Chad Sorce Profile

Dan Margetta Passion for Racing Through Video

Our Friend and long time ISF competitor and track owner was the subject of a fun article in Speed Sport! We're not allowed to copy and paste the article or pictures, however we wanted to post the link. Great job Dan!
To read the article click the link below:

dan-margetta-passion-for-racing-through-video

Ev Exhibit Rapids Museum

Anyone who lives in or has visited Rapids knows of the big blue tower building that houses the Ev Kamikawa Ferrari Museum. Most people forget that there are several buildings in the Rapids Museum complex that house cars and drivers in addition to Kamikawa. The main brown building hosts cars from all kinds of drivers that competed in ARA, Indyslotcar, SlotIRL, and ISF competition at Rapids. Sometimes the museum brings out the other cars from Kamikawa's career. Here are images from the most recent exhibition before the 2018 Indyslotcar Grand Prix.

 

The Penske Indyslotcar. Winner of several races and a 500. Painted by Mark Walczak and given to Ev as a present.

A prototype F1 car for the ISF F1 division

A drone shot of the first floor of the Rapids Museum

The National Guard Indyslotcar. Driven for one season. Ev said the only thing he could paint were army tanks so commissioner Mike Kristof told him to paint a car in camouflage. When the National Guard sponsorship became available Ev took up the challenge

John Shea painted this Penske car for Ev when they became teammates again in 2007. This car lasted one practice session before breaking. Notice the rising sun design Shea painted on Ev's helmet. Kittenzilla often reaches into the museum to try and get the car out in order to eat the tires. Unfortunately this car is now in worse shape then when this photo was taken

Paul Kamikawa took part in one qualifying session and started an invitational. After he died the car he used was put in a display with mannequins of his family included

Ev missed the first half of the 2007 season. He returned as part of Team Australia with Shea and won his first race back. This is another of Shea's paint jobs

Never raced by Ev but given to him by Jacky Stewart (not the famous F1 driver) as a congratulations on opening the museum

When Indyslotcar banned Ferrari, Ev switched to Target. The first race of the season September 13, 2001. Ev put the American flag on his car that night as a solidarity with the country for the events of 9-11-2001. The flag has been on the car ever since. This car also raced in SlotIRL competition

Ev made one start in the Kmart car. It was his fifth start. The car was so slow he switched to Ferrari

Ev made two starts for Benetton. It was the first car he bought

Ev was going to race Jaguar but never raced as
Jaguar soon signed John Wiedemann and Mike Lack

Ev's return to Indyslotcar in 2005 was with the fully funded Wallshot Racing. John Wiedemann created the decals and Ev detailed his and Shea's cars. This car won the 2006 Indy 500

Another Wall Shot racing car. Shea painted up two different cars for he and Ev to try. Ev ran this car in one race and decided it was too cool to race and he had better luck with the other style of car

Another car that Ev drove in SlotIRL events

Ev drove this Firebird to pole and victory in the first ARA race ever. Commissioner Shea banned the car immediately saying it was too fast and needed a closed roof.

Ev drove the 24 car in ARA. So when the ARA began a truck division Ev took this truck

Another car Ev won the ARA Late Model title with.
He financed the ride as you can see by the sponsorship

One of Ev's 24 cars. He won the coveted Tyco Triple event three times in his career. This is the car that won the only Brickyard 400 race in ARA history raced at Southshore Speedway

The ARA started a Super Stock series for more powerful cars. Ev won the division championship twice. Once with a 24 car and another time with this 18 car

Ev's three 24 rides for the ARA Heavy Metal Challenge Series
based on NASCAR Winston Cup

The ARA had a one season Super Stock league using Life-Like cars. Ev again drove 24 but the division proved unpopular and dropped after one season

 

The ARA also ran a nostalgia division based on historic NASCAR. Ev ran this car through the many seasons and finally won a race in it during the final season of ARA competition

Ev's original ARA Thunder Truck

Ev ran the 18 car in the premier ARA division, Heavy Metal Challenge Series, after winning the Super Stock title in the 18 car the previous year

The most popular ARA division with the drivers was the Dirt Late Model. This is the second generation of those cars

The championship winning Camero from the ARA Late Model division. Ev won the last four races in a row to overcome the legendary John Shea to take his first ARA title

After his firebird was banned Ev switched to the Camero. This version didn't win much

The three cameros Ev ran in ARA competition

Finally Ev had a firebird in ARA again. The cars were too heavy and were not fast and hard to stop in the corners so it wasn't a good race car. Looked good though

Ev's first HMCS car in the ARA. The first cars were based on Matchbox models before the league switched to NASCAR Winston Cup models

After the 82 camero was banned by the league after Ev won his late model title, the late 1990s camero was allowed. It too won a lot for Ev before the league switched cars again for the division to older HMCS cars

Originally a HMCS car, it didn't win for Ev, but the Adam Petty color scheme did win when these older HMCS cars moved to the Late Model division

Ev won a lot in dirt late models including three championships in a row in the #1 car. Ev decided to retire that car and a few seasons later won another championship in the 15 car. The dirt in this display is from the Hales Corners Speedway oval

Hiro introduced himself to everyone when he was little as "Richard Petty" so he and his dad both have a Petty car. Both admit most people come to see the cars because they were Petty's and not because they belong to Ev

So when you come to Rapids for the race, take time out to visit any of the Rapids Museum buildings and admire some racing history.

