SM Champ doing well in open wheel cars

[Greg Gauper]

Nikki Coello has been running several National FC & Pro Zetec events this year.

He was 5th fastest in yesterdays Zetec practice at Road America, gearing up for the ALMS weekend.

[ddewhurst]

This is good news but should be no suprise that Nikki is doing well in open wheel cars. It's not his first go around with open wheel cars.

Have Fun
David

[This message has been edited by ddewhurst (edited August 20, 2004).]

[Greg Gauper]

Yes I know Nikki's background...but this is his first time out in a full blown, high tech formula car as opposed to one of them the funny little toys powered by a chainsaw with an attitude (just kidding Dave)

Most SM guys don't know his background and are just convinced that there was no way he could make a legal SM go that fast. Hopefully this will shut up some of his detractors.

More updates from RA....The SWC Touring cars are turning 2:28's and the GT's are turning 2:16's. To which I offer the following highly technical comment & observation................................

Holy Cr*p are those guys flying!!!!!!!!!!!1

[This message has been edited by Greg Gauper (edited August 20, 2004).]

[ddewhurst]

***Yes I know Nikki's background...***

Greg, then you wold know that he has driven FF/F2000 in the past. If Nikki lapped some of those SM folks at Road America in the carousel in the outside lane (with all the marbles & crap) they would see/feel/view his skills. He & I practiced on Kart race days in the same pre qualify group & had a ball when he was 10/12 years old. He also was forced at last years Cat National to pass me in the carousel in the described outside lane in practice & in the race as he lapped me. We both had a great laugh about it afterwards. He feathered it a couple times but didn't loose much time.

Have Fun
David

[jake7140]

Just trying to learn from the good guys.

I just picked up a kart as part of an RX-7 deal and had a day that cool kart track in Dousman. Maybe I'll be able to drive good some day. But after the results, I think it will be a while.

But I did beat some 8 year-old. Man am I movin now.....

------------------
Steve
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[Greg Gauper]

No shame in that!

I was paddocked next to Steve Sargis at the Runoffs last year. One of his crew members was long time (but now retired) prod racer Ed Rubenzer. His son (Scott) is a very good open wheel racer (I think he was national FV champer in the late 80's/early 90's). I struck up a conversation with Ed asking how Scott was doing and he related how Scott took up racing 'shifter' karts to keep in shape for driving his FC (now racing in the Zetec series) and how he can't believe how badly he gets beaten by them d*amn kids

[ddewhurst]

Jake, I could pass on some storys from Dousman about some people who thought they were hot shots in an SCCA car & they couldn't grab their a$$ with EITHER hand while in a Kart. One who I will name is the Pabst kid who in a Kart was in way over his head.

I started in 91 (first thing I ever raced) & it took 8 to 12 race weekends (including practice very Sat.) to get the thing going. My first goal was to be faster in practice on Sunday than three ladys who raced very well in US 810 powerd Karts. I raced Senior Sportsmen which was a 100cc Yamaha with a restrictor plate in the carb track at 320 pounds. Reset the track record 6 of 7 times in 92. Nuff said we can talk next time we meet at the track. One last item. I found the Kart to be much more work to race than the RX-7.

Have Fun
David

ps: My sons both raced Karts at the same time. They raced in Yamaha heavy & kept pi$$ing up my sleeve untill I had one of my motors prepared for Yamaha heavy. Pops as I was know at ther track set fast time & cleaned house on that Sunday. No more $hit from either of my sons. Several other racers suggested that I should go back to my class. Mission accomplished, no need to race heavy anymore.