2005 Calendar
1st - Wow, a new year already. Tinkler Motorsports is now 3 years old. RallyCross and RoadCross in 2003, then Kart Dirt Track and AutoCross in 2004. But 2005 looks to be a really big year for us as Tinkler MotorSports will be fielding a total of four vehicles for the 2005 racing season.
- Kristian will running at Indian Creek Kart Raceway every other Saturday when season starts.
- The Saab will be making the dirt oval at Dothan Motor Speedway and RallyCrossing on the side.
- The Fiat will be AutoCrossing at the Wiregrass SCCA Solo II events and a Nashville RoadCross.
- The Formula 440 is scheduled for a couple Hillclimbs and at least one Solo I event.
15th - Worked on the F440 today. Got the old safety harnesses pulled out and some chassis painting done. Wheels dismounted and hubs/brakes cleaned and checked.
22nd - Sand Hills Sand Blast NASA Rally. Took a buddy of ours to the event to introduce him to rally and working rallies. Had a really good time seeing old friends and talking to the different teams. It was pretty cold out on the course, but we had a good time anyway (except for getting the truck stuck in the sand, half off the road and half on. Managed to get it pulled out just minutes before the stage opened).
29th - KVT worked getting his Kart set back up to run the dirt track. His last event for 2004 was a Autocross, so major adjustments had to be done to the steering and chassis. While checking it over, he found that one of his brake pads was completely broken in two.
5th - Went over to the WinterNationals held at Southern Raceway in Milton, FL. KVT had went over and watched a couple classes run on Friday night (Truck, Street Stock, Vintage, Modified) and we both went over on Sat. to watch the other classes (Hogg, Stingers, Hobby, Limited Late Model and Modified)
13th - I had to work this weekend, but got wind that the Wiregrass SCCA was holding a Solo 2/Autocross today. Me and a couple guys beat it out there after work to try to catch the last of it. There were pretty much done, but 2 of the guys from work entered (Rousch Mustang and MR2 Spyder). There supposed to be running again this time next month (another work weekend), but maybe I'll tow up either the F440 (if done) or the Fiat.
14th - Took the body panels for the F440 up to Critty at Dothan Auto Body to have them repainted to the team colors (black). Number decals already on hand and ready to be mounted with Critty finishes with the paint job. This car will run holographic gold numbers and lettering.
19th - Me and KVT went over to Oak Grove Kart Track in Baker, FL. Mostly went to pick up some parts he was needing (wheel, brake pads, etc.) and some stuff for the 440 (air filters and pre-filters). Got to watch some of the races and talked to some old friends there too. Got the word from a fellow competitor that Indian Creek Kart Track (Opp, AL) would be opening for practice the first part of March.
20th - Went up to the South Alabama Motor Speedway to watch the different classes practicing for the Rattler 200. $2 bucks a person got you into the pits and talking with the teams. Really liked being able to stand just a couple feet off the track on the inside of the turns and see the different cars go flying by. Watching from the stands doesn't even come close by comparison. Talked to some Cup Lite guys and one of them took a set of the F440 carbs with him to rebuild this week.
26th - Went over to the 200 Lap Enduro Race at Flomaton Speedway, in Flomaton, AL. Went by Pensacola on the way over and picked up a pair of racing shoes (now all I need is for my gloves to come in and I'm set). Started picking up the 440's body panels from Dothan Auto Body, should start test fitting and decaling next weekend.
27th - Rattler 200 practice for today was cancelled due to the rain. This is bad because I was supposed to pick up my carbs and hoped to get some good info from the Cup Lite teams. Their cars use a 700cc snowmobile motor, while our F440 uses the 440cc snowmobile motor (which I know little about - after all, not too many of those in Florida). Worked on the 440 wiring and radiator hoses. Still have to work on the fueling system.
5th - Went to the Rattler 200 at South Alabama Motor Speedway in Opp. Been a while since we watched a asphalt event. Interesting, but a little cold.
