I am very excited to have the opportunity to introduce a new venue for our next monthly meeting, which will be held at On Track Karting in Brookfield, CT:

100 Silvermine Road
Brookfield, CT 06804

Check them out at:
http://www.ontrackkarting.com/locations/brookfield/

Tentative Schedule:
7:00pm to 7:45pm Hang out and catch up with friends in parking lot
7:45pm Pizza and drinks in their "paddock" by the indoor track
8:15pm Registration and safety video
8:30pm Kart racing (optional - great to watch as well)
9:00pm Wrap-up

Before you start thinking that these are little electric go-karts with no speed, they are Sodi GT5s with gasoline engines and no governor. Top speed is about 40 MPH, which is pretty damn fast for an interior track.

Pizza and drinks will be funded by the club but laps on the track will cost $15.00 per person for an eight minute race. This is $10 less than the "walk-in" rate and $5.00 less than the "member" rate.

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL TROPHY AWARDED FOR THE CLUB MEMBER WITH THE FASTEST SINGLE LAP TIME.

On track Karting provides everything you will need to race including a head sock, helmet and neck brace (in various sizes).

Please plan on joining us for a fun-filled evening and your chance to hold kart bragging rights until next year!

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Ross Williams
1978 280Z Black Pearl Edition 38k Original Miles

AWESOME! I was thinking of suggesting this at some point!

$15 for 8 minutes is a nice discounted price, too!

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Justin
1986 Z31 NA 2+0

WHOOOHOOOO! YEEEEHAWWW!

Skinny little lightweight dudes rule in this sport!

"Straightaways are for fast GoKarts. Turns are for fast drivers".

Thanks to whomever set this up for us!

Frank T

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1970 240Z

In the league races at On Track, they add ballast for lighter drivers.

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Justin
1986 Z31 NA 2+0

As soon as I read about a trophy being given away I thought of you being the favorite!




Frank
You took the words right out of my mouth. You won't see me taking that trophy home! Unless they are going to have weight classes.

I am coming to this meeting. I have to do some major schedule shifting. I already asked my boss if I can work first shift. Got the approval but my daughter is graduating from preschool that morning so I will have to leave work for a bit.

I will be bring the 260! It is going to be a 110 mile journey and almost 2 hours each way. Will be a good exercise for ZCON.

God I am hoping for good weather!

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Adam Perry
Datsun 260Z

I'm flattered! I don't have a whole lot of kart seat time, but I guess I'm alright.

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Justin
1986 Z31 NA 2+0

Ooooo...this should be a good one. These karts are indeed a good time...Pops and I have been to GPNY a few times - I believe they use the same karts.

I always thought it would be fun to do this in the Winter too - CTZCC vs NYZCC??....mwhahhah!!!

Hopefully work doesn't get in the way...I should be able to make this! Now if they'd only let me sneak in my Rotax kart...

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Colin F. Gentle
1970 Datsun 240z #11137

Hahaha!

Scott Sharp began racing in GoKarts. Bob says little 8 year old Scotty came to him one busy day at the beginning of the 1974 IMSA racing season and asked permission to start racing Karts after school. Bob (too busy to ask many questions and still remembering the lawnmower-speed GoKarts of his youth), laughed and thought, "GoKarts! Yeah! Cute! Sounds like fun for the little fellah" and signed permission. Scott bounced away happily and began his career while Daddy Bob left with his Z-cars and team to defend his C-Production Championship title.

Months later, as the season calmed down a bit, Bob found himself home btwn races on a day when Scott (who was doing quite well in his new sport) had an important race scheduled. Bob went along and sat in the bleachers with Carol to watch, just to support his son.

He says he wasn't expecting the incredible speed of the new 90mph Twin-McCullough GoKarts Scott had been driving, or the intensity of the desperate wheel-to-wheel competition those kids displayed. It scared him to death! Here was the 6-time SCCA/IMSA Road Racing world Champion at the peak of his career, with his heart in his mouth trying to breathe as he watched his 'little boy' win (yet another) hub-to-hub wheels-off-the-ground race at speeds Bob simply wasn't expecting. Eight-year-old Scotty won 50 of his 75 races that year, and launched his own racing career. Bob says he started looking at his kid with different eyes.

After the race, Bob went down to examine the Karts and wound up sitting in one for a tryout. He says he got it up to about 70mph (2/3 the Kart's potential) and was scared to death, riding 3" above the pavement. He had second thoughts about letting Scotty play with these things, but of course by then it was all too late ~ Scott Sharp had been bitten by the racing bug and actually beat his Dad's racing record many times over the coming years.

Bob tells this story much better than I do, and I'll bet he would really enjoy attending this meeting!

Some Indoor Karting tips for beginners:
http://youtu.be/kvGolkcGGHo

Here a seasoned Indoor Karter uses inside lines to push his quick 2-stroke Kart thru amateur traffic riding slower 4-stroke Karts. As his tires heat up and his fuel tank empties, his Kart actually gets quicker:

http://youtu.be/U33mwdobbmw

And here's an example of outdoor Karting, where speeds can reach 3 digits on some courses. Note how the driver kisses the outside wall @06:26, shaves off speed and adds a full second btwn himself and the lead Kart.

http://youtu.be/dVGbFkIq5Ys

I've seen outdoor Karts with aerodynamic fairings, inboard disc brakes, twin engines, gearboxes and some suspension! These are just min-racers which take advantage of every racing trick their big brothers developed over the years. I have no idea how much a quick Kart might cost today?



Frank T

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1970 240Z

The idea for this meeting came 100% from the mind of Ross...and a great idea it is.

Plus, this will be the perfect "warm-up" event for our June 29th day at Limerock with Bob Sharp!

Thanks, Ross!

- Jim

Great idea for a Z meeting. Looking forward to this event.

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2007 350Z Grand Touring Roadster "OURZ"

Here's an in-house video explaining all the rules/regs. of the track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_66zaGJi4e0

And here's another video that will give you a sense of the speed, handling and acceleration of these "carts".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqc1Fumx9Ak

See you on the 12th!

- Jim

awesome! my friend Charlie has been trying to get me to go for a long time. he made a video of a few of his sessions at Brookfield. he is a former Skip Barber racer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP4uSwP5jEU

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Stoked! Should be a fun one!

More info:

I stopped by On Track Karting in Brookfield yesterday and spoke with Jason, the general manager.

They are all ready for us so I'm sure it's going to be a great evening. The place is only a year old, is immaculate and very spacious.

I spent about 20 minutes watching (in disbelief) some of the racing...to say I was amazed is an understatement.

Not only are these carts FAST, they handle and hug the track so well (the tires are far on the outside and the cart has a very low center of gravity) you can drive them much more aggressively than you could any street car.

Take my word for it: you will not want to miss this meeting...

- Jim

(Pant pant pant pant pant!)

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1970 240Z