2014 ISF Rookie & Mega G Rules

Clarification that no one has to provide meal. Drinks would still be great.
IF you want to provide a meal that is up to you but please make drivers aware of that before time.

All the rules the same  for racing except the following:
1. Any rookie driver gets unlimited deslots in heat races, and B-main                               (after every fourth de-slot they will serve a time poenalty just like veteran drivers)
2. Floor rule stays in effect for rookies in B-main and final.
3. Rookie Drivers get 16 deslots in final race instead of 12.
4. At the end of their rookie season, or eigth race whichever comes later, the veteran drivers vote on if they are no longer a rookie (thanks JW for this idea)
5. Drivers that have rookie status revoked by veteran drivers receive four extra deslots per heat and finals for second season only
(no matter if they run once or the whole season)
6. Once a driver completes 16 races or their second season, whichever comes first, they receive the same amount of de-slots as veteran drivers
7. Drivers that return to the league but have more than 16 previous starts (i.e. Cory or Nic)
get an extra four deslots in the heats and finals for the first eight races in the season in which they return or
total of eight races over two seasons if they are part-time racers
8. Drivers who have been away from the series for three years or more and have more than 40 starts (i.e. Chad Sorce or Jim Iverson), receive an extra four deslots in all heat races and finals for one-off races or for a total of five races in their first season if they are returning as full or part-time drivers

After agonizing and many opinions I decided it is time to move to the Mega G chassis for 2013.
GTP will remain the super G+ however F1 and LMP will be the Mega G 1.7 chassis.

After conducting several tests I figured out a way to:
1. make...

the field fair
2. not invalidate previous purchases of Mega G's

F1 and LMP cars must be run box stock including rims, chassis, motors, bodies. The exceptions will be painting and gluing wings that are broken. Both the original Mega G, pictured on the right, and the newer version with the fully enclosed traction magnets, as pictured on the left, will be eligible to run in either F1 or LMP (both bodies use the same chassis).

The difference will be in the tires. Both divisions will be able to run driver's choice of stock tires, pvt01 (the tires we currently use) or the pvt02 (tires used the last year of the ARA superstocks on the lifelikes). In comparing the three tires on stock mega g rims and the new 1.7 chassis version, the lower profile pvt02 tires gripped the best. When compared to a stock tire it gripped a little better, but the stock tire had more top end and glide through the turns while still sticking pretty well. The Pvt01 had more top end and glide than either of the others, however wasn't as grippy. With the variety of tracks the ISF runs on in terms of design and smoothness this will provide an interesting strategy choice. The exception to the tire rule is that if you choose to run the original Mega G, you will not be allowed to run the lower Pvt02 tires. This is because more of the magnet is exposed and sits a little closer to the rails providing better grip even with stock tires. At Rapids the difference between an original Mega G with stock tires and a 1.7 version with pvt02 was very very slight with the 1.7 better in the corners but slower on the straights.

This tire rule does not apply to GTP where the current rule package will remain in effect.

For F1 the rule remains that you can run any team in the history of F1 and can paint the car to match. In LMP there are only two current bodies, Audi R15 and Peugot. You can run any team that appeared at Sebring or Petit LeMans or Road America in the ALMS from 2005onwards.
If you want to run a closed top team you have to use the Peugot body (i.e. Mazda or Astin Martin) if you want to run an open cockpit team (i.e. Porsche, courage, Riley & Scott) you use the Audi body. Since there are multiple Audi teams that have run, there can be multi Audi teams (one designated driving Audi R8, R10, R15, R18) same with other teams. Real teams like Dyson who ran a Lola open cockpit and a Mazda closed cockpit can also be reprensented by two different teams claiming to be Dysons).

Questions?
Feel free to ask.
Ev

The Art of Hurling

Sometimes I just have to write about something other than racing or I will go insane. This week gives me the chance to write about a topic I've always wanted to explore, the best barf scenes in movie history!

