[Robert Lawson]

Pluggin’ away Folks!!!

Took bike ad off net, too many jabronies trying to low ball me. The kid made a total of 3 appointments to buy the bike and had an excuse each time. Too bad, so sad… Puffy is KEEPING his Bike!!!!

Off to the Composite Supply stocking up for short term, will have to revisit next month for sure!

Everything is in place to get our rear doors back on this weekend. Sat-Sun only time I have enough help to hold things in place… Shim them up, measure 5 times, mark them, measure again…… then hold breath and drill holes! Its gonna take 3 guys for sure.

Karts are coming together, the F-125 just had the new headrest idea being added but the 4 banger had unfinished business. Much of that done now too, headrest’s are mounted just working on padding them up. Should certainly get both out to Gingerman in 4 weeks to unwind a bit.

Looks like waiting on the trip to East Lansing Kart Track will be the best move. Catching um’ at the end of their season will keep Grattan fresh in their mind!

New helmet arrived, too small even though I followed their chart…. I knew it. Sent it back, new replacement came and will do the job. Not crazy about the feel but like jumping in new shoes….. you always miss the feel of your fav’s! It will be fine, gotta find time to get paint on it now.

Gotta plan for Daytona IF in fact we are allowed to go…..

Will alter what I have, cool stuff under the body too that we had planned for the new stuff may be incorporated in this “prototype”. Will still be 1 of a kind but not equipped with all the whistles & bells we intended for the new kart.

Hope some of you are planning for October, either after Pitt or just before the Snow comes!!! Will be a fun time for sure, man I can taste that Brisket now!!!

Still losing weight, gotta lower the steering on the Hot Rod!!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

A few new issues have come up in the past week.

Cherri and I both are wearing wrist braces, I think mine is actually getting better and hers…. well, that car accident she was in was pretty serious. I just twisted mine real good with a drill! Che’ will get an MRI and maybe surgery, me…. I’m going to drive at Gingerman!!!!

The new GoPro was a flash in the pan. It needed “updates” to work and record properly and I just didn’t have the patients to work through it. Sent it back and will probably just wait awhile to look at another one.

The same kid that backed out on the bike purchase has made another appointment to come and get it Wednesday so we’ll just have to see what happens. The bike is good fun, and, if Rich had one we could go at it. But, riding alone is all I’ve done with this bike and its just time to send it down the road. I’ll never forget going to Atlanta to buy it from Jim Brannon at Freewheelin’ Honda! The dealership has been sold but the memories of that trip live on!!

Sell the bike and I can build more karts!!!!

Speaking of karts I have found a few that have been sitting, now for sale. I may just buy one to resell, maybe a couple! Building the new kart for Daytona just feels unlikely now. Think of all the major City’s we would have to pass through on the way to Fla from MI. That’s a lot of highway riots and I have 4WD…. yeah, so, why spend my every last waking hour busting my ass to not get to go anyway?

I hurt the wrist drilling the tap-drill holes for the rear trailer door hinges. Yes, I finished them all, but that 2nd to last one bit me! You have to be super careful with this Dewalt 1/2″ drill… its a torque monster and has hurt me at least 2 other times. I knew better to become complacent using it annnnnd it got me!!

So, doors still not on. Door frame is all in primer though, just a bit of scuff & mask and I can paint that, get door seal installed and work on getting the doors hung all this week, GOD willing! Will have to paint the body of the trailer after Gman and before testing in Oct. The rest can be done after…..we did have 50 deg weather in December last year!!!

Cher and I will be taking our Niece and Nephew to the track for their first time at Gingerman. They are so excited…. they just want to see the little fridge workin’ & full of goodies, sleeping in the trailer, and watchin “Uncle Bub” racin’! Braydon wants a go kart…. which means his sister does too…! They are too young for track action but we have a chassis, components and engine so maybe we’ll get them to that BIG parking lot….

Getting good interest in the October gig at Grattan. I think the F125 class may make a regional comeback!

Cher will work me up a nice flier to make that trip out to ELKT, hope to do that soon.

