02-07-2021, 08:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-07-2021, 08:07 PM by Blaine Robert Young.)
FIRST, A TIP OF SMOKEY'S HAT TO BARNESVILLE BOB FOR PERSISTANCE. FRIDAY BROUGHT DRIZZLE ON THE WINDSHIELD ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE TRACK. THE LOCAL WEATHER RADAR HAD ABOUT 1/4 OF JACKSONVILLE UNDER LIGHT SHOWERS. IT WAS OUR AREA OF COURSE. THE DRIZZLE LET UP AS I HEADED WEST TO THE TRACK. BOB HAD STARTED THE RACES AT TEN AND HAD THREE OR FOUR HEATS FINISHED WHEN THE DRIZZLE REAPPEARED. SOME HOURS LATER THE RAIN AND DRIZZLE QUIT, THE TRACK DRIED FROM THE STRONG WIND. TWO MORE HEATS WERE RUN BEFORE THE DELUGE BEGAN. RAIN AND DRIZZLE UNTIL MID AFTERNOON DID IN ANY FRIDAY RACING.
SATURDAY WAS A COMPLETE WASHOUT. EVERYONE HEADED HOME EARLY.
SMOKEY'S OPINIONS - JACKSONVILLE OFFERS A UNIQUE SPRINT RACING EXPERIENCE. THE LONG STRAIGHT WITH BANKED TURNS (WE CALLED THEM MONZAS BACK THEN) IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER SPRINT TRACK AVAILABLE TO VINTAGE KARTERS. IF HOTSHOTS WHO WANT EVERY TRACK TO OFFER THEM A CHANCE TO BE AHEAD BY 3/4 LAP EVERY HEAT TO STAY HOME - GREAT. IT'S THE AVERAGE VINTAGE KARTER WHO KEEPS THE SPORT ALIVE. IF THE TEAM WITH DRIVERS 80 TO 130 POUNDS LIGHTER THAN YOU WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENGINES ON THE PLANET DON'T SHOW (AND COMPLAIN LOUDLY ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE THEY ARE TREATED) MORE PEOPLE WHO PAY THE FREIGHT ARE LIKELY TO SHOW UP.
THE CHICANE AT THE END OF THE STRAIGHT SIMPLY TURNED JACKSONVILLE INTO ANY OTHER TRACK AVAILABLE IN VINTAGE. NO UNIQUE GEARING CHALLENGES, CARB TUNING, OR CLUTCH DECISIONS THAT WOULD OCCUR WITH THE LONG TRACK.
JACKSONVILLE DOES OFFER A GOOD CHANCE TO ESCAPE THE COLD NORTHLAND. THIS YEAR WAS SIMPLY DISMAL AND COLD WHICH IS UNUSUAL. I VISITED THE TRACK IN JANUARY 1973 FROM NORTHEAST OHIO. THE HIGH 60S AND LOW 70S WERE JUST GREAT.
VKA AND THE PROMOTERS NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS THE AVERAGE VINTAGE KARTER THAT PROVIDES ENOUGH REVENUE TO KEEP COVERING EXPENSES AND ENABLE THE SPORT TO CONTINUE.
SATURDAY WAS A COMPLETE WASHOUT. EVERYONE HEADED HOME EARLY.
SMOKEY'S OPINIONS - JACKSONVILLE OFFERS A UNIQUE SPRINT RACING EXPERIENCE. THE LONG STRAIGHT WITH BANKED TURNS (WE CALLED THEM MONZAS BACK THEN) IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER SPRINT TRACK AVAILABLE TO VINTAGE KARTERS. IF HOTSHOTS WHO WANT EVERY TRACK TO OFFER THEM A CHANCE TO BE AHEAD BY 3/4 LAP EVERY HEAT TO STAY HOME - GREAT. IT'S THE AVERAGE VINTAGE KARTER WHO KEEPS THE SPORT ALIVE. IF THE TEAM WITH DRIVERS 80 TO 130 POUNDS LIGHTER THAN YOU WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENGINES ON THE PLANET DON'T SHOW (AND COMPLAIN LOUDLY ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE THEY ARE TREATED) MORE PEOPLE WHO PAY THE FREIGHT ARE LIKELY TO SHOW UP.
THE CHICANE AT THE END OF THE STRAIGHT SIMPLY TURNED JACKSONVILLE INTO ANY OTHER TRACK AVAILABLE IN VINTAGE. NO UNIQUE GEARING CHALLENGES, CARB TUNING, OR CLUTCH DECISIONS THAT WOULD OCCUR WITH THE LONG TRACK.
JACKSONVILLE DOES OFFER A GOOD CHANCE TO ESCAPE THE COLD NORTHLAND. THIS YEAR WAS SIMPLY DISMAL AND COLD WHICH IS UNUSUAL. I VISITED THE TRACK IN JANUARY 1973 FROM NORTHEAST OHIO. THE HIGH 60S AND LOW 70S WERE JUST GREAT.
VKA AND THE PROMOTERS NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS THE AVERAGE VINTAGE KARTER THAT PROVIDES ENOUGH REVENUE TO KEEP COVERING EXPENSES AND ENABLE THE SPORT TO CONTINUE.