Blackhawk Farms

[the_weggie_man]

I spoke to Mike Irwin of Blackhawk Farms the other day and he said they started working on my ideas for turn 5.  Although they didn't go as far as I had suggested, they have removed about 18 trees on the outside of the entrance to 5 and moved the guard rail/tire wall back to the creek area. That should help a lot

They are doing work all the way around 5 by clearing small trees and brush at the exit also to provide more run off area.

I hope to get down there this next week and check it out.  ;D ;D ;D

[Nate R]

Excellent! This makes me feel just a little safer at Blackhawk. I'm glad to see they DO listen to riders' input.

[oh344ccs]

Good, I've only been there once so far, but that barrier was damn close, How much do you think the lap times will fall with the new pavement, and saftey measures?  

[the_weggie_man]

Oh yeah, and I am going to get measurements for turn 4 to possibly get Air Fence Bike put in there.  Maybe turn 5 also after I look at it. After I know how much is needed I will work on the financial side of it with the track, RRW Action Fund and Wegman Fund.

Lap times should drop due to the pavement but please don't let the safety changes lull you into a false sense of security.  You push the limits, you will crash and may get injured no matter what improvements have been made.  Remember it's only for a chunk of wood and maybe a couple bucks.

[spyderchick]

Gordy,
         You've been busy. This news rocks! Thanks for all of your hard work.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

they have removed about 18 trees on the outside of the entrance to 5 and moved the guard rail/tire wall back to the creek area. That should help a lot

Man...  One of those trees was a reference point for me.  Now I'll need a new RP.  I mean, just because it was dangerous...

[dave333]

Remember it's only for a chunk of wood and maybe a couple bucks.

C'mon now!  I must have that chunk of wood!  I am willing to risk all to get that piece of wood and prove what a man I am...   ::)

[EX#996]

Gordy and to the Irwins:

Thank you!

Dawn   :)

[the_weggie_man]

aw shucks wadn't nuttin' .....

Dave333, forgot you have a thing for those $3 trophies, please continue your quest but hopefully at your expense...... ;D ;D ;D

[the_weggie_man]

Visited Blackhawk this afternoon.  They went further than they originally said in turn 5. ;D

Trees are cleared about 60 ft further back from the entrance to 5.  They laid in some culvert pipe and are filling over it by the creek. The entire guard rail that was so close to the track is about 15 ft further back from the track edge.

Extra benefit is that since those trees won't be shading the track all morning there will be better traction through 5 all day now.

I have some photos to develop and will have them at the banquet.  It looks pretty rough right now in the middle of construction but you'll get an idea of what they are doing.

I measured turn 4 and think we can cover it with about 60 ft. of Air Fence Bike.  Mike Irwin said the cost ($6,000) didn't sound too bad and they may pay for it.  If they don't cover all of it then it will get paid for on a coop basis with the track, Wegman Fund and RRW Action Fund.

[Super Dave]

EXCELLENT!

I was worried that the little creek was the problem.  It was, but they have it taken care of.

I'll be helping pay for the repaving...  I'm not sure if I want to know what the cost of renting the track is... :-X

Yes, I will have three indepentant days....

[EX#996]

Yes, I will have three indepentant days....

Three independant days.....   ???

I thought you had all six - or shouldn't I even go there?

Dawn  :-/

[R6Chris760]

It's great to have a guy like SuperDave putting money towards making BHF a better and safer place to race!!!!!!!!!

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Cool. Now how exactly do air fences reinflate themselves? built in blowers? Just curious.

[Super Dave]

Three independant days.....   ???

I thought you had all six - or shouldn't I even go there?

Dawn  :-/

LOL!   ;D  Let me take you on the emotional roller coaster ride...

In early November, I called Blackhawk to schedule my dates with Blackhawk Farms.  I called then because the schedule is basically set after the Midwest Council SCCA decides their schedule.  So, I'm done.  The Monday before Thanksgiving, everything comes apart.  I am informed that CCS has "taken" the dates.  So, I was screwed.  Back and forth. blah, blah, blah...Kevin Elliott concedes three dates for me, he'll have three of his Sport Rider Dates on Monday.  I don't like the dates, they were useless, so we switched them.  But he had made me an offer to do my program during his Sport Rider Days.  By early December, we had talked, and I decided to do it.  I would have six dates with the CCS/SRD before every Blackhawk.  Change the brochures again, and again, then Blackhawk calls me on January 20th wanting to talk to me about the contracts they are sending me.  They have me down for some Monday's too!  Calls, calls, calls, throw away more brochures.  CCE wouldn't let Kevin make the third change to his dates...  So, I am still waiting for a call back from Blackhawk, and the contracts, I will have three of my own dates.  

Are you confused?  I am too.  Too much work for the financial losses that I put up with...  But I love motorcycle racing, so let's go to work, eh? ;D

[EX#996]

Are you confused?  I am too.  Too much work for the financial losses that I put up with...  But I love motorcycle racing, so let's go to work, eh? ;D

Oh my....

What a pain!  Hopefully this with be the ONLY year that you will ever have to experience this.

Dawn   :)

[motomadness]

Dave,

You've got my support.  You're definitely the most visible and most knowledgable person at the track that is willing to assist racers reach their goals.  I look forward to both of my classes with you.

[Eric Kelcher]

Weggie Man
Email me I sent you a PM

[Nate R]

Dave,
So, if I take your school in August, there will be others on track at the same time, or just less on track time, but alone?

[Super Dave]

Dave,
So, if I take your school in August, there will be others on track at the same time, or just less on track time, but alone?

Your mileage may vary...  terms and conditions apply...

LOL!  Good questions.  August should be my date with CCS during the sport rider day.  So, My three groups will be intermingling with the three sport rider groups.  I will have something that we will use to identify our children, and they can further identify the instructors.

You'll have to pay a gate fee for the CCS date.

I imagine that there might be a similar amount of track time.  You get tons of time as it is.  It's making the most of the time is the trick.  

When I have my program, we usually have a special session devoted completely to starts.  You can go and do like 20 of them.  I usually run the boards and give color commentary(LOL!).  I have complete flexiblity, and I should have a sponsor for lunch.

How will it differ?  The costs are not that far apart, so I suspect that they will all be good.  There are certain numbers that Kevin Elliott and I came up with for reasonable density  between us.  So, I don't think there will be a huge issue with too many riders on the track.  And if I fill up the program on Thursday for CCS, well, they would be happy with that too...

[the_weggie_man]

Dave, you don't have enough threads going on this thing? This was about the track safety improvements, not your dealing with the track....... ::)      

[Dawn]

Dave, you don't have enough threads going on this thing? This was about the track safety improvements, not your dealing with the track....... ::)      

Sorry Gordy, I kinda started down that path.   :-/

Sometimes these treads seem to take on a different path all their own.

Dawn   :)

[Super Dave]

Yes, yes...

Safety, safety...

Then a tangent...

[chris_chops]

C'mon now!  I must have that chunk of wood!  I am willing to risk all to get that piece of wood and prove what a man I am...   ::)

Who is this? You is funny!

[SliderPhoto]

You'll have to pay a gate fee for the CCS date.

Dave, are you sure about that? I think there is a gate fee on weekends but not at their track days during the week--a non race/spectator event.

[Super Dave]

Yes, $5 per person...

[SliderPhoto]

Yes, $5 per person...

LOL! Well, they really know how to pack a track day.  ::)