Wow.. car guys like it rough!

[OmniGLH]

Okay so since I haven't raced since Daytona this spring, I've really been itching to get out there and do SOME kind of competition.  So I signed up for this semi-league thing at Chicago Indoor Racing (http://www.chicagoindoorracing.com) - a big indoor Go-Kart place.  The karts are pretty fast, and 99% of the time, it's 18 and over only, so it keeps a lot of the annoying soccer moms and punk kids out who want to "play on the karts."  It's usually filled with racers, or at least, race fans.

I've spent some time there before doing their "arrive and drive" deal... which is pretty much just show up and run fun races.  Whenever I do those, there's usually 1-2 guys out there faster than me, and it's always been a blast (they were always super cool, and I enjoy having someone to chase.)  Well tonight was QUITE a bit different.  Holy crap I've never been bumped, nudged, hit, or spun more times in all the times I've been there combined, than I did tonight.  Passes were far from clean, guys were playing it Gran-Turismo style using each other as berms or as an extra set of brakes.  In between qualifying sessions, I listened in on one of the officials giving advice to a few of the guys... and here he's telling them how to bump guys in a way that it wouldn't be considered a penalty (rough racing gets you a stop-and-go if you're lucky, or a DQ if you're not) but would still cause the guy in front to get f'ed up.

Anybody here do some time racing wheel-to-wheel in a car?  Are these guys this rough with one another?  To be honest, it was REALLY f-ing frustrating to have a guy behind me bump-bump-SHOVE me into a barrier to make his way past me.  It was always my impression that it was the job of the faster guy to make a clean pass (??)  You faster than me?  Want to get around me?  Fine... then figure out how to pass me.  Sheezus.  I always try my best to make a pass as clean as possible.. and usually, my passes don't interrupt the guy I'm passing.  I guess that's only a cycle-racer thing?

After the race... nobody wanted to talk, BS, bench race.  I said, "Nice race!" to one of the guys I battled it out with in the main event,and he just looked at me and said "Hmph."  Everybody sat down at separate tables, quiet.  

SUCH a difference from a motorcycle racing event, where everyone is family, and a good on-track battle just means even better more exciting BS'ing with each other off the track.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Anybody here do some time racing wheel-to-wheel in a car?  Are these guys this rough with one another?  To be honest, it was REALLY f-ing frustrating to have a guy behind me bump-bump-SHOVE me into a barrier to make his way past me.  It was always my impression that it was the job of the faster guy to make a clean pass (??)  You faster than me?  Want to get around me?  Fine... then figure out how to pass me.  Sheezus.  I always try my best to make a pass as clean as possible.. and usually, my passes don't interrupt the guy I'm passing.  I guess that's only a cycle-racer thing?

After the race... nobody wanted to talk, BS, bench race.  I said, "Nice race!" to one of the guys I battled it out with in the main event,and he just looked at me and said "Hmph."  Everybody sat down at separate tables, quiet.  

 

1989 was the last time I drove open wheel. Was NOTHING like that (well except my first few races I touched side pods on other cars a few times with my wheels, but that ended real quick when I got cornered in the garage by a few older drivers ;D ). Even when I got the chance to race my team's T/A mustang, I dont remember ever bumping someone to pass them or use them as a berm or brake.

Sounds like you got a bunch of napcar wanna-be's where that kind of behaviour is encouraged. If I was in your shoes, I would be getting in contact with the race director/organizer (I'm assuming this is a league) about the ref condoning bumping. Not only is it unsportsmanlike conduct, its damaging the cars. Accidental contact is one thing, thats another.


Jim, rememebr the first CLSB trackday? SCCA regionals was being held there the sat and sun before. I got there sunday night about 5 to camp and seen a few formula ford guys who had Van Diemen chassis. So I went over to look at the new ones (I ran one back in 87-89) and my god, talk about SNOTTY ARROGANT PRUCKS. From what I've been hearing the midwest SCCA guys are not exactly "friendy" people. Nothing like when I was in cali racing SCCA which was more like how CCS is here. Everyone helped each other out. We even loaned one of my backup engines to a guy who shoe stringed it after he blew his only motor up in practice. I guess the attitude must be a recent development in this area.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Screw 'em.  I've been on both sides of the car/bike coin.  That's why I race bikes.  There was a bunch of stuff in HIGHSIDE! comparing the attitudes of car and bike racers, but I was advised by my editor to take it out so as not to alienate the entire market of car-guy readers....

[Super Dave]

Don't think road course guys bump too much.  I know that some MC racers that go car racing are considered "agressive" because they go for the holes that are available.

