"Yes Virginia, There is a Spring"
March 6, 2003
Spring is coming! No! Really I mean it! I know, I know! It is 25 degrees and flurries of snow are buzzing outside my window as this is being written but it won't be long now. The KART/MARRS/MSSS (Geez) opener at Gateway is just five weeks away.
2003 should be a banner year for road racing as the number of co-hosted events and the resulting reduced number of conflicts will result in larger entries per event. This would be a good time to hope that international tensions, economy problems and silly gas prices don't undo the good work that has been done.
Ahhh, a perfect world! Well not really, but a guy can hope can't he? The compromise class structure in the co-hosted events in the 125 classes is an improvement over what might have been, but my simple suggestion of "Hey! Let's just follow the rulebook," was ridiculed once again. Sometimes I wonder!
All of the swap meets, expos, fests and shows are pretty well behind us by now. The only thing left is to get ready to go racing if you haven't already. Team Rapid Racing is pretty well ready to go, (well, almost ready) but it appears that a lot of people have been dragging their feet up until now. The spring rush is well and truly under way here at the shop and needless to say we are busier than a one-armed paperhanger in a windstorm.
Reports are that the Speed Channel coverage of The CART/Stars of Tomorrow race from Vegas has been very well received. With a little luck, that should mean that our favorite form of motorsport might have and increasing presence on TV. Undoubtedly if that happens the sport will grow and grow quickly. Growth will bring some growing pains but hopefully the end result will justify the means.
Has anyone seen the new magazine KARTSPORT? Great photography and a flashy graphics package should make this new rag a success. Time will tell if the "In Your Face" approach to kart racing journalism will fly long term, but as I said, time will tell. At least now there are two magazines when we include Shifter Kart Illustrated that a kart racer can show to an acquaintance or co-worker that will result in something other than a puzzled look. I also understand that both of these kart racing mags are starting to show up at Barnes & Noble and other magazine racks across the nation. This added publicity can be nothing but good.
Looking out the window here at Rancho Rapid I notice that the snow flurries are getting a little more serious, but, hope springs eternal and with a little luck we won't have to shovel snow off of the pit lane when racing season arrives shortly. That might make some great stories for the grand kids someday though. I can hear it now. "You think you got it bad Sonny? I remember when we had to push our karts to the grid in three feet of snow five miles uphill both ways!"
Okay, okay, that's enough of this drivel. Time to finish up a few loose ends on "Lucille" and get ready to go racing. Oh Yeah! The Gooseman (?) says "Hey".
Until next time Race Hard, Race Safe and God Bless America!
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