rec.autos.simulators

by **John Bod** » Sun, 11 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Thanks to some wonderful hospitality on the part of the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League, I had the opportunity to
race go-karts this week against several current IRL and one former
Indy driver at Stefan Johannson's Karting Center in Indianapolis.
On-hand were IRL drivers Johnny Unser, Scott Harrington, Jeret
Schroeder, Tyce Carlson, Sam Schmidt, and former Indy driver Stan Fox.
Robbie Unser showed up, too, but he didn't drive.

The racing was great -- it was a 2-1/2 hour enduro team event, with
teams of 5 to 6 people. Each team had a "real" driver, and we had to
figure out pit strategies for driver swaps, amount of time on track
for each driver, how to make up time for the slower drivers, etc.; the
winning team was the one who could put in the maximum number of laps
in the allotted time.

Stefan's place is awesome -- it's an indoor slick track, and it's laid
out as a multi-turn "road course" circuit, so you have to turn left
and right. The karts could do up to 45 mph in the long
sweeper/straight segment, and hard braking was mandatory at various
points in order to successfully navigate the various turns.

The best time of the night was 21.10 seconds -- and, amazingly, this
time was not set by one of the "real" drivers (I think the guy was a
"ringer" who had a lot of previous experience at Steffan's place).
This guy's laps were about a second faster than what the IRL drivers
were turning in, and he was a BIG guy (about 6' 2", and he wasn't
skinny), so he HAD to have a ton of previous experience on this
particular track with these particular karts.

The "real" drivers were awesome to watch, though. I was on Jeret
Schroeder's team, and after our first round of seat time, he pretty
much tapped me as the team's second driver (right after him, of
course). He was turning in laps in the 21.65 - 21.84 second range; my
best was in the 22.18 second range, so I figure I was doing pretty
good myself. Maybe all that sim seat time DOES pay off in the real
world! <G>

At any rate, if you're ever in Indy, be sure to stop by Stefan's place
(or find a karting center near you) -- it's a ton of fun, and it's
probably the ultimate "simulator" experience. Professional drivers not
included, of course, and your mileage may vary!

;-)

-- JB

by **Dan Kap** » Sun, 11 Apr 1999 04:00:00

We have the same thing in Omaha called "National Indoor Karting".
It's an indoor slick track with speeds up to around 45 mph around a sweeper.
Typical racing is $12 for 5 minutes or you can arange special 50, 80, or 100
lap races for around $70 per person. The special races include 10 minutes
of qualifying follwed by the race. It really is the most fun "real" racing
I've tried, not including Malibu Grand Prix in Florida and near Kansas City
(which has since closed, unfortunately).

<Dan>

by **DAVI** » Mon, 12 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Any Kart track is a blast if you get enough competitive people on it. The
last time I ran Go Karts was after a local SCCA regoin meeting. The Kart
track never thought you could have spun one of their karts, but they were
dumb enough to put 16 of us out and agree to give us a flying start and the
mayhem started, by lap three the leader was being pushed sideways by the
number 2 and 3 palce drivers due to karts being so slow you really had to
forcefull with any passing attempts.

Also for some odd reason we were invited not to come back.

Dave

by **Bill Met** » Tue, 13 Apr 1999 04:00:00

>On-hand were IRL drivers Johnny Unser, Scott Harrington, Jeret
>Schroeder, Tyce Carlson, Sam Schmidt, and former Indy driver Stan Fox.

It's a bit off topic, but can I ask how Stan seemed to be getting along?
We really haven't heard too much about how he is and what he's doing since
his recovery.

--
| "Instead of letting the moon be the
Bill Mette | gateway to our future, we have let
Enteract, Chicago | it become a brief chapter in our

by **Patrick Shuma** » Tue, 13 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Some of the best fun I've had is in go karts the place I go to is an
outdoor track with a concrete road course and a high banked concrete oval
which is almost a mini Bristol. Beatin' and bangin' in one of the
naskarts is some of the best fun someone can have.

> Thanks to some wonderful hospitality on the part of the Indianapolis
> Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League, I had the opportunity to
> race go-karts this week against several current IRL and one former
> Indy driver at Stefan Johannson's Karting Center in Indianapolis.
> On-hand were IRL drivers Johnny Unser, Scott Harrington, Jeret
> Schroeder, Tyce Carlson, Sam Schmidt, and former Indy driver Stan Fox.
> Robbie Unser showed up, too, but he didn't drive.

