SlotIRL Races 1-4

George Lucas to Buy Indyslotcar

George Lucas sold his Star Wars franchise and said he was moving into retirement to make hobby movies.

“I’m moving away from the company, I’m moving away from all my businesses, I’m finishing all my obligations and I’m going to retire to my garage with my saw and hammer and build hobby movies. I’ve always wanted to make movies that were more experimental in nature, and not have to worry about them showing in movie theatres.” (http://blogs.artinfo.com/cuttingroom/2012/10/31/what-does-the-future-hold-for-george-lucas/)

Now we know what "hobby movies" he plans to create.
This reporter has it on good authority that Lucas has struck a deal with MIKE TV to acquire the rights to the Indyslotcar Racing League and all previous media from the history of the league.
Lucas, who sold Star Wars for $4.05 billion, is reportedly to pay $40.05 dollars for the league and all the previous broadcasts of Indyslotcar, HO Champ Car, PPPG, and all other monikers of the league over the last 20 years. When asked why such a high price for the league, my source told me that "the league played hardball pointing out the cost of buying all the video tapes and blank DVD discs over the years. Lucas offered $40 but the league stuck to its guns about the extra 5 cents."

MIKE TV is the leading producer of slotcar videos and it comes as no surprise that Lucas would be interested in using his touch for special effects to make the broadcasts even more spectacular than they are.
"If Lucus has indeed bought our videos that is an exciting thing," commented long time driver Everet Kamikawa. "He made Greedo shoot first in the second version of Star Wars. I'll be lobbying him to make me finish first in all the races I didn't win!"

Current Indyslotcar Commissioner Mike Kristof, former commissioner Phil Cianciola, and Lucas had no comment on the matter when we didn't try to reach them, however other characters associated with the league and broadcasts were happy to comment on the proposed takeover:

"Happy was I. Thought never work with Lucas again did I," said frequent race commentator Yoda.

"As a professor of science...who ha...I'm always interested in seeing how he makes the cars go into hyperspace. None of the tracks have long enough straight aways to do that," stated broadcast technical analyst Professor Rex Karz. "Who needs wheel guards when we will have deflector shields to prevent cars from crashing into each other and to things. Cars can go into walls...yes...and not be hurt!"

"I don't appear on the broadcast much anymore," said former broadcaster Everet Bell. "But I'd be interested if he overdubs my parts with James Earl Jones."

"He'll be able to digitize my can of Bud into any beer or drink on future broadcasts," said Harry Carey, a newcomer to the race broadcasts.

"I wonder if all of us on the podium will appear in the broadcasts with a blueish green glow around us," mused Kamikawa. "Instead of sponsors we'll all have Red Squadron logos on our helmets. Just as long as he doesn't make all the bad guys in the history of the league turn out to be good guys like he did with Vader. I mean, why kill the goose that laid the golden egg?"

My source confirmed that Lucas does not have plans to make prequels to the league races that began in 1993.
"What would he do? Make movies about Everet playing with Hot Wheels in his sandbox? Lucas isn't interested in making movies about things existing before 1993 Shrine Cup."

"Maybe in the new digital versions Lucas can color our hair back to more youthful shades and trim some pounds off of us," Kamikawa quipped.

One fan I talked to, Mike Faruta, summed up his hopes when he said:
"Maybe Kitty Bo Peep and Amy will get a bunch of hot sisters added to the broadcasts as racers. Maybe a few shower scenes of them?"

If Lucas can create Jar Jar Binks, why not make Mike's comment turn true. IT would cause Lucas less controversy than Jar Jar Binks, unless the newly created girls talk like Jar Jar.

Until Next Time...
It's not bad being In The Pits
Steve "the wrench" Ratchett

Slot IRL Origins

John Wiedemann Profile

Larry Rotter Profile

 

2012 IndySlotcar Silly Season

IN THE PITS: The Silly Season
by
Steve “The Wrench” Ratchett

It has been a little while since I had to write one of these dog and pony columns about the silly season as I've been in Europe covering the HO Bundesliga in Germany for the last few seasons.

