Purple in Sector 1

A few of the non racing types that I with which I interact can’t understand why someone would spend so much on go karting.   Like most others in karting, I get the two basic questions.  First, “how fast does it go?”.  Second, “how much does it cost?”  With a shifter the answers to both questions amaze the inquisitors.  With the costs of buying and maintaining a kart at the top level, many have found it more economical to to pursue arrive and drive programs with established teams.  For someone at my level except for the biggest of events it doesn’t always make economical sense.  For little Jr looking to blast his way through karts and into cars it makes much more sense. That way instead of ponying up the cash for a couple of karts at each step of the ladder, dad either rents them or buys them at a discount from the team and flips them within a few races.  In my case, though, I had a different reason.

I’ve been karting for nearly 8 years as a privateer.  Not many, perhaps only a couple of karters are factory supported in the States.  If that many.  In other words,  most of us are privateers.   When I started karting in 2001 I was doing arrive and drives but with my own equipment largely because I wanted to shorten my learning curve and concentrate on driving.  It was a big help in getting me started those first couple of seasons.  Would have hated to do it alone and that may be one of the reasons so many new karters get frustrated and give up within a few years.  You have to do your own wrenching and driving.  Some are good at one, but not the other.  Some are good at both.  I am mediocre at both, though improving all the time.  I understand the physics and dynamics of driving and car prep/setup.  My execution much of the time is my limitation. That’s when I started looking at A&D.

Last season when I decided to return to racing regionally and limited nationals after not competing for a few years, I started looking at pro level arrive and drive programs for my semi pro class, masters, old and heavy.  The programs I was most impressed with weren’t interested in me.  Not that I didn’t have the money, I did.  It’s just most of the were looking for someone more competitive or willing to commit to a full season at a price with which I could go race cars and stand to make at least some of that money back.  I had a great conversation last year with one team principal when he asked how I thought I would do.  My candor answer suprised him in that I was out to have fun and realized I wasn’t going to be anywhere near the front returning to sprint racing.  I’d been primarily road racing all these years and it’s much more forgiving on a heavier driver and older body.  Of course you have to be able to have the testicular fortitude to hold it wide open for the duration of some long straights at some of the best big car tracks in the world. That means that you’re over 100 mph, a few inches off the ground, in a nose to tail pack of six or seven karts for longer at a time than most sprint track lap times.  It’s quite a rush.

During my time road racing I was able to attend some of the biggest road race events in the country.  On several occasions though, I’d DNF due to a mechanical or not make a grid due to equipment issues.  I saw arrive and drive as a way to avoid that.  Ultimately I decided that I should go back and spend a season at the local club running a Rotax in the master class.  In hindsight I wish I would have raced more in a non gearbox kart before jumping into a shifter.  That (and training six to ten hours a week) were big helps this season.

The cost is something that at first looks daunting, but in reality if you find a good program it’s not too bad.  It’s anywhere from US$500 to US$1500 per day depending on the program.  That might sound like a lot but if you start factoring in the costs of running a large regional or national program as a solo privateer with no help,  it’s more affordable than it looks.  Particularly if you don’t have the right equipment for the class.  For example, at SNATS XII by the time I rebuilt my equipment and hired professional help and rented pit space, it was only several hundred dollars more to rent a ride than it was to bring my own and thrash about with minimal help.  I’m in a tent with five other shifter kart racers, four of them established national competitors, a good selection of spares and if needed, importer level support.  For me it was that I could go on the cheap and risk not having fun and feeling like I flushed that money down the drain, or spending a little more and having the time of my life at one of the biggest karting bashes on the planet.  It was an easy choice.

If you’re like me, sometimes at the track you break things.  Lots of expensive things.  Or you want to stock up on provisions or just send the wife and kids out for some shopping.  We’ll start with food because while the track food can be tasty sometimes, it’s not cheap (particularly at a race like this) and most of the time it’s not the right fuel for an endurance athlete like a kart racer.