13th - Had to work, but still made it out to the Solo 2/Autocross at Dothan, AL. Met some folks from down around Panama City (www.panhandlegearheads.com). Nice bunch of folks, look forward to seeing them again next month. I'll try to get some Solo2 info put on the website soon.
18th - 20th - Went up to the Cherokee Trails International Rally, in Cleveland, TN. Had a great time. Worked Stages 6, 8, 10 and 12. Saw most all our old friends, and had a really good time. Took a only a couple photos, mostly of the folks we know..
7th - Been working on the F-440 car every night, trying to get it ready for the school on the 16th. Almost everything is complete, just a couple more items on order that has to be put on. Finally got it running, but not running good. Still won't idle correctly. May have to seek professional help on it. Time is rapidly running out though.
9th - Busy weekend, KVT took his kart up to Indian Creek Raceway for some more practice laps before season opens (scheduled for next weekend - 16 Apr). He's driving much better and much more aggressively this year than last. He put in about 3 - 25 lap practice sessions before his clutch gear let go and he had to be pushed in from way over in turn 3. Kristian got to try out a mini-Sprint car - well, try it out by sitting in it and asking dozens of questions about how it work and what everything was for. He could not talk the owner into letting him take it around the track any.
10th - We went up to the Wiregrass SCCA Solo 2 event. Since our vehicles are still in various stages of completion, we spent the day shagging cones and helping out where we could. It was a pretty good day and KVT got to meet some of the Wiregrass folks.
16th - 17th - Solo 1 School at Talladega Gran Prix Track. Hmmm....What can I say. Certainly didn't go the way I expected. Instead of doing the school, getting my license, competing in our first Time Trials event; we never even made it off the trailer. Extremely disappointed, to say the least.
30th - Indian Creek Kart Track was supposed to have their Season Opener race today, but it was cancelled due to the heavy rain in the area all day. Don't know when they're going to reschedule it, will have to call them to see. New fuel cell came in for the F-440 and we should be putting that in on Monday, try to get it ready to Autocross the following Sunday at Wiregrass.
May:
7th - Went to Indian Creek Kart Track, hoping to find a race scheduled since the Season Opener last weekend was cancelled due to rain. Instead it was just a practice day with Season Opener now scheduled for 14 May. Track was pretty wet on first set of practice laps and then dried out a good bit on the 2nd set. Good training for KVT to try the kart out on the different track surfaces.
8th - Went to the Wiregrass Region SCCA Solo 2 event. Still without a functioning vehicle (still need motor work done on the F-440 - hopefully to finish in time for Skelly), so I worked the course while KVT worked the morning as the Starter and then ran the Timer in the afternoon. Had a good time and a good turnout, including 5 lady drivers who got to enter for free due to it being a Mother's Day Special event.
14th - Indian Creek Kart Track - Season Opener - KVT has had several weekends of practice (and several nights working on the kart) to get ready for the coming season. Not many folks have been showing up for practice days. KVT took 2nd place in his first heat race as well as 2nd place in the 2nd heat race. In both heats, he was right on the 1st place karts bumper at the checkered flag. I figured this meant he'd catch him in the longer feature race. However a case of 'first race of the season' over anxiousness got him and each time he'd start catching up, he'd push too hard and end up pushing way out in the corners and loosing speed. Not only did he loose speed, he'd lose position too as the 3rd place kart would catch and pass him when he erred. Turned out to be a good battle between KVT for 2nd/3rd spot with KVT finally passing the 3rd place kart one last time to take 2nd in the feature race. He had ran out of time/laps to be able to mount a charge on the 1st place kart though.
28 - 29th - Wiregrass Region SCCA - Skelly Field Solo 1 event. We're were hoping to enter this event and get back on track for our Solo 1 season. However F-440 was still in the shop. We ended up working the event, helping setup on Friday, then serving as course clean-up/vehicle recovery for the Sat/Sun of the event. KVT worked timing a little while on Sunday. Turnout was pretty good, I think 32 entrants. I took a good many pictures and will be adding them to the Wiregrass Website. I really wish the F-440 would have been ready because this was definitely THE event to get plenty of track time without having too much pressure or being on a tight schedule. I guess there is always next year.
