Topic: 2011 U.S. Open & STA-BIL Series Final: Sept. 2-3-4, Delaware, OH

[mrmowitall]

Details and mow info posted at following link on www.letsmow.com Forum (includes info on U.S. Open and STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals)

http://www.letsmow.com/about/tal-ki-forum/#/20110725/2011-sta-bil-nationals-weekend-750714/

August 18, 2011

Get Ready to Mow’ em Down at the 18th Annual STA-BIL Nationals Weekend:
Sept. 2-3-4, 2011

19h Annual STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals
4rd Annual Performance Mowersports Expo
3nd Annual National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies
2nd Annual U.S. Open

STA-BIL Nationals Weekend Information Now Posted




Weekend Details, Logistics, Hotel Information

http://www.letsmow.com/about/tal-ki-forum/#/20110725/2011-sta-bil-nationals-weekend-750714/


 http://www.letsmow.com/2011-season/sta-bil-nationals/
http://www.letsmow.com/2011-season/the-u-s-open/

Voting Form: 2011 Season Awards
Special Awards and Voting Essays (Essay submission by USLMRA Members Only): The USLMRA needs your vote and essay for our prestigious awards, which are determined by vote of the membership:  See the Voting Form at
http://www.letsmow.com/about/tal-ki-forum/#/20110817/2011-nationals-voting-form-804082/

Rookie of the Year, Adult and JP (Voting by USLMRA Members Only):  These racers must have raced during the 2011racing season and must be his or her's first racing season. Rookie of the Year Candidates for JP and Adult Classes can be found at
http://www.letsmow.com/about/tal-ki-forum/#/20110817/2011-rookie-of-the-year-candidates-804107/


Venue Info: The US Lawn Mower Racing Association will return to the Delaware County Fairgrounds, in Delaware, MOWhio, Sept. 2-4, Labor Day Weekend, for the 19th annual STA-BIL Nationals Weekend.  Visit http://www.delawarecountyfair.com/ for mow info on what a great facility this is.  

The STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals will be taped for Fox Sports Net in October, dates to be announced.

http://www.letsmow.com/about/tal-ki-forum/#/20110725/2011-sta-bil-nationals-weekend-750714/


Lunch will be served trackside at 1:00pm on Saturday.  PLEASE RSVP TO BRUCE@LETSMOW.COM and let us know how many in your party so we can order enough food.  (Meal tickets must be presented).

The Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Introduction Ceremony will be hosted over breakfast on Sunday morning in the Merchants Building.  Meal tickets must be presented.  (See RSVP card insert).  

Performance Mowersports Expo (PME) Vendors will set up in or adjacent to the Race Pits with easy access for racers.  There will be no set hours for the PME, as it will now take place all weekend at the discretion of the vendors. The Performance Mowersports Expo will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, builders and related product and service providers in the lawn mower racing industry.  

Qualifying for STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals:  

Racers in the STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals must qualify by class competing in a minimum of two (2) 2011 USLMRA STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series (aka US National Points Races) races.  Note:  competing in Local Chapter races no longer factors into qualifying for Nationals Weekend.  

The Top Ten racers in points in each class will grid by descending order, 1st – 10th in Points. The remainder of the field will qualify through elimination or qualifying heat(s).  If elimination heats are not required for a particular class, a gridding heat may be ran.

In the event of a tie for the Top Ten point positions, the following tiebreakers will be applied in this numerical order:

1. Most STA-BIL Series US Points Races competed in.
2. Highest top five finish at a STA-BIL Points race
3. Most top five finishes.
4. Drawing of "lots"

The U.S. Open:  

On Sunday, September 4, 2011, the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association will host the 2nd annual U.S.L.M.R.A. Open, and will be an Open Invitational.



U.S. OPEN RACERS:  PLEASE PRE-REGISTER !!!!
http://uslmra.wufoo.com/forms/w7x3z9/

The U.S. Open will afford a wide range of lawnmower racers an opportunity to participate in USLMRA Nationals Weekend without having to qualify for the USLMRA STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals.

