Why IndySlotCar Drivers Should Try the ISF

At the recent Indyslotcar banquet, Hall of Fame inductee Jim Iverson and five time league champion Mark Walczak thanked the ISF for giving them their start. With that in mind, I thought now would be an appropriate time to republish this article from several years ago when Indyslotcar,
then called HOCC (HO Champ Car), drivers were reluctant to race in the ISF.

-Steve

Why HOCC Drivers Should Try the ISF:Congratulations to Jim Iverson on winning his first HOCC championship.
Let me be the first to predict that he will win it again in 2008 with a strong challenge from Mark Walczak and Dan Margetta and Larry Rotter.
 

 Champion Jim Iverson got his HOCC start by first racing in the ISF when HOCC
management barred him from participating

Jim Iverson, having started two teams for rookie ISF participants, expressed disappointment at the ISF Milwaukee Grand Prix that HO Champ Car drivers that committed to running the Spyker and Toro Roso cars were nowhere to be found when the ISF season began.
"Seat time is very important in HO Champ Car," said Iverson. "In the ISF you know you are going to run at least two races each event. That is much more seat time than a rookie driver can get in any other league."

 

Toro Roso and Spyker were set up for HOCC drivers to be able to compete in the ISF.
So far no HOCC driver has fullfilled their contracts with the Iverson built squads to compete in several ISF races despite commitments from them

"People wonder why they don't make finals. Why no one steps up to challenge the winners. Why they haven't won. It is because they are not here!" Dan Margettta recently said at the Rapids Invitational.

"Seat time is very important," backed up Jim Iverson. "You know you are going to run at least two races and it is that much more seat time."

This isn't a rivalry.

It is not a CART vs. IRL.

It is more of a F1 vs. A1GP.

Both series share some of the same drivers and tracks, however they race during different times of the year and to different rules.

It is the same with HO Champ Car and the International Sportcar Series.

Almost all of the ISF drivers currently drive in HOCC.

Most of the tracks are shared by both leagues.

The same technology is shared by both leagues as the ISF F1 cars are the same as HOCC cars.

ISF and HOCC share the same technology so cars can be swapped between both leagues.
Drivers can run either body style 

Dean Strom's HOCC car shows the creativity of the paint schemes drivers mimmick of the real Champ Car series. Most cars are manufactured in F1 livery, so ISF cars are not usually hand painted in different team colors as often

HOCC gave birth to ISF stars Everet Kamikawa, John Shea, and Larry Rotter.

ISF gave birth to current HOCC studs Jim Iverson, Mark Walczak, Mike Fitzlaff, and Dean Strom.

Since the start of the ISF in 2000, all of the HOCC league champions except one has been a regular ISF participant.

There were approximately 106 HOCC races from 2000-2006 with at least 75 of them won by ISF regulars.

So why don't more HOCC drivers race in the ISF?

To paraphrase Mike Kristof, ISF drivers can get a little burned out because they race year round while he prefers to concentrate on one series.

Former HOCC Phil Cianciola would show support for new slot car ventures like the Rapids Invitational or the American Racing Alliance by attending the first event and then leaving it saying "I leave that stuff to you guys. I got my thing."

There is nothing wrong with those opinions and I know that ISF commissioner Everet Kamikawa understands and respects them, however if you look at the performances of HOCC drivers since 2000, there is no doubt that ISF drivers have a definite advantage when racing in the HOCC. Any HOCC driver who is not at the top of the field should give the ISF a try for the experience they will gain.

The first reason why ISF drivers dominate the HOCC is the simple matter of experience. An HOCC driver will run one division per race night consisting of 12 laps of qualifying and at least a 10 minute heat race. If they advance to the final race they could race for another 20 minutes or more.

An ISF driver will run in two divisions per race night consisting of 24 laps of qualifying and race in two 10 minute races. If they advance to one final that is an additional 12-16 minutes of seat time. Two finals is an additional 12-16 minutes. The second ISF division allows a HOCC driver to double the amount of seat time they would normally get on a race night. More time on the track means the driver will reach the sharp end of the grid faster. Since HOCC drivers will be competing with a lot of the same drivers they see in the HOCC season, they will be able to judge on where they stand compared to the competition and see how they are progressing.

An HOCC driver will also gain more track knowledge. Almost all of the current ISF tracks are part of the HOCC schedule. Since the HOCC races on tracks only once per year, an HOCC driver participating in the ISF will have the benefit of racing on several tracks for a second time. This doubles that drivers experience on  a given track. It was no surprise that John Shea won the initial HOCC race at Red Stripe Raceway at Runaway Bay. He had raced on the track 6 times before in various ISF cars and knew the circuit very well. Mark Walczak trashed the field at the Deckertring for the same reason.

Most of the current ISF tracks also host an HOCC event. This would give drivers one or two more races on tracks like Rapids International Raceway, Runaway Bay, Decketring, Bayside, Southshore Speedway, Raven Raceway, and Turtle Creek. Those tracks account for half of the HOCC schedule. A driver who knows where the tricky spots and the passing spots on these tracks has an advantage when the HOCC event at that track takes place. Since the ISF does not require drivers to commit to a full season, HOCC drivers can choose to race on just these tracks to gain experience for the HOCC season.

