[Robert Lawson]

If you woke up (or in my case went to bed…) and saw SNOW on the ground fear not!

There is NO SNOW on the ground at Grattan!!!

Our forecast STILL looks fabulous, with NO issues other than a chill in the air early on.

We are GO, GO, GO for the entire weekend!!!!

Bring race gas/fuel there is none at the track this early in the season.
Bring anything you’ll need to hold you over in the daytime hours BOTH days as I will be providing after Track time Dinner for all Saturday evening only.

Also, for anyone (like me) whom doesn’t want to drive home Sunday night you can stay over, right in the upper paddock, and head out on Monday. There is no charge for any camping, power, or garages the entire weekend.

I plan to arrive no later than 4 pm Friday at which time you will be let in to camp, unload, or drop off.

Gate open at 7am each day, closing at 10 pm Fri/Sat

Driver meeting at 8am, orientation for newbies right after, live track at 9am.

DON’T BE LATE!!!!

Have a Safe Trip, we’ll see Y’all at Grattan!!!

Robert

[Robert Lawson]

BIG DADDY IS BACK!!!!

Ugggh! Finally got my PC back and running, just in time!!!

Bring all the tires & fuel you can boys because we have one heck of a WEEKEND filled with Perfect Weather on tap!!!!!

There will be no track drying, no waiting on the frost or freezing temps to subside….. were gonna have 2 gorgeous days April 3-4 at Grattan.

We will run some 2 group sessions until the newbies get a handle on how to get around then its ALL OPEN TRACK TIME!

We WILL take a mid day break BOTH days for the EMT’s and Marshalls since we did get the full 2 days in.

Check this weather:  Dark Sky – 7418–7678 Lessiter Rd NE, Belding, MI

70 on Sunday…. Easter….. Prayer works boys!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

OK, just inside the 2 week mark now….

A couple things to keep in mind.

IF SATURDAY ONLY:
* We will NOT take the standard “lunch” break. To get as much On Track time as possible I worked out a deal with the Marshals to work through out the day.

SATURDAY ONLY AND 2 DAY:
* I will feed ALL drivers and crew, EMT’s, Marshals, and any volunteers in the MX garage immediately following the end of On Track activity at 5PM. A BIG Thank You to Larry Rumsey for supplying the munchies, sides, and hardware for the feast. Curt will smoke up some Brisket and Pork Butt right there at the Garage and prepare a great meal for all of us. I will have bottled water to offer to drink, otherwise its BYOD.

With this being End of the Day you are welcome to get it “take out” – “dine & dash” or stay and hang…. I am staying over and not heading home until Sunday reschedule or not!

SUNDAY WILL BE OUR RAIN DATE!!! Boys, Easter or not this was the date we were offered. IF the entire weekend is obviously not looking good I will shut it down no later than Thursday AM and contact each of you. A reschedule for a weekday OR complete cancelation will then be worked out. A last second reschedule at the track will result in a “show up” fee being administered. Its imperative once the call is made we make the best of what we get. Last October we were clear of rain but there was a gray/overcast day in the forecast. Well, it rained overnight! With the 18 hour old pavement in T1 being a bit water resistant we lost about 2 hours drying the track and blowing down T1. BUT…. we still got a ton of laps!!!!

IF SUNDAY ONLY:
The Std format will be in place, we will have a 1 hour Lunch break with food for all in the MX garage.

So, just be prepared for a change and lets hope we won’t need to!!!!

More coming??? Yes, there is always More!!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

We continue to have good fortune out in Belding as the weather is really playing nice!

I sent out a LAST CALL notice early this week to all whom did not return a note after the first message went out. I got nothing back. A couple guys have come on board I was not really expecting but they are singles, we are still quite short of the 2 day Lease. With just a week to go to collect and get finances in order I’m officially calling it a 1 day gig boys.

We will shoot for Saturday 4-3, watch the weather and make adjustments if needed. Sunday 4-4 will be next as a reschedule date so keep it open. ANY call to change will be made no later than Thursday 4-1 PM. Keep checking here for updates, I’ll post each day that week.

