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FYI
01-11-04

KIC SELECTS ANGELO SODANO AS NEW PRESIDENT

Las Vegas, Nevada — The Karting Industry Council (KIC), the largest organization of karting businesses, announced today that Angelo Sodano has been elected as their President for 2004. Charles Pistorio, who led the organization for 9 years, believed the organization needed a new direction. Mr. Pistorio will remain on the board of directors and will fulfill the role of treasurer.

Angelo Sodano, of Boston Massachusetts, has been in automotive-related businesses for the past 26 years. A racing fan for life, Angelo was a 2-time regional karting champion and has been the importer of All Kart brand products for the last 15 years. Successful in both karting retail and with his All Kart USA racing team, Angelo has kept pace with this fast moving industry. He brings with him years of experienced as a trustee and member of the 2-Cycle national technical committee with the World Karting Association.

Angelo Sodano unveiled his plans for KIC to move forward and reaffirm the focus of the organization. According to Mr. Sodano, “KIC’s core objective is the promotion of karting and our members have some great ideas. We need to refocus our efforts on getting a hold of a handful of common issues, put the full weight of KIC behind them and get them done to improve our sport”.

About KIC: The Karting Industry Council is the oldest and largest trade association for the sport in North America. KIC’s goal is a simple one – to promote karting through leadership. As an independent organization, KIC acts as a liaison between the karting industry, karting organizations, clubs and track owners. KIC provides leadership and information to create a strong, stable karting community and clear paths for advancement of the sport. Information about KIC’s mission and programs can be found at www.kartindustrycouncil.com.

For more information about joining the Karting Industry Council, contact Bob White at (859) 760-5850 or e-mail to bwkic@msn.com.

SSC RACING EXPANDS DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
Palm Springs, California — Karbz, Inc., dba SSC Racing, announced today the opening of new warehousing and distribution centers in Boston, MA, Miami, FL, Seattle, WA, and Monterrey and Guadalajara, Mexico. These are in addition to its current location in Palm Springs, CA. A distribution center is in the works for the Midwest, set to open mid-year.

Joe Ramos, president/CEO of Karbz, Inc., said, "With current growth trends the timing is right to take the next step in bringing SSC products to dealers in all regions of the United States and Mexico. These new locations will allow SSC to increase inventory levels threefold, facilitate overnight deliveries, and reduce freight charges. SSC expansion has been on the drawing board for the last five years, coming to fruition as we enter 2004."

"In addition," he continued, "this expansion aligns SSC with highly successful individuals who have also joined our board of directors. Our new business partners are well-established in different facets of motorsports, in addition to karting, and bring a wealth of business experience to our dealers."

SSC Southeast (Miami, FL) is headed by Al Duenas, whose professional background is in computer software development. Bill Hettick and Jim Boltz operate SSC Northwest (Seattle, WA) and have extensive experience in motorsports, karting and the motorcycle industry. SSC Northeast (Boston, MA) is run by RJ Valentine. Best known for the revolutionary indoor/outdoor karting facility, F1 Boston, Valentine’s other professional interests include the board of directors for eighteen private and public companies. Alejandro Herrera runs SSC Mexico (Monterrey, Mexico) and is an attorney, government special security agent, and owner of one of the largest auto parts distribution centers in Mexico. He is joined by Fernando Casillas of Kart House (Guadalajara, Mexico) who is credited with bringing shifter-kart racing to Mexico. This consortium of business professionals are committed to serving customers and growing the sport by helping increase awareness of kart racing in mainstream markets.

To ensure efficient operations, Ramos will be dedicating his time to managing distribution networks, while a new General Manager for SSC Southwest will be appointed. "Our number one priority is to provide an unparalleled level of service to our customers," explained Ramos.

SSC Racing, the complete karting company, is the exclusive importer for CRG chassis and Rotax kart racing engines and RM-1 Superkarts. SSC also has exclusive rights to and is the manufacturer of Paul Tracy Kart (PTK) products. SSC owns and manufacturers GearBox Race Wear and MoGo Kart Parts, and operates the nationally renowned XPLEX Las Vegas race track. Established in 1995, SSC Racing products are distributed throughout North and Central America by over 300 dealers.