Tracks like Rapids change scenery often, racing on the tracks more often allows the driver to be used to these changes when they return to the circuit with the HOCC 

 

The side by side racing in the ISF helps HOCC drivers
 gain experience against their main HOCC competition

 

John Shea's 2007 HOCC ride

The third reason is HOCC drivers will be competitive right away in the ISF, especially in the F1 division.

Another area of valuable expeiereince an HOCC driver will gain is in car set up and handling. The HOCC uses “club cars” that are randomly assigned to a driver on race night

The ISF F1 division shares the same technology as the HOCC club cars. HOCC drivers will get more seat time with the same type of cars that they race, and get a better idea of how they handle. They’ll get a better understanding of how to set up a car, which is not as important in HOCC with the introduction of club cars, however when they find the set up on their own cars in the ISF and get used to it, they will be able to tell what a good club car feels like or how to drive around a bad handling club car during the HOCC season.

The fourth reason is momentum. Drivers can enter a few ISF events over the summer. By maintaining that sharpness, they will have an advantage when the HOCC season starts because they will not have to dust off their driving skills like the drivers that sat idle over the summer.

The last reason, and the most important, is that it is fun!

HOCC drivers do not have to race the full ISF season. They can pick the tracks they want to compete on without the fear of losing a championship.

Beer and great food is served at the events.
There are some nice trophies for the winners.
Plus drivers can be themselves and make mistakes without the glare of the TV lights.

Almost all of the ISF drivers currently drive in HOCC.

Most of the tracks are shared by both leagues.

The same technology is shared by both leagues as the ISF F1 cars are the same as HOCC cars.

HOCC gave birth to ISF stars Everet Kamikawa, John Shea, and Larry Rotter.

ISF gave birth to current HOCC studs Jim Iverson, Mark Walczak, Mike Fitzlaff, and Dean Strom (with all due kudos to the American Racing Alliance as well).

The stars and cars of the ISF have opened the door for their HOCC brothers and sisters and welcome them with open arms to their events.

The HOCC drivers who haven’t already done so should step through.

Steve update:

Since this article was published in 2007, several more HOCC drivers have participated in the ISF running at least three races. These drivers include: Mike Kristof, Matt Hayek, Andy Spehert, and Amy Butler. Thanks!

Steve The Wrench Ratchett

Handicapping the Austin Award 2013 Contenders

Anyone can be a pundit and chime in two cents on who will be or should be a champion in the HO IndySlotcar league. It takes a real handicapper to be able to pick the winner of the Austin Award for best comedian during the season.

Here are my picks for the coveted 2013 Austin Award named after former champion both on the track and on camera. Criteria for my votes are simple:

1. Who contributed the most original ideas for the TV broadcasts

2. Who got the most laughs on race night

3. Who provides the best mix of humor and weirdness in the final edit for broadcast

#5. Mike Lack: After six years of racing he finally made his announcer debut on camera for one race. That deserves a little tip of the cap on this list

#4. Everet Kamikawa: He hasn't made much time on camera as an announcer, however the league impressionist developed his arsenal of characters. If you didn't find the joke about Harry Carey comparing a green & brown car to camouflage toilet paper you missed something special.

#3. Amy Butler: Kitty Bo Peep is the one character the fans call for every broadcast. Her being a good sport about her various jokes for Kitty's abscesses from the broadcasts because of "alternate careers" should be rewarded with her first Austin trophy.

#2. Dan Margetta: Always ready with a good throw away line like "bringing a knife to a gunfight" his driver lineup intros are still funny and fresh after all these years.

#1. The Winner: Mike Kristof: Some of you are wondering what! Mike "Jon Wyatt" a.k.a. "Mike Bob Jenkins" has been the consummate straight man over the years on the broadcasts playing the leagues ringmaster within the sea of broadcast "puppets." More so this year than others he has delivered funny one lines and stories that have really added to his depth of bringing the racing action to life.

Congratulations Mike!

Until next time

It's not bad being in the pits!

Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Who Gets In? Indyslotcar 2013 Hall of Fame Nominees

The Indyslotcar series formed a hall of fame three years ago. The initial inductee was three time champion Larry Rotter. The second was founder and 5-time champion Phil Cianciola.
In a few weeks the third inductee for the 20 year old league will be introduced.

