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The Empire Shootout

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Cobleskill, NY
The Empire Shootout

Yall asked for it, I’m doing it. 😎

09/18/2024

Sometimes there's only so much you can do. With that said, I have taken the brunt of the first cancellation without saying a word on to the events leading up to that, so let's lay it all out for everyone.

June 21st on a Friday night at Dodge, the track was really good and had been getting better every week, which had given myself a ton of hope leading up to July 6th.

Friday, June 28th, the pits were packed with racers trying to test and prepare for July 6th, but the track was absolutely horrendous. Rocks everywhere, dry as a bone, just a disaster.

Sunday, June 30th, myself, my girlfriend, Mike Farina, and Max Bourdeau all went to assess the track conditions, in which we all agreed it needed a lot of work. I called Paul on speakerphone with everyone around, came up with a plan on what to do, how to do it, and what needed to be done by when. He was going Monday morning before his doctor's appointment to grade the track.

Monday, July 1st, I go there on lunch and the track is scraped, not graded, scraped, but was slightly better. We met later that night at the track to discuss more things, go over our thoughts, and continued forward with a plan on how much water it was going to take and when it needed to be completed.

Tuesday, July 2nd, I drove by the track at around 1:45 pm, and not one new thing had been done to the surface.

It was at this time I became a racer again, and I WAS NOT going to let the kart racers race on that track in the shape that it was in! I know I wouldn’t want my equipment on that track and I was not going to let people put their equipment on that track under my promotions.

The weather was looking bad at that time, so I used it as a scapegoat to try and not hurt any feelings. I have thick skin I can deal with all the backlash that was coming for me and I was okay with that.

We figured out a date that would work for both of us, figured it all out, and set it for October 12th.

Today, at 5:55 PM, I get this text from Paul with zero explanation.

With that said, the entire event is canceled. I’m angry, I’m sad, I’m disappointed but most of all I hate it for the racers.

09/09/2024

Here’s the deal, we are postponing the official Empire Shootout till 2025 tentatively BUT we’re still having a race October 12th and Pro Clone will still receive this badass trophy.

When the Big O rescheduled for October 12 I was in a bit of a self conflicted battle. Ottis Merritt was a staple in the karting community and to run a race of this magnitude against a race in honor of him would be doing a disservice to the karting community.

I still would like to run a race however for the simple fact that I know people have bought tires specifically for this race in NY and I want them to be able to use them.

Here are a few things to note:
1) I am going to refund every sponsor, parking, and entry fee paid in. Please be patient with me as this is a long list to process and I am going to do them as they came in.
2) We will still be doing time trials for all classes
3) We will have a more condensed class schedule to try and make the day shorter.
4) Paul will be preparing the track as he always does for day racing, there will be 2 Sunday races in September that you can go to for testing.

October 12th Guaranteed Payouts
PRO CLONE HEAVY
$2000 to win $85 entry fee
****Tire Rule****
Reaper tire only, you must bring 2 sets of 3 (RF, RR, LR) MAX to pre tech with you to get stamped and those are the only 2 sets you will be able to use for pro clone qualifying/B main/Feature.
LFs do not matter

Clone Heavy Warm up
$500 to win $40 entry fee
Reaper Tires Only
Clone Green Plate Jr1
$300 to win $20 entry fee
Reaper Tires Only

All other classes will be listed within the next few days and will all be 100% payback. Reaper Tires Only

All classes will be assessed a $5 transponder fee

There will be more updates as we go, and again, please be patient with me while I do these refunds lol.

Thank you!
Dave Richer

09/04/2024

****UPDATE******

We will have info coming out this Sunday about an updated schedule, format, and procedures for October 12th race. Please be on the lookout for it. Thank you!

07/31/2024

Whos excited for the North East HBM Reaper Nationals August 24th at Hunterstown!

07/11/2024

PSA: We will be dropping the XBP class due to it being on the same day as the 212 at Dreamfield Speedway.

We will be adding another class TBD in its place. Probably a local option class thats offered around here.

Yes, I know its SDW Weekend. It is what it is, there's nothing I can do about it.

Have a good weekend yall!

07/11/2024

$1,000 Guarenteed Friday night with a starting spot for the $5,000 Saturday! Somebody could win $8,000 in one weekend!

October 11th and 12th!

07/11/2024

SAVE THE DATE ROUND 2!

After much consideration, working with Dodge City and their schedule, and every other schedule without a ton of conflicting, this was about the only option we have.

IF it shows rain again we will try to run it Sunday, if both days look crappy by Wednesday night the entire event will be cancelled and everyone’s money will be refunded.

More details on an updated schedule of events and start times will be posted later.

Thank you!

07/02/2024

It’s never what we want to see but with our traveling racers in mind we needed to make a decision early, and early enough that family’s can still enjoy their July 4th weekend, cancel hotel rooms, etc.