IF the next week produced fruit then you 2 days guys will be right back on top of it. If not, as always, I’ll have a cash refund for the 2nd day for each of you. Some have already said to roll it into the Fall test session. That’s an option too but it will be available at the Track.

This is the weather I will be making my judgement from:

https://darksky.net/forecast/43.1018,-85.3776/us12/en

Save it or check back here to see what’s happening.

Friday and weekend details will come over the next week or so.

I think we are going to get a beautiful day out there, we’re due!!!

Back soon!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Sorry bout the delay!

I did talk to Curt AND Max at the track on Sunday and its looking very good out there!!!

The only snow remaining was on the flat between the Bowl and T10, probably due to the late day sun and the trees. NO running water anywhere, its melting at what seems to be the perfect rate. The ground has been soaking it in, no puddling on the grass means its going great!

Now, if we can just avoid any large amounts of rain in the next 3.5 weeks we’re good to go.

I think the temps will be favorable. We are overdue for an unseasonably warm weekend in April out there.

Nothing new on the 1 day vs 2 day call yet. We are still plugging along at the rate I expected, if we get that unusually warm week maybe a big rush will come at the last minute. The projection still looks like we will come up a little short of the 2 day.

On a different note, there has been talk again of doing the Oval Only pre Daytona Test at MIS this Fall. Unlike the other facilities MIS has plenty of weekend dates to work with as the trees change color…. some even sooner.

More to Come!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

68 next Wednesday @ Grattan…. 68!!!!!

I’ll be calling Max tomorrow for an update on the condition of the grounds…..

In my best “Grinch” voice……….

“I’ll get the info over there……. and I’ll bring it back here!!!!”

We have some new guys coming out. 1 is an old new guy coming back to karts after 30 years, and the other a 40ish new guy from track day Bikes. Both have been around Grattan plenty and have a good sense about them…. they’ll be fine.

Still no 250’s signed up???

We are still pluggin’ away…. a check or two every couple of days.

Be back tomorrow with more….

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Take a look at this, scroll down and hold on!!!

https://darksky.net/forecast/43.0977,-85.3793/us12/en

[Robert Lawson]

4 short weeks to go!!!

Other than an errant snow pile remnant….. ALL the snow here is GONE!

Anything can happen, but I’m praying we are done with the accumulation of frozen precipitation.

Action at the mailbox has slowed to a trickle…. but it hasn’t stopped completely. Looking over the list of those whom responded positively after the message push 2 weeks ago AND the paid list of entrants I have it looks like a squeaker for a full weekend. We are either going to make it to the dime, or fall slightly short.

That said, we will easily make a single so I’m sleeping well!

Working away on these karts too!!! All the Paint work is finished on that Zip and I made all the new spindle bits for it today. Hope to be back on schedule and getting this thing closer to track ready very soon. The F-125 sits in wait and probably won’t get its upgrades until AFTER April! I have repair work to finish and 2 more karts coming in the door. All the unfinished Fall work needs to be done before too long as well….. I really don’t have time for the weather to postpone this Test and ruin all my perfectly executed procrastination!!!!

More Coming Y’all, I’ll have an update on the Track Grounds late this week!

RPM

 

 

[Robert Lawson]

I’m inspired by the weather Y’all.

We are seeing a bit of a warming trend here, 42 in Roseville today with a H 45 and ALL Sun. We have less than 1/2 the snow we had just a week ago.

Spoke with Max at the Track just now. They had a solid 2 feet of snow with drifts as high as 6 feet! But, he said water is flowing, and he too has noticed the accumulation is 1/2 of what it was.

My Accuweather forecast has us a 51 on Sunday, the Darksky.net forecast is a little cooler. Same for the Track forecast, but 40-45 and some sun will burn up whats there before you know it.

Unlike my Mother In Law whom is always the harbinger of bad news… especially weather (why are old folks like that???), I tend to see the glass as 1/2 full and hold hope we can get a nice 2 days right on schedule with no hiccups!

We’ll see.

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Sent out a mass of email & text yesterday to just about every contact I have from past Test Days….

