24 Hours of America Endurance Race 1/12-1/13

[Daytona440]

Wish me luck. This weekend is my 24 hour Endurance Karting race at Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida. We cut 2 drivers from last years team so we're running as a team of 4. That means 6 hours of racing for me in a 24 hour period. This year we are also running brand new high HP karts and they are open wheeled. it's going to be a blast!

24 Hours of America: The Ultimate Karting Challenge

[nt650hawk]

I could be the 5th driver.

[tls25rs]

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you have a great time. Wish I wasn't such a big bastard because that would be a good time!

Joel

[OreoGaborio]

Holy shit, that's awesome!

As the reigning NESR F1Boston and VIR Go-Cart fast guy, I elect myself as driver #6.... but you pay all expenses

WHEN DO WE LEAVE?!?!

[Wishbone]

Hope you do good

Try and put leicester on the map

[Daytona440]

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you have a great time. Wish I wasn't such a big bastard because that would be a good time!

Joel

Hey Joel
there is a class for the big guys!

[tls25rs]

Hey Joel
there is a class for the big guys!

Yes, but are there bigger carts for those of us that are not only heavier but also physically larger? On second thought, don't answer that. Racing the bike costs alot of loot, I don't need yet another expensive hobby!

[Daytona440]

Time for the write up. Sorry it's been a rough couple weeks.

We arrived at West Palm Beach on Thursday and relaxed for the day. We also got to relax for most of Friday. The race does a number on you so keeping rested and hydrated before hand is key. We’re also running as a team of 4 this year (instead of 6 like last year) and we have jumped to the top class – GTPRO.

Friday afternoon we arrived and set up our pit/home for the evening. It's possible to run the event without the aid of a motorhome, but luckily my teammate had a 38 footer that was our base camp. This year we were running all new karts with a higher top end and quicker acceleration. As an added bonus we were running them open wheel...i.e. no safety wraps. Friday night, under the lights, we had 45 minutes of practice and 15 minutes of qualifying. I took the first 15 minutes of practice. The kart is nice. It feels good, motor is strong, tons of grip and it turns in lightening quick. Friday nights qualifying is for the top 10 grid spots. We place our two fastest divers out for the qualifying. Our first guy clicks off a really hot lap. A 1:09 and change. It puts us near the top of the running…however the timing system was off and that lap never counts, and we end up just outside the top 10 in 11th. We’re bummed about qualifying but we’ve all raced enough to know that in endurance racing you don’t and can’t win on the first lap. We head back to the hotel in relatively good spirits, knowing that we are capable of running with the top teams.

After a great nights sleep we’re up early and back at the track on Saturday. We have 90 minutes of practice, which includes another 15-minute window for qualifying to determine spots 11-32. We use the time to get acquainted to the extra oomph of the Kart and practice our pit stops. People are driving like IDIOTS. They fail to realize that it’s practice and a few end up breaking parts and having to get them replaced. We stay clear of the danger and let them run around like animals. We qualify 11th and its time to start the race. It’s a Le Mans style start. We choose Bill to start the race. He’s our oldest team member, early 60’s but he’s quick, smooth and keeps a level head. The first 30 minutes is a complete free for all. He runs hard and fast and gains a few positions. We start our rotations of driver changes every 40 minutes. I’m next, with Tommy after me and Gary in our final spot. The first couple hours are fantastic. Going into the 8th hour we consistently in the top 5, getting and holding as high as 2nd place. We’re really pleased. Things are great and if we hold steady, not only are we looking at a top 3 in class finish but also a top 3 overall…

Then DISEASTER strikes. I had just finished a good stint, getting some of my best times (mid-to high 1:10:00’s). Tommy starts. It’s about 8 PM and he forgot to change his tinted visor out for his clear…not a big deal…until the sky opens up and we have an all out Florida monsoon. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it rain this hard. There is standing water all over the track. Massive puddles and slick tires are not a good combination. Our kart, which was fantastic in the dry conditions, is miserable in the wet - almost un-drivable. We make a team decision that I’ll sit out a stint because Bill, Gary and Tommy all have much more rain experience. None of them can gain any ground. We end up getting some water in the carb and a pinched fuel line and not only do we not have the corner ability we had, but we are now down on power. We pit in and get an older Dino replacement kart while they work on our primary. We lose more time and in the end we drop from the top 5 to a low of 17th. It sprinkles off and on till after mid night and the track is not drying. At that point it’s so miserable we were contemplating parking it till the track dried and just having fun. I jump back in the rotation when our primary kart is back because we’re sunk. We’re all spinning out at least 5-10 times a lap (most of the slower teams were as well).

At about 3 am something clicks for me. I go out for my 2nd or 3rd wet stint and everything falls into place. The track is still wet but starting to dry. My first lap is a 1:50. That’s 10 seconds quicker than that of our previous stint. 10 minutes into it my crew radios to me telling me I’m running the quickest times on track and would I do a double. That’s 80 minutes with only a stop and go pit stop. I’m pumped and give them the thumbs up. I’m flying and it lets the rest of my team rest. It’s an exercise in drifting, which oddly works for me. I tend to drive with a little more slide than I should. I trade spots with my buddy Jim (who’s teams finished 2nd overall) and he’s stunned to see me passing him. He is incredibly fast and I’ve never been able to run with him before. I end up running some of the fastest times of those 80 minutes on track and my last lap is a 1:25. After our driver change I sprint to our pit and jump on the radio to tell Gary where there is grip and where there isn’t. In my rush I failed to look at the scoring. I brought us back to 8th, and best of all I had a blast and we’re all excited to race again.

As the sun rises and the track dries out we hold steady, working between 8th and 12th. We never regain the time we lost due to the rain. As we draw close to the checkered I get one of the best compliments I’ve gotten. The last hour of an endurance race is usually the time when teams put out their best drivers. It’s fast and it’s dicey. Gary, Tommy and I decide that Bill should finish the race. It’s kind of a big deal. It’s a testament to your skill as a driver but you also get to do a cool parade lap with a checkered flag. Bill objects and wants me to take it. He cited my early morning run as evidence enough and I was the only one on my team to run a double. I’m pumped that he thought that highly of me and my driving, but the team over rules him and he finishes the race.

In the end we finish 10th overall out of 32 teams and 7th in the GTPRO class. All in all not bad considering that we were running with the best and beating them. Huge thanks to Bill and Jane for use of their brand new motorhome; we were spoiled by the luxury. Most of all the biggest thanks goes to the pit crew. Those ladies (wives) are just as important to our success as our ability as drivers. They run the radios, cook for us, make sure we are hydrated, rested and organized, and are there to carry our helmets back to the pits and listen to us rant about what just happened after each driver change. We truly could not run this event without them and expect them to accompany us back next year. We’re determined to finish on the podium!

Thanks
Tim

[OreoGaborio]

FFFIIIIIIIIIINALLY!

[Daytona440]

my teammate Gary crossing the start/finish line:

[SVRACER01]

thats weird that you guys run slicks in the rain. or do you have rain tires too?

[Daytona440]

thats weird that you guys run slicks in the rain. or do you have rain tires too?

there are Karting rain tires, but this particular event is a spec kart, sealed motor event and besides making the body work uniquely colored for easy identification we cannot make any changes, which means no rain tires..

[burnham]

Good read. This type of stuff keeps me going during the off season, makes me wish I was there.

[Paul_E_D]

Nice! Congrats

My engine builder is big into karting down there. Zambrana Performance. If you ever step into the shiftercart thing, Manuel is the man. I keep meaning to head over to Miami and do some karting with him. Maybe next time I'm down that way.

[a13x]

I enjoyed reading that. Congrats.