I talked with some people on Rte 1 in Foxboro MA and they gave me a pretty frigid NO. They only want rental karts there.
The other place that someone could try would be F1Boston. Before they first opened they had mentioned PB's on thier web site. Last I heard they lost interest in PB's because some kart drivers told them that the shoulder high safer barriers could grab the bottom of a PB's wheels causing you to highside causing instant death ,etc.........
I'm guessing they have never actually seen a pocketbike in person.
There was some talk on the forum this spring by NY riders about approaching the same owner about thier brand new track down there. I haven't seen anything since.
Maybe if a few of us went as an organized group (Area51?)with a couple of CAG's fueled with smokeless 2T oil and stock gearing we could do a demo for the owner.
I asked a local real estate agent about possibly renting an empty warehouse in Claremont, NH by the weekend for indoor racing. He spoke to the owners and they were willing to explore the option even after I explained the type of motors we use ect. ect. 75,000 square ft of space seems big enough, sounded like the Delaware race was laid out with about 25,000 sqft last week. Only trouble with it is you'd have to come up with your own barriers.
I dropped a note to Marc W. of TSMMR a week or 2 back to see if he was interested in trying to put something together for this winter but never heard back from him. I think if you can get the word out you could pull people from all over the NE, thats why I thought Marc W. would be great, he seems to have the connections that us new guys dont.
If someone is willing to try to get a winter series together I can get some solid cost figures on this facility to see if it is viable.
Hey All, Tony I sent you a reply as soon as I got your Pm . I would be happy to help out if my help is needed in putting together something for the winter but my main concern would be run-off room. In an indoor facility you never have adequate run-off area and at the speeds we go on a PB run-off room is very much needed. I do know you can wrap a column with hay bails but even running into a hay bail at 30-40mph is still going to hurt. If its safe count me in but that is my major concern. Also what kind of flooring does the warehouse have because that will be a major factor as far as traction goes...Thanx for the Heads up Arcy as I have limited access to PB Planet for some reason at work and when I get home I am usually tooling or doing some other PB related stuff..
Indoor would attract alot of riders up here, as there isn't a whole bunch of things going on to compete for the weekends!!!
The warehouse could be our ticket, but what we have to do, for safety and for convincing the owners we are not going to kill ourselves in the place is:
We will run ONLY CAGS, low horsepower, short gearing (6x70), and have short tight course course, even switch to rain tires if the surface is too smooth. This would insure everybody is safe, the course layout will be a big factor, but the idea is great, sure would helping maintain the group over the winter.
I think if the building owner gets a look at what we would be riding, hears about safety from us and our approach, with the suggestions above, enough riders would show up that it would make it a success for everybody.
my 2 cents,
Theron
Quote:
Originally Posted by mascoma
I asked a local real estate agent about possibly renting an empty warehouse in Claremont, NH by the weekend for indoor racing. He spoke to the owners and they were willing to explore the option even after I explained the type of motors we use ect. ect. 75,000 square ft of space seems big enough, sounded like the Delaware race was laid out with about 25,000 sqft last week. Only trouble with it is you'd have to come up with your own barriers.
I dropped a note to Marc W. of TSMMR a week or 2 back to see if he was interested in trying to put something together for this winter but never heard back from him. I think if you can get the word out you could pull people from all over the NE, thats why I thought Marc W. would be great, he seems to have the connections that us new guys dont.
If someone is willing to try to get a winter series together I can get some solid cost figures on this facility to see if it is viable.
OK then, I'll get back in touch with the real estate dude, get a better look at what we are dealing with for space, surface, and snap some photos and talk $$$. I'll fill you all in after that and get feedback on if the space would work from some of you who have organized events before...
Sprung-thanks for your input, I think you replied the day PBP servers were screwed up so I never saw your message. I wasn't slamming you for not replying, it seems like your always doing something to make the sport work.
OK then, I'll get back in touch with the real estate dude, get a better look at what we are dealing with for space, surface, and snap some Photos and talk $$$. I'll fill you all in after that and get feedback on if the space would work from some of you who have organized events before...
Sprung-thanks for your input, I think you replied the day PBP servers were screwed up so I never saw your message. I wasn't slamming you for not replying, it seems like your always doing something to make the sport work.
Tony D
I am trying but every group grows from its members not just one person and you guys have the right formula up there ,everybody working together and coming up w/ new ideas etc, its great to see. Area 51 Racing is off to a great start and you can see it will be around for a long time. Good Luck to all because if you can get the racing going in the winter you for sure will see me atleast once a month because the winter is so tough to just look at the bikes..Well I guess I gotta get a cag.
I have an appointment early next week to look at Claremont, NH option and will report back.
Someone mentioned F1Boston, checked out there website and it looks great.
Is someone willing to approach those folks?
Like Theron mentioned, the better organized we seem the better chance we have of gaining access, so probably best not to just have multiple people randomly contact them.
Maybe if PBs can get in the door at F1Boston we can also gain access to their F1outdoor track also in Mass. next year, looks like a World Class Karting Facility.
Tony..thanks for all the leg work you are doing..Once it gets moving like it may happen and if you need some help just email me and I will do my part to chip in.
I live about 25 min from the F1 outdoor track and you know I have not even seen the place (shame on me) I just thought being a new facility they would just snub me plus I have had my hands full getting to the tracks we already have available in a 6 hour drive.