Until next time...It's not bad being in the pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

The Curious Case of Ev Kamikawa & ATGL

So  I’m siting on a bar stool talkin' like a dang fool watching my favorite news crew at my favorite watering hole. On the other TV is a rerun of the 2006 H.O. Indy 500 when the door opens and in comes the winner of that race…Ev Kamikawa.
As he strode towards me, the bartender slid a frosted mug of ale on the bar top towards him which was intended for another customer. With one quick swipe Kamikawa grabbed the mug and threw it back towards me underhanded and holding onto the handle so just the ale leaves the glass. It hits me square in the face and the following conversation takes place:

Steve Ratchett: I’d ask what that was for but I think I know.

EK: I’m not in your top 10 Indyslotcar drivers of all time! I give you some insight into drivers you never saw (authors note: I didn’t start covering Indyslotcar until 2006) and help you spell names right and I don’t get into the top 10?!

SR: If it is any consolation I have you in my top 25. I’d say somewhere around 15 maybe as high as 12.

EK: As high as 12! Geeze...at least that is my second favorite number. You’ve got to be kidding me!

SR: Maybe 12. Don’t forget you’ve got hall of fame member Dave Austin and a couple of other champions in front of you. Phil Marich and Chris Spehert have two wins at Indy too so you have to figure those in there somewhere. Definitely top 25 for you.

EK: You’re just trying to get my goat again.

SR: No. Just trying to get you to buy me a drink for splashing beer in my face. Have your goat chew on these stats: Both of your championships and 60% of your wins and 75% of your poles were in  the Own Car (OC) era. Yes you’ve won three of your four Indy 500 wins in the Club Car (CC) era, and you’ve won some races, but you haven’t been dominant. No one is scared to race you anymore. You are just a veteran who gets contracts because of your past and you bring sponsorship too. If that ever ends you’ll be out of a ride. Until then you’re just padding stats.

EK: What about two seasons ago when I would’ve won the championship if it wasn’t for the death card at the last race?

SR: If IFS were fifths I’d be drunk now. Yes you ran a points race that year that kept you in the hunt but you didn’t dominate. It seems you can’t win a championship unless John Shea is your teammate and you’re driving Ferraris which will never be allowed by Indyslotcar again.

EK: Just to point out Mike Lack has won all his titles with John Wiedemann as his teammate and you didn’t hold that against him.

SR: Touche. Point for you on that one. You’re just a veteran padding his stats till retirement.

EK: Your opinion. You’ll see as I take more wins, including another Indy 500. I’ll have the last word. Don't come crying to me when you need quotes or information for a story any more. League history will be my judge, not you!
(Author’s note: he turns and starts walking away. I shout at him…)

SR: I’m a writer. I’ll always have the last word.

I guess I won’t be hanging out in his team pit area any time soon!

 For the record I've included Ev Kamikawa's stats and those on my all time greatest list.

You can decide for yourself if he belongs on my list and if so where.

Until Then…It’s Good to be In the Pits!

Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Ev Kamikawa

40 wins, 38 poles, 96 heat wins, 286 starts

winning percentage 14%

heat winning percentage 34%

4 Indy 500 wins

10. Matt Hayek

10 wins, 11 poles, 26 heat wins, 137 starts, 2 Indy 500 wins

winning percentage 7%

heat winning percentage 19%

2 Indy 500 wins

Chad Sorce
9 wins, 6 poles, 15 heat wins, 86 starts
winning percentage 10%
heat winning percentage 17%

9. Mike Fitzlaff

12 wins, 12 poles, 61 heat wins, 179 starts

1 Indy 500 win

winning percentage 7%

heat winning percentage 34%

8. John Wiedemann

19 wins, 15 poles, 46 heat wins, 143 starts

winning percentage 13%

heat winning percentage 32%

7. Jim Kaehny

23 wins, 26 poles, 53 heat wins, 156 starts

winning percentage 15%

heat winning percentage 34%

6. Dan Margetta

42 wins

45 poles

120 heat wins

320 starts

winning percentage 13%

heat winning percentage 38%

5. John Shea

15 wins, 11 poles, 36 heat wins, 99 starts

1 Indy 500 win

winning percentage 15%

heat winning percentage 36%

4. Phil Cianciola

36 wins, 48 poles, 79 heat wins, 173 starts

5 championships

2 Indy 500 wins

winning percentage 21%

heat winning percentage 46%

3. Jim Iverson

17 wins, 11 poles, 60 heat wins, 111 starts

2 championships

1 Indy 500 win

winning percentage 15%

heat winning percentage 54%

2. Larry Rotter

26 wins, 26 poles, 70 heat wins, 203 starts

3 championships

1 Indy 500 win

winning percentage 13%

heat winning percentage 34%

1. Mike Lack

27 wins, 25 poles, 69 heat wins, 135 starts

winning percentage  20%

heat winning percentage 51%

2017 Rapids IndySlotCar Grand Prix: A View in Pictures

 

Matt Hayek takes his first Rapids win

The junk yard pile

Mike Lack and Dan Margetta battle it out side by side in Cannon Corner

View down main street

                                                                 Tom works the scoring system

Mike Lack comes around the rocks in Cannon Corner

In a night of crashes, Dean was the first to crash out

 Guests enter the Ev museum and see one of his ISF Ferrari's in the entrance

View from a stand over the Corkscrew turn

Going down Schumacher Straight

 Coming towards the hill on main street

 Dan in Goodyear section of the Corkscrew turn. These Goodyear banners have appeared on every version of the track

 Mike and Dan tangle at the
bottom of the Corkscrescrew

 Rock Park

 Hayek in Cannon Corner

 Quartz from South Dakota

Tires flew off the cars during practise. One of them got caught in a spider web