> The racing was great -- it was a 2-1/2 hour enduro team event, with
> teams of 5 to 6 people. Each team had a "real" driver, and we had to
> figure out pit strategies for driver swaps, amount of time on track
> for each driver, how to make up time for the slower drivers, etc.; the
> winning team was the one who could put in the maximum number of laps
> in the allotted time.

> Stefan's place is awesome -- it's an indoor slick track, and it's laid
> out as a multi-turn "road course" circuit, so you have to turn left
> and right. The karts could do up to 45 mph in the long
> sweeper/straight segment, and hard braking was mandatory at various
> points in order to successfully navigate the various turns.

> The best time of the night was 21.10 seconds -- and, amazingly, this
> time was not set by one of the "real" drivers (I think the guy was a
> "ringer" who had a lot of previous experience at Steffan's place).
> This guy's laps were about a second faster than what the IRL drivers
> were turning in, and he was a BIG guy (about 6' 2", and he wasn't
> skinny), so he HAD to have a ton of previous experience on this
> particular track with these particular karts.

> The "real" drivers were awesome to watch, though. I was on Jeret
> Schroeder's team, and after our first round of seat time, he pretty
> much tapped me as the team's second driver (right after him, of
> course). He was turning in laps in the 21.65 - 21.84 second range; my
> best was in the 22.18 second range, so I figure I was doing pretty
> good myself. Maybe all that sim seat time DOES pay off in the real
> world! <G>

> At any rate, if you're ever in Indy, be sure to stop by Stefan's place
> (or find a karting center near you) -- it's a ton of fun, and it's
> probably the ultimate "simulator" experience. Professional drivers not
> included, of course, and your mileage may vary!

> ;-)

> -- JB

by **Gary Silverma** » Tue, 13 Apr 1999 04:00:00

I went to that place down in South Florida last year, those NasKarts were
awesome. Road course was pretty good too, but was not that competitive.

--
Gary243 - The most electrifying driver in racing entertainment
Gary Silverman - Driver/Owner Jersey Motorsports
NROS - #91 On Track Realty/gojersey.com Oldsmobile Aurora
SCCA Solo II - #30 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

by **Kostis Kottaki** » Wed, 14 Apr 1999 04:00:00

I absolutely Agree with J. Bodin about kartin..
About a week ago I bought my own used kart 100cc Parilla.

The expirience is awsome ,It goes like a rocket and its an old model and its
not 125cc or more..

its not so easy to drive ..after 10 laps I was exusted especialy my arms
There is a track about 8 miles form the place I live -Athens Greece- and
already I was there twise with my Kart..

I am driving civilian car more than 8 years this is the first real racing
expiriance and its awsome.. every time I learn more thinks about going
faster and faster!

Go give it a try!

Kostis

by **Ferdinand Trauttmansdor** » Wed, 14 Apr 1999 04:00:00

>Thanks to some wonderful hospitality on the part of the Indianapolis
>Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League, I had the opportunity to
>race go-karts this week against several current IRL and one former
>Indy driver at Stefan Johannson's Karting Center in Indianapolis.
[snip]
>At any rate, if you're ever in Indy, be sure to stop by Stefan's place
>(or find a karting center near you) -- it's a ton of fun, and it's
>probably the ultimate "simulator" experience. Professional drivers not
>included, of course, and your mileage may vary!

If any of you are planning to go the Grand Prix in Montreal this
year, come and check out the kart action on Saturday evening June
12.

Last year we organised a Saturday get-together for the
rec.autos.sport.f1 crowd and we had so much fun we're certain to do
it again this year.

See <http://www.globalserve.net/~trauttf/kart/> for last year's
details and maps to two of Montreal's more easily accessible indoor
karting tracks. We went to Circuit 500 last year and will probably
do the same this year.

-Ferdinand-

by **Eldre** » Fri, 16 Apr 1999 04:00:00

writes:

Two questions - about how much does a Kart cost, and does anybody know of any
tracks around the Detroit, MI area?

