PNW Seattle Driving (karting) "Clinic"

[Eric Coffey]

O.K. guys, I've hinted around to it before, and now it's time to see if there is enough interest! The idea is to get all of the Northwest Pelican crew (including the regular "clinic" attendees) together for a little indoor karting action. It should be great for learning/improving driving technique (line, smoothness, etc.), and it's cheaper than going to the track! Not to mention, all lap times are recorded, so there will even be bragging rights for the hot-lappers!!! It should be a kick.

I was thinking maybe the weekend of the 17th (St. Patrick's Day)? If that's too soon, maybe Saturday the 23rd? Later? I wanted to wait until now because the new Seattle facility is open and running. It is supposedly twice as big/nice as the original Bel-Red location, with new high-zoot electric karts.

The best part you ask? Well, they sell beer! Nothing like a cold one after a hard day at the track right?

So, all that are interested, let me know so I can get an idea if this is a worthy "clinic" or not. Plus, the karting place offers group rates, so we should be able to get a break on the price with more people.

If anybody is curious about the venue or equipment, here's the link: www.champskarting.com

[don911]

I'm in! I've been anxious to try the carts. I like the 17th better. The 23rd is a PCA autox so I can't make that date. I'm in for the 17th or later (except the 23rd)

Keep me posted.

[turbo dave]

Count me in! Tired of only blowing my cash at the (somewhat mediocre) Champs track in Bothell (five minutes from work, what can I say?). The 23rd works better for me, but I'll try to make it whenever-

(oops, that's Kartz in Bothell, Champs in Redmond, Sykart in Tukwila... plus the one in Mukilteo, and the one in Tacoma... We're in Karting Heaven!!)

[Tyson Schmidt]

I'll be in LA the 9th through the 16th. The 17th will work, but I may be wasted.

The 23rd is out. That's PNWR's autocross #1, so alot of us will be there.

[Randy W]

I can make it on the 17th. Oh boy, carts and green beer!

[island911]

The dates sound good, but the location. . .hmmm? I've become a bit of a carting snob lately. I recently went to a place up in Bothell called Kartz and raced with their natural gas carts. It is so nice, at the end of the day, when you get back in your car, and you realize your eyes aren't blood-shot nor are you smelling like a giant hydrocarbon cloud.
Don't think the have beer at Kartz though. which I've seen can be a good thing.
Are there other good natural gas cart places? So what do you guy think?

EDIT
yep, Kartz . .. . http://www.kartz.com/index.html

[Randy W]

Champs' karts are electric, so no smell. The new big track would be fun I think - let's do it....

[island911]

Well alright, then.

Thanks RW.

[Eric Coffey]

OK, Sunday the 17th it is (Tyson, Dave, you guys are troopers!).
The only down side is that it looks like our group will be too small to qualify for group rates. However, they do have specials and price breaks for buying multiple sessions (2 for $25 for example).

Now for the details: The place is located in South Seattle on the corner of 6th & Michigan. From I-5 South, take the "Michigan & Corson" exit (#162?), take a right at the first light onto Michigan, then another right on 6th. The address is: 5960 6th Ave. South. The guy I spoke with said that they have their own lot, so parking shouldn't be an issue. Also, their hours on Sundays are 12pm - 9pm. I was thinking maybe meeting up in the late afternoon, say 4pm? That should give us plenty of time to get a few sessions in, as well as some time to relax with a few cold ones. Plus, traffic shouldn't be that bad since it's on a Sunday. So let me know if 4pm works for everyone.

Oh, and just for fun, I will be handing out factory Porsche stickers for the fastest lap time, and the best average lap time.

Lastly, if anyone has any specific questions, you can call Champs directly at: 206-768-9800.

[turbo dave]

If you don't mind a few non-P car people, I could easily round up another three or four to get the group rate (how big a group do we need?). We have a pretty hard-core auto-x/kart crew here, although keeping it Porsche-only might be better. What are your opinions, cheap or Pelican?

[Eric Coffey]

Dave-

I spoke with the lady who runs the group events, and she said we would need 15 to qualify for the minimum group rate, or 30+ people to have the place to ourselves. Either way, she would need payment if full, prior to the event. So, I think their group program is geared more toward corporate outings/events. Plus, even if we did get 15-30 people, I don't think I would want to put down the full (non-refundable) payment and have to eat the cost if there were any no-show's.

The main down side of the group event is that they run it like a mini "race weekend", where you have practice, qualifying, and a final race. However, for the final race, only the top 5 advance. If we keep it on an individual basis (as it is now), people can run as many sessions as they want, and would be able to participate in any or all races. Plus, the discount wasn't that much anyway.

[Doug Zielke]

Eric,
I'd love to make this gig with you and the gang, but I've got those weekends tied up with...ahem..."domestic" projects.
(Mrs. Z is going car shopping, yet again. For some reason unknown to me, she insists I go along to "kick the tires".)

[turbo dave]

Great, Pelicanheads at 4:00. See you all there-

[Randy W]

4 pm on the 17th - got it. See you guys there.

[Superman]

Great! I wouldn't have been able to make it this weekend, but I very possibly can on the 17th. Hope to see you there.

[Eric Coffey]

Hey all,

Just wanted to give one last reminder for everyone. The fun begins at 4pm tomorrow (Sunday the 17th) at Champs Karting in Seattle. Address, phone #, and directions are in my 2nd post. Oh, and here is a little addendum to the driving directions: Once on 6th, the place is "past the railroad tracks on the right hand side". See everyone there!

[Randy W]

Thanks, Eric. Looking forward to karting on the new track and seeing everyone there!