As a former broadcaster I wasn't allowed to say "barf" on the air, however I can in print! I can also write "puke," "expansive saliva," and "upchuck."

I love vomit scenes in movies. It's not funny when it happens to me, but in the movies I think it is a gas (that is a topic for a future column). Here are the top five best Puke scenes in the movies according to me:

The fifth best regurgitation scene in the movies belongs to:

Team America - World Police.

Generally I can say that try as they might, the creators of South Park can't put together a good movie outside of their fictional Colorado playground, however two scenes steal this movie: the marionette sex scene, and the puke scene.

The hero of the picture has trouble coming to terms with what his country wants him to become. He goes on a bender and falls in the street and pukes yellow liquid all over himself.

When he stops, there is a pause, and then another long pull of puke.

Then another.

Then another.

Then another until finally the camera pulls above him and you see that he is lying in a whole street of slippery esophagus scum.

Two things make this scene a top five selection because I don't believe they have ever happened in the movies before (if movies were baseball there would be someone keeping stats of such a thing): a marionette has never puked in a movie, and we've never seen a helicopter pull away shot from above the puker.

The fourth best "blowing chunks" scene in the movies belongs to:

The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.

Having a person made of yarn vomit, with the vomit material being string coming out of his mouth is probably the cleverest representation of puke that has ever been done and is worth seeing the movie in and of itself. It is a special effect that makes one wonder "how did they do that?" Eat your heart out Industrial Light & Magic.
Star Wars: Phantom Menace could have been improved if someone puked on young Skywalker whenever he walked on film.


The third best scene involving someone "thrusting their stomach contents out of their mouth" in the movies belongs to:

Monty Python: The Meaning of Life.

When Mr. Creosote enters the movie you know there is going to be trouble.

The request for a bucket because he's "got to throw up in it," is only the beginning of a scene that is not for the squeamish.
Be honest. Who among you after eating too much hasn't just wanted to throw up and relieve yourself?
Puking on John Cleese's shoes and the cleaning woman before the scene is thirty seconds old is enough to make any stomach uneasy.
The most disgusting part for me is not the continuous vomit, but John Cleese picking a piece of meat off of Mr. Creosote's ribs (after Creosote has exploded) and eating it!
I believe this scene holds the record for the most barfs in one scene.

The second best "leftover fluid" scene in the movies belongs to:

The Sandlot.

The scene where the kids go to the fair and ride the giant swing while chewing tobacco is a classic not because of seeing the kids puke (which you don't),
but of seeing buckets of brown goo being dumped on the unsuspecting people below!

The kids coming off of the ride with brown vomit stained shirts is a nice touch.

This Disney movie has the second best vomit scene because it wasn't what you saw that made this scene funny; it was what you didn't see! If you actually saw the kids vomit there would be no way that you would believe that all that puke was generated by so little kids.
Since you don't see them however, the director can have fun and exaggerate the scene.
You can relate to this scene because I bet you've been walking near such a ride and hoped (however faintly) that no puke would land your way.

The best "chunky milkshake" scene is in the movie:

Stand By Me

Without a doubt, the "larda**" scene (I can't print that word on this website)
is the greatest barf scene in movie history. By the time the story plays out, you can't help but revel in the fact that Davey Hogan gets his revenge by blowing chunks over Bill the pie eating champion and causing a mass puke-o-rama in the crowd.
It makes you want to jump out of your seat and cheer for Davey's victory,
just like the ending of "Rocky" or "The Karate Kid" made you do.

In terms of total ounces, this scene has to have the largest quantity of "throat goo" in cinema history. The sheer volume and thickness of the puke coming out of the characters mouths also gives this scene the volume (so to speak) to take this scene to the top of the list.

There you have it. A column I've always wanted to write. Thanks for the catharsis!

I hope you were entertained enough by this list to immediately go out to your video source and compare for yourself! Be sure to stuff yourself first, just to see if you can hold all that potential "tonsil turkey" down.

Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Perkins Exhibit at Rapids Museum

The Rapids Racing Museum recently acquired the cars formerly raced by Indyslotcar star, and ISF starter, Tony Perkins. The cars were put on display in the winners circle outside the museum in a recent weekend tribute to the driver.

"This is a special collection from a beloved driver that we thought would be good to start this new series of spotlighting the machinery of popular drivers," said museum curator D. Riven.
"We were pleasantly surprised as you can see from the above picture. Advance ticket sales were sluggish as I don't think people knew what to expect. Then when word got out you can see the crowds that came!"

This exhibit contains the cars Tony is most famous for including Target and Players.
The one car that no longer exists is the Duracell car, otherwise known in lore as the "working man's car." That car was recycled long ago and is part of the Shine museum on Sanibel Island.

The Perkins Exhibit does contain some rarities from him. The PACWEST starter, and an unknown car mounted in a pit crew display.

Some other cars in this historic collection include the stock cars Perkins races in ARA (American Racing Alliance) competition. The Penzoil and Havoline cars were used in the ARA Superstock division. There was also an unraced TYCO sponsored car that whose chassis was used in other divisions.

Another car was Perkins car from the Heavy Metal Challenge Series division of the ARA. Many of these original NASCAR style cars from the early ARA seasons no longer exist so it is a nice treat for the fans to see this one.

The Perkins exhibit also contained his very own Penske LMP and BMW F1 ISF cars. Perkins made one start in each of these cars. He has four total starts in ISF. The other two being with Arrows ISF F1. Perkins was the last driver as of 2013 to drive for Arrows.

One car that brought a lot of interest was Perkins' Williams Indyslotcar. Back when F1 teams were allowed into Indyslotcar, Perkins thought the original Indyslotcar F1 team of Ferrari needed a rival. Williams was Ferrari's rival in F1 so Perkins led the Williams charge into Indyslotcar. His most famous heat win against all three Penske cars and parties with The Spice Girls were in this period.

Also in the collection was Perkin's ISF test hack. Not ever raced but interesting for fans.

"We couldn't be happier with the fans response to the Perkins exhibit," said D. Riven. "We just got proof that we should do more of these special outdoor exhibits."

Steve The Wrench Ratchett

Kamikawa Back to Ferrari in 2014

Ferrari ISF announced Ferrari super star Everet Kamikawa will once again pilot one of their Italian marquee's ISF F1 racers in 2014. The deal is believed to be a two year deal.

After swearing that he wouldn't return to the red cars after the prancing horse hired Fernando Alonso the champion was asked why he returned.

"They brought back Kimi in F1 and he is a champion so they did the same with me in the ISF," Kamikawa started explaining. "I hate Alonso because he only won his two F1 titles because in 2005 the FIA changed the tire and pit stop rules to stop Ferrari. Then he won in 2006 because his team cheated for half the season and he had his teammate cut Schumi's tire for good measure at the last race just so Schumi wouldn't be able to end his career with a win. Then the Mclaren design scandal which he was the star turncoat for the FIA. Then Crash gate at Renault where he once again provided the evidence to sell out his team. Now he can't haul Ferrari F1 up the grid. Remember how he couldn't pass Petrov in Abu Dhabi? Now that Kimi is back I feel the team will improve. I don't think it will be pretty. Kimi's calm demeanor will drive the fiery temper of Alonso nuts. Kimi won't give way to Alonso. Alonso will get mad and leave or Kimi will just say screw it and leave. Either way I want a front row seat for this show. Oh yeah, the new car should be pretty good too.

Steve the wrench Ratchett

Fitzlaff Doubles Wins in 2014 Opener

Mike Fitzlaff continued where he left off the 2013 ISF season, as the dominant force in the races with wins in the F1 and LMP divisions in the 2014 ISF season opener at the It's Nacho Cheese, It's My Cheese West Bend Grand Prix presented by RacingWisconsin.com.