And, lastly, when I went to Grattan to meet Tony H we talked briefly about his weight loss, then more since in email and phone convo’s. I have been on the Keto diet for about 2.5 weeks, 20 days maybe total.  The first 4-5 just climbing in and working on cutting the carbs down before completely out. Its amazing, I’m eating all the meat & cheese I want, eggs, greens, and even low or no carb snacks. And I’ve lost 8 lbs…..doing nothing! I had to work my tail off at that gym for an hour straight daily for 4 months and lost 20lbs. Not being able to go back I just kinda hovered at -20 for 2 more months but then started to gain a couple LBS. I giggle each time I get on the scale….its just fallin off!

I’ll be super comfy in the kart next month and on my way back to where I was when I quit smoking.

The world is upside down Y’all. Wrong is Right, evil is good, the normal get arrested and the extreme get a pass….. so, knowing these things are Biblical in nature……. I do Pray for all of You!!!!

Until Next Time,

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Did not make the trip to Nelson.

The race group the 4 banger runs in is sketchy…. Vintage Twins, 3 TAG classes, 206’s, more vintage karts, Yamaha enduros, etc, etc,etc…. many stories/incidences of guys getting taken out or just roughed up by overzealous guys point racing for a piece of plastic.

We’ll take it to Gingerman but probably will not run it there either. Just have to wait  see, if the turn out is slim in that group then you never know. I’ll take it to the Community College right round the block here for a shake down….HUGE parking lot dead empty!!!!

Been super busy but took the day off and rode the CBR all day. Back and Bike feel good, thought I was selling it tomorrow but the guy backed out. Its all good, back at it tomorrow. Painting and trying to get these beautiful new rear doors on the trailer this weekend!!!

Back Soon!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Was really trying to get at least the 4 banger in shape to hit Nelson for a shake down. The F-125 is finished short of the new headrest being mounted but no way the trailer would be ready for the road this weekend. Was going old school with the Briggsy, stuff it in the truck with a handful of tools and some gas and rough it!!!!

Not sure I’ll make it at all now, have to wait and see how far it gets by Friday. Waiting 6-7 weeks for Gingerman makes more sense, but with the way things are unfolding I should take my own advice and have fun when I can!

We’ll see!

New Go Pro on the way too….. if it shows up, “I have to go” don’t I ?????

See Y’all!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Well, the weather was fantastic out at Grattan. Saturday there was a good stiff breeze out of the West that had a nice cool feel to it.

Took some Trackside clips with the old Gopro, not ideal for that but it was more my commentary on what was happening!!!

Not surprised they were combining classes and race groupings, it was visibly down in participation from the past 3 years or so. I got there before lunch break and watched the combined enduro race group that had 250’s, F-125, 100 controlled/PP/Y pipe. Here is a clip of the first few minutes:

 

Had some overheating issue with the GoPro after sitting it on my tonneau cover. i actually had to put it in my cooler for a few minutes so it would record again!!! That explains the missing video action I speak of it the 2nd clip. I have to apologize to Dave & Patty HECHLER….. We just always think of Patty as a Heinrich!

Hope my buddy Harry West is ok, he dropped out of this race after getting the elbow of his driving suit wound up around the starter nut on his TM KV95 and it literally tore his suit off!! Got a bad hematoma on his right arm, said it pulled him out of his seat!!!

Back to it today, I actually got my Euro rear brake hub/rotor squared away yesterday and will try to get it installed this afternoon. It looks like loading the 4 banger in the truck and roughin it at Nelson is a possibility. Rich just got called back to work so he can’t get off to go and I really want to see this thing run. Driving it myself is NOT out of the question!!!! The F-125 would be too much to do on the fly like this so Gingerman is looking more and more likely. Buys me more time with the trailer projects too.

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Got all of Tony’s parts ready to go so I’ll be heading out to Grattan Saturday AM to meet and hangout for a bit. No time to make up a flier for ELKT so that will come another weekend.

LOTS to do yet in prep for Nelson though!!!

