April - 2003

• Cabin Fever Special rocks at CCKS
  After a long winter, the weather finally changed for the better. What a perfect day for racing! The racers were ready to get going and it showed with over 100 karts turning out for the first event of the season! The racers turned out to help Larry McMahan get back on his feet by participating in the KKP Benfit Race.
• Kent Laukaitis - Back in the Driver's Seat
  With almost 20 years of kart racing experience, former WKA enduro road racing champion Kent Laukaitis is back in the driver's seat competing in the WKA George Kugler Manufacturer's Cup sprint kart series in the Yamaha Heavy and Yamaha Masters classes. After the first two rounds of the series in 2003, Kent has already picked up two wins in the Yamaha Masters class at Daytona and Lowes Motor Speedway.
• New-Look Red Bull F1 Driver Search to continue in 2003
  The Red Bull F1 Driver Search will be expanded in 2003 to provide more drivers with a chance to earn a spot in the program, designed to help a young American driver reach Formula One. 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan and officials from The Red Bull Energy Drink Company outlined plans for the program, which debuted in 2002, during a recent press conference in New York. F1 veteran Sullivan oversees the program.
• Flatout Decals joins Fran-Am Sport 2000 as Contingency Sponsor
  Flatout Decals, a division of Flatout Group announces"Flatout is the leading decal supplier to competitive kart racing and many of our drivers that have come up the ladder from karting, understand the quality and professionalism the Flatout's reputation brings". "We're glad to have them on-board with us" stated Brett Ross, Fran-Am Sport 2000 Series General Manager. they have been selected as the Official Series Decal Supplier for Fran-Am Sport 2000 for the 2003 season!
• FRAN-AM announces full schedule for three Canadian 1600 championships
  Fran-Am Sport - Canada Operations, the organization behind the 2003 Fran-Am 1600 Canadian regional series, announced today full schedules for all three Canadian series. In 2003, Regional Pro Championships will be based in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia represented appropriately as 'Canada East', 'Canada Central' and 'Canada West'.
• Mid America Sprint Series releases 2003 schedule
  Karters of America Racing Triad is pleased to announce the revised 2003 season schedule of the Mid America Sprint Series and the continuation of MAXXIS as its series sponsors. The Mid America Sprint Series will feature 10 classes from Kid Karts to Formula 125 stock shifter karts at circuits around the Midwest. All races will be a two-day format with practice on Saturday following up with Formula One style qualifying and heat races on Sunday.
• MRP Motorsport continues personnel expansion
  MRP Motorsport, North America's largest importer and distributor for Birel and Freeline Products, continues to pursue better customer service with two new additions. Steve Miller has been hired full-time as General Manager of Operations and Rony Miron will strengthen MRP's ability to support Spanish-speaking racers as a Bilingual Customer Service Representative for MRP Motorsport.
• Grueling action at NTK
  Sunny skies and warm weather made for excellent track conditions for a starting field of over 50 karts on Sunday, March 23 for the North Texas Kartway. Early in the day, the O & H Products sponsored Junior Super Sportsman class was a thrilling nose to tail race among the young karters, with the top four karts of Austin Gaddy #32, Ansel Gaddy #33, Sean Owens #12 and Nicky Boulle #44 battling for position in the first qualifier.
• Mauk takes first win at NTK
  Oh, so close is the best way to describe the weekend's racing at the regional race held March 8 & 9 at the North Texas Karters (NTK) track! The weekend proved memorable for 8 year-old NTK club racer, Devin Mauk when he pulled off his first regional win in the Jr. 1 2-cycle class. When asked about his first win, Mauk said, "It was a lot of fun to win my first Junior 1 regional race. I didn't want to get off the podium!
• Season Opens at South Bend Raceway Park with MKK
  Well, better get those tires ordered, racing seasons is just around the corner. South Bend Raceway Park opens for practice on the weekend of April 5th and 6th. SBRP is just the track to practice those new ideas you've been pondering this winter. The large track offers three different layouts for the season. Also uphills, downhills, hairpins and a dog leg.
• K& N Filters to sponsor SKUSA 2003 SuperPro Rookie of the Year award
  Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) announces that industry leader K&N Engineering will continue its support of the ProMoto Tour SuperPro Rookie of the Year Award. For the third consecutive year, K&N will sponsor this prestigious trophy, given to the most promising first -ear SuperPro driver on SKUSA's national championship circuit. In addition to the coveted title, this year's award will include a $1000 cash prize.