The 19th season of the IndySlotCar Series is in the books. 16 races. 14 different tracks. A four time defending champion and a four time Indy 500 winner. So where will the drivers that made up the season of competition and controversy be in season 20?
Here are my thoughts based on my own observations and the quotes of one driver who talked on the record.

Lets start with the four time champ Mark Walczak. There is a rumor he will retire or be severely penalized for next year. I say neither will happen because Mark wants six championships and the all time lead for wins to knock Phil Cianciola from the top of the record books. Target likes the idea. Mark and Target did find a solid partner in Dean Strom who will carry some of his water and not be too serious of a title challenger. Mark stays at Target with Dean for at least one more season. Don't expect this pairing to stay together for long though. Dean's improvement will make him more of a threat at any race and pretty soon he will get tired of the being the #2 at Target and want to go where he will get more respect, maybe Lotus.

Speaking of Lotus, John Wiedemann, Mike Lack, and Mike Fitzlaff are the Penske team of 1994. Three stars. Three title contenders. Three drivers that seem to get along and work together well. Three drivers ticked they didn't do better in 2011-12. John wants to win after a winless season. Mike Lack really wants to take a title. He will be a new father next season so his participation might be limited, however "The Machine" will always be a threat. Mike Fitzlaff is always one of the fastest but has some bad luck. The speed will still be there next season and I've played enough craps to know that eventually the dice will hit the point or come up 7-11 on the come out roll. HIs luck will change too.

"Did I hear someone mention craps?"
Yes, Everet Kamikawa. I did. When you roll the dice where will you land for season 20?
"This season didn't have the sponsorship to race a full season for a team so I had to scramble for rides like so many other drivers. I raced for Ferrari, three races for Penske, five for Spehert Autosport, one for Target, and six for Super Kamikawa Racing sponsored by Too Clean Laundry. I still had a pretty good season with three wins. I've gotten one offer from Spehert Autosport and I've heard that there was maybe one other team that might be interested in maybe starting a rumor that they might be interested in me. I won't make any decision until later this summer. I'll be somewhere."

That brings us to Spehert Autosport. It was a frustrating season for the team with brothers Tom and Andy and son/nephew Chris missing several races. No one has heard from Andy in several races so there is the possibility that he may have called it quits, hence the interest in Kamikawa. For this coming season Chris and Tom will stay together. Since blood is thicker than sponsorship contracts they will maybe be joined by Andy for some races and possibly Kamikawa in case that doesn't happen. Chris has said that he is also entertaining other drivers in addition to Kamikawa for the opening. Is it a bluff to get Kamikawa signed or is it a hotter seat than most believe?

[Editor's Note: Andy Spehert's contract has been allowed to expire by Spehert Autosport and will not race in 2012-13]

John Shea retired to race stock cars in the south. I can’t see him making any other starts on the series. Amy Butler is another racer who looks to be winding down her career. A welcome presence on the track, she had a couple of decent runs to top 10's, but nothing close to her wins from a few years ago. Team management sold the testing track so that definitely hurts her preparation for the coming season. Is IndySlotCar losing their version of Danica? Lets hope not. If she does hang it up, maybe a career in broadcasting is in order as she does look a lot like Kitty BoPeep. Our over under on races she will run is six. It would be fun if she teamed back up with Larry Rotter!

Larry Rotter ran a few races. The three time champion's over under appearances in the next season is four. He retired at the end of season 18. He even cut back on ISF competition. Now that he has mostly been away for a season will the siren song of racing lure him back? Not yet I think.

Mike Kristoff’s 11^th season seems to be the same as the previous 10…nothing spectacular. Having said that he is partnered probably again with Matt Hayek. Matt took two Indy 500 wins in a row but this year only had a couple of final four appearances. That didn’t sit well with him and I think his drive to get more finals and wins will pull Kristof up as well. Kristof is good for at least one final a year. His commissioner duties keep him from fully concentrating on his driving, however I’m going to go on a limb and say both he and Hayek have a win in the upcoming season.