First post here. I work next door to R.J. Valentine, the (main) owner of F1 Boston. I use the indoor track a lot and it's great but you have to see the outdoor Track! made for 125cc rotax kart. I was thinking of feeling him out for YSR, NSR50 type racing there.
Are you riding pocketbikes there at F1 Boston? I have seen the pictures on the website for the outdoor track and it's way better than the track we currently race at. I think a lot of us who have been racing the area 51 pocketbike series in NH like the safety factor of a pocketbike over a YSR. Most of us are adults with full time jobs so we don't want to get too banged up. No Area51 pocketbike riders leave in the ambulance. The expense is also much less and the price is actually coming down on the better bikes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by snellen
First post here. I work next door to R.J. Valentine, the (main) owner of F1 Boston. I use the indoor track a lot and it's great but you have to see the outdoor Track! made for 125cc rotax kart. I was thinking of feeling him out for YSR, NSR50 type racing there.
Right on with that Eddie..I kid you not I am still banged up from last week..Ribs don't heal to quick..And on top of that you still have to go to work to pay the bills.
Hope all is well with you and you wife and will see you on the 8th
No bikes at F1. I'm thinking YSR for the same reasons as I was racing at NHIS. I don't know if the dynamics of the pockets relate with "real racebike or even a nicely set-up NSR50. maybe pocket are for me if I fit in them (6.0 feet)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast_Eddie
Are you riding pocketbikes there at F1 Boston? I have seen the pictures on the website for the outdoor track and it's way better than the track we currently race at. I think a lot of us who have been racing the area 51 pocketbike series in NH like the safety factor of a pocketbike over a YSR. Most of us are adults with full time jobs so we don't want to get too banged up. No Area51 pocketbike riders leave in the ambulance. The expense is also much less and the price is actually coming down on the better bikes.
I know where you are coming from with the size issue as I am also 6Ft. as are several other guys we race with. It's NOT as much of problem as it would seem. When I first saw the bike that I'm currently racing my first thought was "you gotta be kidding me, If I hit a bump I'm going to need a doctor to remove that little thing from my rear end". After a very short adjustment period nearly everyone prefers a small bike with tight handling. We can help you with bike choices. There are a few people who are currently racing both with us and at NHIS. The class with the biggest numbers is CAG. A cag is not terribly fast for a person who has spent a lifetime on motorcycles , but they carry enough speed through the corners to get your attention and there dirt cheap. Open class will give MotoGP style acceleration with the front wheel up in the air. Production class is in between.
Marko we'll see you on the 8th at the track. I have my C1 sold so I'll have room in my van for an open bike next season. The flyer I got says karts were starting practice in the morning. I guess that would mean we start early too?
The flyer I got says karts were starting practice in the morning. I guess that would mean we start early too?
Eddie advice is right on for those entering PB's. Many production and open pocketbikes are a handful and sap your strength in 12 laps. They are very demanding just like their bigger brothers. You only have to try one, to appreciate the demands of traction and control that is needed to race them. If you coming from an NSR then any 8-10hp euro pocketbike (i.e. Super production Class) will be more than enough to exceed the level of perfromance your used too, as these bike bike weight 50lbs (top-of-the-line less than 45lbs) and are tuned to a higher state than the NSR/YSR's.
NOTE: For those going OCT 8th, this is a DAY race, practice is in the morning and racing at noon or soon after. See flyer or website.
Have a great day racing and catch up with you guys soon,
Ok Guys,
I got a look at a Warehouse in Claremont, NH just off of I-91. Nothing I have told the owners has scared them off just yet. They have a few things to check on and verify before they can give me a price for daily rental on the 75,000 sqft spot.
This is a lot of space you could easily put Sugarhill's track inside this sucker. There are Support Columns and some walls breaking it up but I think it would be feasable to use with some planning. Columns are 25 paces apart one direction, 10 paces the other(ok I only have a 30 inch inseam). There are garage door size openings in the walls to connect the 3 large rooms. We would definatly need some barriers, and the floor is a smooth concrete, I'm thinking its a little slippery. Here are some pictures of the space.
Lets hear some feed back? would it be safe? would it be fun? Would you drive to Claremont NH in the winter? Ideas from anyone who has run/or riden indoor events would be great.
Here are the picsSorry some are so dark, will post additional info/floorplan as it comes in.
hi guys, that floor is not that bad i just get back from dover from the nascar race over there ,and we and my boys when to do some kart racing and they have a track with that kind of surface is not that bad at all you just have to take things slow on the corners ,not bad at all,it will be great if it can be done, is a long winter for us ,the white monster is gonna be here before we even notice,lol .
I think this place could work for us this winter. Sounds like cags only preferably with 6/70 ~6/74 gearing and no trophys. A good deal of thought will be needed on track layout to keep the pace reasonable, but I will make the drive if this happens. One of the areas with many poles could be a pit area.
Here is a very rough sketch of layout of this building as I remember it. No I do not have a 2 yr old son, thats my art work. Pole placement in this pic is not exact but gives you an Idea of what areas have them and dont.
. I would be happy to help out if my help is needed in putting together something for the winter but my main concern would be run-off room. In an indoor facility you never have adequate run-off area and at the speeds we go on a PB run-off room is very much needed. I do know you can wrap a column with hay bails but even running into a hay bail at 30-40mph is still going to hurt. If its safe count me in but that is my major concern. Also what kind of flooring does the warehouse have because that will be a major factor as far as traction goes...Thanx for the Heads up Arcy as I have limited access to PB Planet for some reason at work and when I get home I am usually tooling or doing some other PB related stuff..