• Craig Finer to develop marketing plans for SKUSA National & Regional
  One of the principle objectives for SKUSA in 2003 is to focus on additional core regional development. Of the approximate 2000 driving members of SKUSA last year, over 95% were regional competitors only. These statistics clearly point out where most members race. Craig Finer will head market and sponsor development for SKUSA on both National and Regional fronts.
• Douglas Wheel puts $16,500 Contingency Award Package up for winners in 2003 SKUSA ProMoto Tour
  Douglas Wheel Inc., a continuous sponsor over the five year history of the ProMoto Tour, announces it will provide a $16,500 award package spread over finishing positions from 1st through 4th in most classes over the 11 race 2003 series. As a manufacturer of a wide variety of wheels for recreation and competition, Douglas Wheel has recognized the growing popularity of shifter kart racing and joins SKUSA in offering this unique package in rewarding those drivers that have chosen Douglas Wheel products.
• SKUSA ProMoto Tour not attending anticipated Windsor venue
  Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) expresses it's deep regret that the 2003 ProMoto Tour will not have a presence in Canada this year as had been planned. While it is presently known that SKUSA will not be returning to the Barrie GP event, the second attempt at securing a proper Canadian venue has fallen through for a variety of reasons. As a replacement venue, SKUSA had been working closely with the promoters of a similar "waterfront" venue in Windsor, Ontario, Canada since early February.
• SKUSA 'K&N Filters Rookie of the Year' Title Up For Grabs
  With the 2003 ProMoto Tour quickly approaching and as SuperPro contenders continue to throw their names on the entry list, some of the new faces on the tour become prevalent. The 'Rookie of the Year' title, sponsored by K&N Filters, is up for grabs and these new faces look to be some of the best in recent years. Last year's award was won by Matt Champagne by one point over Kyle Wharff in a title chase that went down to the very final race. For 2003, K&N Filters have upped their involvement by awarding the top SuperPro rookie with a check for $1,000.
• Stars of Tomorrow announces $100,000 Travel Fund Payout program
  Answering the long time requests of North American karters, the SnapOn.com Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow karting series is offering an unprecedented payout to racers with a $100,000 Travel Fund support program for 2003. The travel award program is available to karting teams that commit to a full season of racing in Stars of Tomorrow for 2003.
• Stars move August national race to Trane
  The Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow karting series announced today that the national event on August 1-3, 2003 slated for the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America has been moved to Trane Motor Speedway (formerly Norway Motorsports Complex) in Sheridan, Illinois. The date of the event will remain the same. The 6/10th-mile sprint circuit is located near Sheridan, Illinois, about 45 miles from the greater Chicago area.
• Bobby Rahal answers questions about 2003 'Stars of Tomorrow'
  Racing legend Bobby Rahal sat down this week and answered some tough questions about the 2003 Snapon.com 'Stars Of Tomorrow' karting series. Rahal, the three-time CART Champ car champion and the 1986 Indy 500 winner, brought in a new team of associates to assist Bryan Herta in the Stars program and made some candid comments on the current and future status of the national karting tour.
• National venue announcements from 'Stars'
  The Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow karting series released more information on its 2003 national schedule today. Three of the "to be announced" race weekends have been settled, including one date change to accommodate participating kart racers. The June 6-8 western event will be held at CRE Motorsports Park near Denver and Colorado Springs. The eastern TBA of September 12-14 will be held at the 103rd Street Complex in Jacksonville, Florida.
• SnapOn.com sponsors 'Stars of Tomorrow' in three year deal
  Committed to helping karting teams pursue excellence in their sport, Snapon.com and Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow have announced a three-year relationship, with Snapon.com sponsoring the Champ Car 'Stars of Tomorrow' racing series through 2005. Snapon.com, which also sponsored the Stars of Tomorrow Series in 2002, recognizes the importance of supporting top-level kart racing, and is proud to promote this exciting, fast-growing, family sport.
• Champ Car 'Stars' releases 2003 technical regulations
  The Champ Car 'Stars of Tomorrow' karting series released its 2003 technical regulations today. As previously disclosed, the regulations follow closely FIA/CIK international karting standards for the ICC, ICA, and World Formula classes. Additional classes that will be run in Stars regional programs are also covered in the rules.
• Champ Car to provide a top karting racer a full season Skip Barber ride in 2004
  'Stars of Tomorrow' announced today the initial Champ Car Ladder System award that will be a part of the 2003 Stars national awards structure. Champ Car, through the Skip Barber Racing program, will award a full season in the seven-race Barber Formula Dodge National Championship (FDNC) presented by RACER to a top karter in the ICC or ICA classes for the Stars series in 2003, chosen by a panel of judges. This award program has a value of $45,000 in 2004.
