Daytona race updates

[Gene Davis]

Not happening tonight. Buried the trailer in the snow trying to get up the driveway, can't open the door to get the computer out.

Gene

[Mallory Davis]

Would like to share with those that were actually at Daytona, there was a Membership Meeting that was held Thursday Evening on site for all series to attend. There was a small number that attended... maybe 15 people max including myself. Anyways, I mentioned at the meeting that I feel that RR is not getting the coverage we deserve. It would have been nice to have a few more people there to back me up and make some other concerns or act like they care a little more at how WKA is trying to regrow itself. Happy New Year to everyone.
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Mallory Davis

[David Cole]

Andy,

Your correct. Road Racing is not dying because there are not live or real time results for the series. But if WKA is going to provide the same coverage for two of the events in Daytona, and not for the third, that's disrespectful. Do I want to see live video of Road Racing...no. But we all know that Race Monitor is so simple, you turn it on and that's it.

Those of us unable to make it down there, and family members of those racing, should have the opportunity to watch the live timing for Road Racing as all the Man. Cup and Dirt programs did. If I recall, Road Racers pay the same in membership fees, yet year after year we are looked at like everyone states, the 'red-headed step child.' If you ran down the membership status of current members, I would guess the majority of the members who have supported WKA for over 10 years come from Road Racing, not Sprint or Dirt where you see more turnover in membership.

Mallory,

year after year we voice our complaints and most of the time they are not heard. Many of those who are in Road Racing just want to race, and do not care for all the politics that is meetings. Most of those who were at Daytona were there for one thing, to race Daytona.

The numbers showed last year that no one cares about the NRRS anymore, as only one driver that I recall actually raced all 8 races. Until WKA understands that a 8-race national series will never work, the series will never be a true series, IMO.

I will guarantee that the event at Grattan in May will have live timing, either through the assistance of WKA or through the EKN Live page itself. Hell, we may even set up a camera to show you what's going on. But I suggest you come race Grattan instead of staying home, you won't be disappointed in the track, just ask anyone.
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David Cole
News Desk Manager
eKartingNews.com
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[Randy Pierson]

What I can't understand is everybody on this forum acts like WKA is the only road race series in the US. Far from it. I have run with Northern California Karters, Championship Enduro Series, KART, SWRA and WKA. To be honest I will never ever run a WKA anything race ever again. It was that bad..Then all this "National" verbage that they throw around..there is nothing "National" about WKA. Bernie's Utah race is as close to "National" as you are ever going to get. Some day I'd love to run Mid Ohio and from what I see, DART does a great job, but their WKA affiliation keeps that one off the books for us.

Point being.. road racing is alive and well in the US. Not grand but there is much life beyond WKA.

Rant over...

[Chuck Bunnell]

Without our affiliation with WKA to bring in the national racers, we would not be able to afford Mid-Ohio. That's why we've had to stop holding regional events. Not enough entries show up and DART loses money. We cannot run the club like that or eventually we could no longer host an event. You will probably find this the same for other clubs. So not going to a track you want to run because of a sanctioning body affiliation does not seem like a good idea to me at all. Plus, who's to say at what point the track raises rates beyond what we can afford. That has already happened at other tracks. Get out and race.

[Chris Reinhardt]

Sorry I got to the party late...

Doesn't AMB It (The transponder/Scoring Computer) have in it (Orbits software) the capability to load the results up to mylaps? Isn't that just a matter of setting it up and it will load the data live if you have an internet connection? I have seen it posted to mylaps before...

I don't think the RR numbers are down because the results aren't posted, I think they're down because of the price of gas and the economy, but not giving attention to a premier event like Daytona, doesn't help either...

CR
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[Jim McMahon]

[Brian Wilhelm]

Funny how all the complaining on here is from folks tha DIDN'T GO to Daytona.
From a racer's perspective, WKA did a fine job of putting on the event.
I have zero complaints from the weekend. Load-in day was smooth and efficient and practice day went well.
WKA handled the rain delay well and pushed hard to get us max track time on Saturday. Sunday was also smooth with no glitches.
There were a lot of karters in town and everyone from the track secuity folks, to the hotel clerks seemed happy we were there. The motel we stayed at even threw a welcome party for the racers one evening, and everyone we saw there was happy.
Having coverage of the Road Race side of things would be nice, but putting on a good event is much more important. I have been racing on and off with the WKA since 1998. Is the org perfect? No. Do they make mistakes? Sure.
This endless bashing is doing nothing to help. I have been to many WKA events over the past few years, and overall it's a good show.
Is Road Racing dying? I don't think so. Folks like to spout online that it is, and that they aren't going to the races because it's dying. What? Really?
Just get out and race. for the past two seasons there have been many fantastic events with decent turnouts (Grattan, VIR, Daytona, Mid-O, etc.) What more do you guys want?
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Brian

[Jeff Salak]

I would race more WKA events. Just dont have the funds for all the travels. So Ill stick to CES for now.

