Awana Grand Prix Freedom track!

Domino, I am seriously stoked about all your activity!!! I am quite surprised, and pleasantly so, to see Awana GP gets this much focus. Before this year I was not aware. I requested joining MI Awana GP State Championships FB group. I am already a member of the West MI AGP group. Don't think we will make it out this year but next year is certainly going to be planned for. Not totally writing off this year but I would need assistance to get out there. I let our organizers know about the pending rules change. Again... awesome!!!

Thanks for all your work and info!

Jimmy
 
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Domino, I am seriously stoked about all your activity!!! I am quite surprised, and pleasantly so, to see Awana GP gets this much focus. Before this year I was not aware. I requested joining MI Awana GP State Championships FB group. I am already a member of the West MI AGP group. Don't think we will make it out this year but next year is certainly going to be planned for. Not totally writing off this year but I would need assistance to get out there. I let our organizers know about the pending rules change. Again... awesome!!!

Thanks for all your work and info!

Jimmy
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Thanks for your kind words Jimmy. I'm very thankful to have started a relationship with the SE Michigan Regionals leaders last year when we were organizing the very first AWANA Grand Prix State Championship Race in Michigan last year. Since then, the SE Mich Regional leaders were able to delay their Regional to allow more churches to complete their local club races, and then to attend the Regional race. The additional rule change requests were made to reduce the number of clubs that would be disqualified (churches that only race oil, or club winners who have to rework their oil lubricated car into one with graphite - which is no longer the exact car that won the club race). This type of rule change is a win for the clubs and the Regional. Please be sure that your Commander touches base with the Regional leaders very soon about the need for these rules to be inclusive of all club winning racers.

Regarding the State race - Jerry (xjarcher) and I (Harvey) have been working to grow the AWANA Grand Prix racing scene in Michigan over the past two years, including pulling off the first State Race last April (Ypsilanti), and a second State Race this April 27th (Kent City). If this State Race is going to continue, it is going to need the support of the Regionals, and clubs in regions without a regional. Currently, our State Race is set up to rotate between regions every year, however, it isn't much of a State Race if only east siders attend when it is held on the east side, and only west siders attend when it is held on the west side. I pray that opportunities may be found to allow you and some of the other SE Regional award winners to attend/carpool (perhaps a church van, or several vehicles, sharing fuel costs and driving duties). It is always more fun to travel with newly made racing friends anyways. I'd love to meet you in person.
 
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Wow this is all so encouraging to hear. I know our director here was excited when she found out the regionals date was later this year allowing us a chance to race and it’s only like a 45 minute drive for us to get there. I will certainly do my best to meet and get acquainted with those running it when we go. I really want to be able to help grow Awana GP in any way I can both here locally and at the state level. I regret not getting more involved sooner but we all know we really can’t regret things now can we. At our local race in 2 weeks I’ll be talking with the winners and their parents about regionals as I am planning another workshop to get our cars cleaned up and tuned before regionals and I’ll be planting the seed for Kent City to see if there is any interest. I do know I can’t take either of our personal vehicles due to car troubles but maybe, just maybe we can work something out. Of course we have to win Regionals first for the eligibility but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. In the future I plan on attending states whether I personally win the right to or not just to keep relations up and stay involved.
So Lord willing we’ll meet! I have a couple other questions I’ll shoot you a pm about his weekend.
Blessings!!!
Jimmy
 
The painted rule is moot, lots of people use vinyl or other materials. Glad they are finally thinking a bit. Nice work Harv. Find some friends Jim! We'd love to have you come over and visit the best side!
 
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Wow, lots of good work getting done to improve Michigan Gand Prix as a whole and hopefully get everyone on the same page so groups aren't disqualified do to differing rules. Thank you all for your hard work. See you in Kent City soon.
 
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Wow, lots of good work getting done to improve Michigan Gand Prix as a whole and hopefully get everyone on the same page so groups aren't disqualified do to differing rules. Thank you all for your hard work. See you in Kent City soon.
Hey CV, someone raced as CV last night at NPWDRL. Was that you?
 
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It is great to see the connections being made here. To bad I am not near you guys or we would be interested too. Keep working on trying to build one set of rules that allows everyone to build faster cars. That way you should end up with more participation and more people that feel it is fair! Good luck to all both racing and on working thru the rule changes!
 
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Hey Jimmy, I might have already replied to you on Facebook, but yes that was me.
Yeah I missed that but responded over there too. It's weird suddenly this weekend being able to connect a bunch of dots and find like minded folks interested in both league and Awana GP. Lots of fun times ahead I suspect. ;)
 
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Hey Domino!
We are with Crosspointe Christian Church in Grosse Pointe Woods. I'll pm you the link so you can check it out. Thanks for the interest and also for your work in the fight to educate on oil!!! I planned on trying to get more involved on the regional level too for the same thing. God bless you your efforts!

Our race is March 23, we are going to Regionals in Auburn Hills at Oakland Christian School April 13th.

Jimmy
Would also love to have the link to the video.
 
Would also love to have the link to the video.
Well, now that I have a had a chance to look back at it I’m not really all that pleased with it. It’s too much info too fast. But I was pressed for time and only wanted to at least let the folks in our church know how I do it so they can come to me for help and join the workshops next week.
So it’s informative but could be much better. For next year I’ll be doing a series of short how tos.
I’ll pm you the link.
Jimmy
 
Well, now that I have a had a chance to look back at it I’m not really all that pleased with it. It’s too much info too fast. But I was pressed for time and only wanted to at least let the folks in our church know how I do it so they can come to me for help and join the workshops next week.
So it’s informative but could be much better. For next year I’ll be doing a series of short how tos.
I’ll pm you the link.
Jimmy

Jimmy, it is just like the first car you build. When you look back, you can always find room for improvement! Each version will get better and better. You may even find that this version will generate specific questions from your audience. Use that feedback to help steer you while making the next version/versions.
 
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Our church 3 years ago got back into Awana GP and at first borrowed a plastic track that was pretty beat up. To the children’s ministries credit they stepped up and bought a 42’ Best Track, timer and software. The whole set up. So we race on the same stuff we do at the leagues. It’s nice but yes... there are cars that need to be helped across the finish line.
I am helping this year with a vid of tips & tricks as we try to help to get everyone faster and pit nights I’ll be helping with wheel & axle prep and running oil.
Hoping and praying it goes well and folks get faster and more interested.

Hey Jimmy,. I created 7 short tip videos this year for our church that you could take a look at if you want. I am hoping to update them all before next year. I had created a Facebook page for our Church's Grand Prix as well then made it a personal page instead to avoid having to get everything on there approved. The page is CV Racing Pinewood Derby.
 
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Hey Jimmy,. I created 7 short tip videos this year for our church that you could take a look at if you want. I am hoping to update them all before next year. I had created a Facebook page for our Church's Grand Prix as well then made it a personal page instead to avoid having to get everything on there approved. The page is CV Racing Pinewood Derby.
Just looked at phone and you posted. How’s that for timing! Lol Most definitely would like to see your videos. For next year I plan to do the same. Are they posted on the FB page?