Nearest markets.  Food 4 Less at Flamingo and Decatur.  It’s the big discount warehouse style store by Kroger.  It’s cheap but the produce is hammered and many perishables are at or near expiration dates.  It’s basically the low cost dumping ground for Kroger.  

Our fav these days is Fresh and Easy.  It’s a new concept from Brit mega grocer Tesco aimed at the US market.  Mostly store brands but some national brands.  High quality, low cost and the prepared food is tasty, a good value and nutritious.  The nearest Fresh and Easy is at Trop and Jones.  http://www.freshandeasy.com/  

For those that want a more high end (or expensive) experience, the nearest Whole Foods is in the Town Center, Las Vegas Blvd and 215 loop.  The nearest Trader Joe’s is at Decatur and Sahara.  If you need lots of food or a big screen TV, case of TP or gross of napkins (or you are stocking your teams hospitality), the nearest Costsco is in Summerlin (the downtown Costco is closed for “remodeling” until Feb) at 215 loop and Charleston, across Charleston from Red Rock Casino and Spa.  The nearest Super Walmart is north on Rainbow from Flamingo.  The nearest Sam’s Club is at Spring Mountain and Rainbow.

Office supplies, hardware, parts, fuel, tools.  The nearest Office Depot (or as my Québecois colleagues call it “Office of the pot”) is at Trop and Jones, by Fresh and Easy. Nearest Home of the Pot, I mean Home Depot is at Trop and Decatur.  They rent generators if you need one.  The nearest Sears is at Boulevard Mall at Maryland and Desert Inn (or DI as we call it) but a better Sears is the Sears Grand out in the burbs at 215 loop and W Flamingo.  There is a Harbor Freight behind the Home Depot at Trop and Decatur.

The best place for industrial hardware in town is McFadden-Dale.  A full service industrial machine shop/hardware supply.  Tons of metric stuff, shop equipment, consumables, solvents, you name it.  On Decatur between Hacienda and Russell.  Great group of folks and prices competitive with the big box stores. If you need gasses (nitrogen, C20, compressed air) Praxair is closest to the track, near Arville and Trop on Tompkins.  I’ve been using Airgas on Highland, near the Artisan and Rebel fuel depot at Sahara and I-15 for my gasses and welding supplies.  Marv and his guys take great care of me.  If by chance you need raw stock, McFadden-Dale has shorter lengths (including DOM mild steel tubing and sheet) but it’s a bit pricey.  Curtis Steel on Wynn Rd near Trop is a full service commercial metal materials distributor that has no minimun other than you have to pay for the full piece.  For example a 20′ stick of 1.5×0.095 mild steel DOM tubing is about US$34 at Curtis.  A 3′ section at M&D is about US$25.  The guys at M&D often refer folks to Curtis.

Acceleration Karting is a full service, fully stocked kart shop.  It’s on Valley View, just north of Hacienda.  The guys are at the race running S3 but you’ll likely have to go the shop to get what you need.  The best, closest powersports/Honda dealer is Carter Powersports at 215 loop and Decatur. They don’t stock any CR125 parts (though Acceleration has a pretty full complement) but they may have fluids or other things the kart shop might run out of.

Though it’s a spec fuel event, for VP race fuel Haycock Petroleum at Sloan and Nellis by Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the local VP distributor.  They stock most kinds of VP fuel in most sizes.  For C12 and MS98 they stock five gallon pails and 30 and 54 gallon drums.  Last I bought it was about US$13/gal for C12 and US$12/gal for MS98 in pails and a buck or two less a gallon for drums.  For a lower cost alternative you can get Rocket Brand 110 octane leaded at the Rebel Fuel depot at Sahara and I-15 for US$7.25/gal.  Some Rebel stations sell 100 octane unleaded (branded Rebel, really Rocket for the exotic cars, off roaders and watercraft in town) for US$5.99/gal.  The nearest Rebel with race gas is Trop and Jones.  The station on the north east corner, there are two Rebels on that corner.  The pump race gas is available 24/7 but both Haycock and Rebel depot are 8 am – 5 pm weekdays only.

