LEAGUE and EVENT CHANGES

Jr and Sr Leagues

We have run 4 and have 8 more on the original calendar.  It was suggested that we continue on and count 10 of the 12 for one big session rather than split.  This seems like a wonderful idea and we plan to follow it.  Thanks for the input.

Friday

We have run 4 and have 5 left in original session 2.  Let’s make session two 9 nights and leave session 3 as it was.  We ran oval last Fri and plan to run it again this week.  If we run it every week, we will have 14 total — maybe count 12?  Elites are a question.  Should we add them on top of the ovals or alternate or what?  Interested parties please let us know.

Points Events

We are adjusting our timeline as the past weeks have shown us positive results.  Drivers meeting will continue at 10:30 (days) and practice will be by class with 3 rounds for each class in race order

Both July events were voted to use a qualifying format.  Heat 1 will be replaced by a qualifying session and given points.  Heat 2 will remain at 6 laps but will use the qualifying order as grid lineup.  Feature will remain 12 laps but will use the Heat 2 finish as the grid lineup.  Heat 1, our qualifying session, will be started when the first kart enters the track and stopped 5 minutes later with a checkered flag.  All laps completed BEFORE the checkered flag will be used to determine best times.  Laps that a driver completes getting the checkered flag will NOT be used to choose best times.

LEAGUES OUTLOOK

We will be having our leagues this week.  Jr, Sr, and Fri will be run this week and we are working on publishing a “new” schedule for the rest of our season.  We have not altered our published schedules since we were not certain exactly what COVID was going to let us do.  If you have ideas, please share them this week as we have been thinking of our rest of season for some time now.

Friday League WILL have oval this week as we determine our final plans.

We intend to be able to “shuffle” karts now that you have helped us not touch ANY karts w/o face coverings (masks or helmets) and gloves.  Thanks for making this work last week.

Watch for future posts this week about our July fun events.

COVID PHASE 4

Well it looks like Illinois will move to phase 4 of the Gov’s plan on Fri June 26.  Primarily, for us, this means groups of 50, rather than 10, are allowed.  Social distancing is still included and ALL the media is showing masks are promoted more than ever across the entire nation.  Illinois cases are declining while some states are borderline “out of control” so maybe the price we paid earlier in the year is paying dividends now.

HOW DOES PHASE 4 CHANGE OUR PLANS?

1. We will no longer have 2 practice sessions per day  —  with larger numbers allowed and LOTS of room for separation, we can accommodate everyone we hope
2. Reservations are STILL encouraged — we will ask you for your estimated arrival time so we can meet you at the gate, as before, to give you a wristband
3. Reservations will CERTAINLY speed up your checkin time
4. Normal hours of 10-sunset will resume
5. ONLY THOSE W/WRISTBANDS IN PADDOCK  —  We will sell driver ($40) AND crew ($15) passes now as we feel we can accommodate all that want to drive
6. Those on grid WILL be expected to wear face coverings

Refer to our COVID tab on the website for up to date info

WEEKLY COVID UPDATE

Well, on Monday, it sure looks like I missed a call on Sat.  My heart definitely wanted to run the event but I have been criticized numerous times for holding on to that premise too long so, after looking at the forecast for heavy rain in early afternoon, I cancelled.  Making that decision and publishing before 8AM limits decision time and rain held off till evening.  This week a COVID update from the Gov is possible since his metrics for moving to the next phase are looking positive.  Our state has been on the conservative side but we are NOT experiencing a large “second wave”, as some states have, which may, in the long run, be a good thing.  If we move to the next phase, I will have to evaluate exactly how that effects us.

We plan to offer Leagues this week as well as our fun event on Sat.  Pre-registration monies will be credited to a future event.  Test and tune times are available w/reservations.

We plan to be CLOSED on Sat July 4 but open other days.  Watch for updates on how a Gov EO will alter our future.

Next FUN EVENT

My weekly post would be remiss if I didn’t mention how good it felt to have our event last Sat.  Comments directed my way would seem we all missed it to a degree.  The COVID experience has altered our life in 2020 and we may have learned some things.

We plan on another similar event this Sat June 20.  Some things were new this past week and we want to continue with those. First was pre-registration and see Matt’s post on how we have reduced the workload for both you and us.  Next was drivers meeting to start the day and we will do that again this week.  Practice was by class with grid lineup in single file which worked well and will be used this week as well.  Those w/o wristbands may occupy the area on the “71” side of the orange gate.  I am told we had a track record (all-time) last week and can not honor it w/o tech.  We will have track records this week in ALL classes to start our 2020 season records.

Now, as Paul Harvey would say, for the rest of the story.  We passed out written instructions upon entrance and discussed items in length at drivers meeting and still some things are frustrating.  There were those who chose to drive AROUND the barrier gate in the grass, leave it open after using it, and TOTALLY ignore that wristbands ARE required in the pits.  Masks or helmets were not always worn on the grid, as specified.  Some forgot, some were careless, and others were defiant.  By the way, we have cameras and I spent some time reviewing this week before making the above statements.  Encouragement and light enforcement did NOT get the job done.

We will have the same wristband and face mask requirements this week.  Most are following the rules but for those few who choose not to we are implementing enforcement.  DQ’s will be applied to points events for infractions.  Racers complain heavily when they feel they were wronged by some other competitor and our staff needs to focus on fair competition first rather than spending our time policing simple rules that some want to dodge.  DQ’s will be classed as sportsmanship which means they are not eligible for drops in calculating season points.

Come and be the fastest in your class in the feature and hold the 2020 track record.  One more week and WRS points start.  Bring your mask and have a good time.

