ENDURANCE RACE to honor MATT BIGOS

We will be hosting a race to honor Matt Bigos and a major portion of the entry money will go to the benefit of his choice.  Thank you Corey Domenick for leading this effort.   Now for details…………….

WHO’S MATT BIGOS — Matt was an avid kart racer who raced at CHMS and other racetracks in the area and across the nation.  If you competed in HPV during the mid 2000 years, you may have run into him.  His most recent challenge was driving at the Joliet Speedway in a NASCAR experience.

BENEFIT — Matt’s share of the entry fees will go to benefit the Buddy Foundation.  The Buddy Foundation is on a mission to provide immediate safety and care to stray, abused, and abandoned animals.  If you, or someone you know, is interested in having a pet, this is a place you should consider looking.

RACE DETAILS — This will be a 2 hour endurance race with our premium karts.  We are targeting this at a 3 person team but teams can be ANY size.  During the pit stops, you may change drivers and/or get a different kart with a full fuel load.  Karts hold 6 quarts of fuel and burn ~ 1 gal/hr.  Choose your team, your team name, and call to reserve your spot as space will be limited.

• Date — 28APR19 with a rain date of 19MAY19
• 9:00 sign in
• 9:20 practice sessions for each driver
• 9:45 Drivers meeting
• 10:00 Green flag
• 5 mandatory timed pit stops including at least one fuel stop
• Cost is $300/team pre-register and $350 the week before race
• Cost includes practice, driver passes, and insurance
• Prizes — Concept Cash commensurate with entries

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CERTIFICATE DEADLINE

Those that got certificates at the banquet need to redeem them before Mar 15.  You may use only one per transaction item.  Those that have Concept Cash will not have this time limit.

Oh yah and daylight savings time starts this Sun but when is the warmth coming?

FEATURE WINNER STICKERS

At the recent racer meeting, a request was made for stickers for the winners of features in addition to the trophy earned.  We have heard you, ordered them, and received them.  They will be passed out with trophies at our events.  We look forward to seeing them on your kart or helmet.

ACADEMIES

We have received limited input since the racer meeting, but some valuable thought out ideas.  Here is how we see this summer program.

JR HIGH ACADEMY

• We will run 2 – 7 races sessions (counting 6)
• Drivers meeting 6PM
• Session 1 dates, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Jun 5, 12
• Session 2 dates, July 17, 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21, 28
• Cost = $260 (includes driver pass) plus kart insurance (optional) for $50
• Practice session (on same day as race) for $130
• Format = 5 min warm-up, 2-6 lap heat races, 10 lap feature
• Points for feature only

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY

• We will run 2 – 5 race sessions (counting 5)
• Drivers meeting 6PM
• Session 1 dates, May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27
• Session 2 dates, July 25, Aug 1, 8, 15, 22
• Cost = $200 (includes driver pass) plus kart insurance (optional) for $40
• Practice session (on same day as race) for $100
• Format = 5 min warm-up, 2-6 lap heat races, 10 lap feature
• Points for feature only

We have been encouraged to look at ballasting drivers, especially High School, and while I know what weights work for other venues, we will test after the weather breaks and before the first race to determine the effects on academies.

Sign-up for these events starts now.

 

 

 

 

FALLEN RACER

It is with a heavy heart, I report to you that we have one less driver among us.  Randy Howe has been battling cancer for some time now and has succumbed to it’s grip.  Randy was a figure in ours Masters class ranks.  Randy purchased a kart years back and struggled to be competitive.  He spent the extra effort to practice until he was definitely noticed this past season.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

STAFF UPGRADE

Those who were at the racer meeting got a chance to meet our newest staff member.  Matt James has joined us and will help lead our office regime.  Matt comes to us with past experience in dealing with customers on a retail basis as well as past service in drivers education training.  Matt will be available to solve your needs as we approach the time we staff the office daily.  Call Matt, or better yet, stop by for a visit.

RACER MEETING RESULTS

Thank you to ALL that attended and an even bigger thank you to those who contributed to the agenda so we could ALL consider the important points.

PRO RACE IDEAS  —-  There was concern about cold temps in early April so we will start our 12 race season on April 27.  We will count your best 11 for the season championship.  There will be 2 possible rain dates.  These dates will ONLY be used if some of the original 12 are cancelled.  See schedule for details.  Evening race schedule continues for June, July, August dates.  CLARIFICATION ASKED—As our rules package states, points are given for taking the green flag.  We intend to have small feature winner stickers (helmet size) for feature winners.  Qualifying was discussed at length but we will stay with our 2 heat system of qualifying for the feature.  A weight change for the senior class was entertained but since few were present, it will be reviewed with the entire class early in the season.  We will have 1 race on alternate track (including inter loop) mid season.