Eldred

__

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remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **schwab** » Fri, 16 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Hmm... I'm not around Detroit, but you should be able to find something
competitive and used for about 800-1200 bucks. Depends if you want to go
two-stroke or four... i'd go with a restricted Yamaha class (2 stroke).

-_dave

> writes:

> >I am driving civilian car more than 8 years this is the first real racing
> >expiriance and its awsome.. every time I learn more thinks about going
> >faster and faster!

> >Go give it a try!

> >Kostis

> Two questions - about how much does a Kart cost, and does anybody know of any
> tracks around the Detroit, MI area?

> Eldred

> __

> Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
> remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

--
Dave Schwabe
The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~schwabe

by **mhear** » Fri, 16 Apr 1999 04:00:00

> Two questions - about how much does a Kart cost, and does anybody know of any
> tracks around the Detroit, MI area?

> Eldred

Flat Rock Speedway on Telegraph RD just south of Flat Rock has a kart
series that runs on sundays during the summer months. They also have a
club called the Thunderbirds. If you call the speedway they can give you
info on the racing there. Their number is 734-782-2480. They could also
give you numbers to the various kart retailers in the area.

I am a late model crew chief for Dan Ford Racing with Dan Ford Jr. as
driver. This year we are moving on to the Iceman Series based out of
Toledo Ohio.

Mike

by **Eldre** » Sat, 17 Apr 1999 04:00:00

>Hmm... I'm not around Detroit, but you should be able to find something
>competitive and used for about 800-1200 bucks. Depends if you want to go
>two-stroke or four... i'd go with a restricted Yamaha class (2 stroke).

>-_dave

Thanks Dave -
I guess I'll have to start saving my pennies... :)

__

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by **Eldre** » Sat, 17 Apr 1999 04:00:00

>Flat Rock Speedway on Telegraph RD just south of Flat Rock has a kart
>series that runs on sundays during the summer months. They also have a
>club called the Thunderbirds. If you call the speedway they can give you
>info on the racing there. Their number is 734-782-2480. They could also
>give you numbers to the various kart retailers in the area.

>I am a late model crew chief for Dan Ford Racing with Dan Ford Jr. as
>driver. This year we are moving on to the Iceman Series based out of
>Toledo Ohio.

>Mike

Thanks. Is there an age limit? I've always thought of karting racers as late
***s to mid-20's. I'm 35, and I don't want to look TOO foolish... :)

Eldred

__

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by **mhear** » Sat, 17 Apr 1999 04:00:00

> >Flat Rock Speedway on Telegraph RD just south of Flat Rock has a kart
> >series that runs on sundays during the summer months. They also have a
> >club called the Thunderbirds. If you call the speedway they can give you
> >info on the racing there. Their number is 734-782-2480. They could also
> >give you numbers to the various kart retailers in the area.

> >I am a late model crew chief for Dan Ford Racing with Dan Ford Jr. as
> >driver. This year we are moving on to the Iceman Series based out of
> >Toledo Ohio.

> >Mike

> Thanks. Is there an age limit? I've always thought of karting racers as late
> ***s to mid-20's. I'm 35, and I don't want to look TOO foolish... :)

> Eldred

Eldred,
I belive they do have *** racing. Call the track they will be glad to
help you out.

Mike

by **Mark Seer** » Mon, 19 Apr 1999 04:00:00

I'm 35 as well and racing Honda twin engine prokarts. (4 srtoke)
There are plenty of us old uns around in our series and we tend to clean up
in the longer endurance races 4 hours+

We might not have the ultimate pace and reflexes of an 18 year old but
stamina and physical strength seems to be the order of the day.

Regards

Mark

>>Flat Rock Speedway on Telegraph RD just south of Flat Rock has a kart
>>series that runs on sundays during the summer months. They also have a
>>club called the Thunderbirds. If you call the speedway they can give you
>>info on the racing there. Their number is 734-782-2480. They could also
>>give you numbers to the various kart retailers in the area.

>>I am a late model crew chief for Dan Ford Racing with Dan Ford Jr. as
>>driver. This year we are moving on to the Iceman Series based out of
>>Toledo Ohio.

>>Mike

>Thanks. Is there an age limit? I've always thought of karting racers as
late
>***s to mid-20's. I'm 35, and I don't want to look TOO foolish... :)

>Eldred

>__

>Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
>remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

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