 

LEAGUES Continue this week

We feel we had a successful league program last week, see last week post for details, and will run the same program this week.

1. JR on Wed 6PM drivers meeting
2. SR on Thur 6PM drivers meeting
3. Friday with 7PM drivers meeting

As before, drivers only wristbands and pre-registration available w/cash or credit payment.  Come join us for some fun.

LEAGUES ARE BACK

We will open our JR (Wed), SR(Thur), and Friday Leagues this week.

OUR GOALS

1. Host events that bring a smile to peoples faces
2. Restrict admittance to those who do not have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath
3. DO NOT  increase the chance of becoming COVID positive
4. DO NOT violate the state phase 3 rules
5. Have NO spectators (like NASCAR, NBA, etc)
6. Restrict building access to single occupancy with mask

OUR PLAN

1. JR League (max age Junior high) on Wed w/drivers meeting 6PM in original karts
2. SR League (max age High School) on Thurs w/drivers meeting 6PM in premium karts
3. Friday Night League drivers meeting 7PM in premium karts w/no Oval or Elites this week
4. Pre registration is suggested since entries are limited.  We don’t feel we can properly sanitize karts each run so each driver will select a kart and use it the ENTIRE evening.
5. Enter property and proceed to the orange gate, near concessions
6. STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE and we will bring your wristband to you
7. Only driver wristbands will be sold
8. ONLY THOSE WITH WRISTBANDS WILL BE ALLOWED THROUGH THE GATE
9. Those w/o wristbands must stay on the “71” side of the gate and are asked to maintain social distancing state guidelines.
10. Drivers meeting will be held on bleachers near concessions (so anyone wishing to listen in may do so over the fence)
11. End of night podiums will be on “71” side of orange gate to facilitate photo ops
12. Drivers must have mask or helmet on while in hot grid
13. You may reference the League tab on the website for more details

 

FUN EVENTS COMEBACK

We think we are ready to host some fun events next week.

OUR GOALS

1. Host events that bring a smile to peoples faces
2. Restrict admittance to those who do not have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath
3. DO NOT  increase the chance of becoming COVID positive
4. DO NOT violate the state phase 3 rules
5. Have NO spectators (like NASCAR, NBA, etc)

OUR PLAN for SATURDAY

1. Gates to pits will be closed allowing no access to property (other than driveways)
2. Your group will be limited to 10 MAX and MUST park 30 feet from another group w/no mingling or interaction
3. Open gate to registration at 8:30 AM allowing ONLY one group at a time to register
4. We will sell ONLY hot grid wristbands for drivers and crew
5. Only those with wristbands allowed in pits — Our wristband policy in force
6. Those w/o wristbands may gather on the “71” side of the orange gate near concessions and maintain social distancing state guidelines
7. Those who have preregistered may stay in vehicle and we will come to you with wristbands
8. Grid will be one class at a time assembling in SINGLE FILE
9. All drivers must have helmets on prior to grid entrance and crew (max 1 per driver) must have face masks
10. Once drivers leave front grid area, crew must leave as well with observing allowed in rear of grid (scale area) or outside hot grid.
11. When exiting track, drivers must leave helmets on until after scale/hot grid and any crew (max one per driver) must have face mask

MANDATORY DRIVERS MEETING WILL BE HELD at 10:30 BEFORE ANY TRACK ENTRY.  This will be held out on the track near the scoring tower deck to allow driver separation and those w/o wristbands to listen over the fence.

Many, including myself, are annoyed with COVID  restrictions BUT-BUT-BUT two things will close this place down.  The first is if staff becomes quarantined and the second is violating government guidelines.  We intend to avoid both.

We intend to hold other fun events this next week as well including JR League (Wed), SR League (Thurs) and Friday Night League (Fri).  Look for posts soon to outline plans.

COVID June 1

Well the pandemic has moved to phase 3 in our state.  This gives us more latitude to discern our future.  The message from our Gov has been to do it wisely and conservatively and I believe that is good advice.  We ALL want to race but NONE want to be sick.  We have run practice events the last couple of days and are quite happy that it has gone smoothly.  Phase 3 allows groups of 10.  There are multiple ways to interpret that and we have chosen the most conservative route of 10 people on property for now.

HOW DO WE GET BACK TO THE SPORT WE LOVE?  We spend time each day contemplating what is next.  Can we have multiple groups on property, with separation, and organize some fun?  Should we insist on grid being occupied only w/masks or helmets?  We know that group size is limited so how can we compete and how would we merge smaller groups?  Preregistration, to control crowd size, is working for practice but what guidelines do we want for the next step?  When will we move to phase 4?  Let us know your thoughts so we can design a plan and still stay within guidelines.

Events, other than practice, are cancelled for this week but I would sure like to post something more for next week.  We would certainly like to expand but we must try to avoid contagious practices and defying state guidelines.  Help us design a plan for fun.

OPENING for Practice

I am posting our weekly outlook a bit earlier than Mon this week.  The Gov stated at his press briefing last Mon that the ENTIRE state now met his metrics to move forward.  My guess is he will NOT release the next stage until the deadline of May 28.  Our state is VERY conservative compared to others in the Midwest.  BUT whether you like him or not, whether you voted for him or not, he IS the Gov at this time and making the rules.

I have created a new page on the website called COVID INFO which contains details of our plan.  One of the MAJOR points is RESERVATION ONLY as we will be watched for crowd size.  We will take your calls for reservations NOW.

We are not happy about cancelling our block party but wishing you positive things on your Memorial Day celebration.  First, we need to open and then see where this leads us as for racing.  On a positive note, we got the cracks filled on the racing surface so it should be a bit smoother now.   Stay tuned for changes