But then again, you were driving a go cart...who cares.  We raced go carts with some well known AMA guys at Brainerd on year...Dale Quarterley's whole objective was to make people crash.

[OmniGLH]

Okay thanks for some of the comments... glad to hear that maybe I just found myself in a class full of guys with bad attitudes.

Though now that Rob mentions it... I recall my cousin crew'd for some open-wheeled team a 5-6 years ago.  I remember him saying that everyone there had an attitude.  I guess he was right.

I just don't understand the c*ckyness.  One of the first things I learned when I started racing was that no matter how hot you think you are - there's always somebody faster.  Unless you're Valentino Rossi, Jeff Gordon, Michael Schumacher, or whoever your racing hero is... you have no right to be an ass.  

That's ok tho.  I'll go back next month with a new attitude.  Maybe I'll bring a few cycle guys with me, and show these guys how it's done.  We ran a track configuration that only league guys get to run... and it was my first time out.  I made it halfway through the main event before I figured the track out... and my best lap time with traffic would've landed me 3rd in qualifying.  I have more in me.  Next month, I'm winning this shiz.  Probably won't make any new friends doing it.

[OmniGLH]

Sounds like you got a bunch of napcar wanna-be's where that kind of behaviour is encouraged. If I was in your shoes, I would be getting in contact with the race director/organizer (I'm assuming this is a league) about the ref condoning bumping. Not only is it unsportsmanlike conduct, its damaging the cars. Accidental contact is one thing, thats another.

I thought about it.  But the last thing I want is some sort of protest-war on my hands.  I'll just change my driving style a bit for next time.  I'll call up my long lost friend Mr. Shallcross for some help with "aggressive" techniques  ;)

[Chuck]

Teams can be very beneficial in go Kart Racing, you may have been a marked man.....

[x2468]

Who are you calling punk kids who want to "play on the karties".  >:( what just cuz i'm under 18 means im some sub-par punk? and cuz im under 18 now im not a race fan?? I've seen tons of "punks" in the 18-29 year old range. so i dont know what ur gettin at.

but on the subject, i much prefer the MC attitude as apposed to the post race atmosphere you described above.

[motobenco]

Next month show up in your leathers, gloves, boots and helmet, Just before the race slap your elbow pads a few times, do a few squats to stretch out and before you climb in the cart, point at your eyes than your opponent and down at the ground, all of this with you tinted visor in the down position.  Start the race and keep your elbows out, and scream every time you "nudge" someone out of the way.  

[Dawn]

Next month show up in your leathers, gloves, boots and helmet, Just before the race slap your elbow pads a few times, do a few squats to stretch out and before you climb in the cart, point at your eyes than your opponent and down at the ground, all of this with you tinted visor in the down position.  Start the race and keep your elbows out, and scream every time you "nudge" someone out of the way.  

I like this one....    ;D  ;D   ;D  ;D  ;D   ;D  ;D  ;D

[grasshopper]

Who are you calling punk kids who want to "play on the karties".  >:( what just cuz i'm under 18 means im some sub-par punk? and cuz im under 18 now im not a race fan?? I've seen tons of "punks" in the 18-29 year old range. so i dont know what ur gettin at.

but on the subject, i much prefer the MC attitude as apposed to the post race atmosphere you described above.

Who in heck is this Guy??? LOL!!!!

[grasshopper]

My good friends organized for my Bachelor party to be there a couple weeks ago. There was I think 12 of us. We all know each other really good and everybody rides motorcylce and participates in some sort of racing. I'm the only CCS guy there though.

We did the whole thing GP style. Three qualifying races and one main event.

It took me the first couple qualifying events to get warmed up and figure out the track. My for arms fealt like they were going to explode.

Let me tell you! It got personal between all of us of who was going to win and beat who! If you get bumped and spin out you are out of the race. No questions asked. With an average of a 17 second lap time the guy is already half way around the track by the time you get back going.

Really fun stuff, but there was no playing around, we were racing, and thats what you have to do to win is bump and take the guys line away to win a race in those go-carts up there.

On the last lap of the final I was fighting back and forth with good friend. He took every turn with alot of Defense and wouldn't let me by him, so on the last corner of the last lap I got up beside him and had some drive. He kept following his normal line and pushed me rite into the barrier where the flag guy was standing on. I hit the wall, the flag guy went flying off the wall and landed on his head while he was waving the checkered flag. The wall moved and I hit the pole head on where the start finish line was.

The guy got up and the first thing I said to him was "DID I WIN"? He just looked at me all pissed off. I'm like "Dude Don't stand on the F#cking wall then if it moves, WTF???"

Great time though, got drunk when I was done