Dan Margetta is the other wild card in the off season. Bounced from or quit from the Butler, Margetta, Walczak team a couple of years ago, then dumped by Wiedemann and Lack the day before the season started he had been teamed back up with Butler for this year in a loose partnership. Was it a strong pairing? No. He took one win to keep his streak intact of wins but still no championships in 19 seasons. Will he be champion in season 20? I doubt it.

So the 20^th Indyslotcar season will have surprises and more than four winners, but in terms of drivers changing teams, I doubt there will be much movement. Here is some ideas that are interesting talk for the off season:
1. What if Margetta and Kamikawa teamed up? They were briefly teammates (for one race) in 1998 and again for a few races in 2002 when Kamikawa famously gave up the Indy 500 pole to get Margetta closer to Rotter in the championship fight which Margetta ultimately lost by one point. If either of these two drivers had a top notch teammate that would be a force Walczak would have to reckon with.

2. Even though they are rivals, a Margetta-Strom pairing would also be entertaining.

3. They teamed up for one race in season 19, but Walczak-Kamikawa would be another Senna-Prost as the two don’t have respect on the track for each other judging from comments made in the paddock and press. This pairing would help Walczak as Kamikawa’s mouth would deflect some of the attention that is solely having to be dealt with by Walczak. That being said I doubt it will happen until after Walczak breaks Cianciola’s records.

4. Hayek-Strom-Kristof would be a good solid mid-pack team.

5. Hayek-Kristof-Margetta is a good bet or even Kamikawa in some capacity would add instant credibility and an additional threat to this team.

There is a long way to go this off season. Anything can happen. In terms of an interesting silly season…lets hope it does!

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

Steve “The Wrench” Ratchett

2011-2012 IndySlotCar Series Award Ballot

 

There are many awards in sports voted and awarded by sportswriters. The baseball MVP and Cy Young awards or the college football polls are two examples. Fans always claim someone or a team got cheated out of an award and wonder how the voting actually happened. In my case I will always publish my ballot for whatever awards I'm asked to vote on.

 

Here is my ballot for the 2011-2012 IndySlotCar Series Awards:

The driver who showed the best sportsmanship both on and off the track

Vote for Sportsmanship Award:

Everet Kamikawa

 

The driver who just couldn’t seem to get a break

Vote for Hard Luck Award:

Mike Lack

 

This driver started at one place, but finished at a better place by the end of the season

Vote for Most Improved Driver Award:

Dean Strom

 

Who served the best food this season?

Vote for the track that had the best food:

Rapids

 

Who or what made you laugh on the TV show this year?

Vote for the favorite TV character or moment:

Harry Carey in the announcing booth with Howard Cosell. 

 

Vote for the top three story lines of the season, in no order:

1. Everet and Mark fighting each race
2.  Everet getting screwed at Road America qualifying, Franklin Heat, Deckertring heat
3.  Larry’s retirement and surgery

2011 Great American ISF All Star 2.4 Hour Endurance Race

 

 

 

The 2011 edition of the Great American ISF All Star 2.4 Hour Endurance Race will be known for an incredible track, mechanical breakdowns, and new teams. In the end it was the established team of John Wiedemann and Mike Lack that took home the honors.

The 2011 2.4 hour race began with a shock and awe attack at the sheer size of the replica of the Suzuka layout at Oconomowoc Raceway.
The surprises continued when it comes to the teams. Three time defending co-champion Mark Walzak and former champion Mike Fitzlaff were late scratches from the event, leaving teams to scramble for drivers. Walczak’s championship winning teammate John Shea was paired up with his longtime Ferrari teammate Everet Kamikawa. Dean Strom teamed up with ISF rookie Mike Block. Matt Hayek made his first 2.4 hour appearance and made it even more of an event by driving with his son Alex who was making his ISF debut.

One the teams were sorted the start of the race was a familiar site of the ISF with Shea streaking away to a quick two lap lead over the field. Once the other drivers got to grips with the massive Suzuka layout the gaps stabilized. At the end of the first 18 minute stint it was Shea over Wiedemann, Strom, and the elder Hayek.

