I may not have a Golden Disco Hoodie, but I have more experience than Jack Baruth does when it comes to karting. And I’m calling out any member of the media who wants to challenge me on a kart track. After all, I’m defending my title from last year (see above)
(N.B I did finish first here. “Scott” refers to a gentleman who crashed out and DNFd)
Before you unfairly write me off as an arrogant jackass, I should explain the backstory. Last year, a few of us decided to forgo abusing the open bar at the Hyundai Genesis launch to hit up a kart track. Hyundai will be launching the Veloster Turbo, Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe next week in San Diego, and it looks like the same crew will be re-united, along with a generally strong roster of atendees.
While plans for an evening of karting were a no brainer, I decided to up the ante. I’m branding this one the “TTAC Media Challenge” (since I thought of it) and raising the stakes. Anyone can enter, but the losers have to donate $25 to a charity of the winner’s choice. I’m choosing Gabrielle’s Ride in support of Cardiac Kids & The Pediatric Stroke Foundation at the Hospital For Sick Kids in Toronto. My friend Kyle, an avid cyclist, is participating in the event, and any donations can be made via his account at the link above. If anyone wins (unlikely) they can choose something else.
Attending the launch are journalists from Autoblog, Hooniverse, Automotive.com, Car and Driver, Jalopnik, The Smoking Tire and numerous other outlets. I encourage anyone interested and willing to come to San Diego to come out. More participants means more donations. I’ve chosen Miramar Speed Circuit since it’s close to our hotel, the karts look good and they seem to be able to accommodate groups.
P.S. I’ve already had numerous gripes about the driver’s weight when karting. I am 5’10 and around 180lbs. I was the same weight last year and managed to beat much smaller competitors, while 6’7″ Jared Gall came in second. On the outdoor tracks pictured above, I run in the Heavy class (180lbs and up), as the long straights really do provide an advantage for the lighter guys. On a short indoor track, it won’t matter.
ahem…. and The Smoking Tire. I will be there, and, weight-be-damned, I’ll race your ass.
Start writing that $25 cheque, home boy…
I’ll write the check, as long as you also publish the autocross results when I beat you…. again.
I despise autocross and will likely do poorly. The “sawing hands/low eyes” thing is counter-intuitive to me.
Looks like you guys need to fix your spellcheque over here.
If your eyes are low, you’re not looking far enough ahead!
Be the Bowser to his Yoshi.
Blah, I wish I could, but no invite for teh Velost0rz.
Next time, Kreindler. Next. Time.
I’m 6’3″ weigh 220 lbs and race normal cars and do well, but I also go karted and was in the upper mid pack and the fastest of the guys > 200lbs. So I feel your pain watching guys who weigh significantly less be only half a second faster than me and win b/c I can’t pass them or they can get 3-4 extra cart lengths on me on any given straight.
Dude. That’s what bumpers are for …
I work very close by. Tempting. Are those Gas or Electric ones down there at Miramar? I have only gone to the k1 in Carlsbad.
When is it exactly next week?
Still working it out. Program starts Tuesday. Miramar are gas carts…if you want to send me your contact info, email me at editors@ttac.com and I’ll keep you posted.
There shall be one hoon to rule them all… and I will notify my charity that there will be a few bucks heading their way.
Represent us well!
I have been itching to get behind a go-kart as of recent and I live in SD! I have actually heard K1 is nicer but it’s all in good fun.
Now I really wish I was going to this launch instead of my editor haha
Damn! I was there almost nine years ago (I think…)
Tons of fun. Then we went to a bar afterwards and had a few yardsticks. It was there that a guy forever known as ‘Beer Nuts’ got his coronation.
Girl in our group is hungry. Guy offers to get her some beer nuts.
Guy comes with his nuts in her beer.
Girl unexpectedly kicks the drink and by extension, his nuts.
Several uncontrollable fits of laughter ensue. Endless calls are made. Before the end of the evening ‘Beer Nuts’ was a national celebrity along with the lady in question.
I laughed so hard that night, I pretty much puked out all my beer.
A great night… and no hangover in the morning!
Someday I’ll publish “Schreiber and his inner ears make the mistake of letting Niedermeyer and Karesh talk him into doing just a few laps in a kart at a press event.”
let me get the popcorn this should be interesting
Matt Farah vs Derek Kreindler
Ahem… It’s spelled “classification,” track-overseer-people.
A long time ago in another universe a bunch of 20 something boys decided to go to a cart track. We all thought we were Fangio. We weren’t. After the 2nd or 3rd excursion into the tires and catch fence the owner wouldn’t let us drive anymore. I think he was more concerned about the equipment than one of us getting hurt. We were GI’s. This was in Nurnberg, Germany in the mid 60’s.
You should invite Lutz!
Allright, I’ll ante up and kick an aditional $25 to the winner’s charity. It will be donated in memory of Dr. Heywood Jablome.
Sounds like a lot of fun!
With such an august gathering of muttering rotters, as the Brits used to call your collective profession, perhaps after the race you guys could play a game of Split The Infinitive, followed by a short race to find Where DID That Word Go? No reference books or copy editors allowed. TTAC oughta win that too!
We want videos!!!!