If you need an auto parts store there is a 24 hour Autozone at Decatur and Spring Mountain.  If you need a vehicle fixed or tires, take the ride out to the burbs and visit Paula and the gang at Ted Wiens at Flamingo and Fort Apache.  Been using them for a couple of years and they are great.  Honest, hard working and know their stuff.  There is also a good Discount Tire we use at El Captian and Flamingo.

For regular shopping try the outlet malls on South Las Vegas Blvd at Warm Springs.  Many designer and high end outlet style shops with discount prices.  There is another outlet mall near downtown at Charleston and Grand Parkway.

The scene in Vegas over the years has changed from loss leader or free food and drink to one that encompasses the entire specturm of dining.  From dog chow to exotic.  Over the last several years much of that old Vegas has disappeared or gone underground but with things slowing like they have there is a resergence of low price offerings in the eats and booze department. If you order from a bar in one of the mid to high end Strip casinos, chances are you’ll be paying 5 to 10 bucks per drink.  Instead, sit at a bar with a video poker machine, dump a 10 or 20 spot into it and leasurely play.  The bartender should comp your drinks as long as you are “playing”.  Make sure you take care of him or her after every round, a couple of bucks is fine.  A five will get their attention.

 Once you get off the Strip and into the smaller or locals places you are apt to find better specials and still be able to play video poker and drink free.  A favorite black hole with the locals is the Double Down Saloon in the area of town affectionately known as “The Fruit Loop”.  The Double Down is a quentisential punk rock club.  The house specialities are “Ass Juice” (best with a Schlitz back) and a Bacon Martini.  There is loud live music most nights, never a cover.   http://doubledownsaloon.com/  If the Double Down is too loud or too young another watering hole is “The Office”, directly across the street.  Pool table, darts, low key local vibe and package liquor to go at discount prices.

A little more upscale on the north part of the Strip across from the hole in the ground where the Stardust used to be (construction has been halted on its replacement) is the Vegas institution, The Peppermill.  The Fireside Lounge has represented Vegas in film and TV for years.  Not cheap but good vibe, the food in the restaurant is good with generous portions and late night after the shows get out you’ll never know who you will see from the big shows on the Strip.  The spot is popular with performers and crew from the big shows.  No telling who will show up.  http://www.peppermilllasvegas.com/

Along those same lines, though much lower key is the Artisan, an upscale boutique hotel off the Strip at I15 and Sahara.  It’s quiet and while it’s not bargain basement, the drinks are stiff and the place is top shelf all the way around.  The only live entertainment might be a piano or acoustic guitar player.  There is no tap beer but a plentiful selection of bottles and a martini selection second to none with an outstanding complement of world class scotch.  There is also a good bar menu.  It’s a great place to stay though parking is very limited and it’s a bit on the spendy side depending on when you go.  During the race it doesn’t look too bad, but it’s not low budget.  http://www.theartisanhotel.com/

For both cheap food and cheap drink, Ellis Island can’t be beat.  It’s off the Strip and a bit worn down with some colorful characters but the Metro Pizza is great as is the Ellis buck a pint local micro brew.  There are good, cheap eats in the restautant including the off the menu steak special so you have to ask for it.  Used to be five bucks, it’s now seven.  Includes 10 oz sirlion, baked tater, bread and veg and salad and a pint of micro brew or root beer.  If you are the king or queen of karaoke, this is the place, nightly after 10pm.  http://www.ellisislandcasino.com/  for the black hole casino, bar, karaoke and and http://www.metropizza.com/ for the pizza joint.

