surprising hes from Indy! Of course my pal Racer “X” was a close second and Ted came third on the USPS podium!!! I’ll work on trophies for y’all.

We need 20 more to load the mail box beside Rich and I. Oh yeah…thats right, a frozen engine isn’t going to keep me off that track… big daddy is coming to play!!! I may not have my standard ride but I do have friends with stuff I can turn laps in.

 

I’ll update our progress regularly.

 

Back Soon!

 

RPM

 

 

[Robert Lawson]

Beautiful day here today!

Was out in the Garage looking into Rich’s water pump issue. Long story short it has some grunkis in it and now works and sounds fine. Of course, it got me thinking….wonder if mine needs a cleaning! Uncovered the kart, plugged a battery in and flipped the switch…..ah yes, running like it was new! Shut it off and started to walk away…..then I heard…..gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…..

My luck can not be any worse. As I turned I saw the devastation, that tell tail sign of doom. A puddle started to appear as a stream of water drained off the floor tray onto the garage floor……directly under the engine!

Seems this one suffered the same fate as the first! Bummer, I just don’t understand how it happened. The first time I forgot to drain the system after an April test day that was followed by a cold snap. I drained all the water at the track in October this past fall at the end of the day. Guess you have to get every bit of water out of that void in the crankcase!

So, I have learned yet another lesson. If you can’t store your kart in your bedroom its best to put anti freeze in the system just for Winter!!!!

What a foolish mistake. None the less……we have just about a month until the test day and I intend to drive something!!! We’ll figure it out, I can’t let y’all have all the fun!!!! (although that would put me first in line for lunch….hmmm???)

Send those entries guys, and….check your water system too!!!! :)

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Alan,

 

Thats why I “pencil in” the names!!!! Too bad, we always have a good time out there. Tell bro John I said Hey.

 

Ardy, you have to come. Lunch alone will be worth the trip!!! :)

[Robert Lawson]

Ardy,

JW asked if he could turn a few laps to shake it down, we didn’t get into detail about it but he will not be running it regularly all day. The 600 on the other hand IS a kart so it will run with the rest of us.

I would be interested in doing combined track days with other formulas but not this April. That would require more input and I assume a more involved Insurance policy. I will speak to the management about this, last October I invited bikes from the USGPRU after getting approval from Sam. None of them wanted to come out in the cold to play……fair weather fans, ya know!!!

Very nice to hear from you, maybe we’ll see you in April??? :)

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Ok, here you go….

 

Per usual our Test day is on a Saturday, April 9th, and our make up date is the following day on Sunday the 10th. This only applies if we call off before the EMT rolls out to the track (aprox. 7am) If infact it rains all weekend we would then be resceduled for a date TBD.

 

*There is NO race fuel available at the track in April.*

*Community air line should be available at maintenance shed on east end of garages*

You can arrive on Friday and camp (no charge) or drop off and hit a hotel.

Garages are available (no charge), each has electrical and compressed air. You will need to bring your own hose and air tools for use in a garage.

A MyCron timing/data beacon is provided. (drivers right)

Weather permitting we should have a green track (no pun intended) at 9am.

We will break for lunch at 12 noon or 12:30. Lunch is provided for EMT’s, Marshalls, and all Drivers & Crew in the MX garage. As mentioned, we will have a freshly smoked brisket with all the fixings and drinks.

We conclude for the day, on track, at 5pm. No rush to pack/leave.

Everyone will be pitted in the upper paddock. This makes track condition (green/red) communication easier. Drivers will enter the circuit at the jump on the back side of the course via lower paddock access roads and under direction of a Marshall. Drivers will exit the circuit at T12/main straight, standard pit lane entrance, and continue through upper paddock to individual pit location.

* There will be NO use of the full pit lane or entrance to the circuit at the pit exit on the main straight!*

At the end of the day I always try to get a rolling start mock race going just for fun. The purpose of this day is not competition but testing & tuning. Many will be doing just that….testing…. so please be aware that “race pace” is not always observed.

There are a few new guys coming out so we will have a Driver meeting to discuss all the procedures/flags/etc. before getting started.
Johnny West mentioned he may just bring his GSXR 600 kart and the Thunder Roadster race car and turn some laps in each of them! Should be interesting.

The cost per Driver is $175 and must be paid in advance!

 

Send/make check or money order to:

Robert Lawson

17731 Ivanhoe St.

Roseville, MI. 48066

Please include kart package/classification

 

Thanks Y’all, I’ll bring you more as it comes.

 

RPM

 

 

[Robert Lawson]

I didn’t have much to do but I too have been getting things in shape!

Actually took the Bike out a few times the past couple weekends. Just to gas the heck out of something felt really good!!!

I do have the info everyone has been waiting for. It will be up shortly…..its 5am and I need coffee and time for my eyes to focus!!!!

 

More very soon!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Hey Y’all,

 

Spoke with Sam this afternoon and hashed things out for April. As of today there is just a dusting (1″-1.5″) of snow out there which is always a good sign. Its early yet, I know, but this has been an extremely mild Winter here in southern lower Michigan so we’ll take it as a positive pattern! The forcast is calling for 50’s with rain over there this weekend much like here in the Detroit burbs. I must say, we have barely had to lift a shovel here this Winter! I for one am NOT complaining!!!

So, I’ll get a details package together here soon and start collecting payment for entry near the 1st of March.

Warm up the shop, start ordering parts, and look back here soon. It will be April before you know it!

 

More soon,

 

RPM

 

[Robert Lawson]

[quote quote=60184]I will be there. [/quote]

I love it when the Family pulls together! :)

 

[Robert Lawson]

We have a really good list going at the moment. I know I’ll hear back from some more of the local guys too.

 

I’ll get details and cost out to you in another week or so.

[Robert Lawson]

Forgot to mention this last night…..

 

For folks that shop groceries at Kroger stores you know about the “fuel points” program they offer. Long story short, we paid .45 per gallon last night! I took pics of the price at the pump and have been texting it to all my pals out there!!!!! :)

 

Our world has been experiencing some extreme changes, its difficult not to see that. Unfortunately, it may not be for the better. Everyone wants cheap gas but it is going to come at cost…..keep yer eyes open folks!!!

 

God Bless!!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Todd, Happy NY!!!!

 

Yes, get her running proper first. :)

Cool thing is, there was plenty of guys offering parts and help! That never gets old and is probably why I’m still involved.

This time the food alone will be worth the trip!!!!

Let me know if I can help with anything.

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Ted, Greg, Ryan, and of course my bro Eric….thanks guys for responding!

 

I’m going to start looking for a sprinter to put a Predator on just for the day. Cherri and I have more than enough nephews that may be interested in turning laps with young Maximus!

 

Guys, think about doing the same. If you or a karting friend have a chassis sitting around consider doing the same and help in getting a youngster started.

 

The Predator is cheap, in stock form it will be super safe (slow) for a new young person. I understand for competition they require rods, flywheels, cranks, etc but that is in an unrestricted form. They won’t be able to keep up with Max but it will still be a fun ride for them. Just a thought….

 

More to come,

 

 

RPM

 

* Bruce & Alan…..I didn’t forget ya, Thanks guys!!!

[Robert Lawson]

I got some e-mail last night too.

 

We will need a full field this time, I won’t get a “deal” like October again!

 

I’m sure Paul will bring young Max out again so it would be cool to get at least a couple more Jr’s out there for him to play with. Start asking your karting friends with kids to give this a try!!!! We need to get the kids involved.

 

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Bruce,

 

Keep your eye on this forum, info is coming soon!

 

Robert

 

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