Planet Minis

Webtrender

Hi, I'm not an offical or spokesman for the track. Just starting in mini racing myself. Below is all I know....

This August 16, Sandy Hook Speedway in northern Maryland will be having roadraces for pocket, mini, and mid-size bikes. This includes mini-shifters. Sandy Hook Speedway - Home

$5 gate fee, $65 to race, $3 ambulance fee, $40 annual fee to join the club (you don't have to join).

I talked to the club manager John P., he said you need to have your oil fill plug safetywired. As far as protective clothing, they allow jeans, but the owner of the track frowns on it. He prefers you are as protected as possible with leathers. Of course you need gloves, helmet, elbow, knee, etc. protection.

Evidently, this is going to be a monthly event. Check their calendar.

I'll be riding a white NSF100, driving a white Sprinter van. Hope to see you there.

Bob

boonacka

the 16th will be a good day for you to go since its a non-points track day. you'll get a good feel for the track and lines. you'll have a blast. Pin it in the banked turn and pretend your riding Daytona =)

Webtrender

A couple of friends went. They said the track was real nice. I couldn't make it cause of going down in a turn and breaking my collarbone. We were practicing in a parking lot the weekend before.

boonacka

oh man, talk about bad luck the week before. hope you heal up soon and make it to at least one of the races.

who are your friends that went? midbikes/pocketbikes/motards? the turnout on trackday wasnt huge so i may have met them.

Webtrender

Thanks. Sh-t happens. Oh well. Both the guys rode up on their street bikes. They ride yamaha ysr50s when they race. They just went up to check the track out. They use to ride over at the Monrovia track before it was closed down.

Btw, I talked to the owner of the 75-80 racetrack/Monrovia track the other day. He said they were still in negotiations with the developer who was suppose to buy the property 3 years ago.

He said if we could line up liability insurance, he would be willing to talk about renting the monrovia track out again.

boonacka

ah yeah i saw those dudes. both of them looked like terminator.. like they could squash me.. haha.. they had some sweet bike sthough. they stuck around pretty much the whole day.

another outdoor track would be awesome. He should talk to the owner of Sandy Hook and maybe get some ideas. at least it would bring in some money for him.

Webtrender

Yeah that's Dewight and Gary. Both real nice guys. They ride hard and fast. Trying to keep up with them is how I broke my collarbone.

They did talk to one of the owners of Sandy Hook. They said she was upset that the club manager of the two wheelers "John P." hadn't shown up to organize the races. Do you know him?

boonacka

Yeah, I think he got sick the last event and had to leave early. He didnt show up to this event though. havent heard from him in a while.

We had a small number show up to tha trackday since it was a non-points track day. We all rode in one group so there wasnt much to organize. although, i figured he would have been there anyway.

i saw an aerial view of the Monrovia kart track. it looked a little small from the perspective i saw.

Webtrender

Hi, yes it isn't as big as Sandy Hook. But it's in a good location for traveling. We need to cut the grass, clean it up, etc.. The track surface seems to be in pretty good condition.

We're still trying to line up insurance. I think I found a specialty insurance company that will work. Going to talk to Gary and Dewight to see what they think. Talked to the 75-80 owner again. He's a crusty ole guy with a good heart. He said he wasn't surprised about the insurance. He said after 45 years of managing 75-80 he was sick of dealing with law suits, health inspectors, etc.. But he also said to keep in touch and let him know what we find.

Gary and Dewight have been talking to people they use to race with. Seems like a lot of them are ready to pull their bikes out of mothballs. Maybe we'll pull this together yet.

Btw, I told Gary you said they looked like "terminators". He laughed. He said yeah, they must have had all their armor on.

boonacka

well it almost sounds like we'll be having a new track to ride next year. I'm also working with some other guys on a real supermoto type track with an actual dirt section. Hopefully things will come through and next year we'll have a bunch of local tracks to go to.

haha why'd you tell him that!? he's gonna run over next time he sees me lol. but yeah, they did have their gear on thats why.

Webtrender

Cool about the supermoto track. Good luck. We need to have more opportunities for the smaller bikes in the area. Racing on smaller tighter tracks can be just as challenging and fun as the big stuff. The cost of racing anything over 250cc is crazy expensive. So there's a lot of motivation to open tracks on the east coast.

Those guys are real mellow. He was laughing pretty good when I told him. He said a lot of people were staring at them. They must have looked like something from the road warriors. They are heavy into protection when they ride. Which I admire.

Even though I wear protective gear when I ride the Busa, the first time I showed up to ride with them on nsf100 I had on shorts, tee shirt, and hockey pads on my knees and elbows (I hadn't found leathers yet). They wouldn't ride with me until I got the leathers.

boonacka

Yeah, were slowly building up a list of available tracks, mx & supermoto, here in this region. I think the "cost" perspective is the second biggest factor next to the "fun factor" when it comes to pitbike racing. My wife thinks we look silly but she would probably divorce me if i used our budget towards big bike racing.

I'm a big advocate of protective gear myself. The first time i wore full leathers at an indoor kart track i got a few funny looks as well. but when i fall, i fall with confidence =P
they also look cool.. haha

too bad you probably wont be healed up in time for the race on the 20th. Make sure your buddies go. tagalong and check it out. bring your nsf100, i'll race it for yah haha

Webtrender

As far as I know I'll be there on the 20th. Have all intentions of going. Look forward to meeting you. Haven't heard from Gary and Dewight lately. Probably because of the holiday.

Indoor cart tracks look like a lot of fun. I see the europeans are into them big time.

I found this site for insurance... Welcome to the American Kart Track Promoters Association! They look very promising and in favor of the little guy out here trying to get something going. $75 to join their organization for a year and $2.95 per person at the gate.

I need to call them and have them send some details.

boonacka

yeah man, cant wait til the 20th.

As far as indoor, I run at Allsports (allsportsgp.com). Check out supermotojunkie under the mini section. The winter schedule is already up. Its alot different from the outdoor tracks. its very quick and intense.

That insurance sounds like a viable alternative. you may have found your solution there.

Webtrender

For as cheap as this insurance is, maybe you guys ought to consider it for your tracks. If some dude gets hurt, even if he has signed a liability waiver, he could sue you.

If we get this thing going I want my personal property to be as far away from any law suit as possible. That's why I thinking of forming some sort of a limited liability non-profit corporation or club. That plus the liability waiver, and the insurance hopefully will be enough protection.

I'll check out the website. Thanks.

X7rocks

theres a race on the 20th?

boonacka

yessir. I believe its the second to last points race.

September 20 - Sandy Hook Points Race
October 18 - Sandy Hook Points Race
November 08 - Sandy Hook : Fun Run

just an FYI:

Sandy Hook Race Day Itinerary
8:00 > Gates open
8:00 - 10:00 > Registration and tech inspection. Please be registered by 9:30
10:00 - 12:30 > Practice in rotation with kart classes
12:30 - 2:00 > Heat races
2:00 - 2:30 > Lunch break and racers meeting
2:30 - 4:30 > Main races
4:30 - 5:00 > Awards presentation

X7rocks

awww man i still need help with my motor =[

boonacka

you have 17 days kenny!

X7rocks

can you help me man? i need mechanical help with this!