Sunset Speedway - Go Kart Racing

WELCOME TO THE 2009 RACE SEASON!

General Meeting Date Change (location now changed)
Please note the date for the next general meeting has changed from Tuesday, July 7, to Wednesday, July 8, at Round Table Pizza on Francis. Board meeting at 6:00 and general meeting at 7:00.

Sunset Speedway Sponsors are the Best!
Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming response we have had this season for race sponsorships! Sunset Speedway racers are great and deserve the best, and these sponsors help to provide it! We have sponsors from many various types of businesses all over Spokane and the surrounding area! Thanks! You guys are awesome!

Did I Hear You Say I Can Get Into the Races for Free?!
Yes, you can get into the races for free! If you volunteer to work at the track either during the week or a race day, you can earn your way into the pits for free! Do you want to save some money and volunteer? Contact Ken or Jim to get more information.

Remember Sportsmanship When Racing...
We have all had those moments happen - our child gets spun out, gets a black flag, or just has bad luck during a race. At these moments, as parents, we just want to protect and stick up for our kids. But please remember that we are racing for fun! Most of our racers are children under the age of 14. While things don't always go as we want, please remember that many of these young children are watching the adults and learning how to react when good AND bad situations happen. A child's mind is like a sponge; whether you (or your child) win a race and get to celebrate a victory or you (or your child) get a black flag and are disqualified, the kids are learning how to handle these situations by watching how the adults handle these situations! Please refrain yelling obscenities and/or yelling at another racer (or racer's parent) when you are upset. Instead, go to a Board member (preferably your class representative, if available) and state your concern. We can help explain the situation and work through the issues.

It is NOT appropriate, at any time during the race event or after the race event, to scream, yell, or swear at any of the Board members or any other racer or racer's parent when you are upset. Remember this behavior WILL NOT be tolerated at anytime. The Board can and will apply the penalties stated in the rule book regarding punishments for this behavior. Below is a quote regarding penalties for inappropriate behavior from the 2009 Rule Book.

"Penalty Powers of the Board:  The Board may impose any of the following penalties for driver or crew member infractions at any event. Penalties are not necessarily progressive, that is, any penalty may be assessed for a first offence if considered serious enough by the Board. The Board may disqualify a driver from a race, or from racing the remainder of the day for rough driving, rule infractions, offensive behavior, abusive language, or failure to follow the Board’s directions."

Our goal as a Board is to provide a fun and safe atmosphere for all racers and spectators. If penalties need to be instated to make people comply with the rules, then it will do so.

Have you ever thought, "When are we going to start racing?"
This question is asked many times during race days from attendees of all ages, and I have asked this very question myself many times over the past few years. As many of you know, sometimes things don't always go as planned when racing. Preparing a dirt track for racing is an art form and is a test of patience for racers and race officials alike. During the hot summer months, figuring out the right amount of water to put on the track is many times done by trial and error. Too much water leads to a muddy mess that take a long time to dry, and not enough leads to dusty, slippery track conditions. Although at times it may not seem like it, our volunteers do their best to prepare the track in a timely manner.

On a race week, volunteers begin the process of preparing the track on Tuesday by grading and/or smoothing out the track. Once the track has been smoothed out, it gets watered. This process can take up to 6 hours to complete depending on track conditions.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the track gets completely soaked by a process taking up to 4 hours of watering each night. On Friday night, the track gets watered down again, and very early Saturday morning, the track gets another dousing of water.

I have often wondered how can a track that gets so much water get dusty? That is the question that remains a work in progress. The Board appreciates your patience on race days while we try to get the track in good shape and safe for our drivers. Remember on race days to hang in there! We are doing our best to get things going!

Practice Night
We will have practice if enough interest is shown. In order to have a practice night, six drivers must commit to practice night. Contact Ken at the races on the Saturday before practice night or email him between race night and 7:00 PM the following Tuesday. Only do this on these 4 days EACH time. It will be posted on here at 8:00 Tuesday night if there will or will not be practice. Practice nights will be on the Wednesday immediately following a race.

General Meetings
The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 8 at Jack and Dan's, 1224 North Hamilton.

Next Tentative Meeting
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Board Meeting - 6-7 pm
General Meeting - 7-9 pm

June 2 General Meeting Highlights
The rules for the adult clone class will remain the same. Everyone must have all weight painted and all items safety wired, along with and any other pretech items that you will be emailed about fixed before the June 13 race. Everyone MUST have Snell 2000 or newer helmets before the June 27 race.

Check out the new pictures of the Sunset Speedway racers on Photography by Gary Davis! Thanks for the awesome pictures! Gary, you are the best!