Baltic Open 2009, Finland, 20-23.8.2009

[Henrik Tallbacka]

Hi!

I’d like to inform that Baltic Open 2009 will be held in Finland. Dates for the competition will be on week 34 with racing on Thursday-Friday 20-21.8 and with after parties the weekend after (21-23.8). The German competition is at week 32 and Italy at week 36, so this puts Baltic Open just in between.

The location for the Baltic Open will be at Malmi karting track, which is approx. 25 km from our school. The official site for the track is at http://www.helsinginkartingrata.com/ and the layout of the track can be seen at http://www.helsinginkartingrat...malminratakuvamp.gif (http://www.helsinginkartingrata.com/kuvat/malminratakuvamp.gif). Also check: Google maps satellite picture of the track and its surroundings (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=fi&geocode=&q=malmi+karting&sll=62.593341,27.575684&sspn=17.380876,67.675781&ie=UTF8&ei=nvxxSbjaD6Sw2gLvoqiGBw&cd=5&cid=60255895,25049428,18253417524572005071&li=lmd&t=h&ll=60.255273,25.051092&spn=0.00453,0.016522&z=17).

The events that will be run are Acceleration, Autocross and Endurance. The track we're running at doesn't have the space for a skidpad, so we might arrange some kind of "superslalom" to give points for lateral performance. There will be no static events.

Hopefully many teams will attend when we get the exact date set. The event will be held in traditional Baltic Open fashion. We have usually had a small fee per person and no entry fee teams. We will take care of accommodation.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions.

Our email address: formula@metropolia-motorsport.fi

[Henrik Tallbacka]

Hi!

I’d like to inform that Baltic Open 2009 will be held in Finland. Dates for the competition will be on week 34 with racing on Thursday-Friday 20-21.8 and with after parties the weekend after (21-23.8). The German competition is at week 32 and Italy at week 36, so this puts Baltic Open just in between.

The location for the Baltic Open will be at Malmi karting track, which is approx. 25 km from our school. The official site for the track is at http://www.helsinginkartingrata.com/ and the layout of the track can be seen at http://www.helsinginkartingrat...malminratakuvamp.gif (http://www.helsinginkartingrata.com/kuvat/malminratakuvamp.gif). Also check: Google maps satellite picture of the track and its surroundings (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=fi&geocode=&q=malmi+karting&sll=62.593341,27.575684&sspn=17.380876,67.675781&ie=UTF8&ei=nvxxSbjaD6Sw2gLvoqiGBw&cd=5&cid=60255895,25049428,18253417524572005071&li=lmd&t=h&ll=60.255273,25.051092&spn=0.00453,0.016522&z=17).

The events that will be run are Acceleration, Autocross and Endurance. The track we're running at doesn't have the space for a skidpad, so we might arrange some kind of "superslalom" to give points for lateral performance. There will be no static events.

Hopefully many teams will attend when we get the exact date set. The event will be held in traditional Baltic Open fashion. We have usually had a small fee per person and no entry fee teams. We will take care of accommodation.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions.

Our email address: formula@metropolia-motorsport.fi

[Kimmo Hirvonen]

Today we had a little meeting with couple of guys in the organising "committee" and we got something decided but also lot of questions came up.

Few very-far-away-teams that are attending FSG09 have expressed great interest in taking part to Baltic Open. Only way they'd be able to take part to BO would be that it would be very close to FSG. Say, within a week. Would this be too close for some European teams? After FSG there would be only 1-2 free days and of to a new competition again. And if your car runs into troubles in FSG, there might not be enough time to fix it.
Although a ten team FSG->BO-convoy towards Helsinki including a seven day binge may sound tempting to some...

So, what we would like to know from all of you past and future Baltic Open participants is that what would be the best date for you?
Please reply to this ASAP. The sooner we know what most of you want, the better.
Especially all the non-European teams should give us a shout very soon cause if the competition turns out to be between the traditional teams, I'm pretty sure the date will be Aug 20-23.

Some additional information:
- cost will be 20-30€/person, including everything (but cost of beverages at after party's 2nd part )
- for now it seems that accomodation will be at our school's class rooms (like last time)
- 1st part of after party will be at our school and 2nd part at Helsinki's night life (this time a bit more "down to earth" type of place)

Again, please reply to this quickly. It can be just "Yeah, we might be coming and we'd prefer right after FSG" or something.

_______________________
Kimmo Hirvonen
Helsinki 2003-2007

[Henrik Tallbacka]

C'mon! 150 people has watched this thread since Kimmo posted, and some of you must have had an opinion about this.

No very-far-away-teams interested in sharing their opinion? How about the European teams?

[HenningO]

BALTIC OPEN! WOOHOO!

Happy now Henrik? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Also, I'm thinking if the caravan of people from FSG to Helsinki happens, KTH can probably plan some activities/housing in Stockholm before we head over the sea to Finland.

[Kevin Thomassen]

I'm on for this event http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Can you let Jari know Kevin is coming http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Same as 2006?

[DART-CG]

Hi,

our team tries to participate at the event but we could get problems bringing our 09 car as we plan to go to Italy and have a very narrow test plan. Is it again possible to start with the last years car? Our main concern is to find find the manpower for this project and nearly 2000km of driving.