The U.S. Open is a free event!  Racers will pay no race fees, USLMRA membership is not required to participate.

We will feed racers and families all weekend and we will provide each racer with a cool souvenir.

1st-5th Place trophies will be awarded for the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open will have full computerized Timing & Scoring provided by EOP Pro.  There will be no transponder fees.

Qualifying for the U.S. Open

•   Racers must have participated in organized/sanctioned lawnmower racing of some sort within the 24 months previous to the US Open. These racers may be required to provide proof in the form of official results from previous races.

This cannot be your first rodeo, and yes we will know.

•   Open to mowers that adhere to at least one class structure outlined below.
 (No new classes will be created on the day of the event).

Rules  (not addressed in USLMRA Rule Book)

•   Open to any USLMRA-legal mower, USLMRA Local Chapter (LC)/Affiliated Club (AC) mower or, any mower deemed safe by USLMRA Tech Staff.
•   No roll cages.
•   Open to all mowers that meet all USLMRA Safety Standards, see USLMRA Rule Book (No Exceptions).

Class Designation / Groupings

Goal:  We want ALL groups out there to be allowed to compete in the U.S. Open.  We have created a set of rules designed to allow just about any reasonable type of mower to compete.

Please review rules at

http://www.letsmow.com/rules-tech/offical-rules/

http://www.letsmow.com/rules-tech/offical-rules/


Heat Grid
•   Each class except will pull a ball for initial grid start positions.
•    Heat races will be lined up per Qualification.
•    Heat Races - 15 laps
Feature Grid
•   Sunday’s feature grid may be set by the finish order of heat
•   The possibility of an invert exists, this will be a race day decision made at the discretion of USLMRA officials on race day.
•   All starts will be “Rolling Starts”
•   Feature Races – 20 or 30 laps (subject to conditions). (5 Laps US Open Kids)
Multiple Qualifiers
Depending on amount of participation there is the chance we may run multiple qualifiers to pare down the fields for features, this will be a race day decision made at the discretion of USLMRA officials. (Everyone will have a chance to race.)

Race Day Decisions
All race day decisions made at the discretion of USLMRA officials will be communicated to the drivers as soon as possible so everyone has as level a playing field as possible.
The track address is:

On site Camping: Everyone is welcome to camp on-site, with free electrical hook-up.

Gate23 Track: There will be two tracks available all weekend:  the STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals Track and the Gate 23 Track.  The Gate 23 Track is available for practice, testing and tuning and fun runs throughout the weekend.

Driver of the Year (Voting by USLMRA Members Only) : This person can be a newbie or a veteran, but must have raced in at least 2 Local Chapter Races and 4 STA-BIL National Points Races. The Driver of the Year will be featured on the 2011 USLMRA membership card and on the cover of the 2011 Cutting Edge Year Book.

NOTE:  New for 2011, a previous Driver of the Year May is ineligible for Driver of the Year.


Most Improved (Voting by USLMRA Members Only): This person must have raced in at least 2 Local Chapter Races and at least 4 National Points Races.

Determined by Essay Submitted to USLMRA President Bruce Kaufman:

Dave Hertel Mowtivational Award (Essay submission by USLMRA Members Only): Annual award presented in loving memory of long time USLMRA racer and friend Dave Hertel (1934-2005). Award will be given to a member, staff, or volunteer nominated by his/her peers for their dedication, respect, and spirit they have towards the sport of lawn mower racing. Essay must accompany nomination.

Charles Powell Mr. Mowjangles Award (Essay submission by USLMRA Members Only): On December 3, 2006, Charles Powell passed way. Suddenly, unexpectedly and way too soon. Charles was USLMRA VP of Operations, President of the Lone Star LMRA, Winner of the 2005 Pain in the Butt Award and simply, Mr. Mowjangles. Charles was a tireless and MOWtivated racer, staff member, Chapter President, Chief Steward and key leader of the USLMRA. Implementing the Local Chapter system, designing our new membership database, providing guidance for new Chapters, updating and the annual Rulebook and graciously accepting the Pain in the Butt Award at the 2006 STA-BIL Nationals Weekend were just some of his accomplishments.