Fitzlaff took pole positions for both events on a night that featured four rookies, three of which made their ISF debut.
Fitzlaff used the pole positions to put the veterans and rookies to shame as he ran away with the the win in the F1 event over John Wiedemann, Everet Kamikawa, and Mike Lack.

Fitzlaff then converted his pole position to win the LMP season opener by another big margin over Wiedemann, Lack, and third place finisher Mike Dibb making his second ISF start.
"I like these LMP cars more than the F1 cars," Dibb said.

 

Mike Dibb made his ISF debut several seasons ago and returned to the series this year. Dibb has raced in other series and showed confidence in this ISF show when he constantly stared at Mike Lack during their heat race. Dibb said the trick worked before as it did un-nerve the veteran driver Lack. Joining him were fellow rookies Todd Wolf, Kenny Dibb, and Keith Lindbeck.

 

Wolf was nervous before his debut, but steadily gained confidence and finished both the heat race and the semi final in each division. He didn't say much on the night but Wiedemann summed up the driver's debut by telling one reporter that "Todd did a good job and was steady all race and improved."





 
 "This isn't my first rodeo," was Kenny Dibb's comment after qualifying. The rookie driver had a better than average ISF debut by running strong during several stints in the heat races of both classes, while also having bouts of rookie mistakes. 

Lindbeck had a more typical rookie debut with more mistakes than glory, but the new driver making his debut in racing cars did show flashes of speed and a tendency for keeping the paddock loose. Whit his inaugural race "in the can," look for better outings from this driver.

The next race is the Maxim St. Francis Grand Prix at the Inside Edge on October 30th.

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

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2014-01
It's Nacho Cheese It's My Cheese West Bend Grand Prix presented by RacingWisconsin.com
September 26, 2013
Lack Track

F1 Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2.  John Wiedemann-Jaguar 
3.  Everet Kamikawa-Ferrari
4. Mike Lack-Jaguar
5. Todd Wolf-Caterham
6. Kenny Dibb-Force India
7. Keith Lindbeck-MaRUssia
8. Mike Dibb-Force India

Fastest Qualifier -- Fitzlaff
B Main Winner --Wiedemann

Heat Winners -- Kamikawa, Fitzlaff

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan Peugeot
2.  John Wiedemann-KIA Peugeot
3.  Mike Dibb-Audi
4. Mike Lack-Toyota Peugeot
5. Todd Wolf-Design Engine Peugeot
6. Keith Lindbeck-MaRUssia
7.  Kenny Dibb-Audi R15
8. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black 

Fastest Qualifier -- Fitzlaff
B Main Winner --Wiedemann

Heat Winners -- Lack, Fitzlaff

John Wiedemann 2013 Double Champion

JOHN WIEDEMANN DOUBLES UP
Wins Second Consecutive F1 Championship

Beats Field in Close LMP Race

John Wiedemann took his second career F1 title in a nail bitter of a final in the Rapids Grand Prix.
Wiedemann also took the LMP title when the LMP finale was shortened due to an injury suffered by rookie driver Hiroshi Kamikawa.
This story may not due justice to Wiedemann's fantastic season, but it was a dominant one, however the first of the new era
of Mega G race cars in the ISF.
Congratulations John!

Steve The Wrench Ratchett

2014 ISF Schedule

Here is the 2014 ISF Schedule!
Long Live the ISF!


