2004 Calendar
1st - Spent New Years Day riding over to Oak Grove Motorsports Park near Baker, Fl so Kristian could check out the Kart Track there. It's a pretty big, 1/4 banked clay track. He's planning on running this track starting in April when the regular season starts. Checked out the facilities, pits and parking. No one was there, so we just looked around a bit then headed back home. Stopped by Ponce de Leon Springs State park for a look around (including Kristian 'driving' his new R/C Rally Car all the way around one of the hiking trails in the park). Then a quick stop for some pizza and back home.
3rd - Kristian took his Kart to the big parking lot behind the Ag Center. After seeing how large the track at Baker was, we made his practice track over twice the size we had it at before. He got in about 9-10 fast paced laps before throwing the chain going into turn 3. Until then, the Kart was performing well. Even tried out the outlaw wing this time out. But the broken chain cut the day short as we hadn't brought any repair links with us.
17th - Kristian got in some 'track time' at a new Kart track outside of Opp, Alabama. It's so new he had to wait for the road grader to finish cutting in turn 3, but then managed to get in 25-30 hot laps before experiencing a few mechanical problems and then the rain set in. All in all it was a good test and tune / practice session. Got to fix a couple items, but should be back out at the track again next weekend for more laps. One of the owners complimented Kristian by telling him that "This is the nicest looking Kart we've had out here". He also said Kristian seemed to handle the Kart really well for his first year.
31st - Kristian took me over to Pensacola for my birthday, to see our first hockey game, between the Pensacola Ice Pilots and the Louisiana Ice Gators. Before the game, we checked out the kart track at Corey Field (we heard it was asphalt, but turned out to be a dirt track), then had supper at McGuire's Pub. Did not get a chance to visit with B. Kirby to check out the status of his Rally Car project.
1st -16th - Work back up in Montgomery for 2 weeks. Maybe a chance to pack some more on the household stuff still up there. Work will continue on repairing the car hauling trailer in my absence.
21st - Went to the Winter Divisional Kart Series race at Oak Grove Dirt Track in Baker, Florida. Kristian was not competing, but spent the day checking out the other Champ Kart entries (no purple restrictor, only blue restrictors running). Also spent time in the pits learning from another successful Champ Kart team from up in Tennessee. We learn a lot of little 'tricks' for making things easier and faster while working on the Kart in the pits between rounds.
28 - Went back up to the dirt track at Opp. They had just finished going over it again after some hard rains earlier in the week. Track was rough, but this time there were 4 'flat' Karts out there to do some hot lapping with. They did not run restrictor plates, so they were a bit faster than KVT, but he did get in some good 'traffic' and 'yellow flag' practice.
6th - Rattler 150 race at South Alabama Motor Speedway in Opp Alabama. Went both Friday night for the 'local' classes, then again on Saturday night for the Late Models. Also running on Friday night were the "mini-Sportsmen" and the "Cup lites" ran on Saturday.
12th-17th - Spring Break - Kristian heads to North Carolina for the first half of Spring Break to visit relatives, leaving on the 11th and returning on the 17th. On the 18th we're headed to.........
18th-21st - Rally Tennessee, second rally in the Eastern States Rally Championship (we had to miss the first one in SandHills, SC, after working that event twice in 2003). Will be signing up as workers again, due to not having our own Rally Car to enter the competition with.
21st - <cancelled> On Sunday following the Rally Tennessee, Chattanooga SCCA is holding another RallyCross event in Resaca, GA. Plans are to enter it (since we'll be in the area anyway), of course that will depend on what shape we are in after Rally Tennessee.
18th - We decide to take the weekend off from racing and race working and head out to the beach for the day. Of course where do we end up but at one of the Go-Kart Racing places. After a couple hours of competition/practice, we finally headed out to the pier to see what was biting. Later we watched a pretty good movie called "Hildago" about a horse race across the deserts of the Middle East. (And no, you can't count horse racing against us as it isn't automobile racing)
24th - Spokes Car Show in Brentwood, Tennessee. Kristian had been invited to enter his Racing Kart in the show during one of the RoadCross events we competed in up there last year. Took the Kart up, including a 'demo' of stuff we normally take to the track like spare tires (some still covered with track dirt), methanol racing fuel, handful of different size sprocket gears, his safety gear and miscellaneous spare parts and tools. He also had a small photo album showing the Kart's build from the bare frame up now and a couple pics from the Indian Creek (Opp) Dirt Track.
Car and spectator turn out was not what had been expected due to the rain, but there were still some very nice cars, even some 'unusual' ones from Lane Car Museum there in Nashville. All in all we had a great time and it was a great experience for Kristian.
Kristian ended up winning 2nd place in his class and got a real nice trophy. He also made a couple new friends. Spokes Car Club raised over $4250.00 for the Tennessee Baptist Children's home with the Car Show. Kristian also had his picture made standing by his Kart and this was put on a T-shirt for him (looks good) and also had a 'hologram' picture made where when you look at it from one angle it's the picture of him running brake lines on the bare chassis of his Kart, but turning it slightly to a different angle, and it a picture of him in his racing suit standing by his completed Kart at the car show (looks really cool), before and after photos in one.