Hope the mask issue resolves itself by then. If not, it just buys me more time to get the trailer fully finished and we’ll just head to Gingerman instead.

I have also been calling around to guys with karts just sitting…. trying to find guys to buy them and put um to use! I may just snag 1 or 2 myself if I can get them cheap enough. Don’t care about making a dime, just getting more guys out to the track.

I’ll take the cams with me and try to get some clips of the races from outside T1. Weather looks great for Early July, low to mid 80’s! Its been in the 90’s the last few years.

More coming…

[Robert Lawson]

Heading out to Grattan Saturday morning. Bringing a Pop-Up and a couple chairs, a cooler with some refreshments and maybe something to BBQ.

Anyone want to hang out and spectate with us you are welcome to pull up some shade Track Side, at T1, and enjoy a few hours of Karting action… free of charge! We won’t be going inside.

The MX track will be maxed out along with the Road Course, T1 will be the only place to comfortably sit without being run over!! Spoke to Curt this AM and we should have no problem setting up there.

With the weather being so hot I’m not going to try to paint & clear coat the trailer until things settle down. Working on karts today, just the little stuff though. The bones in my lumbar hurt… this should have been healed by now, no? Anyway, sitting just makes it worse so I’m outta here!!

This is what I have been up to:

Talk soon!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

We continue moving through the pile of work we took on.

I’m laying up a full set of bodywork this week, have not done that in at least 6-7 years!!! That set will be delivered to Tony H. at Grattan. Will do a 2nd set heading to Chicago in the following weeks and a “custom set” for my new F-125 with new style side panels before long as well. Its Summer time, prime time for the composite projects. Without a controlled temp shop doing this stuff  in the Winter never produces anything consistent. Lots of other small bits to do too, trailer fenders for sure and Briggs Kart stuff between finishing the cosmetic work to the trailer and painting it.

So Grattan in July is out for us. I’ll go up to drop off Tony’s bits but won’t go inside or stay for more than a couple hours. We are full-on working to get to Nelson, Ill even put off the trailer Paint job to make it.

There is talk of a reunion over there….. some Old Guys threatening to get together!!! It will be a must go! Besides, I really want to see this 4 banger out on the track, and, before our Test in October so any bugs can be fixed.

Hittin’ it hard first thing in the AM….. now, I need sleepy!

Back Soon!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I’ve never been comfortable sitting up. In the CIK/SK it was very comfortable, that seat was leaned back almost like a laydown. Problem was it didn’t lap as quick as the laydown. Tried to keep that kart to a 45″ max width…. it won’t handle like that! We eventually widened the rear until the handling was super good but again, we were a full 3-4 seconds slower because you then had to drive it like a CIK…. like an indoor kart!

After hearing from the boys at M-O about the crashing, wrecking, and Ambulance runs this afternoon (Sat.) I won’t be driving that CIK kart after all! Maybe on a track day but not in a darn crowd, just stupid decisions being made out there.

We’ll concentrate on a new better headrest to keep our helmet down in front and supported side to side…. hopefully that helps!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Robert Lawson.

[Robert Lawson]

I asked for a hold (pencil in) on the 17-18 weekend in October.

Some of our regular guys will miss it because the Org’s have been pushing their events late into the Season. For the most part, the racing in the region will be over and getting new Sprint drivers to come out may be a good possibility.

In my opinion, in a laydown kart, its just too rough for me…. I have not given up on driving a kart there. I asked Larry Rumsey to get 1 of his CIK 125’s ready for me to try…. thats right, Robert in a Sprint kart! If some of the G125 guys will come up then I’ll try to hang with them!!!

In the mean time I’m working on a new headrest system for my ride to help keep my vision “in focus” over the bumps!

So start saving your pennies for October now…. I promise, BRISKET this time!!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Guys,

I have 2 Saturday dates in October for Grattan.

The full weekend 17 & 18 is still available and the following Saturday 24th is also open. I will keep you informed of the happenings involving these dates.

