Chicago Racers Road Trip

[LikeStig]

Would anyone be up for a trip to New Castle or 61 Kartway maybe Thursday(or we could go Sunday for one of their club races)? I would prefer New Castle, mainly because some of our local drivers will be racing there for RT66. If we can get a decent carpull together, with everyone pitching in for gas, I think this would be awesome. I can maybe fit two more karts in our trailer, but Arno and Stamper have first dibs. If theres a better week or day to do this for you, post it.

[avmaviator]

I could be in. Driving down crackass early and coming back that night?
Weather will be something to watch cause driving all that way to get stormed/rained out would suckkk.

I would take you up on the trailer.

[LikeStig]

Yea, we'd leave pretty early depending on where we meet. Hopefully we can get some more people to come so we can make this work.

[Rick]

:clap:You guys should definitely go! I'll be there with JET. You guys should see if you can park by us. That way we can discuss the finer points of fermented yeast and water after the races. :)

[LikeStig]

Rick, would you want to come over with us on Thursday? We were hoping to get a group together to go.

[Rick]

Where? New Castle? And what date exactly?

[LikeStig]

July 2nd is what we were thinking. At New Castle. So far, I think there will be 4 karts.

[Rick]

I would probably be up for that! When are you leaving and when are you coming back? And who's going?

[LikeStig]

Me (HPV)
Little brother (Yamacan)
Arno (TaG)
Maybe Jeff Stamper (TaG)

The more people we can get the better so we can bring all the stuff everyone needs. So invite those friends and stuff your gear in their trailer ; ) . I just want to stress this is open to anyone whether you've met everyone or not. It just seems there's so many people who went to try a different track but never get the chance, so here it is.

[Rick]

I'm 80% in! Please hold a spot for me. :thumbsup:

When are you guys leaving and when are you coming back?

[Matt]

Wouldn't be able to do Thursday (Damn summer school) but Sunday would be ok. I could also talk to my dad and see if hed just want to pull our trailer and wed be able to meet you guys there

[LikeStig]

We still need to figure out who's going so we can decide a good place and time to meet up. I believe they do open practice 10-6, so...? As far as our space goes, We're going to have two karts on the wall, and two on the floor. I dunno if we can fit another because we might have to bring the SUV to fit everyone in. Not to mention the stands. Our setup is probably going to be full. I figure if we can get another vehicle+trailer, we will be able to fit everything pretty well.

-Matt, dont skip school to go racing. : ) Arno only has mon-thurs off and Jeff wont be avaliable sunday, so I think we will be doing it Thursday.

[Rick]

Well, if anyone drops out, I call dibs. Let me know if you can fit me in.

[LikeStig]

Sounds good. I think someone else will join in, so we will figure it out.

[Matt]

Aww man that sucks. Well whatever. If i can find a way to go Thursday than i'll let you know cause we'd have an extra trailer that way which ,if we dump all of the gear and tools in the back of the van, can hold 6 karts. I'll try to talk to my parents about it because i voluntarily took summer school to get rid of mandatory classes so i'd be free to go but my parents dont want me to miss too much of it. If i can talk them into it than ill let you know. Plus i'm also pretty sure that thursdays our last day so nothing too important is gonna happen so lets hope.

[LikeStig]

Aww man that sucks. Well whatever. If i can find a way to go Thursday than i'll let you know cause we'd have an extra trailer that way which ,if we dump all of the gear and tools in the back of the van, can hold 6 karts. I'll try to talk to my parents about it because i voluntarily took summer school to get rid of mandatory classes so i'd be free to go but my parents dont want me to miss too much of it. If i can talk them into it than ill let you know. Plus i'm also pretty sure that thursdays our last day so nothing too important is gonna happen so lets hope.

Sweet man. Hope we can make it work.

[Matt]

Ok man will do. Ill get back to you with whatever my parents say.

[avmaviator]

Matt, you could always come down with the "flu", a special kind of flu that can only be remedied in Newcastle :)

This trip sounds like fun. I think if we meet in Morris it would work pretty well (depending on which way you are planning to take). I have a large open trailer (fits a whole car) that I could possibly take if we need. (so that would be three karts, mine in the bed, two or possibly three on the trailer.

Maybe meet at 6-7 in Morris?

Oh I need to find a lighty used set of tires... my current MGs are shoot and I have two new sets of Yellows that I am keeeping for Norway races (yes I will actually do a couple races! hah)

[Matt]

LMAO!!!! Thanks for the idea but we can't miss more than 7 hour of the 3 week course.

