When I got to the track at 9:30am, all was silent. The cold temps, wet track and lack of sun in the sky pretty much wiped out any morning practice and hope that the day would go according to schedule. The weather report was in our favor, but we would have to wait for the good stuff to arrive later in the day. Ted decided to act like there was going to be racing and opened the scale cabin. 11:30am driver's meeting. The TAG karts when out for practice first. Ted did not wish to send the kid karts out onto possibly wet conditions.
Between the cars that driven on the track for almost an hour and then letting the karts have one session of warm up, the track was in mostly good condition.
And then the clouds began to break up!
Once the race day started, things went really well. The starts, as a whole, were much improved. I think only two heats got the "one more" finger due to too much speed or too much bumping.
Unfortunately, I had way too much company in Turn 1. The cold track seemed to have everyone slip-slidin'round in Turn 1 and 3 during lap 1. And, I had an awful lot of karts to push back onto the track during line-up. Guy's future note...jerking your front wheel back and forth to scrub those front tires without trying to look like your are scrubbing your front tires, well, that caused a few of those spins. The others were people bumping each other.
Given the late start, we had a late finish.
Only two more races in the season, folks. Enjoy it while you can.
Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:28 am
patrick slattery Gas Pumper
Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 390 Location: cleves oh
Since you brought it up about tire scrubing, we had a cold track, why is tire scrubbing not allowed? Since I started karting, it has been illegal, but still don't know why. Every other form of racing does it to get the temps up in the tires, which in my mind is good so you have some grip on the first lap.
Anyone have a good explanation for this rule, which seems odd to me?
Pat
_________________ pat slattery
VOICE OF REASON
IF IT'S GOING TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME
ARROW KARTS
WOLTJER ENGINES
MYCHRON GAUGES
L & T CLUTCHES
Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:52 am
ChadW Gas Pumper
Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 241
That is a good question.
From a safety point of view, I want your tires hot so you aren't visiting me in Turn 1 for much of the race. It would extend the race day by 15 minutes, but I wonder what the safety result would be if all classes -- except kid karts -- took one full lap before lining up?
Or maybe allow tire warmers in the pits at this time of year.
Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:01 am
Jean Stafford Gas Pumper
Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 202 Location: Dayton, Ohio
'Cause it caauses more carnage in turn one, entering at race speed, when the tires aren't warmed up.
Seriously, I think it's because, in the past, Karters entered the track, and began swerving immeediately, rather than making sure they were clear of the others on the track. I even esaw someone spin out entering the track, before the start/finish line.
Brings another question to mind.
Why is it called a start/ finish line, when it's only used to finish the race? Acceleration begins thirty feet before, and passing has already begun by the time the pack crosses the start/finish line. Passing used to be deffered until you went over the start/finish line, and not before. Did we get lazy enforcing this? Last SUnday I saw at least three starts where the outside man on the first row was past the pole man before t he line. How far back is it going to be moved? Starting races like this leads to faster and faster approaches so the pole man is less lilkely to be "jumped". Think about it! Just because it isn't controlled in other venues, doesn't mean we should be lax.
_________________ Jean Stafford
"Never argue with an idiot. They will wear you down to thier level, then beat you with experience."
"Nothing is foolproof, for a sufficiently gifted fool."
Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:51 am
patrick slattery Gas Pumper
Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 390 Location: cleves oh
I would like to try a standing start sometime, and see if it is any better from a safety standpoint. We raced that way at the Elkhart GP, it was pretty cool. all karts were to one side of the track at a 45 degree angle and it seemed a pretty good and safe start. Plus it saves time, no wave offs and go arounds.
Pat
_________________ pat slattery
VOICE OF REASON
IF IT'S GOING TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME
ARROW KARTS
WOLTJER ENGINES
MYCHRON GAUGES
L & T CLUTCHES
Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:23 am
ChadW Gas Pumper
Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 241
One time when I asked about standing starts for the non-Shifter karts, I was told that standing starts are hard on the clutches.
Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:27 am
patrick slattery Gas Pumper
Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 390 Location: cleves oh
That has to be a myth. I shouldn't be any harder than the kart pulling out from the line up grid to prepare for the start. Both are from standing still.
Pat
_________________ pat slattery
VOICE OF REASON
IF IT'S GOING TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME
ARROW KARTS
WOLTJER ENGINES
MYCHRON GAUGES
L & T CLUTCHES
Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:08 pm
Jean Stafford Gas Pumper
Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 202 Location: Dayton, Ohio
Unless WKA has changed their way of starting Speedway Karts, they are all standing starts. Used to be all LeMans style with everyone lined up on one side of the track angled toward the first corner. When the green flag dropped they all started for the turn, kinda like Motocross.
There, they were all moving pretty slow, so contact was minimal, and any damage was slight, if any.
Those long pul;ls on the clutches didn't damage them much, unless you consider that you rebuilt the thing every racde, until axle clutches came along.
As far as safety goes, I can't see much improvement from the way things are currently done. Shiftere starts were hazardous if someone stalled, or had it in the wrong gear. Being so close together you didn't have much time to react.
Safest way would be to qualify, one at time, then award prizes based on time. GO home early.
Not much fun, as I see it!
_________________ Jean Stafford
"Never argue with an idiot. They will wear you down to thier level, then beat you with experience."
"Nothing is foolproof, for a sufficiently gifted fool."
Thu Sep 29, 2011 10:15 am
patrick slattery Gas Pumper
Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 390 Location: cleves oh
Shifter starts were dangerous, since they were in the middle of the track and staggered. If one would stall they were going to stack up. Standing starts with the karts at and angle to the track does not offer that problem. I think it would be fun to try and we might find a safer way to start karts, especially with the pea pick format. I like safer Jean, you would rather have less safe pea pick races, for the sake of the slower karts geting the opportunity to lead going into the first turn and then being passed at the end of the turn.
_________________ pat slattery
VOICE OF REASON
IF IT'S GOING TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME
ARROW KARTS
WOLTJER ENGINES
MYCHRON GAUGES
L & T CLUTCHES
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
