How do I join Our Gang? Everyone is welcome to join Our Gang. We have members from all divisions and levels of experience. You fill out an application and turn it into our Club Secretary before the first race of the season. Members need to apply every season. The deadline for 2009 is January 4, 2009. Once you do this, you can buy prepays at meetings and vote. There are no requirements or mandatory attendance. Help on the weekends flagging or start attending meetings and join a committee. We need all the help we can get! Contact Carol Rickli (Secretary) for more information at membership@ourgangiceracing.com. |
What track are we going to run? This decision is completely up to the track committee and is made the day of the event. They make their decision based on ice surface available, the condition of the ice, classes being run, rules/guidelines and variety. Also, the track you practice on in the morning MAY be different then the one your class runs. Final track decisions are announced at the Driver's Meeting each morning, so make sure you listen up. Click here to see the basic tracks we run. |
Can I stay overnight in Georgetown? Yes! There are several hotels in Georgetown that you can stay at. The Georgetown Mountain Inn works the closest with our club you can call them at 303-569-3201 or visit their website www.georgetownmountaininn.com to make reservations. If you have an RV you can park at the old Georgetown Loop Railroad Station in town. You'll need to sign a waiver to do this now. Contact Carol Rickli at the lake or at 303-978-0419 to get one. There is no camping allowed at the lake. There are a few good restaurants in town and on Saturday nights we have our trophy presentation at the Red Ram. |
General Questions Driver Questions Registration Questions Tech / Equipment Questions Staging Questions Race / Heat Questions Special Event Questions Our Gang / Officials Questions Miscellaneous Questions |
Frequently Asked Questions |
General Questions Driver Questions Registration Questions Tech / Equipment Questions Staging Questions Race / Heat Questions Special Event Questions Our Gang / Officials Questions Miscellaneous Questions |
Click on a question to read the answer |
How do I get to Georgetown Lake? Georgetown is located about 45 minutes West of Denver. From I-70, exit at Georgetown exit #228. Turn South and go straight. Turn left onto the Frontage Road and continue to the far east side of the lake by the spillway. You will most likely see lots of vehicles and activity on the ice in our area. |
Is the ice safe? Yes, the ice is very safe. We always check the ice depth and quality in 4 different areas before we ever let anyone onto the lake. The ice in Georgetown averages 18 to 22 inches thick. We need to have 12 inches to hold a race and 18 inches before trucks/trailers and other support vehicles can park on the ice. We ask that everyone park 20 feet apart to maintain an even weight distribution in the pit area. Old bolt tracks and ice fishing holes that are healing will be marked so you can drive around them. |
Can I crash into anything while I'm racing? No. Heats are run with only two vehicles on track at the same time. Each vehicle starts in their own gate, on opposite sides of the track, so no contact is ever made. No wheel to wheel racing is allowed at any time. Also, we do not have any solid barriers (walls, barricades, tires, bales, etc...) on the track to slide into. Any time you are driving on the ice (off of the race course) you must be at an idle speed, this includes pit areas, the parking lots, in the staging line, and after crossing the finish line. This is crucial because there are lots of spectators, kids, pets and equipment around. |
What division do I compete in? There are 3 divisions, Street Stock, Pro Street and Competition. Street Stock is our novice division for street legal vehicles and stock tires. Pro Street is for street legal vehicles who have specialized ice racing tires. Competition is our top division with heavily modified race vehicles and specialized tires. Novice drivers can compete at any level as long as they are comfortable in the vehicle. There are stipulations that can determine which division you can run in, check the rule book for more information. The three most common division stipulations are below: #1: Street Stock is intended for novice drivers, so if you want to compete in other divisions you cannot compete in this division. #2: If you have special unstuddable soft rubber compound tires you cannot run Street Stock, you'll be bumped to Pro Street. #3: If you don't have all the safety equipment for the upper divisions you may not be allowed to run (helmets, full roll cages, battery cut-off switches, etc...). |
How Much Does It Cost? 2009 Fee Schedule - CASH ONLY!!! Tech Fees $5 per Street Stock Vehicle $10 per Pro Street or Competition Vehicle Fun Days for Practice and Tuning $5 per Driver Entry Fees (Drivers Over age 60 don't have to pay entry fees for regular season events) $20 per Driver per Class Late Fees (charged to those who wish to register late) $30 per driver after the Registration closes and prior to the Driver's Meeting |
What is a Tech Inspection? A Tech Inspection makes sure that all vehicles that compete in our events are mechanically safe and that they comply with the rules. Formal inspections are only done once a season (vehicles may be re-teched at any time at the discretion of the officials). Inspections take about 5 minutes and you must get them done before you register for the first time each season. An Our Gang Member will go over a checklist with your vehicle before giving you an inspection sticker with a number on it. This number identifies your vehicle in our records, so keep the sticker and remember the number for the season. You will also receive a copy of our rule book after you successfully pass inspection. There is an inspection fee, but you only pay it once a season. $5 for each Street Stock division vehicle and $10 for each Pro Street and Competition vehicle. Anyone with a yellow Our Gang jacket can direct you to the Tech line. Tech will open at 8 am and will be available until 8:45 am every Saturday and Sunday and may be available on the first Practice Day of the season. |