Dealer and other inquiries:
SSC Racing, Joe Ramos jramos@sscracing.com
SSC Northwest, Bill Hettick karting@cyclebarn.com
SSC Southwest, Alex Rodarte arodarte@sscracing.com
SSC Northeast, RJ Valentine rjvigor@aol.com
SSC Mexico, Roberto Suarez kartmexico@yahoo.com
SSC Mexico, Oscar Casillas (Kart-House) hermanoscasillas@hotmail.com

MRP BIREL ADDS FLORIDA AREA DEALER
Three Oaks, Michigan — MRP Motorsport recently announced their new association with Arsenal Pro Racing, Inc. to become the only authorized dealer in North Florida for the world championship Birel and Freeline brand of karting products as well as the Monza karting line. Arsenal Pro Racing, located in Atlantic Beach, FL has been servicing the Florida region since 1995, providing customers with trackside support and kart racing packages.

“We are very excited to announce this relationship with MRP,” said Chuck McCue, owner of Arsenal Pro Racing, Inc. “We have a new 4800 sq. foot facility and trackside support vehicle all to assist our services even further. The addition of Birel, Monza and Freeline is a very big step.”

For MRP Motorsport, the largest importer for Birel and Freeline products in North America, the new association with Arsenal will hopefully strengthen the representation of the Birel brand even stronger in Florida.

“When you can add a dealer like Arsenal and Chuck McCue, it is always a good thing,” commented Garry Lobaugh, owner of MRP. “They have a solid reputation and have never lost sight that to be successful you must take care of the needs of your regional racers. We look forward to a long relationship.”

For more information on Arsenal Pro Racing, Inc., they may be contacted at (877) 570-RACE or online at www.arsenalproracing.com. For information on how to become an official MRP/Birel dealer, contact MRP Motorsport at (269) 756-9133 or visit them online at www.mrpmotorsport.com.

WKA RACERS AIR ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL SERIES
Concord, North Carolina — The Hoppers and Faucis have made it to the big time! Starring in three 1-hour episodes airing on the Discovery Channel, they represent all families in karting as they illustrate family life in the fast lane, literally. Cameras followed them from New York to Florida and everywhere in between, including the WKA Horstman Gold Cup Grand National event Halloween weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC.

It looks like reality TV has come to karting and as we know with reality TV, drama is sure to follow. "Gold Star Racing" aims to illustrate the family aspect of kart racing. It is one of the only sports that allows for so much interaction between parents and kids, creating a wide range of emotions being played out trackside. We'll watch as kids and parents are pulled together and sometimes pulled apart - all in an effort to pursue their passion of racing.

Set your calendar and VCR for January 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 8:00 pm and don't miss the chance to step into the lives of these two families as they are doing what so many parents do, especially in karting, which is try to make their kids dreams come true.

Below is an overview of what can be expected from the shows:

Gold Star Racing - Episode Descriptions: Hour One
We travel to Rochester to get to know the Faucis in their home environment while they prepare for a hotly contested race on their local track. Kaytlyn, a fierce competitor on the track, emerges as a sweet-natured All-American 10-year-old girl with a soft spot for her little brother. Mikie, as it turns out, is enormously motivated for an 8-year-old boy. While other boys are playing video games and watching cartoons, Mikie is honing his driving skills and tactics. Mike and Rhonda face a tough choice as the final races approaches: to race or not to race, after Kaity and Mikie have already claimed their club championships through accrued points.

We then follow our characters as they converge on BeaveRun racetrack near Pittsburgh, PA for a highly competitive national series. The weeks of preparation come to bear as they do their best to get to the front of the pack. Adding to the drama, Mother Nature joins the fray when a violent line of thunderstorms crosses the track, wreaking havoc on the racing teams' moist careful preparations. Then, in an unexpected twist, Mikie Fauci gets spun off the track by none other than Westley Hopper. All this depicted by POV cameras placed on the Karts and drivers.

Hour Two
We go to Clearwater, FL, where we meet the Happy Hoppers as they prepare for a divisional race on their local track. We see dad Kiven making his living driving a high-powered speedboat while towing tourists dangling from parachutes a few hundred feet above the Gulf of Mexico. His wife Tami, with her long blonde braid brushing against her knees, keeps up the pace running errands to prepare for their sons Westley and Austin's races. When the whole family climbs into their luxurious RV to head for the race, the fun ends and the competition heats up. To their local competitors, the Happy Hoppers are adversaries along the path to fame and fortune.

Hour Three
The families we've come to know and love meet again at the biggest race of the year – the WKA Horstman Gold Cup Grand National event at Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. All the best racers are there, some of whom we meet as they go head-to-head with the Faucis and Hoppers. We'll have POV cameras and helmet cams equipped for sound mounted on all the key karts as they tear around the track. All the action will culminate with drama of winning and losing, the dashed hopes and realized dreams, and, above all, the hard earned-lessons of life in the fast lane.

Check your local listing for time and channel. For more information on WKA racing, call 704-455-1606.

END

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