Rich and I have taken on yet more work to do before our planned trip to Nelson. A complete refurbish of the exterior of the Trailer is now in full swing. We removed the rear doors and broke them down, what we found was startling!  It is my intention to make Nelson but if we get closer and it looks tight we may just resort to Gingerman OR just heading back to Grattan on one of the listed dates above.

On a more somber note, we have lost our good friend and mentor Tom Barth. His health had been degrading the last year or so, he fought right to the end. He ran his race and finished the Course! He can now rest and wait for the rest of us!!! Tom allowed me to help him build my first enduro shifter kart. That adventure touched so many others as I too paid it forward and help guys get up & running.

Thank You Tom for the Gift, Godspeed!!!

More to Come,

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

This is helmet mounted video. What you see is what I see.

That track is getting bad rough in a laydown!

Along with this one all our Test day video is at this new/old/new YT channel. Bunch of old school Analog handheld clips there too!

I’ll be posting on both channels… still building karts and planning on being ready for Nelson Ledges in 5-6 weeks!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I’m back up and running and Better than ever!!!!
I actually regained access to my other YT channel and can post there too!

Lost a bunch of stuff but I have the old hard drive AND I had backed up the PC on disc so I can get most of it back quickly.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME OUT TO GRATTAN!!!!!

2 Beautiful days of open running, 40 total drivers and a count of 60 over those days made for an unprecedented never before done WEEKDAY edition of Testing specifically for Karts only! Pat yourselves on the back, you made karting history!

Rich and Kenny, Dave Ahrens, Bob Cole, & Larry Rumsey made life for me over the 2 days much easier!!! Bob Kurkowski came out and took photos of the action both days and I have posed most of them on the “Enduro Go-Kart Racing” group at FB. A bunch of the guys offered to help in the future, and that made all of the work and headache worthwhile!!!

I can now officially announce our position of US supplier of the Moto Line of Repsol Lubricants. We are not yet a Distributor but the American Dealer, so retail will be our goal as we get started. Just got our first samples of the high end 2T Racing premix oil and some wet & dry chain lubes to test just in time for Grattan. I LOVE the dry lube! Never tried that type before and always hated cleaning up the sticky mess that was left behind from the wet stuff we used to run. Planning on dyno testing the 2T and comparing the chain lubes on the dyno too as soon as I get a minute to do it. The Repsol line is not just a karting venture for us, we intend (GOD willing!) to open a store front and work on non DOT track bikes… and karts if we get the work, but primarily aftermarket bike supplies and gear. My Repsol edition CBR250R will make a nice artistic piece in the showroom if we get that far. I have no interest in riding it anymore with all hell is breaking loose out there.

Hope Y’all are well, healthy, and safely back home!!!!

Talk Soon!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Just to settle your nerves….

I got a few texts about the MI Gov extending the stay at home order. Guys, its been in play since March, Golfing has been off the chain since allowed to reopen a few weeks ago. The track opened last Friday to a small private group for test/tune and they have had no issues with Law enforcement.

We are going to be fine.

ALL Monday Only drivers will be positioned in the LOWER Paddock.

ALL 2 Day drivers will be utilizing the Garages and UPPER Paddock.

ALL Tuesday Only drivers will begin loading into the LOWER Paddock Monday evening AFTER 6PM  to allow the Monday Only drivers to vacate pit spaces.

This will help avoid any ingress/egress issues of traffic.

More to come, just 1 week to go!

RPM

UPDATE 5-24:  Spoke to Curt at the track today, things are going very well. No neighbor complaints, no law enforcement visits, and the crowds were much bigger than what we expect to bring. Spectating IS allowed on the grounds, they won’t run anyone off. I still do not want any spectating or visitors/guests in the Paddock during track hours.

[Robert Lawson]

After all the energy and effort put into this thing, its done!

Come rain or sleet or snow or hail…. we are going to Grattan June 1 & 2!!!!

I do have to remind one and ALL…..