The response has been overwhelming, my incoming text notice was going off like a popcorn machine! The Paypal blew up!

We are off to a Great Start, I couldn’t be more impressed!

Last year was a Record Setting Achievement. 75 mixed entries, over 2 full days of Testing, on consecutive WEEKDAYS! Granted, the Bug put us in a “lock down” for awhile and being the first opportunity to Play with a kart probably had a large impact on that Achievement. But I’ll tell you, we have never had a first day rush like this.

Its my Birthday today so the timing is perfect! Waking up to a foot of snow was a bummer but we have a little over 6 weeks for things to turn around. If it doesn’t, the input I have received is very positive for moving to weekdays in better/warmer weather. I think we could still pull off a double even if we have to move from April.

As we get more entries the picture will become more clear. We may just have the bonus option waiting for warmer temps. It sure worked out last June didn’t it!!!

Much more to come,

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Have made progress since this clip!

[Robert Lawson]

I was going to wait on the April Test info but I have been getting a bunch of interest so lets just go ahead and do it.

Our dates are April 3-4.

If we have participation for 2 days, cool. If not, anyone sending 2 day fees will get a refund on the difference in Cash at the track. IF the weather is not favorable for that Sat/Sun in April I will look to push out to a weekday, possibly in May, no less than 2-3 weeks BEFORE Mid-Ohio in June.

Its a lot of work, but, I WILL work with each of you on a weekday that suits your needs. Having to move 2-3 times last year proves that anything can be accomplished if everyone is willing to work together.

Once the season starts here in our region testing will not be very attractive to some. At this point I do not intend to race at Mid-Ohio so if there were still enough of you who want to try something later in the Summer, on a 75-80 degree weekday….. I’m game.

Just be aware that we could very well have to change from an April weekend to a weekday in better weather.

There has been no change in cost this year…. the first Positive of 2021!

All the same things are in play, early arrival, overnight camping, garage use, extended stay camping, lunch/dinner, etc.

1 day= $225
2 day= $325

Check or MO here:

Robert Lawson
17731 Ivanhoe St.
Roseville, MI. 48066

PayPal here:

f-125@hotmail.com

Use the Frens/Fam option please so no fee is required, after all… we ARE Family right!!!

Hang in there Y’all!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

WOW!!!

Just came back here to reminisce and noticed this thread is at 116K views. Thats 16K additional looks in the 2+ years since moving to the new thread!

With the lack of activity in these forums…. thats a pretty impressive stat.

Nice to rewatch the Back in the Day clips too…. I have to get a VHS/DVD/ Digital Converter and put all the Super 8 and VHS tapes on a thumb drive and on my PC so they can be shared on YT.

[Robert Lawson]

[Robert Lawson]

While waiting for info on spindle parts I moved to primer mode on the Zip Kart. Got the chassis primed in the Zinc Chromate, will get the tanks caught up through that process as well before hitting all of it in a catalyzed Urethane primer as a base for the paint. That long tank Rich welded needed a bit of filler, I was gun shy on trying to remove the low area again and take a chance of screwing up his nice weld job so fillin’ it was my only alternative. I added a bunch of Aluminum grindings to the Polyester filler (bondo) which really helps stop the shrinkage. Don’t want the filler to be visible after paint & clear.

I also started/added to that Big Pump Carb project! While waiting for bondo & primer to dry I started working on the bore of that carb. After breaking it down to install the rebuild kit I decided to remove the Std. choke shaft air flo stabilizers from the bore since we removed the manual choke anyway. After doing that I went 10/10 ths by smoothing &  polishing the bore. It turned out really nice, like a mirror!

Contacted the paint additive place and complained, my shipment is lost….. They sent out a second order FedEx 2nd day for free… it will be here Tuesday. Just in time to start applying some color!!!

So, things are working out in the end….. aaannnnnnd I think that trend will continue!

