BKC Champs honored MILWAUKEE, WI - The Badger Kart Club honored its 2002 class Champions at the Clarion Hotel in Milwaukee this past November 16th. Guests jammed the hotel's largest banquet room for dinner and a little light music. After dinner, an estimated crowd of 500+ people watched as the champions and special awards winners were announced. The evening started out with the Jr. Summer series awards. This 'series within a series' gives Badger youngsters a chance to run for points without having to race the entire 18-week series. The series runs during the summer months and allows for kids to not sacrifice school and family vacations for the races early and late in the year. Besides the class championship trophies, Badger Kart Club also gives out a number of special awards, voted on mainly by the membership itself. This year, Scott Adler won the "hard luck" driver award based on his wicked crash very early in this year, which sidelined the rookie for 6 weeks with a broken shoulder. "A BIG THANKS on a great banquet and thanks to all the hard work done by everyone" said the ecstatic rookie. Junior Rookie of the year honors went to Patrick Olsen. In just his first year, Patrick managed to set fast time several times and came home 3rd in the points for 2-cycle Jr. Sportsman, a class which saw an average of 15 drivers or more each week. Sr. Rookie of the Year went to Bob Jeziorski (Bobby J) who piloted his Fox kart to a solid 2nd in the points in Sr. Sportsman Heavy. The club gave out quite a number of "thank you" plaques to its large sponsors and supporters. But none exceeded the standing ovation that the Dousman EMTs received when they were presented their appreciation trophy. The club donates money to their equipment fund each year in exchange for their on-site services for regional and national races. However, these EMTs spend quite a bit of their own time at the track for club races and monitoring Badger's emergency radio frequencies, making Badger Raceway one of the safest tracks in the country. And the membership showed their appreciation in a grand fashion! Taking home the "Most Improved Driver" award was 2nd-year junior driver Tommy Anderson. Anderson really came on strong this season and had a legitimate shot at the championship in Briggs Jr. Sportsman. As the emcee began giving clues as to the winner, the elated family started to drown him out with cries and cheers until finally Tommy was announced! Mark Crane won the "Mechanic of the Year". Mark's son Derek campaigned in two different classes, winning the Jr. Briggs class. Mark always has a smile and can be seen helping not only his son, but anyone in need. The Vehring family presents an Aaron Anderson Sportsmanship Award each year. This award honors Aaron Anderson, a karter who was killed in a street race a number of years ago. This year, the award was given to Jeff Hoffmeister and Mark Anderson. Although their two sons were battling for the championship in Briggs Jr. Sportsman, the two fathers were quick to help out anyone as well as each other, embodying the true meaning of sportsmanship at the club level. Jessica Brannam was voted the "Driver of the Year". Not only did Jessica win the very competitive 2-cycle Jr. Sportsman class, but she also ran the Lake Geneva oval series and the Novice class in the Championship Enduro Series. Jessica was very surprised and honored to win the award. Next year, she plans on focusing on enduros, but hopes to stop back at Badger to race occasionally. Every year, the Howard family, in honor of one of Badger Kart Club's founders, Bob Howard, presents a $1000 scholarship to a young driver. This year, there were seven submissions, all of which deserved to win. In the end, the club decided to issue two scholarships and the essays submitted by the candidates were so powerful. Vice-president Tim Dunn's wife Lauren read both the winning essays before announcing the winners. The lucky winners were Melissa Mente and Mary Keck. Last year's Sr. HPV Champ, Marty Keck, also won the National Driver of the Year. Badger created this award a number of years back to honor its drivers who "best represents Badger Kart Club at the regional or national level". Keck said he was very honored to win two special awards that evening and stated, "it was the best night of my life". A similar award for enduro racing is also given out for the driver who "best represents Badger Kart Club in the world of enduro karting". For the 2nd time in his career, multi-BKC champion Regan Vehring won the award. Vehring won four races at this year's Road America Supernationals and also won a class in the Championship Enduro Series. Every year, the club gives out the Karter of the Year award. This award goes to a person who not only gives of himself, but also makes the club that much better through their participation. This year, Jeff Hoffmeister received this very special award. Hoffmeister stepped in as race director halfway through the season, even though he was campaigning his son in Briggs Jr. Sportsman. Jeff immediately set the tone as being fair but personable and thus was chosen by the members themselves to win this award. Jeff announced at the meeting that he would return as Race Director for the 2003 season. The last special award presented was the President's Award. The winner of this award is chosen soley by the club's president, currently Bingo Emmons. This year, Mr. Emmons presented the award to departing Board member Ken Neitzel. Neitzel not only raced in Briggs Heavy and helped his daughter Rachel race two other classes, but he constantly did things for the club behind the scenes that made him a very valuable member. With the incredible growth in racing as a sport, Badger Kart Club has been a huge benefactor as its membership has swelled to well over 400 families. Once again, the club packed a huge banquet hall and was forced to look for a bigger venue for the 2003 banquet. Therefore, the club announced that the 2003 Awards Banquet would be held at the Country Inn in Pewaukee. Champions: Creative Karting Jr. Can - Ronney Graham Briggs Jr. Stock - Joe Hartmann CeeGee Racing Sr. Sportsman Lite - Jon Ellingham Beaver Dam Trophy Briggs Heavy - Mike Landeck Jr. US Motor Power 2-cycle Jr. Sportsman - Jessica Brannam Junior Briggs - Derek Crane Systems Programming Solutions Inc. HPV Sr.- Matt Mercier Gillette Body & Paint HPV Jr. - Zack Emmons ITR Racing Equipment Briggs Lite - Garrett Goth Purcell Racing Yamaha Lite - Charlene Jung PMO Ltd. Jr. SSX Can - Jeff Funk Max-Torque Clutches Briggs Jr. Sportsman - Grant Hoffmeister Coello Racing 125cc Shifter - Randy Reichardt Gish Motorsports Sr. Sportsman Heavy - Steve Mente TRS Technologies Briggs Animal Sr. - Erick Heiling Julien Shade Shop Briggs Animal Jr. - Danny Corcoran The Window & Door Shoppe Yamaha Heavy - Jerry Kindler Special Award winners: ARRON ANDERSON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD - Jeff Hofmeister and Mark Anderson HARD LUCK DRIVER - Senior Sportsman Lite driver #24 Scott Adler SENIOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Sr. Sportsman Heavy driver #7 Bob Jeziorski JUNIOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - 2-Cycle Jr. Sportsman driver #45 Patrick Olsen MOST IMPROVED DRIVER - Briggs Jr. Sportsman driver #8 Tommy Andersen MECHANIC OF THE YEAR - Mark Crane DRIVER OF THE YEAR - 2-Cycle Jr. Sportsman driver #94 Jessica Brannam NATIONAL SPRINT DRIVER - Martin Keck NATIONAL ENDURO DRIVER - Regan Vehring KARTER OF THE YEAR - Jeff Hoffmeister PRESIDENT'S AWARD - Ken Neitzel HOWARD MEMORIAL SCHOLARHIP - Melissa Mente and Martin Keck