WE CAN NOT HAVE SPECTATORS IN THE PADDOCK

Please limit your personal group to help/crew only.
Please park/pit courteously so others can pull in/out easily.
Please stay in your pit or 6′ from others if they do not openly engage you.
Please be aware of others around you in the Bathrooms or at a Port a Potty.
Please coordinate any business (buying, selling, delivering) OUTSIDE the Paddock.

I will not allow anyone inside that is not on the list of Participants. No Guests or Enthusiasts will be allowed.

ALL of this is in direct cooperation with State Regulation of the Stay at Home Order. Tell your friends, not this time, we can not take a chance of overstepping the boundaries.

Updates as they come.

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Boys,

I spoke to Sam today about a max number of karts/drivers SAFELY allowable to stay within the Order of State regulations.

Mentioning that we initially wanted a full weekend I was persuaded to ask the 2 day guys that were in line for a cash refund if they would be available to do a weekday 2 fer. I don’t have all the responses in yet, but, with what I do have and these new drivers wanting track time it looks like adding Tuesday June 2nd may very well be possible.

Due to this increased interest I will take New Drivers for Tuesday Only.

Monday is full, no more karts/drivers will be added to avoid overcrowding.

New Tuesday only Drivers will NOT be able to enter the Paddock until the Monday Program has concluded and some evacuation has taken place.  Respecting other’s space, as requested by Order of the MI Gov, applies to the entire facility.

*Tuesday Entry Fee: $225 Per Driver, *must prepay
*Monday Driver adding Tuesday: $100 *must prepay
Paid Weekend Drivers: Your Choice, $100 Cash Refund OR Stay Tuesday

Adding Tuesday is a full day lease, so, I have to know guys are not going to pimp me and sit home & watch the weather. You’re in or you’re Out!

As JW always says…. “Nothin says I’m IN like a Check!!!!!”

Did I need this headache? No, absolutely not. But I feel for all these guys that have no opportunity near them. We are very fortunate to have the guys at Grattan working with us as they do…. They don’t need us, that’s for sure!

More coming!!!!

RPM

UPDATES 5-14:
10:32 am *Money talks, If all “talking” send an entry, there will be only 4-5 spots remaining for Tuesday June 2nd.

12:38 pm ** Tuesday is NOT in stone until its paid off. For the prepaid 2 day guys that said yes to Tuesday I will refund as planned if this doesn’t shake out.

UPDATE 5-15:
* The long distance guys have been sending payments so I can say with confidence that Tuesday HAS BEEN ADDED!!!!

[Robert Lawson]

Well, there WAS an update here for about 8 hours!

I made a stupid mistake and edited that post with a video, and when I hit “submit”…….. Pppfffftttt like a fart in the wind Its GONE!

UPDATE: We are all set for June 1st. T1 is being repaired instead of resurfaced due to the Paving CO going right to road work. Race gas IS available, Sunday overnight camping IS available, also keeping some distance/space is expected.

Personally, I’ll shake your hand…. I’m not freaked.

More as it comes, but, no more videos….. just ridiculous.

 

[Robert Lawson]

Its almost not worth posting here anymore.

You can’t copy & paste in a post or it just doesn’t show up…….Ridiculous.

Long post abbreviated…

Gingerman IS open for test & tune/private rentals. You will have to do a search for their website, if I leave it here…. no post! Take a look at what they are doing to open their facility.

Red Bud MX Park in Buchanan MI has listed on their website that they too are open, in a limited capacity. Look them up as well.

These are just 2 examples of like business we are also looking to do June 1.

I was going to wait until at least the 15th to call the track and see how things are going. But, idiots are running the world and others are freaking this AM out about kart races being run or not on SM. I called the track and Curt who lives on the grounds and got VM from both.

I hear Bars and Restaurants out by the Lake just minutes from here are opened so I just thought an update was warranted.

I’ll be back with an update from Grattan.

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I have to laugh. The world is upside down and commonsense seems to be a lost art at this point.

But, the Lawson Boys don’t care what the damn Gov is up to….. we are getting ready to make some noise!

 

 

[Robert Lawson]

Things are looking better all the time!

