Weather

[KBOlsen]

Rob, rob, rob... Better hope that trailer is comfy and well-supplied with food/water, cuz you'll be spending a LOT of time in it!!!! ;D ;D ;D

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     The Midwest season use to begin by having its' first event at Heartland Park in Topeka Kansas where there was at least a better chance of good weather. That event was usually at the end of March, 2 or 3 weeks before the usual 1st BHF event. Having that event at that time could help to add more total events per season, but did nothing to help the still early event a BHF. Since adding more events is not an issue as of late, timing of the events would seem more of an issue. I think that remarks such as those above about not attending an event because of cold/wet weather would be incentive enough to make adjustments to the schedule in the future to help increase overall attendence of the racers.
     Common sense would lead me to believe that, if possible, you would want to have your beginning and ending events to the South and the events during the summer more to the North to take best advantage of the weather in those areas at that time of the year. I have been at BHF (early April '97) where it was snowing on Saturday to the point of not being able to race, then having to run the entire events worth of races on Sunday (in a shortened form) when it was 40* outside and we had 4 inches of snow on the grass (I remember that event well because I ran off the track at 80+ mph and ended up going down because of the snow on the grass, a crash that wouldn't have happened had the snow not been there). To the opposite extreme was the MAM event last year in the hottest part of the summer (100*) in a area of the country traditionally hot at that time of the year.
     Though scheduling can be an issue at some tracks at certain times of the year, adjusting their timing could be economically beneficial to CCS thru higher turn-outs. Tracks like Heartland Park, MAM, Gateway, and Putnam Park would be best used in the cold and warm weather due to their more Southern location. Tracks like Gratten, Gingerman, BHF, Road America, and Brainerd would be better used in the warm/hot weather due to their more Northern location. Starting the season by having an event at a 'Southern' track like Heartland Park or MAM (locations which statistically have decent weather earlier in the year) on the last weekend of March or first weekend of April would probably see good weather (temperature wise). Following this by an event at one of the other 'Southern' tracks 2 or 3 weeks later would probably see good racer turn-out (due to the weather, not just the double points benefit).

[spyderchick]

Last year the conditions at Gateway (1st midwest race)were abysmal, and there was alot of crashing. Common sense or no common sense, mother nature always has the last say.  

[Dawn]

Stop whining...  

Bring out your woolies....

Let's race!!!!!!

Dawn   :)

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Last year the conditions at Gateway (1st midwest race)were abysmal, and there was alot of crashing. Common sense or no common sense, mother nature always has the last say.  

     The race you spoke of at Gateway last year was on March 23-24, 2-3 weeks before races should be held at that location, based on it's average weather at that time of the year.

Stop whining...  
 
Bring out your woolies....
 
Let's race!!!!!!
 
Dawn  

     I have raced in extremes of weather at numerous tracks and actually do quite well in the adverse conditions. But my suggestions were along the lines of why make things harder than they have to be? If it's just a matter of scheduling differently I personally would rather race when it's above 50*. I've come in from practice sessions before where it was so cold that I could barely use my fingers anymore (wearing only my leather race gloves) and had almost crashed due to hardly being able to pull the brake lever anymore. Trying to race a motorcycle with your leather gloves AND winter gloves on is not very safe due to not being able to grip the handlebars very well and is certainly not very enjoyable. After all isn't this level of racing for enjoyment? Was being at Gateway during that cold/wet weekend very enjoyable? If scheduling could help to improve that aspect very easily in the future, wouldn't you want that?.
     I am not whining, but instead simply offering an easy way to help reduce the amount of races that have to be run in extreme weather conditions.

[Dawn]

Mike:

No matter the location in the Midwest - there is no guarantee the weather will be good for the first race of the season.  Even in May, we can have snow (or perhaps that is just Wisconsin).

Call me selfish, but I am happy the first race is at BHF.  Being from WI, we don't travel to the southern most tracks in the race schedule because it is just too far.

I started this thread purely for the entertainment purpose.  I'm sorry that was missed.

Dawn   :)

[bweber]

This is a photo taken on Friday evening of the first Blackhawk race in 2000.  I believe it was April 7, 2000 when 6" of snow was dumped on Rockton, IL!  We could not start practicing until noon on Saturday because we were too busy clearing the snow and ice off the racetrack!
Anyone have a good story about that weekend.  I think by Sunday, all the snow was gone and the temp was in the mid 50's.

[spyderchick]

       I've come in from practice sessions before where it was so cold that I could barely use my fingers anymore (wearing only my leather race gloves) and had almost crashed due to hardly being able to pull the brake lever anymore.     

I am not whining, but instead simply offering an easy way to help reduce the amount of races that have to be run in extreme weather conditions.

Seriously, to the first part, wear latex or vinyl gloves underneath your race gloves. Holds in heat and prevents evaporation of sweat and such,  thus reducing loss of heat. You will still be cold and uncomfortable, but not in danger of frost bite.

To the second part, we have to compete for limited seasonal track time on weekends with other racing organizations and sanctioning bodies. Scheduling has got to be a headache for all racing organizations looking to book their events. The weather in the midwest is a variable factor from year to year. I've been to the first race and it's been 60 degrees, and other years there has been snow. It's the price we pay for living and playing in a beautiful part of the country.