Dubba G Everyman Award (Essay submission by USLMRA Members Only): "I was put here to make others happy. I believed in myself so others could." Dubba G (9/15/64 – 2/9/07).   Please see criteria for Dubba G Everyman Award in 2010 Cutting Edge Yearbook: http://www.letsmow.com/media/uslmra-yearbooks/

Mace Mullins Crew Chief Award (Essay submission by USLMRA Members Only):  In 2009 we lost Mace Mullins in a car accident.  Mace was a racer, engine builder and mechanic.  Mace was also known as an excellent Crew Chief.  This award honors a Crew Chief who meets the example set by Mace.  For a great story about Mace, see the 2010 Cutting Edge Yearbook: : http://www.letsmow.com/media/uslmra-yearbooks/

Please send completed voting form to:
USLMRA, 1544 Shermer Road, Suite F, Northbrook, IL 60062:  bruce@letsmow.com

See the Voting Form at
http://www.letsmow.com/about/tal-ki-forum/#/20110817/2011-nationals-voting-form-804082/

Or bring to the STA-BIL Nationals Weekend, Delaware MOWhio.

DEADLINE FOR VOTING FORMS AND ESSAYS IS SUNDAY SEPTMBER 4, 2011 ATURDAY, SEPT. 4, 2011, BY 9:00 A.M Please note, ONLY one voting sheet for each USLMRA registered member. If you vote twice, both votes will be disqualified. Winners of each category will be announced at the USLMRA Awards Ceremony on Sunday morning.

[mrmowitall]

August 28, 2011

It's Show Time
It’s time to start packing (if you haven't already!) for The USLMRA STA-BIL Nationals Weekend including the Sta-bil Keeps Gas Fresh Finals and the US Open, so we wanted to give you a few reminders of things to bring with you, and things you will not be allowed to bring. We also wanted to let the newbies to the SKGF Finals and US Open know what to expect when you arrive. It makes everything go a lot smoother at Registration and Paddock if everyone is on the same page.
 
Things To Bring ..
1. Bring your photo ID for registration and so that we can issue you a transponder.  You must leave your Driver’s License with us when we give you a transponder.  We will return your License when you return the transponder.   Also, have a valid ID that states that you are of legal consumption age (if you are so inclined).
2. Bring your medical and auto insurance cards, just in case.
4. Bring a spare set of car keys.
5. Bring sunscreen and bug spray.
6. Spare Parts?

Things You Can't Bring..
1. Do not bring any weapons, fireworks, nitrous oxide, illegal substances or anything else that is dangerous or illegal.
2. Don’t bring firewood unless you live in the immediate area. The highly destructive Emerald Ash Borer is transported on firewood, and it has already invaded some parts of the state. Please buy firewood that comes from the area.

What Happens When You Arrive ..
Entering the Delaware County Fairgrounds or parking lots from US 2:  Bear to the right through the Main Gate of the Fairgrounds and you will see pits and track on your right.  Proceed to the pit area and setup in an orderly fashion. We are expecting a large participant turnout so be reverent when setting up your pit area (size).  But don’t worry, we have plenty of pit area and overflow parking and pits.  If you arrive in an RV and need electrical hook-up, stop by the Registration Table at Kerry Evans’ EOP Trailer.  Kerry’s trailer serves as Race Command.  Look for someone wearing an official laminate Staff Grass Pass and they can help you. 

One Driver and Crew are free, all others must pay for insurance. You can purchase additional insurance wristbands at the registration table.

We are anticipating a large participant turnout so please, please, please, if you want to pit/camp together, arrive together or within a reasonable amount of time.  If this is not possible, you can save a reasonable put space for your buddies.  We understand that this may not always work out that great but it will reduce the amount of jockeying around trucks trailers and vehicles to accommodate everyone.