[avmaviator]

They are predicting some isolated storms for Thrus.... we'll have to keep an eye on it. Summer storms are so hard to predict (which makes flying so much more fun at this time of the year... not)

[JET Karting - Andy Finke]

Oh I need to find a lighty used set of tires... my current MGs are shoot and I have two new sets of Yellows that I am keeeping for Norway races (yes I will actually do a couple races! hah)

I have a couple sets of used tires that would work well for this trip. Lightly used, still in a set to keep heat cycles the same. $50 for all 4.

[avmaviator]

I have a couple sets of used tires that would work well for this trip. Lightly used, still in a set to keep heat cycles the same. $50 for all 4.

Thanks Andy.

[LikeStig]

If you brought your trailer, then we could put two karts on the wall, all the stands on another wall. And possibly one on the floor because those stands take up alot of room. Then we could put three more karts on your trailer. We are probably not going to bring the truck due to seats, so we've got another spot in your truck bed. That would leave two more spots for people. And a spot for Matts bucket.

[Jeff Stamper]

Well heres the deal. Just stand the karts on their rear bumpers in the trailer and you can probably fit 5 or 6 in there. You can stack them standing against the wall. Works good with padding between.

2nd, Did you check New castles schedule for Thur ? They race almost every day of the week over there and we dont want to drive that far and have to turn around and come home.

3rd. Its the 4th weekend, and I am off on Thur and Fri next week, but I have to see whats up with the wife and kids first. No matter who goes, I am taking my car I guess, I hate to ride. I am a driver !

As far as the weather goes, They have missed it almost every day this week. Scattered Thunderstorms is Meteoroligist slang for " I have no idea what the hell its gonna do" I will have to talk to the better half and see whats up. Is there a race at Norway that weekend ?

[LikeStig]

I've only got etrack on one wall and one spot on the other side. The big walls for karts and the small walls for stands. I've checked their schedule and they are open for practice on the day we've planned. I'm very ok with you driving there, that way we can bring our truck. Rick, you've got a double kart stand right? We could put two karts on the wall, stands in the back of the pickup, another kart (maybe) vertical on the wall and if were crafty we could put two karts on a double kart stand, and then (hopefully) we can situate the double in there some how. Then, if you do come jeff, hopefully you wouldn't mind if some people (the cooler and ez-ups) rode with you.
If you do, Rick, have that stand... (again)

Jeff and Rick on the double stand (I've heard Rotax's aernt happy vertical)
Me and my brother on the big wall
Arno on the small wall
Stands in the back of the truck

All in theory. I'm going to go make some measurements.

[Jeff Stamper]

Rotax are fine on their rear bumpers. the only issue you have is the oil in the gearbox, and on its rear end, the vent is up. No problem at all. I should know by tomorrow night at the track

[JET Karting - Andy Finke]

It won't hurt a rotax to stnd it up. Drain the fuel in the tank though.

Good luck guys. You'll have lots of fun. Just don't let Rick, Ryan, or Jim drive (actually navigate) the trip home...

[Rick]

Rick, you've got a double kart stand right?

Yes, I have a double stand.

[Jeff Stamper]

Well, if all are going to be at the track tomorrow night , we can discuss it then

[Matt]

Sorry guys. I talked to my parents about it but they won't let me miss anymore of summer school.

[avmaviator]

Sorry guys. I talked to my parents about it but they won't let me miss anymore of summer school.

Booooooo. Thats too bad Matt, but I am sure we will do another trip like that... that is if we get back, according to Andy :rofl:

[Matt]

Ok well if you guys decide to do another "outing" than tell me cause we could tag along with the trailer to be able to bring a couple extra karts with. Plus we have a double stand too so its all good.:shooting_smilie2:

[Jeff Stamper]

Looks like we may be going to the Jellystone park in Knightstown ,Ind about 9 miles away on Wed. So I guess I am out. I have no way to get my kart there. And no way to get it to any of you by then. You guys have fun and let me know what its like. I needed some Rotax parts I cant get by Wed anyway, so no big deal

[avmaviator]

So Jeff and Matt are out.

That leaves

Kyle, Mike Jr, Rick, and Myself?

Rick, do you know if Jim, and/or Ryan would be go for this?

If it is just as listed above it shouldn't be too hard to fit stuff in the trailer... but I think we will still need another truck/SUV to get a lot of the other equipment like stands and tools... what do you think? I can drive my pickup, it is an crew cab so we could put a bunch of stuff in there. Let me know.

[Rick]

Hey guys, I still want to go, but like I said, I'm 80% as of now. Jim and I are up to our eyeballs in doing an LS7 transplant on a Z06. Hopefully we will be done by Wed evening. I'll keep you guys updated.