[HenningO]

Baltic Open has always been open to old cars, so bring it on! http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Henrik Tallbacka]

Dart-CG: As Henning said, it has been in the Baltic Open tradition that you can run with cars from previous seasons. In the past, some teams have even run with many cars with old team members preparing and running the cars.

Kimmo's question was: Do you guys want to have the competition at week 34 as we have planned, or do you guys want to have it one week earlier at week 33?
If it was at week 33, you'd have weeks 34 and 35 time to prepare for the Italian competition which is at week 36. But not really much time between the FSG and BO in case you run into trouble.

I understood Henning's proposition as: "If the competition was at week 33, we would all run as a caravan fron FSG (mahle party) to Stockholm in Sweden to party around town. From there we would continue to Finland with a cruise ship (party boat), and then participate in the BO and it's afterparties."

Sounds like a rough trip.

Kevin: from the stories I've heard and pictures I've seen of BO 2006, it will be hard to do better. We will try our best. I'll let Jari know so he will have time to prepare. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

So one vote for week 33 by the Swedish team?

[Henrik Tallbacka]

Those who are still unsure about entering their car can check our new photo gallery at our web page. There is a BO 2006 Gallery (http://www.metropolia-motorsport.fi/index.php?mact=Album,m5,default,1&m5albumid=25&m5returnid=77&page=77) and you can also find pictures of some previous Baltic Open's.

[DART-CG]

Henrik: If we decide to participate at the Baltic Open (it looks quite good atm) it would be with our 07 or 08 car with mostly old team members. In this case we don't prefer a specific week. I could only think of the fact, that a schedule shortly after FSG will lead to only a few european teams who decide to participate. Having that in mind I would suggest to go for week 34.

[Henrik Tallbacka]

The date is set for week 34. It's official.

I sent out an invitation to past teams who have entered Baltic Open. If you didn't get it and would like to be on the Baltic Open mailing list, send email to: formula@metropolia-motorsport.fi

[Kevin Thomassen]

DUTch Open 2008 Movie NOW available for DOWNLOAD!!!

http://gallery.me.com/julienva...20Open&bgcolor=black (http://gallery.me.com/julienvancampen#100016/DUTch%20Open&bgcolor=black)

*Fixed*

Greetings

[DART-CG]

Hmm, link seems to be dead...

[Kevin Thomassen]

*Fixed*

if it isn't work try link in the DUTch Open topic.

Greetings

[Henrik Tallbacka]

Hello

Thanks for all the emails sent. We are glad that so many people have already replied with an estimate on how many are interested. Many teams have already decided to come.

We set the registration to start in June. The registration will be in same fashion as earlier Baltic Opens. Old teams will be prioritized and new teams are allowed to enter as time and space allows.

This year we started this public discussion half a year earlier than previously, so we will have more time to think this through. The karting tracks schedule was just posted (http://www.helsinginkartingrata.com/tapahtum.htm), and we have 11 hours for 2 days each so track time won't be a problem. We are aiming for enough entries that past baltic open (also includes Dutch open) teams + more could enter. Current situation of teams that show interest looks OK for us.

The track has a sound meter that logs noise from the track. The sound meter is above the track at 1.8 meters and the maximum noise is 100dB when driving. We will put a brake zone under the sound meter, but does anyone think they will have problems? Our car doesn't have problems, but it might be different for other cars.

List of interested teams
Helsinki, Finland
Tampere, Finland
Espoo, Finland ? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

KTH, Sweden
Karlskoga, Sweden

Aalborg, Denmark

Delft, Netherlands
Eindhoven, Netherlands

Moscow (MADI), Russia

Braunschweig (Lions), Germany ? (probably not, hopefully yes)
Darmstadt, Germany
Freiberg, Germany
Kiel (Raceyard), Germany

Joanneum, Austrialia ?

Teams from our neighbour countries that haven't replied but are most likely interested:
Chalmers
Luleå
Tallinn

[Thrainer]

You need a waiting list of teams that can't enter, every competition has one in 2009...

http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Kimmo Hirvonen]

I'm pretty sure at least Luleå could be put on that waiting list...

Good to see that there's already over 10 teams most likely coming. And seems like it's going to be quite an international competition.

KTH- and Helsinki-alumnies tested (may be the last tests before August..)their old cars this past weekend. Some pictures and videos will arrive to the gallery-section soon.

[Kevin Thomassen]

Hello and Welcome to the news from the Baltic Open 2009 @ Helsinki, Finland

It is also possible to follow the news at FS Total dot com

KTH,Sweden (2 cars)
Karlstadt,Sweden (1 car)
Aalborg,Danmark (1 car)
Tallinn,Estonia (2 cars)
Tampere,Finland (1 car)
Helsinki,Finland (2 cars)

[Kevin Thomassen]

Baltic Open 2009 Results (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3oIf4LHzDHo/So_eV9xhgAI/AAAAAAAACT8/Pq-aC-_-gMQ/s1600-h/Baltic_Open_2009_Award_Ceremony_+055.jpg)

[Kimmo Hirvonen]

Some pics:
http://hirppa.kuvat.fi/kuvat/F...9_08_21-Baltic_Open/ (http://hirppa.kuvat.fi/kuvat/FSAE/09_08_21-Baltic_Open/)