Go-kart racing at Allsports GP? - Page 8 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

alxtheoreo · 09-15-2016, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdm

Autobahn Manassas league started today. Plenty of fun, good racers. Some insanely good.

There were 25 racers, and I am sure they could accomodate a few more, so if you guys want to join, it's going to continue for 8 weeks, every Wednesday at 8.

Great reporting, dude. I still need to try their track. So far, I plan on going to their "Mario Kart Madness" event on OCT 1.

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mdm · 10-18-2016, 11:42 PM

Autobahn announced they are going to open another track in DC area, in Dulles VA, pretty close to where Allsports track was. No date give though, even preliminary.

Also I hear that there is virtually no chance for Allsports to come back.

mdm · 12-11-2016, 11:25 AM

Winter league at Autobahn Manassas starts Jan 4. And there is 2-hr long enduro race palnned for 12/28.
https://www.facebook.com/ManassasLea...34489983650983

alxtheoreo · 12-14-2016, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdm

Winter league at Autobahn Manassas starts Jan 4. And there is 2-hr long enduro race palnned for 12/28.
https://www.facebook.com/ManassasLea...34489983650983

That enduro sounds interesting. How many people are on your team & how does it work with charging the karts?

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mdm · 12-14-2016, 01:32 PM

I don't have anyone on my team yet, it's still being organized and actually it might be postponed. Now the plan is that we'll run first 4 weeks of the league starting Jan 4, then do the enduro, then the remaining four weeks of the league. 4 people per team according to the plan.

I have not participated in an enduro yet, but from what they told me you change drivers and karts at the same time. So the driver exits the track, stops in the pits, takes the timer out of the kart, runs to waiting drivers' box, gives the timer to the waiting driver, who runs to a new kart, puts the timer on, and drives off.

mdm · 01-29-2017, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdm

I went there (Dominion Raceway) Saturday. The place has potential, but for now it's somewhat mixed experience.

Pros:
- currently it's the only gas kart track AND the only outdoor track that is sort of in the DC area
- the layout is not as bad as I thought, at least when you drive a "Superkart". They changed it a bit (but not much) compared to that picture above.
- the (super)karts are pretty good. Fast and light enough to respond to body movements, like leaning outside in a turn. They are very new, so tight and pretty consistent. Some teething problems though, one superkart had pretty bad vibration at full speed, and the chain fell off another one while I was driving (I got a free race for that)
- I liked the helmet, it was very comfortable for me. Some weird manufacturer "Awina" but had DOT3 certification.
- they give neck collars (Sparco anatomic or similar), which is good for karts with no rollbars or seat belts (I used my Valhalla though)

Cons:
- the layout still could be more demanding amd interesting, with good racing line (if you're not afraid of driving inches from barriers) much of the track except two or maybe three turns can be driven full throttle even in a superkart, at least on a hot day (meaning good grip). The long straightaway is still too long.
- the "regular" karts are far too slow for the track. You can drive the entire track full throttle without much effort. On the straightaway you get very bored. You could read a book driving a regular kart, much easier than Clarkson drifting an 86. Unfortunately, you have to drive at least once in a regular kart to "qualify" for a superkart. The qualifying is purely qualitiative, meaning that the guy looks at you driving the regular kart and judges whether you're good enough, and asks you how do you feel about it. This is because...
- there is no electronic timing system. No electronic timing board, no printouts afterwards. Not to mention online access to previous results. So you cannot see if you are improving. You actuallycannot really compete with other people on the track. This is probably the worst part.
- there were very few people there, so not much fun racing. Especially when some racers were in regular karts and other in superkarts. There could be, I think, about 15 maybe 20 karts on the track, when I raced there was between 2 and 4 people. Hopefully this will change, it was the first day.
- the whole thing is set up within car racing oval track, which imposes serious limitation. The layout cannot be improved much, it must be that long straightaway (a part of the oval) plus a narrow windy part within the infield. The schedule is dictated by the schedule of car races. To get to the ticket/starting area, you need to cross the oval and the karting track, meaning you can only enter or exit the facility only between kart racing and wait in the sun while race is on. It is a bit annoying.
- it is far from DC area (which is a potential large market), and worse, the access is via I-95 which is notoriously jammed south of DC. It was supposed to be 1 hr away from the place I live, it took me almost 2 hours to get there, on a Saturday afternoon.

Not sure if pro or con: for a superkart on that grippy asphalt on a hot day, you really need gloves. I have a huge blister on my hand after just 4 and a half races, including one in a regular kart.

I hear much is going to change this season. From electronic timing with online access, to alternative track layouts, to leagues and enduros, to easier access to the tarck (no need to cross the kart track, so no need to wait until race has ended). It looks like that last season they were just trying it out, now they are getting more serious. They say they'll open in February.

mdm · 02-09-2017, 08:53 PM

DR Superkarts reopen this month. On 2/18 and 2/19 they offer unlimited racing for $150 (for one day). Details on their FB page.

JoeCFRS · 02-20-2017, 10:01 AM