Anyone up for karting this Sunday Nov 23? (winter season?)

[405hp]

Hey cone crushers,

Mike (yellow Z06 #416) brought up a good idea at the banquet: to get some karting going! Maybe something can be organized to last the whole winter as a championship. Has this been done in the past? Perhaps some of you on here know a lot more about this than I do. I also don't know how much interest there is to do this, so perhaps we can use this thread as a guage.

I searched around briefly and it seems that the only local facility open in the winter is Top Karting (by the Casino in Hull). They have a promotion this month; it's $30 for 39 laps. Besides that, here is their regular individual price structure:

• 10 min: $28
• 15 min: $38
• 20 min: $48
• Grand Prix (10 laps qualification, 70 laps to race): $60

I asked about group rates but the guy said they don't have any. I'm sure however, that if we have enough regular drivers, say on a bi-weekly basis, we can approach them to get a deal. I also asked about reservations: the minimum group is 8, and it guarantees you with a start-time. It has to be pail 100% in full in advance however. On Sundays, it's busy from noon-5PM, after which it is quieter. So, for example, if we show up w/o reservations, it may be tough to all start at the same time unless we wait, or unless we start after 5PM.

I do remember going to Top Karting in the winter once on their indoor track, and being very underwhelmed by the speeds reached by the go-karts... I could stay WOT throughout the whole course without even sliding. It wasn't all that thrilling, but perhaps things have changed since then (this was a good 5 years ago).

Anyhow:

1. Who's up for a karting day this Sunday Nov 23rd @ Top Karting? We can mutually arrange a start time. They're open noon-10PM; I'm good for it anytime really, however after 5PM is perhaps best (see notes about reservations above).

2. What are your thoughts on having a winter karting series organized, and is it worthwhile to do? What was done in previous years? How fast are their karts nowadays? Feel free to share your thoughts, experience, ideas, etc.

[Ian]

The Porsche club used to have a karting series that was run by Glen Clarke. It was really fun and tried to level the playing field.

Basically everyone would go out for a practice seesion, and then a qualifying session to get their best time. Then teams of 3 were made up (ie. first, last, middle ranked) for end of evening enduros. In the enduro each team mate would drive for 15 minutes and you could pick the order of your drivers. It was always fun and you got a decent amount of time for $40 or $50.

You'd need a decent number of people turning out for it to work though. The clincher in that series was the Targa entry offered as first prize (like the Summer Nights Rally series).

[405hp]

The Porsche club used to have a karting series that was run by Glen Clarke. It was really fun and tried to level the playing field.

Basically everyone would go out for a practice seesion, and then a qualifying session to get their best time. Then teams of 3 were made up (ie. first, last, middle ranked) for end of evening enduros. In the enduro each team mate would drive for 15 minutes and you could pick the order of your drivers. It was always fun and you got a decent amount of time for $40 or $50.

You'd need a decent number of people turning out for it to work though. The clincher in that series was the Targa entry offered as first prize (like the Summer Nights Rally series).

Cool. They still doing it this year?

[karmaboy]

I'm interested. Count me in.

[Jameel]

I'm in.

Alex it depends on the kart you get. Some of them are crap (no brakes, no power).

[Ian]

Cool. They still doing it this year?

I didn't see anything in the newsletter so I don't think so. It was only open to club members anyways (you could bring a friend along though).

I'd say the best bet is to just schedule a weekend time and we'll just show up and have impromptu races I'd be in for that I think.

[Ian]

Alex it depends on the kart you get. Some of them are crap (no brakes, no power).

They have (or at least they used to have) eight karts set aside for leagues like this. They were kept in the back when the regular beer racing crowd was there and only brought out for leagues.

[Jameel]

Alex it depends on the kart you get. Some of them are crap (no brakes, no power).

They have (or at least they used to have) eight karts set aside for leagues like this. They were kept in the back when the regular beer racing crowd was there and only brought out for leagues.

Yah I noticed all the "fancy", shiny karts in the middle blocked off.

Maybe they’ll let us use those if we go on a regular basis.

