GCKI April 2010 Newsletter

[John Bartos]

April 2010 – GCKI Newsletter

Sunday April 11th is Spring Race 5 at GCKI. Great weather is predicted, and we look forward to another strong turn-out of some of the best kart racers anywhere in the world.

Quite simply – If you have not been out to the track in the last two weeks you will be pleasantly SHOCKED. We went out there this last Sunday and almost didn’t recognize the place. A new foundation of crushed brick has been laid down; professional grading has been accomplished along with new drainage. New power receptacles have been installed on high-strength poles serving each pit position and the entire electrical system has been upgraded. So many thanks go out to a select group of our club members who literally lived and breathed with our hired contractors leading the effort and providing guidance. Great job!

April 10th- Track Work Day – Track Closed
As we have planned since the beginning of the season and as has been posted on our calendar, the front page of the website, and in forum postings – This coming Saturday – April 10th is designated as a facility workday. The track will be closed to practice during the duration of the work period. It is expected that many of our 300-strong membership will turn out to pitch-in in our efforts to make GCKI THE premier karting facility in the U.S.

We will begin the workday at 9:00am. It is expected that we will be able to wrap up around 2:00 in the afternoon to permit everyone who worked that day to get in a little practice time prior to Sunday’s big race. (And – quite frankly, anyone who pulls in their rig late in the afternoon not having helped in our efforts will not be viewed all too kindly by all those who worked on your behalf.)

The following list of activities is planned along with others that will be identified during the course of the session. Please be sure to bring appropriate Personal Protective Equipment – gloves, earplugs, safety glasses, sunscreen, hats, water and other personal drinks, etc. Also, bring what you can in terms of lawn-and-garden equipment, special tools, ladders, etc.

o Mow Grass – Tom Zulim has generously volunteered to bring out his heavy equipment to whack down the jungle that has sprung up inside the racing perimeter. We’ll ask that no-one venture into that area while Tom is driving to avoid the possibility of being struck by flying debris.

o Purchase Paint and Re-Stencil pit runners / Grid – Bartos (me) has the stencils and will bring along with the proper high-coverage parking-lot paint.

o The front of the property along the fence line to street, needs to be cleaned, mowed, weed eaten – We’ll need lots of able bodies with weed eaters, rakes, leaf blowers, etc.

o Brush needs to be removed inside the fence blocking parking. (see above)

o The edge of the track needs to be weed-eaten including around all of the curbing.

o THE PA SYSTEM – Our PA System was knocked out during the electrical work and re-grading. We need to do a stop-gap effort to get a few of the speakers working in the pits and paddock for Sunday’s race. The long-term plan will be to contract the installation of a high-quality PA prior to the SWRC and the remainder of the club’s races.

o There are lots of big bushes that need to be cut. - Need chainsaws in case we find something we need to cut.

o Need to get some anchors to attach the barriers to the ground. 10 screw-in anchors and some lightweight rope to the barriers will keep them from blowing or floating out of place. – If someone can volunteer to get these prior to Sunday, submit the bill to Bill Choice for reimbursement. (Post that you will be doing so on the workday forum posting, so we don’t get overlap). Otherwise, we’ll organize a Home-Depot run after we set the logistics of Saturday’s work plans.

o Need to bring some sprayers for ants and weed killer. (Again – buy the chemicals, bring with you, post that you’ll be doing so, and get reimbursed.)

o The big gate pole was hit some time ago and the gate does not line up. Take a chain hoist or something and pull the pole straight so the gate lines up properly.

o Check grading along pit runners. Look for minor low or soft spots. Assure 100% of runners are usable. - Rakes and shovels and strong backs.

o Scrap the old picnic bench

o Purchase new picnic benches – Mike Hewitt will be getting these

o General clean-up of clubhouse – Scrubbing supplies and rubber gloves

o General clean-up of the surrounding grounds – Trash grippers, plastic bags and gloves.

Please remember that GCKI is an all-volunteer, member-owned club. The more everyone gets involved and pitches in – the better it will be for all. The more people we have working the faster we’ll get on the track for Saturday practice.