Who will it be?
The only known rule is that you have to be officially retired from the league, although if you are also a track owner and you let the league race on your track you are still allowed to race.
There is only one person that makes the decision on who gets into the hall of fame, league commissioner Mike Kristof. Here are my odds, based solely or this year, on who will get the honor for 2013:

Jim Kaehny:
A two time champion. 23 wins. 26 pole positions, 53 heat race wins, and appeared in 95 final races in 156 starts. Everyone loved racing him and a good guy to all, hence the nickname Gentleman Jim. He also built the first oval track and first dual purpose track in Edgewood Speedway (a.k.a. The Edge) and used components from the engineering company he worked at to build the first electronic lap counter. He was also Phil’s brother-in-law.
“Jim was the first of the “big guns” in the early days that I tried to beat as did most young drivers.
Phil was way too fast. Jim’s racing technique was somehow more attainable. Once I beat him in a final I knew I could take on Phil or anyone else,” Kamikawa said.
Odds of induction: 3-1

Jim Iverson:
Another two-time champion. Known as “The Grey Fox,” Jim had 17 wins, 11 poles, 59 heat race wins, appeared in 73 finals, all in only 110 starts. Jim was known for his strategy, race craft, and taking the technical work of keeping the cars to new heights as he was the tech master during the first several years of the “club car” era. He built the legendary Bayside International Speedway (now owned by Dean Strom), and is the first racer to drive in three decades of the 1960’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s. While not a factor for this league, he is also a multiple champion in the International Sportscar Federation (ISF).
Another personality who is greatly missed by today’s current drivers.
“Jim was like the tie fighter that was on Luke in Star Wars. If he was chasing you for the win or even third place you couldn’t shake him,” says Kamikawa.
Odds of induction: 2-1

Dave Austin:
The original clown prince of the league also took a championship, 13 wins, 27 heat wins, appeared in 54 finals in 118 starts. While well known for making the league as fun as it was both on camera and off, he was a competitive driver. His nomination also comes with controversy because he was a terrible driver his first two years in the league, then blitzes everyone in season three to win the championship. Turns out he introduced the league to another driver, Jonathan May, who was a driver in a different league who knew all the tips and tricks for making a car go faster. This included attaching a very small and narrow magnet to the underside of the front wing making it almost impossible for his car to crash. He famously revealed his secret after the last race of the season when he stuck his car to a metal pole. His championship wasn’t taken away, however the cheating genie was out of the box. He is remembered for that as well.
Dave is also the person responsible for giving members up close access to cars and drivers at the Milwaukee Mile when he worked there. That and his lighthearted fare is what he is most appreciated for now.
“Dave was so fast during his championship. It seems obvious now nut not at the time,” Kamikawa remembers. “After that season on a good night he was still deadly quick, especially when he was paired with Kaehny on Team Kool Guys.”
Odds of induction: 10-1

John Shea:
John was never league champion, however his influence runs throughout the racing world. In this league he took 15 wins, 11 pole positions, 36 heat wins, and appeared in 47 finals in 98 starts. Shea was the first to break down the cars technically to understand how they worked and what made them go faster. He dispensed that knowledge to others freely and was known as a fierce competitor. His battles with Cianciola are things of legend. He built a replica of Monza and staged that first race, the US Grand prix, in the garage of the Milwaukee Mile. “He and Phil had battles on and off the track. Both legendary. He argued against stupid rules and tried to make good rules better, Kamikawa said. He is still the toughest person I’ve raced against and I’m not saying that because he was my teammate for years!”
Those battles with Phil would also lead John to form the stock car based American Racing Alliance and later the ISF of which he is multiple times champion in both.
Odds of Induction: 8-1

John Baas:
Not a champion on track but one in life, he took three wins and three poles, 13 heat wins, appeared in 17 finals in 135 starts. Maybe not as impressive stats as others, however Baas contributed something else in terms of track engineering. He built the massive Vernon Farms quad oval raceway, and later made a portable version of the  track. He was also the first to really detail the landscape in and around the tracks in the exact attention to detail that model railroaders do. “John was fun to race against. Most importantly he was the first to detail his track with outhouses. We used to ponder what would happen if we were all suddenly sent to the Twilight Zone racing world where we were actually to scale with the cars and racing on our tracks. No one had any bathrooms until John followed up on it!” mused Kamikawa.
Odds of Induction: 15-1

 

Tony Perkins:
Probably the most popular winner of any induction would be the famously inventive T-Perk.
Famously no feature wins in his career, one pole position, 4 heat wins, 19 finals appearances in 102 starts. In one of his most famous racing moments he raced against the entire Penske team of Austin, Cianciola, and Kaehny in a heat race and beat them all!
One of the original drivers, Tony was the first to crash another car off the track in the first race causing a rivalry to develop between him and the crashee, Everet Kamikawa. “Tony and I supposedly ahd this big rivalry after that. It was all lip service much like David Hobbs and Sam Posey in sports cars,” Kamikawa said. “Tony is a class act who always had a thing where the celebrities flocked to him.”
Indeed Tony had that kavorka as his paddock area was often visited by the likes of The Spice Girls, Greg Moore, Frank Williams, The Pussycat Dolls, and a host of various beautiful women from the modeling and singing worlds. “We single drivers would hang out with Tony just to catch what he was throwing away!” Kamikawa chuckled. Tony was also the first of the group known as “painters,” drivers who didn’t rely on store bought cars. Over the years Tony painted cars in liveries like: Players, Duracell, Target, and several others.
Odds of Induction: 10-1

These are my predictions on who will be the next one enshrined in the Indyslotcar Hall of Fame in 2013. Some of these names will make another appearance in 2014.

Until then…It’s not bad being in the pits!

Steve “The Wrench” Ratchett