SSC Racing hosts ROTAX-Powered Media Day for Magazine Editors ROSAMOND, CA - ROTAX-powered karting has some new high-profile enthusiasts these days thanks to SSC Racing, which recently hosted a fun-filled media day for automotive editors at Willow Springs kart track. Eleven automotive editors and writers participated in the event, representing nine performance car magazines: EuroTuner, Popular Hot Rodding, Sport Compact Car, Vette, Super Chevy, Chevy High Performance, Street Rodder, Custom Rodder, Rod & Custom. SSC Racing brought along six identically prepared CRG Maximo chassis powered by the proven and potent ROTAX FR125, the powerplant behind the worldwide RMax Challenge. The ROTAX FR125 is a 125cc, water-cooled, 2-cycle engine that delivers a reliable 28 horsepower. The engines are fast, reliable and low-maintenance, with 50-hours of running before service. Format of the media challenge was simple: open practice in the morning, a lunch break, time trials in the afternoon, followed by the trophy presentation. Practice around Willow's challenging track took place without incident, thanks in part to the coaching of ace SSC Rotax driver Mark Mendoza. Mendoza led groups of drivers around the course, showing the proper line and technique. The editors adapted to the Rotax karts easily, quickly getting up to speed. A couple of the editors had previous karting experience, but none in a Rotax kart. Still, if was obvious a couple "ringers" were in attendance. After lunch, things got serious (editors, by nature, are very competitive). Setting off two karts at a time, each driver was given three warm-up laps and five timed laps, the quickest of which was their lap of record. The results were extremely close, with Sport Compact Car's Josh Jacquot taking quick time (his 130-pound physique surely helped as much as his driving skill), less than as second faster than Rod & Custom magazine's Todd Westover. EuroTuner's Philip Royce rounded out the podium in third. Steve Cannon, general manager of SSC Racing's ROTAX division, went to considerable time and expense to make sure the editors enjoyed themselves. All participants received a ROTAX RMax medal and trophy. The top three received bigger trophies, as well. "Everyone had a great time," said Cannon. "Auto editors get to drive all kinds of vehicles, so we felt getting them into a ROTAX kart was a natural. SSC is trying to expose ROTAX karting to people beyond the traditional karting market. From the looks of the smiles on the editor's faces, I think the potential audience for ROTAX-powered karting fun is limitless." Jeff Smith, editor of Chevy High Performance, is used to big V-8 power, but he was impressed with the ROTAX karts: "Man, the ROTAX engines are fast, and the chassis have tremendous grip. I had a blast out there, even if I'm a bit sore. If you ever do this again, count me in!" For more information on SSC Racing, including ROTAX products and race series, contact SSC Racing, 3101 E. Alejo, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-864-1323, info@sscracing.com or at www.sscracing.com. Visit SSC Racing's website Here!