May:
15th - Cherokee Trails Rally, fourth rally in the Eastern States Rally Championship. This year we're not working the event. Well, that's not completely true. We are not working as Rally Staff, this year we are Sponsoring a Rally Car in the event. Our part of the sponsorship includes towing the vehicle to/from the event (Huntsville, Al to Cleveland, Tn), providing a vehicle for use on the reconnoitering stage of the course, and providing Service on the vehicle during the event. Tinkler Motorsports is listed on the 'Event Entry' page of the Rally website: http://www.cherokeetrailsrally.com/entry_list.html
Just got in from the event. The car we were sponsoring slid in some wet mountain mud (rained the day before) and ran into a rock/dirt embankment, breaking the lower control arm. We search thru all the open parts places in Cleveland but were unable to locate a replacement, so we had to pull out of the rally. Besides that, we had a great time and did a otherwise very professional job in crewing for the team. Was a good event and enjoyed the camaraderie with our fellow teammates (driver - Aaron Mosher, co-driver - Ken Blain) and with the drivers/co-drivers and crews of the other teams participating in the event.
For our sponsorship/towing/crew services, we were given a used (used up) 1974 Fiat X1/9. In it's history, it had been built and used as a autocross racer (1500cc engine with 1300cc head, Weber carb, racing cam, headers, custom exhaust, autocross tires), but now was getting old. Our plan is to take it into our 'herd' and re-work it back into competition shape.
22nd - Indian Creek Raceway - After months of getting the track built and ready, Indian Creek Raceway finally opens and holds it's first ever kart race. This was Kristian's first competitive event. Through 'luck of the draw' he managed to get pole position in the heat race. After leading 4 of the 8 laps he ended up with 2nd place. This gave him the outside pole position for the main feature race later in the day. He pulled off a 3rd place finish in the main race, which was good enough to place 'in the money'. No trophies for this event, however he did get $9 for his 3rd place finish.
June:
1st - Earlier in the week had taken Kristian's kart to Wolfe Racing for some more 'tuning'. Swapped out front gears (15 tooth versus the 12 tooth he was running), changed out his old carburetor with a new style one, and removed the purple restrictor (not required at Indian Creek). Also put the kart on the scales and made some weight and setup adjustments.
Besides that, the weekend was pretty depressing. Found a massive gas leak in the Fiat, looks like a ruptured fuel tank. Might replace with a fuel cell. On the Saab, finally got the fuel injection line replace, but as of yet have been unsuccessful at getting the car fired up. We're scheduled to have the roll cage put in the Saab at the end of this month, but I also have to work out of town for most of the month. Hopefully I can get the Saab running in the next couple days.
5th - Well, we finally got the Saab to fire off. And then we pulled it off the drive to make room for the Fiat. Looks like the Saab is going to the back burner for a bit while we work on the Fiat. Still have a good bit to do on the Saab, we'll just have to get back on it after we finish on the Fiat.
19th - Rally Alabama, fifth rally in the Eastern States Rally Championship. <postponed> rescheduled for 1st part of October
26th - Work continues on the new 'shop'. It will be real nice, 40x60, electricity, lighting, big fan, 2 roll up door, concrete floor. Can't wait for them to finish it so we can get one of our vehicles in and start working on it.
July:
3rd - Me and KVT took a bit of a vacation, heading up to the NC mountains. Chimney Rock, Bat Cave, Black Mountain, Cold Mountain, Cherokee and several other stops. Had some good pizza in Tyron, swam in Lake Lure, hiked Chimney Rock and saw the drama 'Unto these Hills' in Cherokee. Had a good and relaxing time, which we both needed. First weekend we weren't working on cars or racing since I can remember.
24th - <cancelled> Rally Georgia, sixth rally in the Eastern States Rally Championship. Got a lot of work done on our DP Autocross Class Fiat X1/9. Still a good bit of work to do on it. Our 'ultimate' goal is to have it finished (at least 96% done) by the last weekend in October. Plan on taking it and Kristian's Kart up to Huntsville, AL and participate in the Twickenham Auto Club 50th Anniversary Autocross. Hopefully we'll get it finished a little earlier than that so that we can do some 'practicing' at the Wiregrass Region Autocross the 2nd weekend in September and October.
31st - First posting since 1 June. I'm going to have to go back and fill in stuff of what we did. Hopefully I can remember the dates. Kristian has another race this weekend at Indian Creek Raceway in Opp, AL. Then, more work getting the Fiat ready for Huntsville.
