Da Groj

As you may have noticed, we have no autocross scheduled for the month of March. Sites just weren't available. We'll be back at it next month.

Meanwhile... We've arranged for a little kart racing at Tampa Bay Grand Prix in Brandon Bushnell Motorsports Park.

March 22 starting at 10am 11:30am. We need you to pre-register in the usual place. $50 $66 entry for our 3-race package. 16 lap 10-minute races.

Remember, if you're bringing a helmet, it must be a full face helmet.
They do have loaner helmets , of course.

Details and registration:
fast.motorsportreg.com

Update:

Philip did some recon at TBGP and found that "their karts are trash". Apparently, they're maintenance is not up to par, and the karts have a variety of problems. So much so that when Philip asked for a replacement for his ailing kart, the attendant told him "they're all like that."

So, we're moving this event to Bushnell! It's a little farther away, but they are proper 50-mph gas-engined karts on a really nice large outdoor track.

Entry fee had to go up to $66. This gets you a 3-race package, 10-minute races. Details will be updated on MotorsportsReg shortly.

Corona Virus update:

If you're what they call "elderly", or have a compromised immune system, you might want to stay home. If you get close to people who fit that category, you might want to consider NOT transmitting the virus to them. If you don't fit either of those categories, then this should be a low-risk event for you.

As of today, we're still on for this!

I'll sign up. Eventually.

Oops, wait, March 22 is a Sunday. Got some family-type stuff to do. Y'all have fun...

Just called the track, they're still open for public kart rental 12-7pm Sunday. We're still on!

However, Steve couldn't break free on a Sunday, and Loren has opted out. There are still about a dozen people signed up, though!

We're going to handle this differently. Basically, we're pulling FAST out of the middle. We're not collecting entry fees. Just go to the track and pay your own entry fees. Have fun! And if you know folks who aren't registered, it's an open kart track, they can go!

Remember, they require a full face helmet and closed-toe shoes. Good idea to bring your own helmet if you have one. Driving gloves wouldn't be a bad idea, either. Remember, even though you're hanging with friends... try to keep your distance!

If you have any other questions, you might find answers here:
https://bushnellmotorsportspark.com/

Why am I not going? Several reasons, the virus probably being the least of them.

When we moved the event to Bushnell, it made it a 90-minute drive for me. 3 hour uninteresting round trip. Meh.

I have a driving lesson this evening. So, in addition to 3 hours of driving, and a couple hours of karting, I'd have to get home and get cleaned up... then I'd be tired and grumpy and trying to teach. Meh.

I'm significantly out of shape! Karts generally wipe me out pretty quickly, that's why I tend to avoid them. But, I was gonna go, anyway. Then I spent half of yesterday hauling lumber up into my attic and nailing in a floor and everything already hurts. Karting would NOT be good.

Add the whole virus thing and general feeling of mental malaise on top of it all... eh, I'm staying home.

Y'all have fun! Let us know how it goes.

BTW...this event was a lot of fun. I think there was about 10 of us from FAST that showed up. I brought my 15 y/o son and he had a blast not to mention held his own among some autox veterans. Nice facility even if the carts were pretty beat up.

That was my first time at Bushnell, will definitely be back. Track was cool and the karts were fun to drive. So long as you stayed in the powerband you could steer with the throttle, and you could actually modulate the brakes unlike the “on/off” switch that rental karts usually seem to have. Fun times