Rt 66 Race #1 2009 - Mid State Kart Club

[Rick]

The first Route 66 Kart Series race is coming up next weekend. It's at Mid State Kart Club down in Springfield, IL. I've never been there before and am looking forward to it. Is anyone else going to this race?

[Jeff Salak]

Good luck Rick. Bring home the trophy!

[Rick]

Thanks Jeff. The competition in TAG Senior at Rt 66 is tough. I'll be very happy with top 10.

[rct25]

Rick,

You will be running top 5!
Stay out of trouble before the final.

Good luck!


Roberto

[rystar]

Rick,

Good luck. Just saw they repaved a small portion of the track slightly changing the turn onto the back straight. Wish I could go.

[Domingor]

Good luck Rick.

[Jeff Salak]

I think Rick can get a top 5.

I hope they dont get rained out. Sucks to get rained out.

[Jeff Salak]

Here is results from Tag Senior Leopard. Rick has some work to do. Hope he gets it figured out!

http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1101629

[Rick]

Good news! I made top 10!!!

Bad news!! There was only 11!! I think there were like 25 at Norway last year...

Wow, that was a tough weekend. On Friday, I spent all day trying to learn the track. My best time was 32.45 on Friday and seemed to be as fast as the fast TAG guys. Later, I found out that none of the good guys were there because they either live in the area and race there all the time or they are just that good and don't need the practice.

On Saturday, we kept on experimenting with gearing and setup and I started to get a couple tenths here and there. Over the course of the day, I started to shave time off and my best practice lap time was 31.29. Then we made some more changes and I went backwards.

In the timed practice, I got a flat in my rear left and that killed the session for me. That put me dead last for qualifying.

In qualifying, I had fresh Bridgestones and tried a new setup change that I wasn't able to test in the test session due to the flat tire. I kind of gambled and it didn't work or pay off and I actually was slower by 2 tenths.

In the Pre-Final, I finally got to test my kart with my new changes and posted my personal best laptime up to that point. I got a 31.034. The fastest guy posted a 30.547. I still got passed by Laukaitis so I moved back to 9th.

In the Final, I started 9th and I think I was finally getting the hang of the track. Just as I was getting into my groove (which was 2 days too late), there was a big accident. They red flagged the race. One of the drivers was injured and they had to put a brace around his neck and take him to the hospital.

Everyone wanted to continue and race, but since over half the laps were completed, the final standings stood (http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1105266). I was actually hoping to get to race because that red flag put me right behind the leaders again. And I also wanted more seat time on the track.

Overall, it was a great learning experience and a very fun time.

[Rick]

Also forgot to mention that numbers were down by 2/3rds or 1/2. And for the most part, I think that probably weeded out most of the recreational racers. The guys that are left are the kart shops, engine builders, manufacturer(s) (Margay) and some recreational guys. I think the economy has hit karting pretty hard. I think we need a bail out.

Also check out #95 (Kemple) if you guys want to gauge the competition in TAG Masters, TAG Senior or TAG Senior Leopard Only. He raced in all three classes.

[avmaviator]

Thats great Rick! It has to be tough to go out and learn a new track and race against people who go there all the time! At least it will be the opposite at the next stop in June ;) Did you guys get any rain down there this weekend?
What happend in the crash? ran into each other or something?

[rct25]

Rick,

Do you know what chassis the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place were running?

Roberto

[Rick]

I know that #9 and #27 were Margays. I think #36 was a Margay as well. I know 36 was running a 40mm axle. I believe that 26 was a Margay too. I'm not sure about 31. Most of the guys were running Margays. Laukaitis was fast as well. He was on a Birel. Unless 31 was running a Birel, I think I'm the highest placing Birel. But it would have been Laukaitis if he didn't crash.

[rct25]

Thanks Rick!

Roberto

[Rick]

Some Top Karts were fast as well. There were no CRGs, TonyKarts or Italkarts. I think that most of the Rt 66 guys run Margay. Maybe that is due to Margay sponsoring the series? Or perhaps they are just fast. There's also onsite support from the manufacturer (Margay). They bring a huge rig out.