[LikeStig]

Arno, a second truck would be really good because it would be too tight in our truck for that many people. I'm alittle worried about fitting the double in the trailer because of the width, so meeting up wednesday to load up would be good. How far of a drive is Norway for you? Rick's stuff is there so I figured we would have to meet there Wednesday to load everything up. If we do get some more karts, It would probably be best if you did bring your trailer to put karts on and we can put all the gear in my trailer.

I'm hoping we can recruit more karts.:whistle:



Sorry to hear you cant come Jeff.
Rick, I thought Z06's have LS7's?

[avmaviator]

I'm an hour away from Norway...to be honest I'd rather meet there on Thrusday morning or such, it would save a lot of gas and time from driving back and worth the day before... We'll see what happens with Rick on Wed. If Rick can't go, I'll just put my kart in your trailer, no stand or anything (I can do without a stand for most of the day I think.

Did you blow your engine already Rick??

[Rick]

Rick, I thought Z06's have LS7's?

They do.

Did you blow your engine already Rick??

Yes.

[Jeff Stamper]

What time are you guys leaving on Thur Morning ?

[LikeStig]

Arno, where do you live? From my house, its a straight shot down I39 and I74. If I meet you in Morris, that adds a half an hour to the trip each way not including the traffic. Rick, can you get your stuff somehow to Peru? I dont think I'm going to be able to stop in Norway.

If we can meet in Peru, I was thinking we would meet at 6 to load up, hopfully leave at 6:30 and we would be there about 11:00. Practice opens at 10:00.

[avmaviator]

Arno, where do you live? From my house, its a straight shot down I39 and I74. If I meet you in Morris, that adds a half an hour to the trip each way not including the traffic. Rick, can you get your stuff somehow to Peru? I dont think I'm going to be able to stop in Norway.

If we can meet in Peru, I was thinking we would meet at 6 to load up, hopfully leave at 6:30 and we would be there about 11:00. Practice opens at 10:00.

St. Charles.

In anycase, I could drive down with Rick to Norway and go from there. But then again I don't think he will be able to go with us.. there is a lot of work left on the Z06!

[LikeStig]

St. Charles.

In anycase, I could drive down with Rick to Norway and go from there. But then again I don't think he will be able to go with us.. there is a lot of work left on the Z06!

If you dont mind driving, we could just all meet at the track; which makes sense if were going to take two vehicles.

Its a good thing you remembered the time change! One of the times when we went for the grand prix, we forgot about it and missed two previous races, but luckily we made it in time for the F1 Race.

[LikeStig]

Well lets be honest, this trip sort of fell through. Jeff had a trip, Rick's car was all brokeded, Matt had school and Arno had something come up, but there's allways next time :whistle:.

Anyways, we (Brother, Dad and myself) just got back from 61 Kartway in Iowa and WOW, G's baby.

They have a race this weekend in reverse, so everyone wanted to run the reverse track so I had no problem with that. In comparison to Norway, the track is narrow; but its not bad in anyway. The elevation changes are awesome and the banked corners are really cool. If you've ever played GT5, Edgar Reverse is pretty close. The track is very smooth and has forgiving curbs.

The main reason I wanted to try this track was for the elevation changes, and I'm looking at my telemetry and alot of these corners are hitting about 2 g's consistantly. The "Dip" as me and my brother called it is crazy, consistantly I would hit 2.75 G's and peaked at 3.2 G's; in an HPV-4.

I really need to get a 10 tooth drive, because I'm down about 2,000 rev's; but for today I didn't care. My brother didn't care for the track much because of the thinner track and elevation changes (pussy.) He had an off into the fence in "The Dip," so thats mostly to blame.

My kart handled great from the beggining to end and I was getting some good advise from a guy who ended up being the owner (crazy how in racing you never get someones name until the next time you see them). I ended the day running nearly 16 psi, no idea why but it worked and he said in TaG they will set theirs at nearly 20 psi.

I ended the day with a 50.5; the owner said to add a second because its in reverse and get a new driver. I hope he meant for my chain :clap:.

Great challenging track and hope to go again. Here's some crappy phone pictures...

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/kyleprokup/002.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/kyleprokup/003.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/kyleprokup/004.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/kyleprokup/005.jpg

[avmaviator]

Very cool Kyle! How long did it take to drive over there?

I would interested in going there too.

[LikeStig]

I want to say 2 hours from my house (Granville, IL)

[Jeff Stamper]

When did you go there ?

[LikeStig]

Sunday. 12-5.

[Jeff Stamper]

I will drop your chain guard off at the track this week with Andy, So check with him when you get there on Saturday

[Rick]

Sorry about not going to New Castle. I was really busing working on my car. Rt 61 is a cool track. It's like driving a 2 stroke on one of the CIR indoor tracks.