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Before writing about silly, unimportant things like kart racing I feel the need to comment on the events of September 11th, 2001. Our country our people and our way of life have been viciously attacked by cowards. I only have one thing to say. "KICK ASS U.S.A.!"
See! I told you that no improvements had been done to IRP. The straight is nice though. That's OK since we knew going in that it was going to be rough. Attendance was down somewhat from years past probably with several reasons including the rough track, the conflict with DMSS Gingerman and the backlash from the horror in New York and Washington. A recent talk with IRP's operations manager indicated that they are acutely aware of the deteriorating Road Course and are examining options of outside funding for improvements. No promises but maybe, just maybe there is hope for the future. If not the track will soon be just too dangerous, witness the fact the WERA motorcycle road racing group has pulled their events from IRP until improvements are made.
I waited to write this column until I cooled down. I felt that the IRP event was poorly managed in many respects. Lots of silly stuff like the inability to run even close to schedule, an accidental red flag (?), continual miscommunications, etc. This is not a swipe at CES! Indy Kart Club an organization of which I am a former board member (remember I said former board member.) Managed to take a minor cluster and snowball it the entire weekend into a major cluster. Major gaffs included a poorly timed announcement regarding their withdrawal from CES which I am not completely convinced is a done deal, and the way they seemed to be more interested in promoting the Saturday night race inside the oval by SIRA than their own CES points race. Sunday was a classic any way you look at it. For some unknown reason, IKC decided to share some track time with the local truck and late model series for a piddling amount of cash. And when the truck guys weren't ready for their early morning practice, they were allowed to take to the track in the middle of the day spraying oil, fuel and little 'trucky' parts around the track for one hour and forty two minutes despite approaching bad weather. The end result was the rains came with less than one hour of racing to go. You do the math! To add insult to injury the rest of the day was canceled as soon as the first rain drops fell but forty-five minutes later the corner workers are back out as the trucks took to the now dry track. As luck would have it the rains returned and washed out the truck program.
Hopefully lessons were learned by all involved, but I fear that it will degenerate into a finger pointing session. Those that do not learn from their mistakes are destined to repeat them.
In the meanwhile, good luck to everyone going to the CES final at Gingerman! My next stop will be at Mid Ohio with Dart Kart and SKUSA. The season isn't over yet and the Fat Lady is not singing but I think I hear her warming up backstage.
Until next time Race Hard, Race Safe!
God Bless America!
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