Thursday, September 23, 2010

RIGP vid and Race Report


Well, 2nd win of the season in the books. 9/11/10 was Race # 18 at 61 Kartway. Sat on pole, won the heat race and final. It wasn’t easy though...had an epic battle with “Doc” Al Cram in the final. Doc got the jump on me in the final only to spin out with a couple laps to go from my constant pressure! Ha! Coasted to an easy checker...

9/18/10 was Race #19 at 61 Kartway and promptly got rained out. Bummer. What a boring freaking day at the track. So we started drinking when the race was officially called at 4:30 and then went and watched Iowa get thumped by Arizona. Saw that one coming from a mile away...Stanzi does give handsies!

Next up: the season championship races this weekend.

And finally, the helmet cam vid from the Rock Island Grand Prix. Quality kind of sucks! Eh, it’s better than nothing. I’ll definitely be rocking an upgraded HD cam next year. I don’t know...it looks like #1 spun me around at the start, who knows. Thanks dude.
RIGP 2010 from Morgan Schuler on Vimeo.

Rock Island Grand Prix - King of the Streets 2010 from eKartingNews.com on Vimeo.













Your friend and my favorite,
Morgan

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Rock! Race Report

Every Labor Day weekend 250 drivers descend on downtown Rock Island to battle at the Rock Island Grand Prix. They close the city streets and set up a race track right there! You REALLY have to be at the fencing to get an idea of just what exactly the F is going on out there on that track with these guys. Things get very crazy very very fast! Speed? We hit 90-100 mph. Words cannot describe the feeling of piloting a kart ½ an inch off the ground bouncing over man hole covers and bricks. Talk about controlled mayhem. Talk about intensity. Talk about holy f'ing shit.

Everyone is going hard and everyone is coming fast and no one is backing f’ing off. The whole spectacle is just awesome. You’re on the gas and sliding and bouncing and shaking every inch of the way. It really truly is awesome displays of nerve, grit, guts, and big f'ing cajones. Street racing is no joke. You just know everyone is going to end up in a heap but...just another day at the office.
The kart was just bad ass fast from the first practice session. Tons of grip it went wherever I wanted with no over/under steer. I did stuff it into the turn 1 barriers during the second practice session. Woopsie kiddies. Bent the spindle and steering shaft. We absolutely thrashed getting new parts put on before qualifying. Said screw it, eyeballed the alignment, and got ready. Qualified 5th in Rotax Senior putting it on the inside of row 3! Hells yeah!
F’ing only to get punted in the first corner in the final. I saved it but was back in 10th or 11th. Freaking cowards. Words can’t describe how pissed I was in that moment. I ended up making it back up to 5th or 6th but the contact from the first lap cut my right front tire. It was flat by lap 10 and I pulled in with 4 or 5 laps left, finishing 10th. I had the speed, I had a chance to contend, just didn't make it to the finish again. Make plans for Labor Day weekend next year, we’ll be back. This year...nothing but bad luck and frustration.
5 or 6 races left this year...I’m going for checkered flags. Thanks to all my friends for the help and support throughout the weekend! It was hectic as all hell at times, hope everyone had fun! I’ll get the helmet cam vid edited and posted up when I get some time.

Your friend and my favorite, Morgan