Ice Racing = WOW!

[Bubblecar]

Well, this past weekend was my first ice racing experience.

I didn't even drive, but spent Saturday & Sunday up in Minden and rode passenger in four races.

I still can't get the smile off my face. This has to be the best kept secret in motorsports! (and quite budget friendly compared to most other forms)

Hopefully I will be back up there with a car to drive by next weekend.

If anyone ever gets a chance to try this - do so. If not - make an effort to come up one afternoon and spectate. Despite the cold - it's a great show. You might even be able to catch a ride-along.

Anyone who does a season of ice-racing would learn all the skills needed to be a real rain-master on the track.

[Nissan Racer]

Never mind that...hows the 350Z :)

[alexb]

Yeah, have had it in the back of my limited mind the last few years and have had an invitation from Rob during a mild winter that did not pan out but sounds like fun on a limited budget!

[ice/solo racer]

Some guys forget the limited budget thing,rumour has it that the Ken Shaw lexus gts corolla with a supercharged leven engine has about $20,000 into it!and its never even won a race if memory serves correctly.G60 powered rabbits,14-1 compresson VW engines etc etc.
Ice racing can be very affordable,or kinda stupid amounts of money to just have fools without brains that think wrecking racing is a real form of motorsports run over you when enter a corner that can't be taken any faster than your taking it.
But having said all that,I can't see not ice racing any time soon,in the 4wd class its sort of like WRC with 20 or so cars going at it for a sprint race.
As for the rain master comment-did you see that little copper corolla out run the z06's,911's and such at the shootout!!:D

[soloZ]

Hey Tom did you see that Z24 at the shoot out hehe:) I want to come up for a ride.

[RedRabbit Racer]

Looking around the paddock, I really don't see many cars ice racing that cost more than a set of motorsport tires which on a relative basis is pretty cheap for any sort of racing.

[ice/solo racer]

Yes Ryan I DID see your Z24 at that shootout,I was kinda comparing apples to apples with regards to other cars that push themselfs around instead of dragging themselves around.:D
I agree with red rabbit racer that most cars are pretty much toast when we turn them into ice racers,I was just pointing out that as in all forms of motorsports it is very easy to get carried away.There's no easy way to be truly competitive in the stud class without spending ALOT more the cost of a set of tires.(been there done that)
Oh yeah Ryan,come on up for a ride,the alltrac suffered some um ah issues but hopefully their sorted out now and with some freshly tractionized tires for this weekend I should be breathing down the subes necks.

[soloZ]

Kewl I hope to make it up there Sunday. Is my helmit ok for this or do you need something better? Like DOT and snell is fine?

[Bubblecar]

Just to clarify for those following this thread . . .

Ice racing has two (2) major divisions - rubber to ice (snow tires) and Studs (studded tires).

Those divisions are further broken down into classes of front wd, rear wd, and all wd.

The rubber classes are the most economical and the logical entry point for most drivers. The studded classes are very competitive and as "ice/solo racer" says - budgets can move up very quickly if you want to run with the lead pack.

But - most rubber competitors run on a budget that I would think is less than many solo competitors (and a fraction of the cost of a regional racing campaign). You can buy a car for the rubber class in the $500 - $2,500 range. Spend anywhere up to about $1,000 in prep and you're ready to go.

Note - I really am new to this (ice racing) so I'm just giving my impresssions and what I have learned from other competitors.

[Dave]

Nick, I noticed in your sig that you state that your wife drives two Hondas? How's she do that??? Personally, i can only drive one car at at time :p My other one's a Nissan...the horror...the horror.......

[Bubblecar]

Originally posted by Dave
. . . you state that your wife drives two Hondas? How's she do that??? Personally, i can only drive one car at at time :p . . .

Interesting you should make that point. I called my insurance company this week to arrange coverage on the 350Z.

My agent kept pushing me for details of other drivers. Afterall she said - "you have 3 vehicles licenced for the street - and two other for comprehensive only (fire-theft). How many can you possibly drive at one time? Surely your wife must drive them?"

When I told her that Jeanne (my wife) had two cars (well ... honda's) insured elsewhere - the agent really thought I was making it up.

But hey guys - bear in mind - the total value of ALL my vehicles is probably less than the cost of a single Porsche that many of the dot.com wonderkids drive around!;)

[Nissan Racer]

I wanna see the Z at a Solo I event :)
Or at least the new Spec V when its ready.

[Dave]

Nick, the more cars you have, the more I like you :) Heck, I've got three and I don't even have a real job yet!

[Moose]

UH OH !!!!!! I would watch out Nick ..next thing Dave will be doing is batting his eyes at you and playing coy

: P


Moose

[ice/solo racer]

Ryan all you need is a snell 95 helmet,I have one with me for a spare if you need.Hope to see you there,I'm pitted right near the entrance to the fairgrounds,black celica with silver stripes #34 on the roof.
Sundays racing kicks off around 12:30 after practice,drivers meeting etc.

[RedRabbit Racer]

I'm using an SA90 helmet in case you can't dig up a snell 95!

[soloZ]

Oh ok thats kewl I have my own I was just wondering if the rules were different. How did it go this weekend? I would have come but I have had a little troble with a fuel pump($450) so I didn't go to far from home.

[Shaman]

My idea of ice racing:

http://www.iceroadracing.net/galleryfrench/images/2bike3.jpg

:D

linky linky (http://www.iceroadracing.net/photo_gallerys.htm)

[Laynlow13]

psssst! Don't show up to Tom's pit wearing anything that says Subaru! HeHe ;)

[ice/solo racer]

I just prefer my pistons to go up-down not side to side,it was a good weekend for the subes-they only blew up 1 for a change!:)