The start of the second heat turned out to be great for two teams as Kamikawa and Lack took over for Shea and Wiedemann respectively. Both drivers were fast and steady throughout and the gap was still two laps. Mike Block had taken over for Strom and soon got a lesson in how different these cars were to drive than the GT cars he is used to. The speed and braking caught him off guard and several deslots had them far back in third place. Nipping at their heals was Alex Hayek. Making his competitive debut in the high horsepower cars he had trouble adjusting and soon there was no doubt about who was in fourth place.

The third stint saw Kamikawa stay in the car for another go. Wiedemann rotated with Lack while Strom and Matt Hayek returned to their cars. Again Kamikawa and Wiedemann streaked away spending most of the first half of the 18 minute segment running side by side. Just after halfway Wiedemann’s car didn’t slow in the “spoon turn” and his car went flying off the track. In the time it took for him to return to the track and get the car sorted Kamikawa increased the lead to five laps. He maintained that gap until the last three minutes when several consecutive offs at the chicane approaching the main straight cut his lead to one lap at the end. Strom meanwhile seemed to find his footing and made up some ground on second place after they had discovered a loose wheel hub. His teammate helped by threatening to kick him down the stairs of the teams hauler if he went off. Hayek drove steady and increased his speed to close the gap to third place.

The fourth segment was to be the one that changed the course of the race. Shea lead at the start but that would be short lived. His car began slowing at a progressive rate. It wasn’t long before Lack took the lead and was never in trouble of being bested. Mike Block was charging to try and make up some time on what would now be a second place finish. After starting the round 55 laps down to the leaders he cut the gap to 42. Alex Hayek was back in his car and was smooth for most of the round to close the gap to second place as well.

Lack stretched the lead by several laps in the 5^th segment. Kamikawa was at the wheel of a steady but slowly dying car with lap times often one second or more behind the other cars. Strom had a reasonably steady run to not lose ground to the 4^th place car of Alex and actually took over second place from Kamikawa who didn’t have the car to put up a fight. 

With Lack and Wiedemann running away from the field, Shea stayed in the stricken car for the 6^th segment. The times got slower and slower and the gap between second and third place got larger and larger. Mike Block was still charging and cut the gap to 22 laps to Lack. Matt and Alex Hayek split the segment and stabilized the gap to Block but gained ground on Shea in third. All teams gained massive ground on Shea when he pulled into the pits and the team stripped down the entire car. Going back out Shea was turning laps as fast as the beginning of the race. Block still racing hard to cut the gap to Lack started to spin in the esses losing valuable time. So much time in fact that Shea was able to recapture second place overall by one lap.

The 7^th segment began with a problem car but it wasn’t that of Shea, it was the car of Lack that began to handle shabbily. Several times in the hairpin and the chicane, Lack spun as he tried to accelerate out of the turn. The car seemed slower so he tried to compensate by getting on the gas earlier which resulted in the spins. With it obvious that the lead car was in trouble, Strom handed off driving duties to Block in the hopes that his home track knowledge would allow them to close the gap to put pressure on Wiedemann and Lack. Block cranked out fast laps repassing Shea for second and got back to within 31 laps of the leader. Shea’s car fell off again and he finished the heat 58 laps off the lead with the Hayek team closing the gap to third place from 99 laps to 62.

The final 18 minute segment of the 2.4 hour race had some drama and Wiedemann took the wheel of the now ailing car and tried to drive within the car to maintain the gap. Block drove all out for the first half and his strategy seems to be working when the gap shrank to 22 laps. Kamikawa was in his car but not getting any better results than Shea but was able to save a third place finish. Matt Hayek started but handed driving duties to Alex so he could have the honor of finishing the race.

In the end Lack and Wiedemann won with 1,090 laps. Strom and Block had 1062. Kamikawa and Shea had 1009 and Matt and Alex Hayek finished with 937. The event and the track was a success. Block invited the drivers to a future race and officials are considering moving an ISF regular season event to Suzuka in 2012.