June:
18th - Tennessee Spokes Car Club - Brentwood, TN - Yet another event that we had wanted to do again this year, but still no running vehicle. Maybe I'll get lucky some how and work will get cancelled or something for the 2nd running of this event later in the year.
Instead, we made our way up to Aliceville, Alabama, where we picked up a flat kart for Kristian to use for asphalt Solo 2 events. Needs some work, but makes a good 'summertime' project for Kristian to tear down and fix back up. He has been given a deadline of 14 August, which is the next Wiregrass Region Solo 2 event we'll be able to attend. Hopefully he'll be able to do the remainder of the years Autocross events. Will post pictures and info on the kart on his page soon.
24th - 2nd race of the season at Indian Creek kart track for KVT. He did pretty well, taking first place in the first heat, a 2nd place in the second heat and finishing 2nd in the main feature race. On the way to the track we talked again about trying different cornering apex's during the racing. He finally listened to me during the first heat race. He was sitting in 3rd place, pushed hard and high going into turn 1, managing to get on the brakes late and take the 2nd place spot in a pass on the outside. He then then cut in hard, apexing deep into turn 2, thereby getting underneath the 1st place kart and taking the lead. Wouldn't you know it a textbook perfect racing maneuver and I didn't have the camcorder there with me to catch it.
Again he let the 'pursuit pressure' get to him and spins a couple times in the main feature but still manages to pull out a 2nd place finish. He's going to have to learn to tame the demon when he gets the first place car in his sights, must learn to calm down and not push too hard too soon.
July:
2nd - Well, what to say about 2 July. We worked some in the morning on the new flat kart, then decided to head up to Dothan to watch some racing at the dirt track up there. However it began raining hard on the way up. Movies? No, KVT wanted to go bowling. The first place appeared to be closed, so we drove all the way across town to a different bowling alley. Not many folks there and the rain was really coming down outside. We'd just finished our first set and were getting ready to start a new set, when I happened to look back toward the main desk..........and there 'She' was.
5-13th - All expense paid vacation to 'America's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Playground'. Salt flats, sand dunes, dried out desert vegetation. 102 degrees when we arrived, 108 when we left. Dry, arid, hot like being inside a baking oven. Little sleep and sporadic meals. Scenery was interesting, at least for someone who had never seen that type of terrain or environment. But I was very glad when the time came to return home. Question is, what would I be returning home to?
16th - KVT has been on mini-vacation in the NC mountains while I was in the desert. He returned home today and I'm ever so thankful. We got back to working on the flat kart, hope to have it all finished up this week, except for the motor. He has a race this weekend (23rd) and after that race we're pulling the Champ Kart motor to put on the flat kart, and putting a new one on the Champ kart.
23rd - Worked on both Karts in the a.m., then headed up to the Indian Creek Track for the Saturday night race. KVT took the win in the first heat race. 2nd heat race was much closer with KVT swapping between 1st and 2nd on several laps. At the white flag lap (1 lap remaining) KVT is in 2nd and attempts to make a move on the outside going down the back straight. Ends up running his right side wheels off the track and throwing red dirt 6 feet or more into the air as the crowd gasps. It costs him, but he stays hard in it and doesn't loose too much track position. Coming out of turn 4 for the checkered flag he again attempts a pass on the outside and at the flag stand his tires are mere centimeters from Damen's and his front bumper only about 3 inches behind as they cross the finish line. Everyone in the stands is on their feet and even the flagman claps for them as they come back around. Without a doubt the most exciting race of the day.
Lightening was flashing all around by the time they got to the main feature races, and it looked like they may have to cancel. But they shortened the intermission time and cut the main races back to just 8 laps in order to get them all in (and to keep from having to pay everyone back their entry fee) In the main feature, KVT has the pole position on the start, and lays to it right from the start. Track was a bit slick as it didn't dry out very much due to the high humidity. KVT had spun twice in practice but I guess the heat races had dried it out just enough for him to hook up properly. By the checkered flag, he was 1/4 lap ahead of the 2nd place finisher. We had everything all loaded but the kart, and he drove it straight from the track to up on the trailer. We strapped it down as KVT went to pick up his payout and then we quickly hit the road. We'd only gone about 2 miles when the downpour hit. Rained hard on us from Onycha to almost Geneva - glad we got everything packed and got out of there before it hit.