Burger King Rotax Max Challenge at Gulf Coast Karters
April 11th will be race 2 of the Burger King Rotax Max Challenge at Gulf Coast Karters. For racers who wish to participate in the series, it is quite simple. You will need your Rotax license. The cost is $35 and Dave Paul has generously offered to provide a 3G Kart Racing $35 gift certificate to anyone who signs up and designates their “Home Series” as the Burger King Rotax Max Challenge at Gulf Coast Karters. Beyond that we will charge an additional $5 for your entry fee which will be paid directly to the national sanctioning body - the Rotax Max Challenge Series. You will have to bring your license to registration and your engine passport to technical inspection. Please contact 3G at (281)599-0851 with any questions. I am sure they will be glad to help in any way.

For racers in any of the Rotax classes who do not wish to participate in the series, nothing will change for you on a given race weekend. Simply come out and race as you always have. It will be transparent to you.

It is important to note that GCKI has received clearance to combine classes as we see fit on race weekends. That means that we may elect to (and most likely will) have non-Rotax classes mixed in with Rotax entries. All racers will be gridded as in the past, according to qualifying times or heat finishing order.

Burger King Rotax Max Challenge at Gulf Coast Karters 2010 Schedule
March – 21 st
April – 11th
May – 1 st SWRC Bonus Points Race
May – 2 nd SWRC Bonus Points Race
May – 16 th
June – 20 th
August – 22 nd
September – 5 th Labor Day Classic
October – 3 rd
November – 7 th


Sponsors
In each newsletter, I’ll strive to highlight some of our great sponsors who are supporting us throughout the year, and who are helping to make many of the things we are doing possible.

FASTECH Racing – If you’ve been to the first four races in the GCKI Spring Series you may already have been a benefactor of this great sponsor’s generosity. FASTECH Racing has provided GCKI with many-many $20 gift certificates that are assigned during a “lottery” at driver registration and then distributed at our driver’s meetings. The good folks at FASTECH can mail-order supply you with just about any part you need to keep your kart running strong. Their fully-categorized website is one of the most intuitive I’ve found to do business with. Click on their link on the GCKI home page and begin your shopping experience. “Ladies and Gentlemen – Start Your Credit Cards!”

Margison Graphics – If you’ve ever been to the track and noticed a great looking kart and wondered where they got their cool-looking graphics, there is a good chance they came from this great GCKI sponsor. I can personally vouch for the quality of the products and services provided by the fine folks at Margison Graphics, as everyone one of those pink karts you’ve ever seen at the track is wrapped in high-quality Margison Graphics supplied vinyl. They have a large selection of pre-designed graphics on their site and will be able to provide you with help in getting that custom look you desire exactly right. They also screen-print custom T-Shirts and have even supplied GCKI with every one of the signs that grace our facility. Click on their link on our home page and professionalize your team’s look today.

Check out these 2010 sponsors as well as our many other great partners via the links at www.racekarts.com


2010 Rules
Remember to take advantage of the new rules for 2010 that enable more economical racing on our weekends and reward our members for their voluntary efforts.

Members who wish to race more than one kart will pay the full entry fee of $40 for the first kart, a reduced rate of $20 for the second kart and can even race a 3rd kart if they wish for FREE.

Since GCKI is a member-owned, all-volunteer club, it is critical for members to get involved in a positive way. To enable that, we are going to encourage members to participate in race weekends by working available roles to earn valuable season championship points. The new rules read as follows:

Work Points – Each member or member’s designated volunteer who elects to works a race event will receive first place plus ten points for each event worked (up to a maximum of one race per class per series or 110 points). Worker substitutes are allowed but no work points will be awarded to members whose name does not appear on the work sheet prior to the drivers meeting on the race day. If a member competes in fewer than five races in the race series (Spring or Fall) in which the work credit is earned, the 110 points will be credited as an additional race in the season points total. If a member competes in five or more races in the race series (Spring or Fall) in which the work credit is earned, the 110 points will be substituted for the lowest race day score of that season and added to the remaining four highest points scores to calculate the season points total. If a driver is disqualified for any reason in the final class heat, the driver cannot use work points for this race event. Worker points may only be applied to the race series (Spring or Fall) during which the actual work day participation occurs. A limited number of qualifying worker positions will be available during each race series and worker positions will be posted prior to each race. These positions will be filled on a first come first served basis.

A sign-up post has been established on the GCKI forums. If you want to earn your Spring championship points – go there and sign up for one of the available positions. Please note that workers will have to be age 14 and above for safety reasons. Surrogates and designees are certainly welcome.

Always remember, GCKI is a member-owned, volunteer-operated club. The more effort everyone puts into it the better it will be!

John Bartos