FNL — Organized group suggested we stay with the 2 heats (more wheel to wheel) rather than the qualifying sessions.  Weight remains 200, max 50, back part of race group will not get weighed.  Schedule on website.  Oval on even numbered races — count 10 of 12 for season.  Elite karts, as an extra (prac/qual and feature) on big track on nights oval does not run.  Parade lap suggested — will try.  7 of 8 for session.  21 of 24 for season.  We will have winners helmet stickers.

JR HIGH ACADEMY & HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY — It was suggested we not start this until after memorial day.  If we run 2-7 race sessions, that puts us deep into SEP to finish.  Some questions still exist with this program.  Do we run 5 (like last year) counting all 5, or do we run 7 counting 6?  These academies will run on weekday evenings but NOT on the same night.  Cost will be similar to last year.  Do we run 2 long prac/qual sessions or 2 heat races to set the order for features?  In other words, driver vs driver OR driver vs track.  Do we start the season around first of MAY (like last year)?  Those interested in these programs should give us input so we can finalize in the next few weeks.

UNLIMITED RENTAL RIDES  —  This is a NEW opportunity to pay a monthly fee and choose 1 or 2 days per month for unlimited rides.  Watch for more details on this soon.

 

Racer meeting AGENDA page 2

Here are some additional thoughts for dialogue on Sun @ 2PM in the showroom.

RACEDAY

Stickers/decals for race winners — possibly rather than trophies

JR HIGH ACADEMY

Last year we ran 3 5 race sessions with additional rain dates.  This year we are considering 2 sessions of 7 races (counting 6) without rain dates (to reduce schedule confusion).  Wed eve seemed to work well.  Pricing as last year.  We are considering the new format presented for FNL as below.  Junior high students ONLY.

A new format has come to our attention.  This would replace the two heat races with two lengthy prac/qual sessions.  Your best times in these sessions, rather than your finishing position, would grid you for the feature lengthened to 12 laps for nightly points.

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY——NEW

We would run a very similar program to JR HIGH (above) for HIGH SCHOOL students.  This would run on a weekday but not both on the same day.

RENTAL SEASON PASS  NEW–NEW–NEW

This is a season pass, with a monthly cost, that allows UNLIMITED rental driving, on any day we do rentals, for 1 or 2 days per month.  Look for more details in the weeks to come.

 

 

 

Racer meeting AGENDA

Our racer meeting is coming up this Sun @ 2PM in our showroom.  In an effort to let people know items that will be discussed, I am putting some of our thoughts about discussion topics so you can be prepared for a meaningful dialogue.

RACE SCHEDULE THOUGHTS

Avoiding ALL holidays, ALL Cup Karts races, and ALL Rt 66 races leaves us with 14 racedays as follows:  APR 6,13,27 MAY 18 JUN 15,22,29 JUL 20 AUG 3,10,24 SEP 7,14,28.  Our thoughts at this point are: Run 12, Count 11, 2 Rain dates, evening schedule for JUN, JUL, AUG.  It has been suggested IF we run alternate track, we establish track records for that as well.

FRIDAY NIGHT LEAGUE —– Sponsored by G&I Electric

Session 1 schedule:  MAR 29 APR 5,12,26 MAY 3,10,17,31

Session 2 schedule JUN 7,14,21,28 JUL 12,19,26 AUG 2

Session 3 schedule  AUG 9,16,23 SEP 6,13,20,27 OCT 4

Our thoughts:  Count 7 of 8/session, Count 21 of 24 for season, Rainouts double next night, Oval on even numbered nights for 12 races, counting 10, run Elite karts (as an extra) on night w/o oval races.

Questions include: weight 190 vs 200, larger parade lap for race starts, alternate track pattern, and possible format change (see below).

A new format has come to our attention.  This would replace the two heat races with two lengthy prac/qual sessions.  Your best times in these sessions, rather than your finishing position, would grid you for the feature lengthened to 12 laps for nightly points.

Watch for another post about JR & SR (new) Academy along with other ideas in a day or two.

 

SAVE THE DATE

CHMS will again hold a racer meeting on Sunday the 10th of Feb at 2:00PM in the track shop.  This is the Sunday between the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500.  I will publish a list of topics that are being considered prior to the meeting so all can consider them before arriving.  Please email ideas for improvements so they can be included on our list.  Ideas for racedays, along with rental karts, leagues (Jr & Sr) and the like will be considered.  If you plan to drive at CHMS in 2019, it will be worth your time to attend and your voice will be heard.