Can I practice? Yes, there are several ways to get in some practice for bare rubber or studs (There is no practice for cheaters.). We have two days devoted to practice and tuning each season, check the schedule to see dates. A $5 per driver fee is charged to anyone wishing to come out on these days. Morning practice takes place every Saturday and Sunday, but you must be teched and registered before you can go on track. The earlier you register, the better your chances for practice will be, the line will be cut at approx. 8:45 am each morning. Our Gang reserves the right to limit practice at any time (especially the first and last weekends). Finally, we sometimes set up a practice course at the end of the day for only the drivers that registered and competed that day. This practice time is not guaranteed and will only be set up if space, time and officials allow. |
Do I need a helmet? For Street Stock Bare Rubber you will not need a helmet. For all Pro Street and Competition classes you will need a good fitting helmet for both the driver and passenger (this includes bare rubber!) Check the rule book for helmet specifications. |
What are the driver requirements? Driver's must have a valid driver's license to compete or practice (remember to bring it with you!). Those with Instruction Permits must drive with their Guardian in the front seat (If you have a permit, you cannot run cheaters). Drivers also need to be familiar with their vehicles, so they can drive safely. |
"Safety First" -- Important Information Your safety is our club's top priority. In our 33 year history we have never had a serious injury associated with the racing. This is why we will not tolerate any action that threatens the safety of drivers, passengers, spectators or officials. We expect drivers to be familiar with our rules and procedures before they register to compete. We strongly urge you to read a current copy of the rules and get any questions you may have answered (a copy of the rule book is available on this site along with contact information for questions). Drivers should be aware of their surroundings and in control of their vehicle at all times, even during the race. Safety equipment should be properly worn, we require it for a reason. And finally any directions given by club members should be followed, especially in an emergency. Our Gang Members wear yellow jackets on the lake and any problems that arise need to be brought to our attention as soon as possible. |
What is "Bare Rubber"? Bare Rubber refers to the type of tires we run in the Sunday Bare Rubber classes. These tires must not have any traction modifers in them. Just the bare rubber on the ice. Street Stock division drivers run the tires they drive to the events on, typically all season radials or other daily driving tires. Pro Street and Competition are allowed to run tires that are designed for ice driving or tires that have a soft rubber compound. You can check the rule book for more specifications for these classes. |
What are "Studs"? Studs refers to the type of tires we run in the Competition and Pro Street classes on Saturdays. These tires have 17mm or 20mm studs in the tread to add speed and traction. There are different types of tires used, but the majority of tires are Goodyear Terra Tires and the studs are placed in the raised bars. The picture is of Competition Stud tires. You can check the rule book for more specifications for these classes. |
What are "Cheaters"? Cheaters refers to the type of tires we run in the Competition classes on Saturdays. These tires are also refered to as "bolt tires". These tires have 1 1/2 inch bolts which are sharpened to a point sticking out of the tire tread. These classes have a lot of traction and are very fast. You can check the rule book for more specifications for these classes. |
What is the weather like? Georgetown may look sunny, but the temperatures stay cold and it is usually windy. It is very tolerable if you dress warmly. We hold our events regardless of weather, so be prepared. You will have to be out of the vehicle and away from the heater at least a few times during the day (registration, driver's meeting, etc...) |
Can I stay overnight in Georgetown? Yes! There are several hotels in Georgetown that you can stay at. The Georgetown Mountain Inn works the closest with our club you can call them at 303-569-3201 or visit their website www.georgetownmountaininn.com to make reservations. If you have an RV you can park at the old Georgetown Loop Railroad Station in town. You'll need to sign a waiver to do this now. Contact Carol Rickli at the lake or at 303-978-0419 to get one. There is no camping allowed at the lake. There are a few good restaurants in town and on Saturday nights we have our trophy presentation at the Red Ram. |
Where are the trophy presentations? On Saturdays the Red Ram hosts our trophy presentations in the Rathskeller downstairs. They'll be opening at 5 pm just for our group. They have a full bar and restaurant. Everyone is welcome to attend and these are family friendly. To get to the Red Ram take the Frontage Road into town, turn left across the bridge and then right onto Rose Street. Follow Rose to 6th Street. The front entrance is on 6th street. There is parking available behind the building. On Sundays we have the presentations on the ice after the events have finished. |