[405hp]

Ok, to all those interested in coming this Sunday, how does 5PM sound? It will be less busy and perhaps we can all race together.

Maybe as group we can talk them into giving us "the good karts" since we all have a bit more motorsports experience than their Average Joe customers.

[Jameel]

Ok, to all those interested in coming this Sunday, how does 5PM sound? It will be less busy and perhaps we can all race together.

Maybe as group we can talk them into giving us "the good karts" since we all have a bit more motorsports experience than their Average Joe customers.

Nope, I don't think they'll do that:
Okay let's keep a running total, so we've got the following:

1. Alex
2. Ian
3. Me (Jameel)
4. Kevin (karmaboy)

[405hp]

Okay let's keep a running total, so we've got the following:

1. Alex
2. Ian
3. Me (Jameel)
4. Kevin (karmaboy)

Good idea.

Updated:

1. Alex (+3 tentative friends)
2. Ian
3. Me (Jameel)
4. Kevin (karmaboy)

[sfong]

I'm in for karting. I like the SIZE of the competition

[Jodie]

Some of them are crap (no brakes, no power).

Brakes are for sissies.

I'd love to attend, but everyone knows all the cool people will be hung over from Tall Pines and watching the Perce Neige coverage on TSN.

[Ian]

I'd love to attend, but everyone knows all the cool people will be hung over from Tall Pines and watching the Perce Neige coverage on TSN.

All the cool people don't need a day to recover from a hang over and they own a PVR

[eyemaster]

Count me in. I might be able to bring a few people too.

[405hp]

Count me in. I might be able to bring a few people too.

Updated:

1. Alex (+3 tentative friends)
2. Ian
3. Me (Jameel)
4. Kevin (karmaboy)
5. Eyemaster (+ more tentative friends)

Remember, it's at 5PM this coming Sunday.

[Jameel]

Updated:

1. Alex (+3 tentative friends)
2. Ian
3. Me (Jameel), +1 for sure and +3 tentative
4. Kevin (karmaboy)
5. Eyemaster (+ more tentative friends)

Remember, it's at 5PM this coming Sunday.

I might have a few friends coming. 1 for sure and 3 tentative.

[sfong]

you forgot me

[405hp]

you forgot me

Updated:

1. Alex (+3 tentative friends)
2. Ian
3. Jameel (+1 for sure and +3 tentative)
4. Kevin (karmaboy)
5. Eyemaster (+ more tentative friends)
6. sfong

This is gonna be fun boys!

[405hp]

Juuuuuuust a reminder, today is karting day at 5PM! See you there!

[Ian]

I'm not sure I can make it If I do show though, I'll bring one or two with me.

[eyemaster]

Remember to bring your own full face helmets, much better than what they have there already!

[guppy]

Evnin' all. Shameless plug....the local kart club is having a 'winter league' at Top Karting this year following on from last year's successfully run event. Anyone here is more than welcome to come out...like MCO, most of the chaps in the kart club are motorsports nerds so it's a good bunch of folks.

Come on out and let someone else handle the organzing

cheers

guppy
aka Dave

[Jameel]

Evnin' all. Shameless plug....the local kart club is having a 'winter league' at Top Karting this year following on from last year's successfully run event. Anyone here is more than welcome to come out...like MCO, most of the chaps in the kart club are motorsports nerds so it's a good bunch of folks.

Come on out and let someone else handle the organzing

cheers

guppy
aka Dave

Hey Dave, thanks for the invite. Actually the group that got together tonight wanted to create our own league, but if one already exists, perfect. That is a great option.

What are the details: price, dates?

Thanks.

[guppy]

The chaps are still working out the details for this year but....

Last year was 25.00 per head, 5 laps + 50 laps, we had 3 groups, 7:00, 7:45, 8:30, 3 groups. This year I am hoping, Junior, senior, master.......The kart were rotated, so you never got the same kart which keeped things even, Chris did a fantastic job on keeping track of points and sponsorship and has offered to do the same this year.

I'll keep ya posted!

Cheers

D