"International Racing Association awards 2002 Champions in grand style!" Story & photos by Joe Brittin CAROL STREAM, IL - The Carol Stream Holiday Inn was the site of the IRA 2002 Awards Banquet this past January 25th. This year's banquet was expanded to two rooms due to increased attendance of over 400 drivers, team members, families and sponsors. Receiving awards on this night were all three divisions of the IRA: the Burris Circle Tour (BCT), the MG Tires Championship Enduro Series (CES), and the SSC Racing Shifter Kart Pro Series. BCT Race Director John Nuttall presented the awards to the 13 Burris Circle Tour classes in one banquet room while IRA Chief Starter Earl Clement and CES Associate Race Director Tom Koutny were the masters of ceremony for the CES and Shifter Kart Pro Series awards in the other banquet room. In addition to the point championship awards, special participation awards were given to all the CES Novice and BCT Kid Kart participants. The top-five point champions of each CES class were awarded beautiful gold trophies along with merchandise awards such as shirts, pins and gloves. The class champions each received an embroidered jacket and a #1 pin. The Burris Circle Tour classes received trophies as far back as 14th place, depending on class participation levels, along with merchandise awards. The Burris Circle Tour also gave awards to the top 15 participants who scored the most points amongst all the classes combined. At the conclusion of the awards portion of the ceremony, both groups converged into one banquet room for door prize drawings, raffle drawings, bench racing and some good dancing to some great music provided by a local DJ. Hundreds of door prizes were given away from great sponsors like Burris Racing, Leaf Racewear, G.E.M. Products, G-Man Kartworks, The Inside Track, Azusa, RLV Tuned Exhaust, Stallion Bodyworks, National Kart News, Red Line Oil and even three engines from Kohler Engines. Then it was time for the IRA Raffle. Johnny Herrera (age 6) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, won the race-ready Rocket kid kart donated by Russell Karting Specialties which was the grand prize. Johnny's grandfather, Jim Lehman, bought him the winning ticket. Dawn Brohn of Batavia, Illinois won the Streeter Super Stand while Jason North of Devonshire, Bermuda won the ProX Kart RC Set although shortly thereafter traded it with the unidentified winner of the X-Plex Las Vegas gift certificate good for a full day at their facility. A special thank you goes out to Jan Lapke for organizing a very fun and successful event. IRA President Dave Larson has scheduled a seven race series at seven different road courses in 2003 for the CES that looks like it will draw much interest and participation. The growing Burris Circle Tour, founded by Mr. Larson seven years ago, will return to Lake Geneva, Rockford, and Illiana ovals for a 14-race series. For more information on any of these series or the IRA please visit the IRA's website at www.internationalracingassociation.com. PRO SK-125 PRO ICC-125 Saturday Classes 4-Cycle Senior Novice 4-Cycle Junior CIK Yamaha Can SK-125cc Shifter ICC-125cc Shifter G-125cc Shifter Tecumseh Star ICE-250 Yamaha SSX Yamaha Sprint Yamaha SSX Can Heavy Unlimited K-1 Sr. 80cc Shifter Controlled 99 Yamaha SBX Yamaha SSX Can Lite Yamaha Jr. Can Yamaha Over 35 SSX Can F200-OHV Sunday Classes Unlimited Controlled 99 Yamaha SBX Yamaha Sprint Jr. 80cc Shifter Yamaha SSX Can Heavy SK-125cc Shifter ICC-125cc Shifter G-125cc Shifter 4-Cycle Sr. 4-Cycle Jr. Tecumseh Star ICE-250 Yamaha SSX Can Lite Controlled 99 F200-OHV Yamaha SSX Yamaha Over 35 SSX Can Click Here to Visit the MG Tires Championship Enduro Series Website! 4-Cycle Jr. I Lite 4-Cycle Senior Heavy Jr. Yamaha 4-Cycle Sportsman Yamaha Sportsman Lite 4-Cycle Senior Lite Jr. III Jr. Sportsman Champ Kart Jr. Champ Kart Star Champ Kart F200-OHV 4-Cycle Senior Heavy