Arena Racing

Rock the Kazmar · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Marshall, Michigan

Has anybody been to see that Arena Racing? that sure looks wild. it'd be fun to try someday

Mopar93 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:40 am Post subject:

Hi Justin,

During the exhibition race that was held at the Deltaplex in Grand Rapids recently, I helped crew on one of the cars. It was a team event where local champions teamed up with area media celebrities. The celebrities competed in their own race while the champions competed in another race.

We had Tim Phillips, the 2007 Great Lakes Supercup (Mini Cups) champion, teamed up with "Broadway Bill" from the Grand Rapids B-93 (93.7) radio station. We ended up winning the team competition. The list of local drivers who competed were:

Tom Thomas - Berlin Raceway Late Model Champion
Mike Bursley - Berlin Raceway Super Stock Champion
Andy Bozell - Kalamazoo Speedway Modified Champion
Harry Foote, Jr. - Kalamazoo Speedway Modified Champion
Jim DeBaecke - Jackson Speedway Mini Cup Champion
Shannon Fisk - I-96 Speedway UMP Modified Champion
Tim Phillips - GLS Super Mini Cup Champion
Matt Hallock - Ravenna Motor Park Animal 330 Champion

There will be another exhibition race in August and then the series gets underway in October and runs during the winter. It takes care of your racing habit during the winter.

The Mini Cup cars are very similar to the Arena cars. The Mini Cups will be at Spartan Speedway this Sunday if you want to check them out. I'll be driving the #93 StreamNetRadio.com Dodge which is owned by Tim Phillips. Tim will be in the #8 Budweiser Chevy.

One cool thing about the Arena cars is that they are legal for the Mini Cup series. However, a Mini Cup car is not legal for the Arena racing series. This is because many of the parts, although similar or identical, have Arena identification on them and only parts with the correct ID can be used.

Anyway, you could buy an Arena car, race it with the Mini Cups during the summer and race it indoors with the Arena series during the winter. I understand that there will be about 15 races held at the Deltaplex this winter. And the Mini Cups also have 15 races on their schedule during the summer.

-Maurice

Rock the Kazmar · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Marshall, Michigan

looks like a blast. maybe someday i'll be able to participate in a race or 2

gunner · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Jackson, MI

Isn't there a limit to the amount of humanity that can fit into one of those cars? Justin may need to have a bubble roof or an extended front end to allow for his height!

Mopar93 · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Our next stop on the Mini Cup tour is June 7th at Springport. If you want to see some cool racing, come on out and watch us draft each other as we go about 160 scale miles per hour down the straightaways. We're flat out, no lifting in the corners.

-Maurice

Rock the Kazmar · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Marshall, Michigan

i figure if i cut my shins off i'll fin just fine. lol

Mopar93 · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

There are a couple of guys as tall as Justin racing in this series. There is also one that I would take a wild guess as being about 280 pounds.

It's just a matter of getting the right seat in the car. There's more room than you might think.

Our feet are about 18-20 inches from the nose of the car with a lot of strong, yet collapsible structure up front.

-Maurice

Mathias · Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

I went to this exhibition race and checked into the car teams they have for sale. They have 56 teams for sale at $12,500 a piece, that gets you a car and the priveledge to race in the Grand Rapids series. However, I get the feeling this thing may fold in GR before it gets off the ground. The spots are too pricey and rumor has they are far short of selling enough of them to have a reasonable car turnout at races. You can't buy a used car from the other Arena series down south either. Here is the site (http://www.arenaracinggr.com/). Funny, they changed the site and say they have a fan forum coming soon. They had a fan forum on the original site, but after that race it was full of complaints and criticism. Imagine that's why it's been shutdown and rebuilding.
As for the exhibition race, well they got a lot of work to do on learning to run a race. Flag people were all over the place, no organization, Shannon Fisk got put to the back of the pack (from 1st place) after one of the multiple cautions and confusion trying to line the cars back up.
It's is entertaining to a degree, but I doubt it's going to make a go of it up here.
Sorry to be a bummer about it guys!

Rock the Kazmar · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Marshall, Michigan

12,500 bucks you can just about get a competitive modified for that amount of money

arenaracinggrandrapids · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

Mathias · Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

Website would be one of the least of my worries, but best of luck to the organization anyway.

arenaracinggrandrapids · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

Mopar93 · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

The Arena Racing season will be starting up in October. One thing that is good about Arena Racing is the fact that the weather will not have an effect on the racing. Who cares if it's raining, snowing, or cold outside. Arena Racing is indoors! The first exhibition event held in the spring of this year packed the house with about 4500 spectators. Here's the chance to get your racing fix all winter long while waiting for the outdoor season to reopen.

For more info, check out the following links:

http://www.arenaracingusa.com/

http://www.arenaracingusa.com/grand-rapids-schedule.aspx

http://www.deltaplex.com/

There is a $35,000 point fund with $10,000 of it going to the Season Champion.

See you at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids this winter.

-Maurice