To make up for the Artisan not having any beer on tap, the Crown and Anchor, an authentic British pub (two locations, one on Spring Mountain, the other on Trop)  has a vast selection beer on tap including Chimay, Blackthorn, Boddingtons, Old Speckled Hen, Smithwicks, Bass, Harp and of course, Guiness Stout, served at the proper temp and poured the proper way.  They also are the hub of futbol in the Valley (what we colonists call soccer but with big strapping European men and not grade school girls) The restaurant menu has all the Brit favs, Bangers and Mash, Chicken Curry, Hot Pots, Cornish Pasties and of course, fish and chips. English breakfast served all day.  http://www.crownandanchorlv.com/

Now that you are good and drunk, you gotta eat.  If a man’s gonna drink, a man’s gotta eat.   Vegas has everything from fast food to some of the most renowned dining establishments on the planet as well as the most all you can buffets per capita than any other city known to man.

In the basic burger department there is an In and Out not too far from the event at Trop and I-15.  Expect a long wait, might be better to go to Maryland Pkwy next to UNLV or the Sahara location.  If you haven’t had a Double Double and you are a burger fan, you’re missing out.  There is a Sonic about a mile west on Flamingo from the track,  you could walk it if you wanted.  There is also a Fat Burger a little past Sonic.

Next to the track on Dean Martin (locals still call it Industrial) is the closest Subway sandwich shop in case you need to feed the team during the week and are doing your own catering. There is also a Subway a bit west on Flamingo.  If you need a blast of America’s Beverage, coffee (or a latte or mocha) there is a Starbucks inside the casino.  There is also one west on Flamingo.  There is a Pizza Hut at Hacienda and Decatur that technically can deliver to the track, but I don’t know if the property will allow that.  Metro is a better pie and it’s not too far on Decatur.

In the mood for Italian?  Pasta Mia just west on Flamingo past the Palms has good food at a good price.  http://www.pastamiaw.com/  A bit further down Flamingo is Mimmo Ferraro’s, a Vegas classic.  Best Osso Buco  I’ve had, counting the vast amount of time I’ve spent working in Italy and Sicily.   http://www.ferraroslasvegas.com/

Chinese?  Ping Pang Pong next door at Gold Coast is a favorite of both locals and mainland Chinese visitors.  http://www.goldcoastcasino.com/dining/ping-pang-pong/ Or head up Arville to Spring Mountain for Vegas Chinatown.

For Thai, Archi’s is the place.  Don’t let the drive up window fool you, it’s world class Thai food.  Just west on Flamingo. No website but great food at reasonable prices.

Indian, there is Gaylord inside the resort, but I prefer Ghandi at Flamingo and Paradise.  http://www.gandhicuisine.com/ Authentic and tasty.

Wouldn’t be a race without some BBQ, would it?  TC’s Rib Crib in West Vegas on Desert Inn and Durango is the bomb.   Family owned and operated from a small store front, TC’s more than makes up in taste and value what it lacks in sizeof the building.  There are only half a dozen or so modestly appointed tables but the food is anything but modest.  Word has it the family relocated to Vegas after Katrina.  It’s the real deal.  Word of warning though, they do start to run out of things into the evening.  They are only open until 10 pm so make sure you get there early.  Given enough notice they can cater your team lunch.  No website.

Like Jack says, the most important meal of the day is breakfast.  And it’s my favorite.  Local fav The Egg and I on Sahara offers a variety of tasty breakfast items including crepes, omelets, skillets and hot cakes and waffles.  Fresh banana nut muffins are a treat.  http://www.eggandi.com/

A bit more upscale and more like bluegrass meets punk rock is the Hash House A Go Go, also on Sahara.  Huge portions of what they term “twisted farm food” always has the place jumping. They specialize in hashes, scrambles, benedicts and of course flapjacks and waffles.  They also serve lunch and dinner.  Get there early, before 10 am as the full breakfast menu is only available until then on weekdays.  http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/

That should keep you in food and drink for the time being.   Next post will detail where some support services and shopping for things you might need during race week.