I have been getting inquiry’s on the April dates. Unlike the past I will not be advertising a free for all involving anyone who sends a dime. I also wont look past just 1 day. I’ll only solicit to former participants and once I have a single day…. DONE. Too may foolish types getting involved recently, because its not a “race” event they don’t take the rules seriously so no more dudes just out to turn laps. I too have a program to run and cant get anything done while babysitting the group. So this Spring, when I say there is very little room left….. I’ll mean it.

Talk soon!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

End of Day 6, still no answer from Mr. Mayr so tomorrow its go – no go time for ole Doug, Crap or get off the pot!

Rich brought the tank back this evening and it looks great! I’m ready to move on getting things painted and reassembled.

Some parts arrived so it was time to drag my kart out of the trailer and into the Garage at Rich’s house. We removed bodywork and all the wheels and front hubs/rotors to use on the F-125 Project kart. Setting up ride height, track width & wheelbase before welding the bearing hangars on the chassis. Been making some progress and noting dimensional positioning of the 4 corners, its starting to take some form! Getting excited about that kart, may just go 10/10 ths and install adjustable Caster/Camber plates on the chassis replacing the std bearing tubes. With the addition of the “L” bracket assembly to finish it off we’ll be able to dial that chassis right in! That means we make new spindles too, which probably should have been done without the change.

My kart will get king pins replaced, they are the “weight jacker” adjustable ride height type. The manufacture doesn’t make them like they did back when the originals were installed so the new set will need some “modification”!!!! That kart also needs new spindles, thankfully I got a new spare set with the kart…. they just need the Kelgate brake caliper mounts welded on.

While we are talking spindles, the Zip kart will need a set as well! My good friend Ed McGlone sent pic’s of his spindle fixture for me to replicate. The least he could do since he really didn’t want to make the spindles for me!

STILL waiting on my paint effect additives. The dang package has just not arrived at its next point of the trip. Just as well, I’d want to drop everything else to paint the new helmet if it were here!!!!

Hope Y’all are settling in to this new year. Personally I like having the distraction of the Garage and karts to keep my mind off the insanity out there.

Maybe some video next time, if this joint will play along!!!

Back Soon,

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

End of day 2 and I still have yet to spray anything!

I believe everything happen for a reason. Long story short, the Chinese crap I bought didn’t work (surprise!) so I took that tank back to Rich so he can take another go at welding the crack in it. Not feeling motivated to run 1 tank through the 2 primer process I gave up and called the day early. Checking in to the FB messages I find a note from the former Zip Kart Importer. He’s interested in buying the vintage kart, to restore for his showroom collection. After some banter back & forth he says “I want it just as it is… DONT PAINT IT!!!”

So, there it is….. my pearl & flake are lost in the damn mail somewhere, the long tank needed to go back to welding, and I just had no mojo for doing 1 tank today.

The ball is in his court, I did make him a good deal and offered to deliver it up to JW’s place in Illinois (2 birds, 1 stone…) to sweeten things. I may be out of this thing without doing anything else to it.

Before all of this I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Ed at Jaguar Karts. This Zip kart will need new spindles, Ed could make them but it would be very costly. I will buy the bits and put them together here if infact the kart doesn’t sell. No biggie, I just didn’t want to go to the trouble of making a jig for 1 set. But thats how it goes with Enduros, most of the Manufactures are out of biz so you have to make this stuff yourself!

Gonna be a big week!

Back Soon!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

 

[Robert Lawson]

Hey Y’all!

Hope everyone is well and looking forward to the new year.

I have just 4 days until the 1st and the chassis is not yet painted. It IS hanging in the paint “box” I put up in the garage. I’m waiting on some of that “low temp” aluminum brazing/soldering rod for the repair on the long fuel tank for the Vintage Kart. Other than that the tanks are sanded & prepped, all but ready for Prime & Paint. I ordered some “effects” to add to my paint and picked up the rest of the colors I was looking for. I love to paint, hate cleaning guns but love the artistic freedom to play with pearls & flake.

New wheels finally came back after being held hostage by the US-BS!!!! Just a 4 hour drive away it took the box 17 days to show up. Unwrapping one and taking it out into the natural light….. WOW, just Wow. These wheels will outshine the rest of the kart!