September 26 Nacho Cheese RacingNation.com GP at LACK TRACK

October 30 Maxim GP at Inside Edge

 November 14th Rapids Grand Prix at Rapids International Raceway

 

November 21 Muskego GP at The Road Course at Badger Raceway

January 9 Brookfield GP at Raven Raceway

January 23 Deckertring GP
March 20 Turtle Trot - Turtle Creek Raceway

 
April 17th Rapids Invitational and season finale ISF 200th race with broadcast, cake, the works

Potential 2013 ISF Movie Titles

The 2013 ISF Season Review movie is being produced by Ev's Vivid Imagination Pictures again this year.
As a fun bit of publicity the studio is asking for submissions from ISF fans on Facebook what the title of the movie should be.
Past titles have been
ISF Season Review: "We ain't adding X's here"
ISF Seasn Review: "Ev Don't go"
and
ISF Season Review: "Mike Blows Seals"

So far nominees for the 2013 movie are:
"I have nothing against Mark in this series"
"Did we race this year"
"Jota Doublay Showcase"
"He did what in his cup?"
"Douchebago"

The ISF title is always a bit quirky but fun.
Also to be decided is the soundtrack.
I understand Slim Whittman and Enya are being considered, however what is leaked by the studio is NEVER what actually becomes the soundtrack.

It's not bad being in the pits!
Steve

2014 ISF Changes

As a journalist it is always critical to have sources you can trust.
This is a letter sent to ISF participants by the commissioner.
It is reprinted here.
Once again it is good to be...
In the Pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett 

Hi friends, racers, track owners,

When John and I had the idea to start the ISF in 2000 it was because we wanted to hang out with friends and have fun with a hobby we all enjoy while talking racing.
Thanks to you that mission has been accomplished over the years.
Now the ISF is facing a situation that makes continuing this tradition tough.
 
That situation is life. Stuff happens. People get families, kids, new jobs, move away, develop other interests, and just have things get in the way of what has been a Thursday night tradition for the last 13 years (or more for many of us).
As you recall just a few years ago the ISF had 8-9 full time drivers and 4-6 part time drivers.
This pool of friends resulted in fields of 10-12 on race night.
Life happens.
 
We lost several icons of the league in a short period of time, plus several of us have moved to part-time status.
Those who have joined us over the years either stopped coming after their first race (usually I heard from them that they didn't think they could ever compete with us since we've been doing this for years),
or just disappeared after several races without a trace.
This has knocked fields down to four at most races and six on a good night.
This has frustrated all of us, and some of us to the point where they didn't see the point of holding races anymore or caring if postponed races were rescheduled or not.
I can understand that feeling.

For me getting together and racing with you is something I really look forward to these days.
As life has gotten complicated with family, work, laundries, Thursday nights racing with my friends and talking racing has been sacred to me
because I'm not a business owner, sales guy, or any of the other roles I play in life. I'm just me and for a few hours I can escape into a land of play.
As Spock said in the "Shore Leave" episode of Star Trek, "the more complicated the mind, the more the simple need for play."
 
Yes, I understand these are plastic toy cars.
Hanging out with you guys and enjoying this hobby is something that my family always encouraged me to continue and they enjoy the benefits of the ISF as well.

While the league has hit a rough patch and it might be easy to just fold it into memory lane, I'm  not ready to give it and Thursday nights up yet.

What I'm proposing are some simple changes and after I explain them I'm going to ask you to answer three questions for me.

First the changes to the series:
1. season cut down from 18 races to 6-9 events with each track getting one race
(If someone wants to hold a second date that is an option depending on how many want to host)
2. races will be run the week before Indyslotcar races. This means no one has to prepare basements/tracks for several races at different times of the year.
Tracks will also have been tested for the following weeks ISC event (Thanks Fitz for this idea)
3. Clarification that no one has to provide meal. Drinks would still be great.
IF you want to provide a meal that is up to you but please make drivers aware of that before time.