What to expect while you are there ..
Facilities:
Bathrooms
Showers M&F are available onsite.
Power
Pump Station
Food
Water

Pit speed 5 mph. regardless of what you are driving.
 
What is expected of you while you are there.
Everyone including: Drivers Track Staff and Spectators, are expected to adhere to all aspects of the USLMRA Rule book at all times. See: Code of Conduct.
Mutual respect of others, including: Drivers, Track Staff and Spectators.
We are anticipating participants from all walks of life and racing let's be respectful of  each other.

See you there! BRING IT!

Lee Vine
U.S. Open Co-Chair
USLMRA Steering Committee Member
Northwest Regional Director
Immediate Past President, Minnesota LMRA

[2nstoys]

Looking forward to seeing all my far away friends. Hopefully be there Friday sometime.

[mrmowitall]

From the Cutting Edge Blog at www.letsmow.com


WHAT IF… STA-BIL Series Recap and Points Scenarios Leading into Finals!


By Jon "Rooster" Lewman

 
 
What is done is done, what will be is excitement! The United States Lawn Mower Racing Association Sta-bil Lawn and Garden Mower Racing Series heads to MOWHIO. Yes the grass has settled on the regular season and the Sta-bil Keeps Gas Fresh Finals are upon us! Shops, garages, sheds, porches and driveways across the nation are in full swing in preparation. One race left to culminate a years labor. 229 drivers entered 20 races over 5 months and in a few short days 7 Mowchines will carry their helmet clad turf warriors to glory. A permanent place in the history of lawn mower racing will be owned by the racer who finishes atop their class. Many drivers have earned their spots at the top of the leader board, but in the end there can be only 7!


 
How did these soon to be legends of the year 2011 get here? Let’s look first at how the points are set. Quick and dirty it is like this: 600 points go to the winner of each event. Top 5 places drop 50 points with 5th place being awarded 400. Anyone who enters and completes a race earns 300 points. Each driver’s top 4 scores of the regular season are combined with the points received at finals to determine a racers final points for the season. Simply enough the driver with the most points in each class becomes the champion.


 
Already the first “What if” has hit us! What if there is a tie? Well then we look back at the season and things like who attended the most races, placed the best, etc. are taken into consideration. The scenarios I am about to give you do account for those considerations. A national champion is a driver who performs at the top of the field consistently. You will notice I did not say the top of “their game”, this is a case where “doing your best” will not always pay off! To be a champion you cannot be your best, you must be THE best!


 
So now you understand a little better how the system works, let’s start looking at classes and who is, who could be, who has a chance and who just doesn't! There are some assumptions that will be made simply for the sake of brevity, to cover every possible "what if" would be insane and we would all be at home still reading this instead of cheering on our favorites in Ohio! We are going to assume for the most part that the drivers at the top of the standings are going to show up & finish the race, after all they usually do, that's how they got to the top of the list! With that assumption made, and the fact that they will receive 300 points simply for finishing the Finals there is no reason to consider any driver more than 300 points behind the leader as even a contender for the top spots. Usually these points updates talk about what happened last weekend, who did what, what effect that had on the Series points standings, yadda, yadda, turf, turf Cocka Doodle Snoozy who cares it doesn't matter now! So, On with the MOW!


 
JP – John Michael Bell has to be the hands down favorite with 7 season wins and his only finish not a win being a 3rd place in Englewood, Tn. If #497 from Tennessee keeps one of the top2 places he is Champ! However should he fall back to the #3 spot or farther, things can happen! Should Hayden Martin or Lauren Filos beat John Michael by 2 places or more, they will take his big Trophy home with them. JP Rookie sensation Wyatt Sullivan could do it with a 3-mower spread over John Michael so long as Lauren is behind him and Hayden is at least 2 back. Mariah Peeler has an outside chance at it but it is a real long shot, and the final driver with even a glimmer of hope is another Rookie, Jordan Brown from Maryland. For Jordan to take top honors she would have to win and about every other top driver finish outside the top 5. As always the JP Class will boil down to who gets out fast and doesn't mess it up!


