Here is a short clip from last Monday's test. The flickering is from a cable backing out. I shouldn't have that problem in the future.
Shifter kart onboard video from Jeff Field on Vimeo.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day Testing
We got a little crew together to run at Centennial on Memorial day. We had a blast. Weather was cool and it was only damp for ~30 minutes. Our buddy Josh was already packing up his 4 stroke TaG kart and he captured this video of our last session of the day. I'm in the white Helmet, driving the old kart to make sure it's ready for sale. It's still plenty quick! I think its actually faster than my 7 year newer kart. Tyson in mostly black and Steve in the light suit/black helmet.
I also tested a new mounting method for my helmet cam on my stock Honda kart. I mounted it on a strut over my right shoulder. The view is pretty cool because you see the wheel and shifting. It's reasonably stable as well. I ran that kart for most of the day and got some footage. I should edit that up sometime in the next week.
Since my last post, I ran a club race at Centennial on May 4th. It was kind of a setup nightmare, and I was off the pace, running harder than spec tires. But we learned a few things and I really appreciated Tyson coming out to be my Tuner. The video of the main was lost for an unknown reason. I've got quali and the heat race, but nothing really to share from it. Maybe I'll get a mini highlights reel from it.
1st big state race weekend is on June 20-22. I plan to rebuild most of the kart before that event. I hope to be well prepared and save energy throughout the weekend. One last tune up club race will be on the 1st. I hope to run that one a bit more seriously.
I also tested a new mounting method for my helmet cam on my stock Honda kart. I mounted it on a strut over my right shoulder. The view is pretty cool because you see the wheel and shifting. It's reasonably stable as well. I ran that kart for most of the day and got some footage. I should edit that up sometime in the next week.
Since my last post, I ran a club race at Centennial on May 4th. It was kind of a setup nightmare, and I was off the pace, running harder than spec tires. But we learned a few things and I really appreciated Tyson coming out to be my Tuner. The video of the main was lost for an unknown reason. I've got quali and the heat race, but nothing really to share from it. Maybe I'll get a mini highlights reel from it.
1st big state race weekend is on June 20-22. I plan to rebuild most of the kart before that event. I hope to be well prepared and save energy throughout the weekend. One last tune up club race will be on the 1st. I hope to run that one a bit more seriously.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
1st club race of the year (dancing with myself)
Well, the cliff notes are that Steve and I went out to spend several hundred dollars on plastic trophies, but I learned a few things too.
They run all the shifter classes in one go at the club races and only 1 other stocker was there. They are crushing me at the moment. But, I've got some ideas and some people that can help get me up there. I'm willing to work for the gains, this stuff is a ton of fun.
I ran into traffic on the 2nd hot lap of quali, so I shut it down and tried a 3rd, but botched it. Had to settle for the 54.0 i set on the 1st timed lap, only good for 8th or so. As I was pulling up the grid for the heat race, I had no clutch, AWESOME. The cable had come out of the yolk on the motor side. Nothing broken, I got a push and ran a lap down for the heat. I knew I'd start at the back for the main, but my tires were used anyway and I wanted to evaluate the setup some more. It was a little tight and I was just running out of gear. I've still got plenty to learn, but I think we are on the right path.
He is the video of the main. All of it. Hope you enjoy. My adjustments helped, but I could only run high 53's, I need another .5 and I figure the other .5 is in new rubber. We'll see. Kinda boring race, as I could not catch the modified guys in from of me. I got a good start, but a blinding dirt cloud caused me to get back out of it a bit. Also a nice little fight at the end of the race, as I went into cruise control and didn't realize I was under fire. More mental notes for the bigger races this summer.
Shifter Kart Race, IMI 4-20-08 from Jeff Field on Vimeo.
Results here, but lots of the data is suspect as several of us had no transponders.
http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=295360
They run all the shifter classes in one go at the club races and only 1 other stocker was there. They are crushing me at the moment. But, I've got some ideas and some people that can help get me up there. I'm willing to work for the gains, this stuff is a ton of fun.
I ran into traffic on the 2nd hot lap of quali, so I shut it down and tried a 3rd, but botched it. Had to settle for the 54.0 i set on the 1st timed lap, only good for 8th or so. As I was pulling up the grid for the heat race, I had no clutch, AWESOME. The cable had come out of the yolk on the motor side. Nothing broken, I got a push and ran a lap down for the heat. I knew I'd start at the back for the main, but my tires were used anyway and I wanted to evaluate the setup some more. It was a little tight and I was just running out of gear. I've still got plenty to learn, but I think we are on the right path.