 

 

 

2011 ISF Season Review Movie

2010 ISF Season Review

The "Samurai Brothers" of Mike Faruta, Bill Nakosaki, and Justin Satozaki did their magic again on this version of the ISF 2010 Season Review.
This version contains a lot of long video clips so you really get good natural sound and driver dialogue.
The soundtrack is once again  barn burner that features the Scorpions.
Enjoy!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Ferrari Rules 2009 F1 And GT At Runaway Bay

Ferrari Rules F1 And GT At Runaway Bayby John Wiedemann
7/16/2009

Waukesha, WI - Runaway Bay, sounds relaxing doesn't it? It was anything but relaxing as the F1 and GT divisions of the ISF visited the track on Thursday evening for the Red Stripe "Last Call". John Shea was victorious in a down to the wire battle to the finish with Mark Walczak in the F1 feature. Everet Kamikawa trashed the field with a dominant feature win in the GT division.



With only four races remaining on the F1 schedule, now is the time to show what you got. Mike Fitzlaff set fast time at his home track to begin action for the evening. Strong heat race wins went to Mike Lack and Everet Kamikawa sending them forward to take on Mark Walczak and John Shea in the B main. While Shea held the early lead in the B main, Lack was making up ground in the second half when Walczak ride left the racing surface, hit the wall and bounced back into Lack. The accident damaged Lack's car and he lost valuable laps while making repairs. Back on track, Lack quickly made up some of the laps but finished in fourth when time expired, less than a half lap behind Walczak in the final transfer spot.

Walczak, the only racer not running on option tires, easily took the lead in the first half of the F1 feature. With twenty laps between himself and the leader, Shea was hard on the throttle in the second half while Walczak tried to hold on in a difficult lane with the traction less option tires. Shea flew through the field but struggled with handling making the battle for the lead tighter than he would like. With fifteen seconds left in the race, Shea finally took the lead over Walczak and finished the feature with a two lap advantage over Walczak. Fitzlaff scored a podium finish, just two laps behind Walczak and Kamikawa exited the race just after the halfway break in fourth. Shea's win makes it two in a row and the third on the season, extending his point lead in the division.

Tonight's event marks the midpoint for GT division racing. Larry Rotter has been at the top of the GT World and was looking to continue the same racing fortunes at Runaway Bay. Unfortunately for Rotter, tonight's race may be a preview of the rest of the GT season. John Wiedemann set fast time, for the first time in his ISF career, and went on to hold off John Shea and Mike Fitzlaff for the fast heat race win. Everet Kamikawa knocked off Rotter and Corey Galbraith beat Mike Lack by three laps to win their respective heat races. Shea ended the B main in just four laps after losing control and flying completely off the track. In the feature race, Kamikawa jumped out to the early lead while Wiedemann stalled on the start and quickly went a lap down. Crawling back into second place, Wiedemann was able to race side by side with Kamikawa for a few laps until Kamikawa's Ferrari would pick up the pace and pull away. By the end of the first half, Kamikawa had a four lap cushion over Wiedemann as the two moved to the outside lanes. Kamikawa continued his blistering pace, putting more laps on the field. Wiedemann settled in to second place, trying to hold his ground over a charging Galbraith. As the race closed in on the conclusion, the only battle left on the track was the battle for second. Kamikawa had the win in hand and Fitzlaff pulled off with handling issues. While Galbraith was turning faster laps, Wiedemann's steady pace and Galbraith's off track excursions allowed Wiedemann to finish second with a five lap lead over Galbraith. The win by Kamikawa was his second in a row, moving him into the points lead and serving notice on the field that he has the car to beat.

Next week, July 23rd, the ISF series again heads down to the Southshore Speedway and Emporium for GT and GTP racing action. The Maxim/FHM/Stuff Grand Prix will be featured on the track that is hidden somewhere in a grassy field on the south side of Milwaukee.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2009-13-116
Red Stripe "Last Call"
July 16, 2009
The Raceway at Runaway Bay
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 2 John Shea Ferrari 161 Running
2 3 Mark Walczak Red Bull-Renault 159 Running
3 1 Mike Fitzlaff Jordan-Peugeot 157 Running
4 10 Everet Kamikawa Ferrari 79 Running
5 4 Mike Lack Jaguar 100 Running
6 7 Corey Galbraith Arrows-Cosworth 97 Running
7 5 Larry Rotter McLaren-Mercedes 92 Off
8 6 John Wiedemann Jaguar 91 Running
9 9 Dan Margetta Red Bull-Renault 84 Off
10 8 Dean Strom Williams-Honda 78 Off