All the rules the same  for racing except the following:
1. Any rookie driver gets unlimited de-slots in heat races, and B-main
(after every fourth de-slot they will serve a time penalty just like veteran drivers)
2. Floor rule stays in effect for rookies in B-main and final.
3. Rookie Drivers get 16 de-slots in final
4. At the end of their rookie season, or eighth race whichever comes later, the veteran drivers vote on if they are no longer a rookie (thanks JW for this idea)
5. Drivers that have rookie status revoked by veteran drivers receive four extra -per heat and finals for second season only
(no matter if they run once or the whole season)
6. Once a driver completes 16 races or their second season, whichever comes first, they receive the same amount of de-slots as veteran drivers
7. Drivers that return to the league but have more than 16 previous starts (i.e. Cory or Nic)
get an extra four de-slots in the heats and finals for the first eight races in the season in which they return or
total of eight races over two seasons if they are part-time racers
8. Drivers who have been away from the series for three years or more and have more than 40 starts (i.e. Chad Sorce or Jim Iverson),
receive an extra four de-slots in all heat races and finals for one-off races or for a total of five races in their first season if they are returning as full or part-time drivers

The above changes should make it easier for rookies to compete and get seat time and allow someone like Iverson to be competitive in a one off race or someone like Sorce who could decide to race a full season to make up for lost time.

We're getting to the end of this long message.

Ultimately I'd like to get back to 4-6 full time drivers and 4-6 part-time drivers so that any given race we have 6-8 drivers for this upcoming season.
If we hit those numbers and have a fun season then we can worry about the following year.
Here are the questions that I would like you to please answer for me:
1. If you are a track owner please look at the schedule and tell me if you still want to host a race and if that date works for you
2. Please tell me what your commitment is in terms of races you'll attend in the IDEAL world for this coming year only
    a. full time 6-9 races
    b. part-time 4-6 races
    c. just for fun 2-4 races
3. Is there anyone you can think of, either a rookie or former driver, that you will invite to race with the ISF this season? (thanks Mike Lack for this idea)

Please get back to me with changes, questions on the new rules, or comments on anything I've said.
You are the ones that made and make this series fun.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Option Tire to Stay in 2014 for F1

F1 Option Tire To Stay in 2014 for F1
by Steve Ratchett


The ISF Technical Working Group voted on Thursday to keep the option tire rule in the F1 division for 2014.

Drivers will again need to change tires within one minute of the halfway point of all heat races and the final.

"There were passionate people for and against the issue and it turns out that drivers were no longer split 50-50 on the issue like they were several years ago," explained ISF Commissioner Everet Kamikawa. "The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that it made a huge talking point during the season and it did factor in the outcome of several races. When we got rid of it a few years ago people actually missed it. We decided to keep it for 2014 because the F1 division is based on Formula One and since they have an option tire rule, we thought we would try it for another year."

 The top shows the height of the tires, stock Mega G, PVT-01 and PVT-02. The bottom shows the height of the sidewalls. Since all three tires provide different amounts of grip, the handling of the cars will be different for all of the drivers.

Ev Back to Penske Indycar in 2014

Penske Racing announced that the former Penske Driver has returned and will once again drive the #12 Verizon Indycar in the 2014 Indyslotcar championship.

"Having Everet back in the fold is like finding our favorite old t-shirt at the bottom of the drawer," said Timmy Cindric team manager of Penske H.O. "You forgot about it and haven't worn it for some time, but when you try it on it still fits and still makes you look cool. Everet hasn't won a championship in almost 15 years and hasn't won a race in Penske colors for 18 months, but he's still a name and someone the fans love. I'm sure he'll represent Penske well once again."


Kamikawa most recently drove for Penske for a few races during the 2011-2012 season where he took a win while splitting time with Team Spehert (where he won on the debut with at Lack Track) and his own team of Super Kamikawa, with whom he won the 2012 Indy 500.


In 2013 Kamikawa drove for Panther racing where he had best place finishes of second twice (he argues he really won the 2012 Turkey Trot in a close finish with Dan Margetta).
Kamikawa has 34 career wins and 31 pole positions and is a two time champion. He has driven for several teams in his 20 year career, most famously teamed with John Shea at Ferrari.

Kamikawa has driven for:
Mobil One Racing (two starts), Benetton (two starts), Ferrari, Miller Lite Racing (one start), Target Chip Ganassi, Wallshot/RuSport, Team Australia, Team Penske, Team Spehert, Super Kamikawa, Panther Racing