Until numbers are better.
Why does WKA continue to have events at the high cost road tracks?
Why so many events?
I understand with National events the thought should be race Daytona, Mid-Ohio, and so on.
But maybe its better to race Grattan and the smaller venues that dont cost as much.
The smaller venues have better run offs and less concrete walls too.
Maybe some of the over concerned racers would be willing to race these type tracks or try road racing.

I understand if you leave a big venue you may not get it back. But it racers are not coming to pay the bills. Your just digging your own grave anyways!

Just a thought.

Was there enough racers Road racing at Daytona to pay the cost of renting the big track?

[Robert Ross]

I dont think anyone is saying that WKA doesnt know how to run and handle an event.

The point here is the other series racing at Daytona this past weekend seemed to be able to find a way to get some coverage and provide results.....why not the Road Racing series? Several have said it would be easy to do. If it's so easy, why hasn't it happened?

I raced many years ago and I was always amazed to hear that Randy Kugler showed up at a dirt race in the middle of nowhere Virginia or was at a Man Cup race somewhere. Never saw him at RR event in many years of racing. Just made me wonder.

[GLEN CHERRY]

I think that if you want a big group to race with you need to promote the class and work to take as many racers that you can to run the class.
It is not that hard to get groups to go have fun at the races and tracks you like. Our traveling group talks about the races everyone wants to go to then works to get others to go that will run the same classes or any class. At Daytona in 2012 we took Yamaha Laydown kart and the group made up 7 kart. we also went to the KART nationals at Topeka with 11 karts. Next year we are planning to return to Daytona and plan on bring even more. Check out the B-stock guys program and see if they don't do the same thing. If you want a big class promote it! I agree with Brian Wilhelm, negativity breeds negativity, go race then come back and tell us how much fun you have had not the some minor thing is causing the decline in road racing.
As far as National points who cares about them! You can't eat them and come January the next year you don't even have bragging rights.
Not one organization has enough pull to get the best drivers to travel to a single event!
I love the sport and have raced longer than a lot have you have even been alive, Nothing is better than seeing a group of guys show up at a track, pit together, joke, solve the problems of the group to make everyone fast and be able to race .

Enjoy it it ain't about the Trophies!
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OVER THE HILL OUTLAW

[J D Goodman]

Well said Brian. Another great, well run Daytona event. We can't wait until next year!

Doyle Goodman
Goodsports
Pensacola FL
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"Some folks are educated beyond their intelligence" - Jerry Clower

[Chris Reinhardt]

[Kim Baker]

One observation and conclusion I have made from this post is, the RR side of WKA and its BOD may need to consider embracing the technology available for not only promotion but also as a service to its members,customers, potential customers and sponsers).
Thanks TS Racing and Mazda
Questions I have are,
1. What is the average age of Man Cup drivers?
2. What is the average age of Gold Cup drivers?
3. What is the average age of Road Race drivers?
My opinion is,
I am fairly confidant the average age is higher for RR.
My point is, the youth of today could not imagine not having social media such as twitter, facebook or live media feeds available for their sport.
Threrefore, that is why I think we see what appears to be more promotion or attention to those series on their behalf. In fact, social media technology is embeded in their generation.
On the other hand, current Road Race members, trustees and board may have under estimated inclusion or embracing live social or electronic media as required or needed. For one there is already eanough to do just to keep up with to put on a National Event or, get karts ready for a race.
By the way I am 57 years old and consider myself to be old school. I had to embrace this technology in order to continue to eat and sleep under a roof.
I think it is up to the WKA Road Race committee and members to ensure we improve the current level of communications at the track for Nationals Similar to the Man Cup.
Suggestions include atleast two un maned cameras with or without audio stationed near the grid and at the tech area. Perhaps. Racers/Participants would drop by at specified feed times to add their verbal diary or rech out to those who are following.
I imagine that those who follow the sport but are no longer active may consider dusting off their driving suits (if they still fit) clean up the kart get a new rule book and even contact some of their old friends still racing.
Another benerfit is, it may provide the needed exposure that is missing on the Road Race Side in general and expose it to the youth audiance we so desperately wish to entering our sport.
Kim Baker
Suwanee, Ga.
Sprint Open (lo)
2002 TM Diablo
KF2 Reedster, Axle Clutch
Fast in spite of my self.

[Robert Lawson]

Kim, that was an AWESOME post!

No finger pointng, no blame, no accusations, no anger.......AND he made a great point!

I'll follow you into a turn anytime!


The real issue is someone would have to V O L E N T E E R to do it, set it up, maintain it.........






.........Kim, I think they all split!!!!


Everyone just expects things to get done, then get angry and shoot floaters at whomever it is they think is to blame.

The Clubs that put on RR events are streched as thin as can be. There just isn't more to give. It has to come from outside the Club if a "techy" is not among their membership.

It is not WKA's responsibility unless the other series info was provided directly from WKA. Then.....ya'll have/had a point in being upset. But, it certianly wouldn't hurt their image to do it.

Any Club would love to have someone step up and offer to do it, guaranteed. Me, I'm trying to ditch the celly and get off the damn grid, I'm no techy!!!!


Nice post though, very refreshing to hear positive stuff here instead of the usual.

RPM