Fastest Qualifier -- Fitzlaff; 4.178 seconds.
A Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Walczak; 3. Fitzlaff; 4. Kamikawa. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.616 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Shea; 2. Kamikawa; 3. Walczak; 4. Lack. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.549 seconds)
Fast Heat -- Not Contested.
Reg. Heat -- 1. Lack; 2. Rotter; 3. Wiedemann. (Fastest Lap -- Rotter; 5.279 seconds)
Slow Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Galbraith; 3. Margetta; 4. Strom. (Fastest Lap -- Kamikawa; 4.978 seconds)
Qualifying -- 1. Fitzlaff, 4.178; 2. Shea, 4.203; 3. Walczak, 4.290; 4. Lack, 4.434; 5. Rotter, 4.566; 6. Wiedemann, 4.584; 7. Galbraith, 4.677; 8. Strom, 4.686; 9. Margetta, 4.695; 10. Kamikawa, 4.861.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GT Category -- 12 Minute Final
Fin. Str.
Pos. Pos. Driver Car Laps Status
1 4 Everet Kamikawa Ferrari 575-GT 142 Running
2 1 John Wiedemann Ford GT 133 Running
3 7 Cory Galbraith Ford GT 128 Running
4 2 Mike Fitzlaff Corvette C5 107 Off
5 3 John Shea Corvette C5 4 Accident
6 8 Mike Lack Ford GT 109 Off
7 5 Larry Rotter Toyota Supra 106 Running
8 6 Mark Walczak Aston Martin Vanquish 94 Running
9 10 Dean Strom Corvette C4 92 Off
10 9 Dan Margetta Ford GT 44 Off

Fastest Qualifier -- Wiedemann; 4.242 seconds.
A Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Wiedemann; 3. Galbraith; 4. Fitzlaff. (Fastest Lap -- Kamikawa; 4.651 seconds)
B Main -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Fitzlaff; 3. Galbraith; 4. Shea. (Fastest Lap -- Shea; 4.323 seconds)
Fast Heat -- 1. Wiedemann; 2. Shea; 3. Fitzlaff. (Fastest Lap -- Fitzlaff; 4.882 seconds)
Reg. Heat -- 1. Kamikawa; 2. Rotter; 3. Walczak. (Fastest Lap -- Walczak; 4.222 seconds)
Slow Heat -- 1. Galbraith; 2. Lack; 3. Strom; 4. Margetta. (Fastest Lap -- Lack; 4.767 seconds)
Qualifying -- 1. Wiedemann, 4.242; 2. Fitzlaff, 4.356; 3. Shea, 4.393; 4. Kamikawa, 4.451; 5. Rotter, 4.474; 6. Walczak, 4.633; 7. Galbraith, 4.831; 8. Lack, 4.832; 9. Margetta, 4.856; 10. Strom, 4.878.

 

John Shea's F1 Ferrari in victory lane for the third time in 2009.

John Shea celebrates winning the F1 race at Runaway Bay.

Two wins in a row for Everet Kamikawa's GT Ferrari.

Everet Kamikawa shoots down the competition with a super quick Ferrari in GT action.

The F1 podium at the Red Stripe "Last Call": Mike Fitzlaff (3rd), Mark Walczak (2nd), Rusty Wallace (media hound), John Shea (winner)

The GT podium at the Red Stripe "Last Call": Corey Galbraith (3rd), Everet Kamikawa (winner), Rusty Wallace (lurking), John Wiedemann (2nd)

The line up for the F1 feature race at Runaway Bay: Mike Fitzlaff, Mark Walczak, Everet Kamikawa, John Shea

GT racing action at Runaway Bay as Everet Kamikawa chases Larry Rotter into the infield portion of the road course.