For our May BMW CCA Iowa Chapter event we plan to meet for brunch in Maquoketa and then spend the afternoon at 61 Kartway, an outdoor karting facility just south of Maquoketa in Delmar. This track has over a half mile of twists, turns, chicanes, sweepers and intense elevation changes, including a 45 foot uphill change in less than 100 feet at the end of the longest straight!

For those of you that haven’t done any karting before, these are very lightweight vehicles—in most cases, the heaviest moving part will be the driver! There is no suspension except for tire and chassis flex, and they are driven and braked by a solid rear axle with no differential, resulting in some rather novel dynamics characteristics. According to certain advertising claims, they handle just like a Mini, but you can make your own conclusions after your first lap around the track.

We’ll begin by meeting at the Decker Hotel for the Sunday brunch buffet at 11:30. The Hotel is a structure built in 1875 and has been restored to reflect the era of origin. It is located in the heart of downtown Maquoketa at 128 North Main Street. Price for brunch is $8.95 plus tax and tip, payable at the hotel.

After brunch, we’ll depart for the track, about 9 miles south on Highway 61, arriving between 1 and 1:30. For those of you that worry about these kinds of things, it’s all hard surface roads until you get to the parking lot.

The kartway is open from 11 AM to 5 PM, and we are being provided rentals at a group rate of $20 per participant for the first session and $10 for each additional 10 minute session. You will be responsible for payment at the track. Helmets and neck braces are provided with the rentals, though personal equipment can be used it as long as you also have a visor or goggles for eye protection. Long sleeves and pants are also recommended. Kart rentals are also available to those under 18 once a parent signs a consent form.

Should anyone feel competitive, the rentals are equipped with transponders to record your lap times. Perhaps we will even be able to publish all of our participants best track times after the event is over!

For those that would just prefer to spectate or just enjoy what we hope will be a sunny afternoon, bleachers and picnic tables are also available.

This Maquoketa destination will also offer an opportunity to meet folks from our growing Quad City contingent!

Please RSVP to Mike Myers at mjmyers@commspeed.net or 319-472-4531, or register for the event at http://www.motorsportreg.com/ by May 18.

Name	Vehicle	Hometown	Sponsor
Fredrick Bell		West Des Moines, IA
David Brighton		Marion, IA
KB Kolin Brighton		Cedar Rapids, IA
AH Alan High		Cedar Rapids, IA
KK Kevin Kraft		Bettendorf, IA
Brennan McGrath
Michael Myers		Vinton, IA
DR Denny Rose
DR Dale Rupp		Des Moines, IA
RS Ralph Stephens		Solon, IA
MZ Mike Zachmeyer