One of the reasons for double points is to increase attandance, no matter the conditions. Hey we're tough, we race, no matter the weather.  :D

[chris_chops]

Stop whining...  

Bring out your woolies....

Let's race!!!!!!

Dawn   :)

People can whine all they want, I want them to stop WINNING! :o

[Steviebee]

Im going to do all you guys who hate the rain a big favor.  

I always suffer from Murphy's law.  So if you all sell me your rain gear cheap, ill be all set to race in the rain.

AND THEN IT WONT RAIN A DROP !!!

of course if i dont get rain gear, rain tires, it will pour!   thats just my luck.

Ya see im responsible for all the snow we've gotten (Indy, IN) this year, its because i decided i wasnt going to snowboard this year to save money for raceing.   SO IT SNOWS A BUNCH !!!..


Last year i decide to buy a snowboard, and it barley snows. !!!


So send me you rain gear ir you want it to be nice a sunny !!!


Well at least im trying to get a little kerosene heater, so you can plan on it being warm.  Unless i dont get it, then it will be freezing !!


8 more days.   man i better go finish my bike !!!

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Seriously, to the first part, wear latex or vinyl gloves underneath your race gloves. Holds in heat and prevents evaporation of sweat and such,  thus reducing loss of heat. You will still be cold and uncomfortable, but not in danger of frost bite.

To the second part, we have to compete for limited seasonal track time on weekends with other racing organizations and sanctioning bodies. Scheduling has got to be a headache for all racing organizations looking to book their events. The weather in the midwest is a variable factor from year to year. I've been to the first race and it's been 60 degrees, and other years there has been snow. It's the price we pay for living and playing in a beautiful part of the country.

One of the reasons for double points is to increase attandance, no matter the conditions. Hey we're tough, we race, no matter the weather.  :D

     I have simply been trying to show how arrangement of the schedule can affect the enjoyment of racing and am not saying that any date is going to be ideal. Yes it's true that we race in almost any weather condition, unlike so many other forms of racing, and ultimately have more at risk physically by doing so (crashing on a bike vs. crashing in a vehicle with a cage around the driver). But statistically certain parts of the country see higher occurances of adverse weather conditions on a certain date than others. What I was suggesting was to try and use this to our benefit and increase the chances of better weather, no guarentees implied. I am well aware that scheduling is somewhat of a take what is available situation and doesn't always go the way you want. I also realize that there may be certain economic advantages to renting tracks during less desirable times of the year.
     You mentioned that double points are used to increase attendence no matter what the weather, yet as my original post commented there are racers who were not going to attend the 1st BHF event due to adverse weather, no matter if double points (which is what originally provoked my response). So if the weather was more desirable for racing (and no double points) I bet the turn out for the first event would be equal to or even higher than with the double points and adverse weather conditions. Add double points to better weather and you'll probably have exceptional turn-out.
     I am curious about the latex glove under the leather glove theory suggested earlier for the reason that it seems to go against what I have read about staying warm while skiing or snowmobiling. The most expensive protective wear for those activities brags about pulling moisture away from the skin to retain heat. I have had the grip heaters on my snowmobile too warm before which caused my hands to sweat and remember how cold my hands started getting even with the grip heaters still on. While skiing I have been overdressed before causing me to sweat and I quickly got cold after that.
     I realize that you started this thread as entertainment, but it quickly evolved to something which I thought was a valid issue so I responded. Sorry if I offended you, that is not my intent. I actually enjoy thought provoking conversation and was just looking for other peoples opinions of what I commented on, which is a good way to generate ideas which may benefit us all in the future.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

This is a photo taken on Friday evening of the first Blackhawk race in 2000.  I believe it was April 7, 2000 when 6" of snow was dumped on Rockton, IL!  We could not start practicing until noon on Saturday because we were too busy clearing the snow and ice off the racetrack!
Anyone have a good story about that weekend?

I won my first trophy that weekend.  Rolled my EX500 up to the line, and there were only seven bikes in the race!  It was Lightweight Sportsman, the first year that they combined the class where AM/EX were competing for the same trophies.  I did not know this, so when I realized that I was the first amateur in the race, I just followed the lead experts and did not try to pass them.  I was very dissapointed when I found out that my presumed win would be totalled as a fourth place.
Even with only seven bikes in the race, there was still lapping, and on the last lap of the race, I was run off the track at the exit of Five by a lapper.  I sailed out into the snow-covered field, certain that I was going to die.  I sure didn't dare touch the brake or gas out there in the snow!!!  I went from the exit of Five all the way to Six with my knees clenching dents in the gas tank.  Slushy snow was flying everywhere, and I could hardly see.  Believe it or not, I re-entered the track at the exit of Six, right behind the lapper!  I gave him a gesture that may or may not have meant "You're #1," and finished the race.  Though I hadn't fallen, my bike and I were soaking wet and muddy.  As I rode past Six on the cool down lap, I opened my visor and yelled "Everybody's doin' it Skidoo!!!"  The corner workers responded by throwing snowballs at me!!!