He is the video of the main. All of it. Hope you enjoy. My adjustments helped, but I could only run high 53's, I need another .5 and I figure the other .5 is in new rubber. We'll see. Kinda boring race, as I could not catch the modified guys in from of me. I got a good start, but a blinding dirt cloud caused me to get back out of it a bit. Also a nice little fight at the end of the race, as I went into cruise control and didn't realize I was under fire. More mental notes for the bigger races this summer.
Shifter Kart Race, IMI 4-20-08 from Jeff Field on Vimeo.
Results here, but lots of the data is suspect as several of us had no transponders.
http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=295360
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
IMI test
My buddy Steve and I got out for an afternoon test last weekend. My welded up shift lever did great and both karts worked awesome.
Shifter Kart Testing, IMI Colorado from Jeff Field on Vimeo.
Shifter Kart Testing, IMI Colorado from Jeff Field on Vimeo.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Testing day
I got out on Thursday and got to play with the camera a little. I'm also experimenting with editing software. Anyway, here is my 1st attempt. The Camera field of view is a little smaller than I hoped. You don't get the full view of the wheel and the track. I'll try a different camera position next time. Any comments welcome.
Download test video from rapidshare.
http://rapidshare.com/files/101581854/ttactest_0001.wmv.html
Download test video from rapidshare.
http://rapidshare.com/files/101581854/ttactest_0001.wmv.html
Friday, March 14, 2008
Samples
This is a sweet example of a lap at Grand junction from 2 seasons ago. We will race there in late June.
GJMS
Also, here is the view from the front of a race that I was in. This is one of the local hot shoes. I think he is moving to cars soon. Matt in IMI heat race. It was so hot that day. Notice how his front left tire develops a blister (he points passing the pit wall). I'm glad I didn't have any tire problems.
And here is some shots of the wet weekend at GJMS in 2007.
Youtube videos look horrible. I hope to have a much better solution for sharing high quality ones.
GJMS
Also, here is the view from the front of a race that I was in. This is one of the local hot shoes. I think he is moving to cars soon. Matt in IMI heat race. It was so hot that day. Notice how his front left tire develops a blister (he points passing the pit wall). I'm glad I didn't have any tire problems.
And here is some shots of the wet weekend at GJMS in 2007.
Youtube videos look horrible. I hope to have a much better solution for sharing high quality ones.
Welcome!
I'm starting this blog so I'll have a little corner of the internet to share some of my racing trials and tribulations. I hope to capture and share some helmet camera footage of shifter kart racing this season. I know some friends and family have no idea what kind of excitement is going on at the track. Picturing the little lawn mower powered yard karts that you see kids driving in the neighborhoods.
This year I plan to run a few club races and make a full effort on the 6(maybe 7) race regional series. More info here, Colorado Sprint Championship. My local playground is The Track at Centennial.
Last year was my first year racing any sort of kart. I jumped right into one of the faster classes and learned some hard lessons. I think we also turned a few heads as rookies. My buddy Steve and I bought our first kart together and soon graduated into newer equipment. That 1st kart will be for sale shortly. Now I own a G.P.6 chassis (made by CRG in Italy) and a Honda CR125 dirt bike engine for use in the Stock Honda class (AKA Spec Shifter, or S3). This Spec class has been growing in popularity and is much less of a wallet competition than some other classes.
So, in the coming months I plan to share pictures, links to some videos, and links to results. I suppose you'll have to suffer through some of my poor writing as well.
Some links of interest that I'll toss in here...
Helmet Cam
Local Forum
shockwavekarting
fastech-racing
Best Simulation Racing in the World
The helmet Camera arrives next week, pretty excited. Check back soon.
This year I plan to run a few club races and make a full effort on the 6(maybe 7) race regional series. More info here, Colorado Sprint Championship. My local playground is The Track at Centennial.
Last year was my first year racing any sort of kart. I jumped right into one of the faster classes and learned some hard lessons. I think we also turned a few heads as rookies. My buddy Steve and I bought our first kart together and soon graduated into newer equipment. That 1st kart will be for sale shortly. Now I own a G.P.6 chassis (made by CRG in Italy) and a Honda CR125 dirt bike engine for use in the Stock Honda class (AKA Spec Shifter, or S3). This Spec class has been growing in popularity and is much less of a wallet competition than some other classes.
So, in the coming months I plan to share pictures, links to some videos, and links to results. I suppose you'll have to suffer through some of my poor writing as well.
Some links of interest that I'll toss in here...
Helmet Cam
Local Forum
shockwavekarting
fastech-racing
Best Simulation Racing in the World
The helmet Camera arrives next week, pretty excited. Check back soon.
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