The Rio is like any other large scale casino resort in Las Vegas.  Large, lots of options and designed to separate you with as much of your money as possible.  They don’t build those kinds of places on donations.  One of the secrets to racing on a budget is to know how to get the most value from your dollar.  That doesn’t mean sleeping in the trailer or tow vehicle, or even a broken down motel. That means knowing where to get the best deals and values for the money.  Over the last decade or so Vegas has focused not so much on the ultra low prices of food and drink to attract gamblers as it has in increasing non gaming revenue, or NGR.  NGR has been one of the driving factors in what was until recently a very booming economy in the Las Vegas Valley.  But as with other things in the economy these days traffic to Vegas has slowed, albeit only by 10% or so but more importantly spending by those that come to Vegas has decreased.  If you are gaming, the house odds won’t be any better but at least some of the old school Vegas room, food and drink deals remain.

Lodging

When the SNATs block went on sale at the Rio earlier this year it was a pretty good deal.  Since then things have changed and room prices have fallen another 10%-20% off the rack rate and bargains can be had in nearly every property.   For bargain hunters one of the first things to ask for is the “Friends and Family” rate.  Not all properties have them and not all that do have them at all times but it is a good way to save some cash.   For example, right now Excalibur on the Strip has a friends and family deal though it’s advertised as the general rate.  It’s US$41/night week nights and US$81 on the weekends.  An added bonus is that the lot can accommodate trailers, RVs and tow vehicles and it’s not too far from the Rio.  Mandalay Bay also has a friends and family but it’s not available for that week.

An even better deal is at Palace Station, still not too far from the race though not on the Strip.  They too can accommodate trailers, tow vehicles and RVs.  Weekday rates of US$34 and weekend of US$59.  The Grand Cafe is an added bonus plus there is BJ play in the Temptation Room.  That’s a blackjack room with what they call the “hottest dealers in Vegas”.  I haven’t been so I don’t know if they are talking excessive body temps or looks.

On the cheaper end there is the Motel Six at Trop and I-15 or at Koval and Trop.  Both can accommodate trailers, tow vehicles and RVs and aren’t too far from the race.  Rates at either property are US$33 weekdays and US$57 weekends.   Unlike the full service resort hotel casinos they are strictly a motor hotel.  No casino, restaurants or bar though many are within walking distance or adjacent to the property.

The Gold Coast, next to the Rio, is offering rooms for US$31 weekday, US$66 weekend.  Earlier you could have gotten the weekday rooms for US$24 but that block appears to be gone.  It’s a full service resort casino hotel with modest dining establishments and cheap drinks.  Some of the best drink specials in town are often at a Coast property.  Circus Circus also has rooms for US$32 weekdays and US$67 weekends.   The Stratosphere is offering US$27 during the week, US$56 on the weekend.  All three properties can accommodate trailers, tow vehicles and RVs.

In another post we’ll cover where to eat, what services are near the track and where the nightlife and cheap drinks are.

Home of Supernats XII

It’s that time of year again, when racer’s hearts and minds turn to what is likely the most prestigious karting sprint event in the US, the SKUSA Supernationals.  Or as it’s called this year, The National Guard Supernationals Presented by Superkarts USA.  This will be my fifth Supernats attending (including the first year it ran at the Rio) and my first as a competitor.  

For the next couple of weeks we’ll share some local info on the Vegas scene.  Where things are in relation to the track, what to do when you’re not at the track and last but not least, a look at what it takes a privateer buying a ride with an established tea.  We’ll supplement that with photos and tweets each day from the event.  Many if not most of the people that will be reading this aren’t kart racers, or even race fans.  To most of them karting is something you do at the local amusement park or at one of the euro style kart centers that have become so popular around the country.  This will let them get a little peak into what we do for fun and let those that do follow karting get a different perspective live from the event.