24th - Worked on the Karts and the Formula car some. Went to Wolfe Racing to have some Kart tires swapped to different rims and to see if he would be willing to take a look at the Formula car's engine. We had a big shrimp boil dinner waiting for us when we got back home (I know this isn't exactly 'news', but I added it as a slight jab at someone who might read this and know they didn't get any . . . but they could have).
25th - Spent most of the day cleaning and straightening up the shop. Had to move some vehicles and stuff around so that we could pull the Formula car out of the back of the shop (to which I had banished it for letting me down at Talladega and at the Skelly Field event). Got it loaded up on the trailer to take to Wolfe Racing. After lunch, me and KVT headed over to Ponce de Leon Springs State Park for a dip in the spring. Saw our neighbor John who works there and had a good time swimming in the cold water.
26th - Took the Formula car up to Wolfe Racing in Geneva to have him look at it. I'm confident that he'll either be able to fix it's problems or if not fix it, then help me get a new engine installed for it. Fixed or replaced doesn't really matter, as long as I'm able to get some seat time in it between now and season start next year.
30th - Took a 'field trip' to Wakulla Springs, FL. Had hoped to take the two boat/nature cruises they have there, plus do some swimming in the spring. However it rained all day and those activities were closed. Did have a nice lunch at the Lodge there, came back home disappointed otherwise though.
6th - Busy weekend. Worked on the Karts Saturday morning, watching the rain clouds pass over. Headed to Indian Creek Raceway in the afternoon. Poor turnout due to the weather. Only had enough karts to run only one 'official' class race, and that was the stock heavy. KVT ended up getting put in a 'whatever's left over' class. Heat race saw him get beat by a couple quick flat karts, but he did manage to keep in the mix, pulling out a 4th place finish for the heat.
They didn't run a 2nd heat race this weekend, and with one Kart breaking in the 1st heat, another not making it back out to the feature, and yet another kart dying in turn 3 with 3 laps to go, KVT managed to come away with his second 1st place finish of the season. Proving once again the old race saying that 'Races are won or lost in the shop'. We haven't had any problems during a race weekend so far this season (for kart racing that is).
On Sunday we pulled the Champ Kart motor (after back-to-back 1st place wins ? ? ?) and moved it over to the Solo 2 flat kart. Had to fabricate some pieces to get it all to fit right. Still have a couple odd and end parts to order/put on to get it 100% ready but we did fire it up for KVT when he got home from school. New kart looks real good, exactly like we had planned, another successful racing creation, photos soon.
27-28th - 4th Event of the Southeast Divisional Solo 2 Championship season was hosted by Wiregrass SCCA and held at Hunt Field. KVT entered the 'asphalt' kart we'd picked up back in July and won the FJ-1 class. He received a very nice plaque and had a good time. I ended up working the event as I still have nothing driveable.
16th - Wow, here it is almost Christmas and I haven't updated the Journal since 28 August! What a slacker. Truthfully though, not much has happened since then. A couple races, and some stuff in our private lives, but not much on the MotorSport front. I will try to go back and backdate/backpost as much as I can remember. As punishment for my slacktitude, I will make those posts in this sick blue color. I will try to do better next year.
2006 looks like it is going to be a really big year/season for us. I know I said that last year, then we ended up not doing half the event we thought we would. In fact, I didn't do any events at all in 2005, not one. Luckily KVT was there to take up my slack (slacking again?). Next year should be different. Have a new car, but it won't be racing in 2006 or at least not till way late in the year. Probably no Solo 1 or Hill Climbs this year either. Mostly concentrating on Kart Racing, AutoCross Events, and some Dirt Tracking (if we can get that car finished in time - but we do work better under pressure and short deadlines).
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