Red Bull Non-Stock 600 Kickoff!

What's the name of this crazy event again?

After being selected to compete in the Red Bull Non-Stock 600 go-kart race, the NMS (AKA Bunch of Idiots, AKA Max Wiiings 33) squad headed up to Charlotte to attend the opening event kick-off and pick up the shell of the kart. While we had a fun evening and enjoyed the free food (our favorite flavor, "free") as well as a free beer, and got Project K back to the NMS garage, this means that the build-by-November-9th clock is now ticking. We have until November 8th to complete our modifications and decorate our kart to get ready for the race the following day. 

Hey, we got a free kart body!
Hey, we got a free tool kit!
Hey, we got a free screwdriver set!
Hey, we got a free 1/2-inch impact!
Hey, we got a free toolbox with gloves and safety gear!
Thanks to Northern Tools. 

Brian points out the kart shell, all 7.5 feet of it. 

When we arrived at the AvidXchange Music Factory in Charlotte, we knew we were in for a good evening because in addition to our Red Bull event, there was a big concert going on next door! The place was packed for the concert, but it was easy enough for us to get to where we needed to meet up with the Red Bull team. The race on November 9th will be held at this same location, so you can put it on your calendar now! We even got free parking instead of having to pay $45 like the concert folks paid! Thanks Red Bull!

Did I mention the FREE TOOLS?
Thanks to Northern Tools. 

In case you didn't know, Red Bull is kind of a big deal! They sponsor cool sports and adventure events around the world. Oh, and they make a little energy drink called Red Bull too! My main interest in Red Bull is that they own two Formula 1 race teams, and with driver Max Verstappen have won the last 3 championships. Heck, the Formula 1 race held in Austria takes place on the Red Bull Ring track!

You didn't forget the FREE TOOLS, did you?
Tools courtesy of Northern Tools. 

After we checked in, we looked over the karts, the free tools, and grabbed some free food and drinks! As teams arrived the DJ was playing music, and everyone was pretty happy just to be there. During the presentation of rules and teams, we learned that they had received about 53 applications and then narrowed it down to 20 teams to compete. It sounds like they got entries from several different states, so this is not just a Charlotte area thing. Since this is the first year for this event, the Red Bull folks hope to see it grow over time and become another one of their big annual events. 

Let's take this thing home!

The title Non-Stock 600 of course refers to Charlotte being the home of stock car NASCAR racing. While in real racing the 600 would tell you it's a 600-mile race, (like the Coca-Cola 600 held during Memorial Day in Charlotte) in this case it means a 600 second race. Yes, a grueling 10-minute kart race... In a goofy kart... On gravel... In a parking lot. 

The Kart at NMS-North.

On to the Announce Party!

What's an Announce Party?
Well, they had FREE FOOD! 
They had FREE DRINKS!
They had FREE TOOLS!
They had a FREE KART for each team!
They had a DJ!
I'd say that qualifies as a party!

If you've never driven a go-kart, trust me that a 10-minute race will be plenty. Besides, during the race each team has to change drivers once, so that should really mix things up a bit! Each team will have the same chassis, tires, and engine, so we think the actual racing will be very competitive. We've got our pit crew working on analyzing 10 gazillion Monte Carlo simulation pit stop strategies to figure out how to eke out a few more crucial seconds on the other 19 teams. Don't tell anyone, but we just might have Hannah Schmitz, who is the real Red Bull Racing F1 team's Principal Strategy Engineer, on speed-dial. 

Klutch 1/2-inch impact tool set.
Thank you very much!

To give you some more background on what in the wide-wide world of sports this is all about, here's the application we submitted to get accepted into this wacky event:

Please add the team name for your Red Bull Non-Stock 600 entry.

                THE “MAX WIIINGS #33” BUNCH OF IDIOTS (BOI) RACING TEAM

Please share a description of your Red Bull Non-Stock 600 entry.

                 The Max Wiiings #33 Bunch of Idiots (BOI) Racing Team Red Bull Non-Stock 600 Kart is truly a graphic and aerodynamic work of art. The body was developed in an alternate Earth timeline, where it appears that the Red Bull team and designers hit upon the theory that since “Red Bull Gives You Wiiings”, then MORE wiiings is better!

     Based on this assumption, the alternate timeline car does bear a slight resemblance to the Red Bull race car, but it now has more wiiings. As in, a LOT more wiiings! Like let's say 33 wings!! The visual impact of this incredible and all original automotive design combines the slickest graphics package in the Carolinas (North, South, East, West, whatever) with the instantly recognizable ZING of drinking your favorite Red Bull, which results in one titanic face melting engine-powered vehicle. With more wiiings per capita than a flock of flying monkeys, the “MAX WIIINGS #33” is sure to be a fan favorite in this timeline.

Please share a team biography for your Red Bull Non-Stock 600 entry.

The “MAX WIIINGS #33” team is made up of South Carolina residents who have competed in a variety of automotive events. Often driving under the alias “Bunch of Idiots,” the BOIs have a proven record of having fun and being competitive behind the wheel, and even sometimes on the track! Highlights from the current Earth timeline include winning the Lucky Dog race series with a Miata, as well as taking a Class C win in a 24 Hours of Lemons race in their wacky 1970s Dodge Coronet. The team has taken a pledge on a stack of speeding tickets to give 100% to the Red Bull Non-Stock 600.

                The varied skills and strengths of the “MAX WIIINGS #33” BOI team is anchored by the driving prowess of “Big Kyle” Ray-Smith, “Lucky Luke” O’Hara, “Iceman Brian” Nixon, and “Uncle Bob” Nixon.

Toolbox with safety glasses and gloves. 

Oh, and one final thing. Before the actual kart race, each team has to put on a short and hopefully entertaining skit. We're working on that and have a pretty basic outline, so that's just one more thing on the to-do list before getting to drive in the main event. Look for more updates on this story over the next month, including our unveiling of our car's design concept drawings.