Is there a Rookie School or driving classes? No we do not have a rookie school or driving classes. The best advice for new drivers is to watch the other drivers and see how they drive the track and what works the best. And then to get as much seat time as possible. |
How do I register? Registration is only open on the morning of the event. Registration opens at approx. 8 am and will stay open until 9 am. You can register late if you wish (only if you have had a tech inspection done) and you will have to pay a late registration fee. There are 3 steps in the Registration process. #1 - Get Your Vehicle It's Tech Inspection This only has to be done once a season, at the first race you attend. If you have already received your sticker and number you can skip this step. #2 - Fill Out A Waiver/Registration Sheet This also only has to be done once a season, at the first race you attend. Sheets are available at the Registration Trailer. They need to be completely filled out and signed before they can be accepted. Once you fill out a waiver, you will be in our database for the season. #3 - Pay Your Fees and Pick Your Staging Numbers At every race you attend, you need to go to the Registration trailer to get registered for the day's events. Here you'll pay your entry fees (remember to bring Cash!) and pick a staging number for every class you register to race in. Put the number(s) on your headlight, windshield or bumper so you can remember what they are. These numbers are important because it is how we line up drivers in staging. Numbers are selected randomnly. Registration is a good place to meet other drivers and get your questions answered. If you need any help with the process you can come to the Registration trailer. |
Do I need to air down my tires? This is entriely up to you. The majority of bare rubber drivers do air down their tires, although the tire pressure you use each weekend will likely change. Please keep in mind there is a minimum tire pressure allowance and that you can be disqualified if your tire loses its bead during the race. |
How Are Eliminations Run? Our Gang has changed our staging system recently. We no longer use the "fives" bracket exclusively. We pair drivers together using staging numbers. We then run single eliminations until we have eight or six drivers who have all raced an equal number of rounds or five drivers. This changes each race depending on the number of entrants. These remaining drivers will now race off to determine who is placed in the top 5 bracket. * If there are eight drivers, we run a "fours" bracket. This means the eight drivers are paired to determine 4 winners and 4 losers. The four winners race off for 1st through 4th place. The four losers race off for 5th place. * If there are six drivers, we run a "sixes" bracket. This means the six drivers are paired to determine 3 winners and 3 losers. The three winners race off for 1st through 3rd place. The 3 losers race off for 4th and 5th place. * If there are five drivers, we run a "fives" bracket. This means we pair 4 of the first drivers, to determine 2 winners and 2 losers. The losers now race off for 4th and 5th. The remaining driver will race one of the winning 2 to determine their spot in the top 3. Then they all race off for 1st through 3rd place. * Note there is also a bracket used for seven drivers, but it is only used when there are only seven drivers entered into the class to begin with. |
What happens when I go on track for my race? You will be paired to race another driver. When you go on track, you both will drive out to your individual start gates. The Center Ice Official will line each of you up at the start line using hand motions. Once you are set, the Center Ice Official will point the flag at you, if you are ready give them a nod. They will do so for the other competitior before placing the flag on the ice, once they lift the flag off the ice GO! Do not move before the flag leaves the ice or you will be disqualified! The objective is to navigate the course without hitting any pylons and be the first to return to your start gate. Flaggers are positioned around the course to watch for DQs. Two officials watch the finish line to determine who crosses first. The Center Ice Official will point the checkered flag at the winner for everyone to see. Always finish your lap, even if you make a mistake you may still win your round. And always stick around after the heat until staging dismisses you; you may be eligible for a run-off. |
What happens if there is a tie? If there is a tie, you will see the course flaggers circling their flags over their heads. At this point, the heat will be re-run. Drivers will SWITCH start gates and line up again. If you need a cool-down or to take a mechanical allowance you need to let the Center Ice Official know. Ties are almost always re-run until there is a winner. |
How many laps will I get? There are lots of ways to get in laps -- practice days, morning practice, Championship races, running a division with multiple classes. In the actual event, you are only guaranteed one lap. After that it's up to you to get more laps. You must win in order to advance and race more. It depends how many drivers are registered in a class as to how many laps each event will run. |
What track are we going to run? This decision is completely up to the track committee and is made the day of the event. They make their decision based on ice surface available, the condition of the ice, classes being run, rules/guidelines and variety. Also, the track you practice on in the morning MAY be different then the one your class runs. Final track decisions are announced at the Driver's Meeting each morning, so make sure you listen up. Click here to see the basic tracks we run. |
How do you lose a heat? Check the rule book for more information, only the most common losses are listed here. #1 - Not finishing first |