115 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

Heck, Mike, what woman ISN'T adept at shopping? You surely didn't need to even mention that!

Hmm, might have to make a drive North in October...

Mike, I've spent the day in Chicago on Thanksgiving and I can't say the weather was anything I'd want to experience again: 30 degrees with a 30-40 mph wind. Brrr...

But you're guaranteeing better weather for mid-October, right?

Jackie has really refined her craft since we moved to a new home in February. While we live sort of in the woods, it has to be the epicenter for shopping in the west suburbs. She can go in five different directions and in 5-15 minutes "land" in five distinct and extensive shopping areas. In 5-20 minutes I can get to eight different Home Depots.

Weather in Chicago is ideal in late Sept, early October. Almost zero chance of 90s or snow. I'd say 50-80 with
65 being a fair guess for the dates of the race. The earliest I ever remember it snowing is on Halloween and that's happened maybe once or twice in my life. Last year I think it hit 80 in late November.

[Cheater]

Thanks for the weather report, Mike. I was mostly kidding about the weather part.

However, I was dead serious about women and shopping...

[Jay Guard]

I'm definitely planning on attending so it looks like the "Not Quite there Yet" Southeast D3 division will have at least two representatives. Greg and I will have to get going on a few chassis and maybe we'll even be a able to get a Southeast D3 race put together before heading up to Chicago. SEE YOU THERE!!

[MSwiss]

Great to hear you guys are planning to come. I've heard all about how you're the driver Greg wishes he could be.

[Cheater]

Ouch, Mike, you've cut me to the quick. If only it wasn't true...

I'll be crying in my sushi tonight thanks to you.

[MSwiss]

I didn't say you weren't fast...

[Cheater]

Actually, I ain't worth a tinker's damn anymore.

You know the saying: "The Older I Get, the Faster I Was."

I'm especially feeling that way since last Wednesday was the big five-three...

[MSwiss]

Wait a second, you might be too young to run the "Sano".

[MSwiss]

I had Tex Hofer PM me about preferred motels for the Sano. I think your best bet would be to "Priceline"
the popular chains using Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Countryside, Darien, Westmont, Oak Brook, and Downers Grove as the target Chicago suburbs to use. I'd wait a little bit before you book. I'm 95%-98% sure on the original dates listed but I'm waiting for one important piece of information before I set the dates in stone.

[Tex]

Below is some info I've gathered. Prices are as quoted on the motels' websites; a better price might be had using one of the discount services (Priceline.com, etc). These are based on double occupancy and smoking (can't get the wife to quit! )

Motel 6
10 W. Roosevelt Rd. Villa Park, Il. 60181
9.5 miles to Chicagoland Raceway
$50.39/night

Clubhouse Inn Westmont
630 Pasquinelli Dr. Westmont, Il. 60559
5.2 miles to Chicagoland Raceway
$89/night

Holiday Inn
6201 Joliet Rd. Countryside, Il. 60525
2.9 miles to Chicagoland Raceway
$129/night

[Pappy]

Thanks Tex, I know which one I'm going for. I'll drive an additional 6.6 miles each way for $78.61 a day.

[Tex]

Two more for comparison shopping:

Hampton Inn Westchester
2222 Enterprise Dr. Westchester, Il. 60154
4.6 miles to Chicagoland Raceway
$94/night

Super 8 Willowbrook
820 West 79th Willowbrook, Il. 60527
7.1 miles to Chicagoland Raceway
$74/night

It's obvious that the closer the motel is to downtown Chicago, the more expensive it is... further away = cheaper; this holds true for the motel's proximity to La Grange, too.

[MSwiss]

Tex,

Thanks for taking the time to post some motels. I'll start jotting down some other names when I drive into work.
There has to be some more in that Willowbrook area that would be good.

[Noose]

Hampton Inns are good because:

1) The room is usually a suite... so you can hook up you soldering iron in the living room or kitchen area and not have to smell the acid flux fumes.
2) Breakfast is included.
3) Beer/wine at night between 5 and 7... kinda like Embassy Suites.

[tonyp]

I knew Noose would have to bring beer and wine up eventually.

[Noose]

But they don't have Blue Moon!

[tonyp]

I am sure you called ahead to check, too. LOL.

[Noose]

Nah... don't have to. Stay in them when I travel on business. Pretty much all the same.

[Tex]

Mike Swiss,

I know you're doing all you can to pull this thing together in time. But whenever you get some details pinned down, feel free to post the info. I know the motor question was still up in the air, but maybe let us know what class/chassis we'll be running on what track.... that sort of thing. Thanks again just for putting this shindig on.

[MSwiss]

Tex,Racers,

The last piece of the puzzle fell into place and the Oct.13 and 14 dates are now official.

On Friday night we will have a celebrity/IROC race on the flat track. It will be open only to racers who haven't raced here before. We will try to fit in as many out-of-towners as possible. Cars to be determined, but they will stay on
the lane and moved accordingly between heats to reflect your finishing track position from the heat before.

The "real" racing will open up Saturday morning with:
Event #1 - F1 on the flat track (with esses)
Followed by:
Event #2A - GT on the King (same inline style Can-Am chassis/just with a closed cockpit body)
Optional event if time permits on Saturday:
Event #2B - same GT cars on flat track (without esses)
Sunday morning:
Event #3 - Can-Am on the flat track (with esses)
Followed by:
Event #4 - F1 on the King
Racer with the lowest cumlative finishing total from the above races will win $250 and be declared "one wicked dude".

The 8 racers with the 8 lowest cumulative finishes will compete in :
Event #5 - Can-Am on the flat track (with esses)
Racer with most laps will win $250 and be declared the "Sanoest cat on the planet"

Above price money is based on 20 entries (I think a doable number)
Total entry fee for Saturday and Sunday is $60 which includes unlimited track time both days.
For any racers who can only make it one day or not run in every race,it will be pro-rated
accordingly (one day with two events - $30 or one day with one event - $20)

Friday - unlimited practice on both tracks - $10
IROC race-Free

[Noose]

Great plan, Mike.

Now all we need to do is settle on the rules:

Motors
Bodies
F1 Width
Minimum Weights
Miniumum Rear Tire Widths

These are the basic differences in the rules between West and East Coast.

[MSwiss]

Joe,

We'll get to that. Let me play with some of the cars here and I'll come up with something in the next few weeks.

BTW,racers will be seeded into mains so while "A" races,"B" marshalls, "C" can be practicing on the other track.
Most important to note, the seeding will be in a serpentine manner which will mix up the fast guys with the slower ones and hopefully even up the winning totals in all the mains.

Of minor note, I will not be racing in this event.

[TSR]

Mike,

I will be sending you samples of the $9.95 D3-Spec motor for your comparative testing as soon as I come back from my vacation.