The race this weekend for July 6th is Postponed. We do NOT have a set raindate yet, but we are working at finding a good open date that will not conflict with anything much else going on.

We hope you understand and If the make up date when listed will not work for you, we understand and will issue a refund.

Have a Happy and Safe July 4th everyone.

06/29/2024

Who’s gonna bring home this 13 pound trophy! What an absolute unit.

Huge Thank you to Maxwell Bourdeau and AMT Motorsport for this.

06/23/2024

Holes for seals!

Picture 1- carb ear, if you drill from the top and the side it will create a pass through hole. It’s easy to drill and is soft aluminum.
Picture 2- front side cover bolt, it must have a bolt long enough to pass through the block with a hole on the block side.
Picture 3- Top right valve cover bolt.

If you can not drill holes, or would rather just buy the bolts you can purchase them both through Dyno Cams.

Yes I know this is annoying, but this has been listed as a requirement for several months.

This is NOT a requirement for Animal Champ, NY box stock, XBP, or Juice box.

Thank you!

06/23/2024

Posting this again for people to read through, if you have any questions please ask.

********CLASS RULES********

Juice box: 3-5

NY State Box Stock: 5-7 WKA Purple plate Gas Flathead or OTB Predator with a Green Plate*
Burris or Reaper

Red Plate 5-7 235lbs* 16:68 Gear Rule RR no bigger than 34.5”

Jr 1: 8-10 275lbs Green Plate Big Pipe*

J: 2: 10-12 290lbs Purple Plate Big Pipe*

Jr 3: 12-15 320Ibs Blue Plate Big Pipe*

XBP: Box Stock Engine, must have XBP seals, 5500 max RPM on stand 15:56-60 Gear Rule. Open Tire

Champ Senior Animal: 15-up 425lbs
-WKA engine rules; NO Wing

Super Heavy Clone: 15-up 425lbs (Driver weight 200lbs with gear)

Clone Medium: 15-up 350lbs

Pro Clone Heavy: 15-up 375lbs

ALL CLONE CLASSES: You may run AKRA or NKA rules package. Must declare in Tech which one.
Clone Valve Cover bolt, carb ear, and front side cover bolt must be drilled!

Big Pipe for ALL classes

*Jrs may run both plate classes if they are borderline age for Jr1/2 Jr2/3.

*Red Plate and NY Box Stock can run both.

06/19/2024

July 6th weekend schedule

Friday
Parking from 5pm-9pm

Saturday
7am- Gates open
7:30am Registration and Pre Tech are open
11am- All kart roll in (IF NEEDED)
2 Rounds of controlled practice to follow
1PM- time trials
B mains and races to follow.

Here is the running order

Juice box (intermission) after practice and after time trials
NY Box stock- 15 laps will run after Juice Box during intermissions

Red Plate Warm up- 15 laps
Jr 1 warm up- 15 laps
Jr 3 warm up- 15 laps
Clone Medium- 25 laps
***5 Minute Break***
Clone 425 Warm up- 20 laps
Jr 2 Warm up- 15 laps
Champ 425 Animal warm up- 15 laps
XBP- 20 laps
Pro Red Plate- 20 laps
Clone Heavy Warm up- 25 laps
***5 Minute Break***
Pro Jr1- 20 laps
Pro champ Animal- 25 laps
Pro Jr3 - 20 laps
Pro clone 425- 25 laps
Pro JR2- 20 laps
***5 Minute Break***
Pro Clone Heavy- 50 Laps

If for any reason there is only 1 kart left on the track we will throw the Checkared Flag.

Please be on the grid when you need to be, if you do need time please just ask us! Don’t assume we will wait because we will not!

06/17/2024

We are 20 Days away from the biggest kart race in NY!

Levi Herriven will be running both Jr 1 and both Jr 2 classes!

06/14/2024

Jarrett Dyer and Seth Martin will both be in Pro Clone Heavy for Team 0 Racing.

Everyone tell Russell Dyer good luck today as he has a grand opening at a new store!

06/13/2024

Jackson Velez will be running Jr3, gong to take his shot at the $500 guaranteed to win

06/12/2024

Stuglas Durley is coming to town!

06/11/2024

Missy Bootes will be coming July 6th to try and take home the Tripple Crown! 👑👑👑

06/11/2024

When Chris told me he couldn’t announce my race I was devistated. Chris has been my best friend for at least 15 years and with his new announcing gig that he is absolutely badass at i wanted to support him and for him to be at my first race but he said it just wasn’t an option.

Well, things change and things sometimes work out as they are meant to and Chris WILL be in the house July 6th calling the action and making sure you’re on the grid when you’re a supposed to be!

Please head on over to Chris Williams Motorsports Media and give it a follow!

Address

115 Caverns Road
Cobleskill, NY
12043

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