Final race at Chicagoland R/C Raceway (Tinley)

[Walt]

I want to remind everyone that Sunday, September 25th will be our last on-road race of the season at Chicagoland R/C Raceway (aka: Tinley). It will also be our last points/trophy/raffle race of the season (unless it's rained out, in which case we'll postpone until the following Sunday, October 2nd).

I also wanted to officially announce what many have already figured out… this will be the final race of the final season at Tinley. I will not be hosting races next summer at the bowling alley, or anywhere else.

It has been a fun 3+ years of running races, and, overall, it has been a very rewarding experience for me. However, when I started I had no kids, and now I have two young kids. And when I started Tinley there was really no good place to race outdoors on-road. Next summer, there will be other opportunities for on-road racing outdoors. AJ's is now Intense, and they have a much better outdoor on-road program than in the past. Leisure is building a new 'world class' RC racing complex in Joliet just a short drive down I-80 from my location. There are rumors of other tracks in the works. My main reason for hosting races: to allow myself (as well as my friends) someplace to race is no longer so valid.

I want to extend a sincere 'thank you' to all that have come out and raced at my track over the last 3+ years. The vast majority of you have been a pure delight to deal with, and you made getting up at 5am nearly ever Sunday not seem like such a bad idea.

I will continue to race, and I am sure all of you will too, so I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you at the local RC tracks.

On a separate but related note, all off my RC track gear is for sale. I'm pretty sure I know everyone that might be interested in it, and have already contacted them directly, but if any of you are interested in buying a 'turn-key' operation to run RC races (you just need to supply the parking lot), please get in touch with me so we can discuss.

I hope you can all make it out to our final race, as it is the end of yet another RC-era of racing in Chicagoland.

If just a few of you had as much fun racing in Tinley as I did, it was all worth it.

See you at the track (one last time)!

[RCDad]

I sure hate to see Tinley close Walt. It was close, the people were great and the experience was so much fun. Intense is a little far for me, I guess I'll have to see whatever happens in Joliet.

[Tex]

it's worth 1- 1 1/2 hour drives to race IMO.

[RCDad]

On-road nitro is over at Intense also for this season anyway.

[Walt]

On-road nitro is over at Intense also for this season anyway.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that unless you are willing to drive a very long distance, our final race on September 25th is pretty much your last chance to run the on-road cars outdoors this year.

I'm sure there will be on-road racing next year, and it's the racers more than anything else that makes the racing environment a good one... since the same guys should be racing at the new tracks next year, it should still be a good time.

I know I'll be there (and look out.. I'll actually be able to concentrate on setting up my car instead of running the races... I'm looking forward to that as well).

[Tex]

hobbytown st.charles races on-road, not sure what their schedule is though

[Ponch]

Hey, just wondering Walt, how much are raffle tickets?
What are the prizes, or is it whatever y'all come up with?:joy:

[RCDad]

You get the raffle ticket free when you register to race. Not sure what you win.

[Ponch]

Coolness. =)

[Walt]

Hey, just wondering Walt, how much are raffle tickets?
What are the prizes, or is it whatever y'all come up with?:joy:

Yep, one free raffle ticket for every racer, plus we were giving an extra ticket for every Chicagoland R/C Raceway T-shirt that was purchased (for $10... not sure if we have any more for sale though).

The prizes for the last race include: 6 quarts of Byrons fuel, one set of GQ racing tires and GQ rear exhaust manifold gaskets, three Protoform bodies (190mm Stratus 3.0, 200mm Mazda 6, 200mm Stratus 3.0) for sure. We have also had one grand prize for each trophy race from Airtronics... either an entire pistol grip radio (and a nice one at that, synthesized, etc.) or a top of the line Airtronics servo. We have not received the item from Airtronics yet, but it should be nice again.

We have also had Sundog sunglasses at some events, but I'm not sure if we'll have them for the final race yet (need to talk to Mr. Sundog still). And at the first race we also had some nice RC posters and T-shirts and such donated by the Chicago R/C club (http://www.chicagorc.com), but I think they are out of stuff to give away for this season.

And, we have had the Red Bull van come to most of our trophy races to hand out some free Red Bull to anyone that wanted any, which was nice.

Between the raffle prizes, the trophies (or plaques) and the extra long mains (15 minutes for lower nitro mains, 30 minute nitro A-main, and triple electric A-main format), you get your money's worth for the extra $5 on the points/trophy/raffle days.

[RCDad]

I better get one of those shirts, their going to be collectors items.

[Nexus]

walt.

you found this offroad board...i'm mean messageboard LOL

I plan to try and make the last points day. Are there awards for points winners or just "ata boys"

Doesn't matter either way I was just wondering. Hopefully some of the guys learning to race TC on this board will be at the track. Should be a nice day with a pretty good turnout.

[Walt]

walt.

you found this offroad board...i'm mean messageboard LOL

I plan to try and make the last points day. Are there awards for points winners or just "ata boys"

Doesn't matter either way I was just wondering. Hopefully some of the guys learning to race TC on this board will be at the track. Should be a nice day with a pretty good turnout.

Remember, we're talking about next Sunday, not this Sunday (not sure how you know this far out in advance that it's going to be a nice day, so you've got me worried that you're planning on showing up this Sunday).

Last year I made up trophies for the points winners, with their names on each one, and I still have most of them because the guys didn't care enough about them to figure out a way to get them. I don't think I'm going to bother this year... it's all for pride!

Either that, or perhaps I'll make something up nice for the top three in each class... I'll probably be able to find at least those guys because they tend to be regular racers.

Soooo... you just might be surprised with a nice year-end trophy or plaque, but I won't have anything ready on the 25th. If I do anything, it will be personalized and I'll deliver it at a later date.

[RCDad]

How about an award for 7th place!!!

[DAVEC-NITRO-RS4]

Walt,

Will anyone be running indoor micro's this winter there?

[Walt]

Walt,

Will anyone be running indoor micro's this winter there?

Sorry for the slow response... I have to get used to checking this new forum for activity...

Tony, who has been running the micro races for the last several years, is trying to work something out somewhere else. It's quite unlikely that there will be any more racing at the bowling alley. The new manager there has been much less than 'receptive' to this whole RC thing.. the owner is still cool about it, and he makes the final call, but it's just a hostile environment there when the manager is against you.

If Tony finds another place to set up and run races, I'm sure he'll let everyone know about it.

And, to follow up on an earlier post, the top raffle prize for our last race this Sunday will be a top of the line Airtronics servo... one of their servos that retails for $175 (street price of about $95... a darn nice servo).

Remember, one raffle ticket with every paid entry... and keep your fingers crossed that it won't rain...

[Ponch]

Heh, oh well. It did rain. And I paid $20 for a quart of byron. Who wants to buy this off of me for $25?