SCKC Race Director to race in South Africa By Oscar Aguilera (SCKC Race Director) LA MARQUE, TX - Houston resident Oscar Aguilera scored his second U.S. Formula Rotax 125 International kart team spot two years in a row. On October 27, 2002 Oscar Aguilera made history by becoming the first and only American kart driver to return to the Formula Rotax World Finals to be held in South Africa on January 15-19, 2003 along with his friend, mechanic and sponsor Alex Meneses from Pitstop Performance Products, Inc. At last year's National event, Oscar representing Pitstop finished 4th in the final event to become part of the U.S. team with one other spot reserved for the highest placing driver over 35 years of age. Oscar placed 35th overall out of 79 entries at his first ever World final race in Langkawi, Malaysia in January of 2002. At this year's nationals held in Las Vegas, Nevada Oscar qualified his Pitstop/Kartzone/CRG team kart 17th in a 77-kart field. After some on track incidents during the qualifying heats Oscar scored 12th, 17th, and 5th place heat race finishes. Oscar was competing in the over 35 years age group this year. His heat race points total placed him on the inside 9th row three rows behind his main competitor in the over 35 division. After the start Oscar gained positions and by lap 3 secured a substantial lead over Bonnier Moulton the other driver in the battle for the same class. While leading by more than a few hundred feet, Oscar's kart started slowing down. This is what Oscar had to say after the event, "The kart started to sputter and fall on its face in the infield portion of the track. I knew I was losing at least 1Ž2 a second per lap. I didn't know how far a lead I had on Bonnier. And with the kart being so difficult to drive, I just slowed down so I wouldn't drive off the track. Basically I had to drive without lifting off the gas which was pretty tricky." In a dramatic ending Bonnier passed Oscar with just 4 laps remaining overcoming the lead that Oscar had gained. "I was really upset and did everything I could to keep up with Bonnier but I couldn't with the kart's engine misfiring so badly," Oscar stated. The karts left the track and Oscar found himself in the Technical inspection area. It was a few hours after the race that Bonnier was disqualified for a noncompliant motor. A technical disqualification for Bonnier put Oscar at the top spot needed to qualify him to represent the United States at this year's World Final event. Oscar said, "I couldn't believe it. Alex Meneses (team manager) and I worked so hard to get the chassis set up right and we were very fast. The battery lost charge and that is what slowed the kart down. I thought I was out for sure. I was only thinking about making it to the World Finals and we did it. This was a very huge win for the Pitstop/Kartzone/CRG Team and once again we will be at the World Finals." Oscar has been working with Alex Meneses owner of Pitstop, a local racing kart retailer for 7 years. Both Oscar and Alex support local karting by promoting the Space City Kart Challenge at the Gulf Greyhound Park. Oscar would like to thank his sponsors Pitstop Performance Products, Inc., Davy Jones' Kart Zone indoor karting center, SSC racing, Alpinestars, Boss/Speedwerx designs, Kartweb.com, Kartads.com, AGV helmets, Lawn Industry, and Hi-Tech Race Engines. This year's US Rotax International Team drivers are Jordan Musser from Dallas, Texas, Chris Carmody from Santa Barbara, California, and Oscar Aguilera from Houston, Texas. With Jordan crowned the 2002 Rotax US National Champion overall winner, and Oscar crowned the 2002 Senior US National Champion placing 6th overall, Texas gets the two top spots in this prestigious series. The drivers will be leaving to South Africa to race on a newly built track in the city Zwartkops in January of 2003.