• VP's MR9 Debuts and Dominates in Daytona
  "Dominant" is the only appropriate word to describe the recent debut of MR9, VP Racing's newest road racing and MX fuel. It swept the 4-stroke classes in impressive fashion with wins in 600cc Supersport, 750cc Superstock and Superbike. Miguel DuHamel won the pole for the 600 class but ended up winning the Superbike race, while his teammate Kurtis Roberts won the 600 class.
• VP Racing appoints new Sales Manager for Pacific Region
  VP Racing Fuels, Inc., an industry leader in the production and distribution of racing fuels, named Kelley Hendel as Regional Manager-Pacific Region. Hendel steps in behind her husband, Bruce Hendel, who in a previously announced move, was promoted from Regional Manager to Global Sales Manager for VP.
• Rain hampers fourth Gold Cup opener
  Heavy rains forced WKA race officials to cancel Sunday's classes in the WKA/Horstman Gold Cup series season opener for the fourth straight year and shortened Friday's practice for 361-racers entered in the Tomar Winter Nationals at Jacksonville, FL's 103rd Street Sports Complex for the March 7-9 event. The two largest classes racing that Saturday were Bandit Racing Chassis Briggs Junior Lite and Garland Racing Engines Briggs Heavy each posting 30-entrees.
• Bunker scores victories in three classes at the WKA Winter Nationals
  Within days of the announcement that Margay Products had signed Robert Bunker of Bridgewater, N.J. to compete in the WKA Manufacturer's Cup and CART Stars of Tomorrow series, the 14 year-old Margay Factory Team driver scored three dominant feature race wins in Formula Yamaha, Junior, HPV Junior, and Yamaha Junior SuperCan at the WKA Winter Nationals at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
• Skip Barber Racing School to provide Florida amateur karters unprecedented $10,500 awards package
  Formula Kart Productions announced today the dates and locations for the 2003 FL Region Rotax Max Challenge program. This program is part of the "FL Karters Awards Partnership" between Formula Kart Productions and Skip Barber Racing School. Skip Barber Racing School, through the Formula Kart Florida Karters Awards Partnership (FKAP), will award FL Region Rotax Max Challenge Competitors racing school certificates with a total retail value of $10,500.
• 16th Annual U.S. Open Indoor National Championships
  New York State Fairgrounds was the venue again this year for the exciting racing of the U.S. Open Indoor National Championships. Held on March 13th & 14th, sixteen years and going strong as ever, the U.S. Open Indoor National Championships was hosted by karting industry standouts TCM Racing and Race Safe Systems.
• Intercomp releases new Digital Air Pressure Guage with Memory
  Ultra quick, high accuracy digital air pressure gauge records and measures tire pressure from 0 to 100 PSI in 0.1 increments. You can record and store up to ten (10) sessions of tire pressures. All of the data is displayed on TWO SCREENS in a format that allows for easy interpretation.
• New Online Support Site for U.S. Military
  Jim Smith, former president of the Indianapolis Kart Club has recently launched a web-based support site for families and friends of military personnel. The website www,militaryfriends.net offers emotional support for anyone with a military member.
• Introducing Go-Lift The One Man - One Stand Racing-Kart Carrier and Lift
  Every racer needs a work stand, every racer needs a kart carrier, and every racer could use a tool or starter tray; but from now on, every racer does not need someone else to help them get their racing-kart on and off their stand. Go-Lift makes moving a racing-kart a simple and easy one-man operation.
• Extreme Karting signs Jason Bowles and Preston Peltier to factory team
  Extreme Karting announced the addition of two more phenomenal talents to the already potent factory race team for 2003. Southern California's Jason Bowles and East Coast road racing standout Preston Peltier have agreed to run for the Anaheim based karting powerhouse.
• "A Few Days of Testing"
  Another account of Jesse Lemel's adventures in the great sport of karting! This time Jesse heads to Arizona to do some testing for Briggs & Stratton Motorsports at Bondurant Racing School and Formula K Raceway.
• Intense Karting offers TonyKart, Vortex and MG contingency for 'Stars'
  Intense Karting is pleased to announce a comprehensive contingency award program for the Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow national series for 2003. The program awards drivers using the TonyKart, Vortex, and MG brands for both individual races and the season championship.