Seems our lovely Governor and her Health Dept leader are being sued in a Class Action Lawsuit by 4 Business’ here in SE lower MI. On top of that, she has had her “Emergency Powers” reigned in and now has to have approval of both State houses to extend any more “orders”. Otherwise, wait for it….. she will be SUED personally by the State she works for! They are saying the MI economy will not be opened in phases but turned WFO on May 1st.

We will see….

As for us, June 1st is slowly looking like a return to normalcy!!!!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I’ve been getting lots of calls, texts, email from new interest.

We did actually need a couple additional guys after losing a couple so that was good. But I have shut it down now, we can’t go all-in because of the 6′ radius thing.

I have a short list of guys that waited too long or never sent a check that would be considered if the reins get loosened up a bit more and can be added.

Last thing any of us need is to be turned away or worse, get selected to go home, because there are too many for the Track’s comfort. We will have to wait and see what the State will do.

With that said, at this time, plan on bringing no more than 1 guy to help you per driver. And, unless the regulations change there will be NO SPECTATORS allowed inside the Paddock of  the Track.

More as it Comes in Boys……

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I’m a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason”.

The 2 dates we had been scheduled to test have not been ideal. Easter weekend was OK, Saturday was clear and cold at 9am (37) topping out at 57 and cloudy by 4pm. Today was our 1st attempt at a reboot and it was mostly cloudy all day, about 40 at 9am topping out at 56 by 3pm. Both days completely dry.

The outlook on DarkSky.net for June 1st is: Partly cloudy all day, 9am at 58 closing out the day at 70 by 5pm and topping out at 71 between 3-4pm. Currently at a 20% chance of precip.

A great trade in my mind!!!!

Yeah, we have an entire month yet, but I’m a glass 1/2 full type of guy so I want to share my optimism. We will be the 20 most prepared guys at Mid-Ohio a few weeks later!

RPM!!!

[Robert Lawson]

Well boys, we didn’t have to wait until the end of the month after all.

Yes, the MI Gov extended the order through May 15, BUT, the Golf Courses can (AND ALREADY ARE!) open with no carts. The 6′ “no mans land” radius still applies, we’ll see how it gets adjusted (yes, it CAN go back) as the next couple weeks pass.

I had a feeling that rescheduling from early April (that no one wants) to later into Summer (Normally Booked up) would bring some kind of difficulty once things were opened up. We pay much less in April and Oct. than even Summer weekday bookings, so what happened doesn’t surprise me.

May 30-31 was given to a car group. It sucks, I know, but they are paying double what we would have.

Sooooooo….

June 1 it is boys. I’m done, no more playing around. STILL a great opportunity for awesome weather. Just happy to have a goal to shoot for now!

Details will come, I still plan to drive out Sunday and get in whenever we can. Hang in there boys, it’ll get better!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Another Update:

Guys, the May 30-31 booking was a “Track Sponsored” event and has been Cancelled as of 10 AM today.

That weekend is now Open. Yes, I did ask for 1st refusal. With the additional time we can still take weekend entries and try for 2 days.

ALL of this hinges on the MI. Gov. In the case she does not extend further AND Golfing (code word for Racing) is returned to the Public, the Track will then be opened and we can proceed.

SO: Golf Courses Open = Track can also Open.

We have exactly 2 weeks until May 1.

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

I’ll try this again. No “link” and yet it didn’t post my note.

The “old” EKN never did this!

So, by unanimous vote, we have moved to June 1st.

Will find out what/who is leasing May 30-31 so we know how to approach getting in the Paddock Sunday PM.

A couple Positives:

1. They should have Race Gas then!
2. T1 repair should be done too!!
3. Better Camping Weather!!!
4. Much Better KARTING WEATHER!!!!

My guess, from overhearing Cher’s conference calls, this return to normal in MI. will roll out slowly. By demographics based on age/health history & area by number of cases. We’ll see, NY extended to 5-15 but they had big #’s of cases.

Not sold on all this just yet but all we can do is set it up and hope we get to play a bit ASAP!

Take Care Y’all, more to come yet……..

RPM

[Author]

Posts