I have ordered a bunch of parts for the F-125 as well. After spending a few days working on the intake, the BIG carb project is finished! Now need to set ride height of the chassis, measure thrice, then weld the bearing hangars on the rear, then start to work on engine mounting system. With Daytona running this week (and learning from some mistakes we are hearing about down there) I’m super excited about getting the Daytona kart built and shook down this Summer, ready to go for Daytona 2021…. GOD Willing!

Hanging in there, we’ll know shortly exactly where our Country and World will be headed and hopefully go back to making plans to do things!

Peace Folks,

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Merry Christmas Y’all!!!!

[Robert Lawson]

We are getting muscled by Car Guys!

Sam gave away our week 2 date in April AND our 3rd weekend in Oct.

So its April 3-4 for weekend days, or, the Fridays of (2nd, 9th, or 16th) everything else in April is gone. Y’all know I’m UP for a Monday-Thursday so keep that in mind for later into the Spring/Summer for getting better weather. As of right now, I told Sam to hold the 3-4 for us and we’ll just have to see how it goes. There will be no fighting over Monday-Thursdays, just working around the State Police dates out there.

Besides the Vintage kart and the 125 Project I have lined up some “parts” to test the next time out….. and its not even Christmas Yet!!!!!!

Much, much more to come…..

RPM

 

[Robert Lawson]

We shipped out JW’s seat this AM and then took the day off.

Rich brought the Tanks back yesterday so tomorrow its back to it! Fab & weld the pan tabs and add support to the seat bottom. Dress up a few welds and it’s ready for paint. Tanks will need just a tiny bit of filler but they turned out pretty good considering their condition. Will have to decide what to do with the new helmet to as it will get the same paint as the tanks…. 3 birds, 1 rock. Love to paint, hate to clean guns! Typical I guess, so I’ll try to get as much prepped to go as I can.

Started my list for April. Yes, I have names for April already! Will get firm dates this week but I’m already getting fired up for it. Working on Big Carb and Big Pipe to test on the 125 AND running bodywork on the 4 banger & dressed up Zip kart.

Its THAT time of the year….. everything just makes you itchy!!!

Back Soon,

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I sent the Zip kart tanks to Rich, he is welding up the flaws and metal finishing them at work. The chassis is just waiting for the pan tabs to be welded on.

I took on a quick project this week that has all of that sitting in wait. Ya know, cause I was ahead of schedule!!!!

John West came over on Tuesday and I put him in a form and foamed up a seat casting for his Laydown 250. I’ll be laying that up Saturday and shipping it out Monday.

I did go out and get a catalyzed Urethane primer for the Zip chassis. Now a choice must be made on which color to paint it!!! Waiting on the wheels to return yet. I did see the sample… they do look sweet. This car is gonna turn some heads when its finished!

Starting to reassemble by the 1st is looking good. Got lots of things lined up to do, hope we actually get to play with these things in the Spring.

Chin Up Y’all, I’m praying for Ya!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

We have been busy!

The Zip kart is completely torn down. Took the day off today but will be right back out there with the heat running tomorrow. Stripping all the paint and metal finishing the clag spots of the bits we cut off first. After welding on a few pan tabs and adding additional support to bottom of the seat it will be ready for primer, paint, & clear.

The tank extension has been bolted up and access slot for the starter cut out, just a quick look at any needed bodyworking to be done and they will be ready to shoot at the same time as the chassis.

Fingers crossed….. I’m ahead of schedule!

[Robert Lawson]

New wheels off to Powder Coat and Rich has the spare set to weld up when he gets time.

Made up an extension today for the short fuel tank on the Vintage kart. Its just a shroud that covers the engine but if I was going to replace it that needed to be done now so the tanks can head to the prime/paint process same time as the Chassis. Not much remains to be done before tearing it down (less than an hour) and getting it ready to paint.

With any luck we should be starting the reassembly of the Zip Enduro by Jan 1st. Sooner if there are no wrinkles.

Pluggin away, stay thirsty my friends!!!!!

RPM

[Author]

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