 
IMOW - Wally Bender is going to win, Unless Pat Sullivan or Chris Van Maastricht beat him, other than that do we really even need to talk about it? Dawn Filos does have a chance, but she has to win and none of the 3 drivers who own 14 of 20 wins can finish better than 5th! Though Jim Keech and Tommy Hawley are mathematical possibilities, for Jim to be Champion he would have to win and all 3 top dogs finish outside of the top 5. Wally Pat and Chris would have to all break down for Tommy to take the Championship! IMOW is going to be a 3 way race, which ever one finishes in front of the other 2 inside of the top 5 will be champion!


 
AP-Wally Bender is going to win, unless Pat Sullivan beats him (where have I heard that before?). If Tommy Hawley beats Wally by 3 or the Outside chance that Pete Sullivan beats Wally by 4 and Pat by 2 . Pretty cut and dried isn't it? However, AP is a class full of Spoilers this year, Tony Thompson, Lee Grover, Dan Mongan and Matt Tucker are all outside the top 5 and all have found the winners circle this year. It would be easy for the top qualifiers to find themselves unseated in Mowhio!


 
SP - Wally Bender is going to win, if he beats Richard Webb and he needs to beat Jason Brown by 2 spots. Should Wally beat Jason by only one spot, the championship would actually boil down to the drawing of lots! Michael Paccione needs to gain 100 points on Wally and 150 on Webb and Brown which would be a tall order indeed, but we are playing "what if" remember! Jackie Andrews is our long shot here; if them rambunctious boys up front get too rambunctious Jackie could capitalize!


 
CP - Lee Grover comes in with the only quad in CP and 66% win average making him the bookmaker’s man. However with his low race count even though he has a 50 point advantage over 2 time and defending class champion Pete Sullivan, Pete only needs to finish in front of Grover and no more than one spot behind his Rocket Man Racing Teammate Michael Paccione to become Three-Pete! That would have Mike really hating that one fall out of the top five in McDonough Georgia early this season! If Mike is able to keep only one mower between both Pete and Lee, he does have a valid shot at the Title. Tom Hawley would need 2 spots on Paccione with Lee and Pete behind him to get the job done. Bill Campbell could be a wild card win and Tommy Hawley has had an up and down season but managed to keep himself in theoretical contention for the Trophy he let slip away after leading the points most of the 2010 season. It would take several top-notch drivers having low rung days to put one of those two in the books!


 
BP-How do you not call Jayson Mikula the man to beat? We could start with the fact that Ronald Rollman has finished in front of Jayson 3 out of the 4 times they met this season, Chuck Miller has gone 50-50 with the 5 time champ, as a matter of fact the Boogie Woogie Man gained 3 of his quad by beating the big target! So we have the USLMRA's most experienced veteran, most accomplished BP Champion and the Class rookie battling for this years top spot in the top class! Jason Brown and Jim Mikula could be champ, assuming a 3-mower pile up and Jamie Maurice would need the race scored in reverse!


 
FX- Wally Bender is NOT going to win! OK, so he might win Finals, but he is the last man possible for the Championship, and some good guys have to go down for that to happen! OK I called AP the class of spoilers, well FX should have everyone on their feet! USLMRA newcomer Chris Cox shares the top spot with Crafty Veteran Greg Honchell. Either one of those two have an excellent shot at the championship. But I think FX will not be about who is in contention, but about the guys who are not! Manny Torres is coming off an injury in Bowles Farm, will he be able to race? We will most likely have to wait until Saturday for that answer! Mark Moran has a very viable shot at glory being only 100 points back. But look at who does not have a shot at the title...Kevin Penne, Mike Miller, Tony Hinson, Matt Tucker and Dan Mongan all know how to find the fast way around Delaware blind folded! It would not be surprising at all for the points leaders to find themselves running outside the top 5! I would not want to take bets on that class but if I must I would call Honchell the Odds on favorite.