Kristian takes his first win at Indian Creek. After a wreck during hot laps (a older guy in a flat cart spins in front of him coming out of turn 4, KVT nails him in the left front wheel, causing a good bit of body damage and breaking the other karts steering wheel. Kristian's kart suffers a bent front bumper and some broken fiberglass). Due to the rainy weather, there is only one other kart in Kristian's class and during the heat race, the other kart has engine problems and has to retire. They work on it until the call come for the feature races and then throw in the towel. Track owner lets Kristian do the 12 lap feature race alone since he hasn't had any 'seat time' for a month. Pictures of Kristian giving the checkered flag a ride will follow soon. Kristian was awarded a trophy and a cash prize. He's saving up all his prize money winnings and plans on purchasing either his first car or his first real race car with the money.
14th: After winning his heat race and starting on the pole, a spin late in the feature race costs Kristian a win, but he still manages to get the kart back in the race and come in in 2nd place. This was the first race that started at 7pm and Kristian said it took a bit getting used to running under the lights at night rather than the middle of the day as he has so far this season.
28th: Kristian wins his heat race and then goes on to take the checkered flag as he wins the feature race at the Indian Creek track. His record is now three 1st place wins, two 2nd place and two 3rd place finishes. Kristian earned his largest purse of the season, $42.
4th-5th: <cancelled> Rally West Virginia, final round of the Eastern States Rally Championship. Two days of rallying followed by the end of year awards ceremony.
Spent the weekend re-wiring the Autocross Fiat. Stripped out all the old wiring, then ran new wire for ignition, fuel pump, gauges, shift light, and radiator fans.
11th - I spent the weekend rounding up tires, wheels, suspension and other parts for the AutoX Fiat in Birmingham and Talladega. While in Talladega, I took in a Solo I event at the Talladega Gran Prix Raceway (the meeting place for the parts pickup). While I was roaming Alabama, Kristian was dealing out another whupping at Indian Creek Raceway in his Jr. Champ Kart. He continues his quest for track champion in his class.
25th: On the way to the Kart race today, Kristian asked me if I thought they'd have a 'bounty' out for him, after dominating the last 4 races. While I chuckled about it at the time, it seemed that his competitors did come looking for some revenge this weekend as Kristian was shown what the race looks like from the back of the pack. He had handling problems on the corners, and no manner of tire pressure changes or adjusted driving lines seemed to help much. Guess it was someone else's turn to win.
Fiat coming along, got the interior aluminum panels in place, worked on braided fuel lines, mounted some Hoosier tires and did some more odd and end work that needed completing. Still a long way to go and only one month to get it done. Since we're about a month behind already, it's beginning to look rather bleak.
9th - Kart Racing at Indian Creek, cancelled due to rain. Spent most of week (Fall Break for KVT) moving our 'stuff' from Alabama to Florida (finally), and working on the Fiat.
16th - Work on KVT's Kart, try to change the setup on it from a dirt oval track setup to a asphalt road course setup for the AutoCross in Huntsville next weekend, also have to finish up on the Fiat and get it running for the same event.
23rd - Road Rally in Huntsville, AL - Kristian to co-drive/navigate for me
24th - Autocross in Huntsville, AL - Kristian running in Formula Junior Class with his Kart, me in D-Prepared class with the Fiat
30th - <cancelled> RoadCross in Nashville, TN was cancelled due to the amount of wet leaves covering the course, so since we weren't going up to do it, we decided also to forego the Night AutoCross in Huntsville, AL that we had planned on doing that night also.
It's 14 December, but I've been lax at updating the Journal, now I'm having to try to remember what all happened in November....
<cancelled> A NASA driving school was scheduled for Talladega Gran Prix track, we had planned on attending, but it was cancelled.
Had Thanksgiving at home with the folks. It was great as usual, all the normal stuff, turkey and dressing, pies, cranberry sauce, mmmmmmmm I'm getting hungry again.
That's about all I can remember from November, it passed by real quickly and we didn't do all that much on the weekends. Worked some on the Fiat, and also worked some on sealing in the shop, but no big trips or anything. Can't wait for racing season to start back.
3rd - For Kristian's Birthday (next week), took him to see the "Pendradon's", a husband/wife magic show at the Panama City Civic Center. It was a super show, very skillful magicians, kept us entertained for several hours. Had seats center stage, 4 rows back, so we could see everything real good (and we still couldn't figure out how the did it and did it so fast).
8th - Kristian's Birthday ! Fairly low-keyed family affair (something to do with some math grades). Per family tradition, Kristian got to pick his birthday meal and he chose Pizza (of course). We also decorated the Christmas tree, another family tradition (decorating the tree on Kristian's birthday).
19th - Went up to Guntersville, AL to look at a 1984 Red Devil Formula 440 car. Liked what I saw, so we put a down payment/deposit on it to hold it till we can get back up there with a trailer the week after Christmas. Idea for this car will be for us to get it Solo II/Solo I ready this year, with me doing a couple events on it. Also get KVT doing some practice in it as he will move up to this (from his Champ Kart). He has to be 16 to legally enter it into Solo II/Solo I/Hillclimb events, but since that's several years away, he can still start practicing on it and learning it.
<scheduled>