Once again there will be ice racing on the frozen reservoir in Georgetown Colorado. There are several classes that are based on your tires. Last year I ran the Men's Bare Rubber class and got a trophy for 4th place once. I was just out of the trophies 2 other times. Its a blast! Most of the races are run on a "dog bone" shaped track, marked by cones. See the track layouts page to see the courses. You are pretty much always sawing on the wheel one way or the other to make the cones. Too much throttle will send you spinning off the course and out of contention. The idea is to use as much throttle as you can without spinning the tires. Its pretty thrilling for only going about 7 miles per hour, especcially when you win and get to advance to the next round.

If you are interested the 2003 season schedule and rulebook are online now. Our Gang 4x4 Club Ice Racing . Bare rubber runs every Sunday in January and Febuary and there are 2 FREE practice days on the first and last Fridays during the 2 month season. Race entry is open to any street legal AWD or 4WD. (Bring your Audi or Subaru) Drivers must show a valid liscence and insurance, registration. If you have Blizzak or studded tires you will be put in a different class.

Hope to see some of you out there this season!

 

I'm bring this back up. The season is getting close. There have been some rule changes. One that sucks is that each vehicle has to provide a 'worker' for each race day. This might mean about half an hour of handing out fliers as people arrive, helping set up cones or flagging a race. The club that runs this deal says that their members can't keep up with all that has to be done. In the past they have asked for volunteers to help with this stuff. This year they say its required for each vehicle to provide a worker.

There is a newly formed message board on Yahoo Groups. I've been bugging the club officers about the work rule and there is ongoing conversation there. They know its flawed and the rule will likely be re-written before the start of the season.

Our Gang Message Board on Yahoo

Also the practice days are no longer free. There will be a $10 entry fee to keep non racers off the ice. In the past people would drive by and see us driving on the lake. They would come onto the lake and just start tearing around very dangerously with no regard for the race protocol. The fee is to limit the danger and give time to explain how the heats are run so it dosen't turn into a circus with no ringmaster.

Again I hope to see some YotaTech members out there this season. Maybe we can come up with a 'team' so that we don't all have to work if we don't share vehicles. I'll do the work if they let us combine as a team. Flagging is fun. You get the best seat in the house for the races.

 

Hey Matt,
They have a story on this very same race in the December issue of 4Wheel Drive and Sport Utility Magazine.
They show all these Willys and CJ's with what looks like size 20rims with low profile tires and knarly ass spikes.
Looks like a kick in the pants.
Kinda reminds me of racing our cars on Big lake, Alaska during the winter.

 

BTT
4 Weeks away!

 

Hey Matt-
I might just have to try this. I've been itching to go see one, let alone participate. Sounds like a kick in the a$$.

I have a question, though. Do all vehicles race at the same time or individually? If so, isn't damage to your vehicle and someone elses likely?

 

Vehicles race 2 at a time and start on opposite sides of the track from each other, IE one starts facing west, the other faces east so you are always about 50-80 yards away from your competetor. Its run in 2 truck single elimination (heads up) heats till the whole field has run, win and you advance to the next round. Loose and you get to watch and think about what you could do better or leave early. Details are in the links I put in the previous posts including the rulebook.