GPL Indy LAN Race
March 12 2000.
Eight Internet racers got together at Stefan Johansson Karting Center in Indianapolis Indiana for the first (that we know of) U.S. Grand Prix Legends Computer LAN , and Go Kart Race.
The Go Kart Race
Lou Magyar, Kurtis (?), Pat Dotson, Rick Rideout, Joe Berkimeier, Rogy Rideout, Johnny Ackerman, Rob Rideout
The Go-Kart race was a blast. We ran as a group (except Johnny ) and the lap times show just how close of a race it was.
Best Lap Times: 2nd Race.
Rick 22.96 Pat 23.02 Joe 23.53 Rogy 23.60 Rob 23.87 Lou 23.91 Kurtis 25.72
The Go Kart track is slick concrete and the karts are fast. (6 horse Honda motors with no governors mounted on a racing go kart frame.) The wide tires would slip and slide on the concrete floor and it was just like driving GPL.
Rogy (my son, 14 years old,75 lbs) was not old enough to race the Karts, but they let him have a chance to prove he could drive and he ran 4th in the field with only a little over 1/2 second behind. For him being so light it was like driving GPL in the rain.
During the second race one of the go karts (thought to be Rogy's) was leaking oil on the track making it even more slick. Karts began to push more and then get real loose, but everyone adjusted to the slick conditions and continued without any problems.
The management said they had never seen a group run so consistently with such quick lap times all with in a second of each other. GPL Rules. :-)
The GPL LAN Race
Our first LAN Race (at Monza) was a blast, I (Rick) led for several laps with Pat and Johnny and the rest of the guys right on me.
Pat and Johnny got by me, and when I got the next pit board Rogy was only 4 seconds behind. Johnny ran out of gas and it was Pat 1st, Rick 2nd and Rogy 3rd.
Team Relative Speed Rogy Rick Rob
Lou, Pat ( and Karting Center Employee ) getting some bugs worked out.
Lou, Pat and Joe between go kart races.
Joe (standing) and Johnny (sitting) getting ready for LAN race.
Rob Rideout, Johnny Ackerman and Pat Dotson. Racing suit of Stefan Johansson on display.
Projection Screen (top left corner of photo) showing race so visitors could see the action. Pat's checking his lap times on the screen.
Rogy's future ride. :-)
Pat and Lou, Thanks for putting this LAN Race together, I know it was a lot of hard work, time and money. Big thanks to the both of you. :-)))