 
As in everything, you get out of racing what you put into it. The drivers sitting on top of the class at the end of the day will be the ones who worked all year for it and did not slow down for anyone. There is a reason we call them Champ, and it is always a title earned the hard way. We all go to Mowhio with less than we take away from Mowhio though! Win lose or draw you are guaranteed to have more friends and better memories on September 5th than you did On September 2nd and that makes us all winners. If that were not true, I wouldn't go! So pack up the trailer, tell the boss to go eat grass and I will see you in MOWHIO !!!
 

[Rooster]

We will be getting in Late Friday night because, as my fellow bird brain Marc Baker likes to say..."Rooster you just can't go to a race without dragging some piece of crap home, can you?"  Starting to think he knows me too well?
Yup, I bought a 1961 WHeel Horse in Indiana, picking it up on the way to Mowhio, lol!

[Burton for Certain]

I can pick it up for ya if ya want. Im pretty sure I've got half of a lawn ranger in the barn if you want that too.

[Rooster]

It would be nice to get into Delaware earlier, but Wheelhorse is in Coatesville which would be a 2 hr drive for you, 4 hrs round trip I couldn't ask you to do that, lol!  The guy that has it doesn't get off work until 6 pm which is why we will be so late getting to Ohio. Still aren't sure which trailer we are taking to Finals, depends on how many go. If we take the big trailer I'd love to have that Lawn Ranger!

[Burton for Certain]

Okay, just let me know. our trailer will be full with the pulling tractors but it will fit in the back of the pickup.

[mrmowitall]

Please click on this link to the Cutting Edge Blog post for MOW INFO!

http://www.letsmow.com/2011/08/its-show-time-details-for-labor-day-weekend-in-mowhio/

 It’s Show Time – Details for Labor Day Weekend in MOWhio!

It’s time to start packing (if you haven’t already!) for STA-BIL Nationals Weekend including the STA-BIL Keeps Gas Fresh Finals and the U.S. Open, so we wanted to give you a few reminders of things to bring with you, and things you will not be allowed to bring. We also wanted to let the newbies to the Finals and U.S. Open know what to expect when you arrive. It makes everything go a lot smoother at Registration and Paddock if everyone is on the same page.



http://www.letsmow.com/2011/08/its-show-time-details-for-labor-day-weekend-in-mowhio/

[Caudy155]

Are billet flywheels allowed in open super stock class? I would assume so but I just want to clarify...

[evansop]

Are billet flywheels allowed in open super stock class? I would assume so but I just want to clarify...

The OPEN Super Stock is a Stock Engine.. NO Modifications and only the Governer Removed.. Trans Drive is OPEN.. So to answer your question Billet Flywheels is a Modification and they are NOT Allowed.. With the flywheel this becomes a S/P.

[mordirt]

The OPEN Super Stock is a Stock Engine.. NO Modifications and only the Governer Removed.. Trans Drive is OPEN.. So to answer your question Billet Flywheels is a Modification and they are NOT Allowed.. With the flywheel this becomes a S/P.

I thought the USLMRA was encouraging the use of billet flywheels in ungoverned classes because its a saftey issue?
I'm glad Caudy155 asked.

[Caudy155]

Ok thank you very much

[evansop]

I thought the USLMRA was encouraging the use of billet flywheels in ungoverned classes because its a saftey issue?
I'm glad Caudy155 asked.

"ONLY" if there are Modifications made to the engine. We still want to encourage "LOW COST" classes out there and do not want to require Billet. That is why Open Super Stock class is written. When you start porting / polishing, changing valves, modifying cams, changing rods and carb. work, this changes the dynamics of the engine.. this is why they are required Billet. Engine RPM will increase way past the MAX rpm test of the flywheel. If you have any other questions feel free to give me a call....

[Caudy155]

The only reason I asked was because the engine is completely stock... just cleaned out all the mouse nests not too long ago... I have the flywheel because I plan on building the engine this winter but believe me its bone stock but no problem I still have the stock flywheel... unmodified of course...