What a day.
Well if there was any doubt that a new kart track would have demand in central nj, today answered any such questions. GRX was swamped and it got a bit crazy. Cops were called a few times lol.
Basic gist was demand exceeded supply. David and the gang did their damndest and got as many folks out as they could but many went home dissatisfied. Not enough karts, system not dialed in, etc. teething pains. But jeez what a day.
I am really impressed with the track and the experience. It will race so very, very well. It’s magnificent and bonkers simultaneously. This has got to be the double black diamond of rental karting, lol.
I am not too worried about the chaos because this is the real deal in a world where that is going bye bye, replaced with corporate well oiled machines that have zero soul. Keith is a hero, imho. You go Keith! I am pretty sure there’s enough rabid karters to make this work thurs-sun. There’s just nothing else that comes close. It’s feral, a bit dangerous and awesome. Also Keith does not give a F and will run us in torrential rain,so long as there’s no lightning. Amazeballs.
A few things: master cylinder rebuild kits on their way. About 1/3 of these centurions have brakes that can’t make up their mind, corner to corner, whether they would like to bite or give this braking zone a pass. An interesting conundrum.
Secondly, he’s gonna run hard up front now instead of his usual mg reds. They are getting eaten alive by the extreme grip here. A very good call, imho, and will make the karts more neutral balanced. I bet we see a lot less hop with hard tires up front.
I am knackered but really pleased, once again, with my visit, ya gotta try this. And yes gas karts are a huge pain in the butt but they are so.much.more.awesome than the electrics. You need that low end crappiness to make racing work. You need to be punished for losing revs and rewarded for keeping them tight. You need to be able to have that run out of the corner and you need to feel the top end roping itself around you and your heart. I missed this, I just didn’t realize how much!
This place really doesn’t work for teenage boys who don’t think about consequences. It doesn’t work for folks with thin skins. The experience is ideal for folks who have some experience and are trying to be fast. It’s also perfectly fine for normal folks who want to see what it’s all about. But it’s not the baby pool and the lifeguards won’t save you. And you will be told to leave if you do dumb shit like race into the pits and play intentional bumper cars with the equipment. And no, you don’t get a refund.
GRX is badass and probably unique. It’s a thurs-Sunday gem that probably isn’t gonna work out in the long term, but man, we are so lucky to have this for as long as we get it. Caveat Emptor but in an oddly good way, a fitting way. It feels so very right and I struggle to articulate why. Just come and try and make your own conclusions. You may hate it, but, I think, if you love to race, it will feel like the kind place you have been looking for.
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