e-KMI.com Archives

International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

GO KARTING!
A Guide To The World's Most Popular Motorsport.

Kart Expo International

FYI ARCHIVES
01-14-2001

KARTSHOP.COM SOLD

Kartshop.com one of the first karting web sites and e-tailers has been sold to a group of investors for an undisclosed purchase price. Established approximately five years ago by Michael Neal of Indianapolis, Indiana, Kartshop.com has grown into the #1 cyber-site for karting (in the USA). The group of investors and marketing specialists will be re-formatting the web site so it can be utilized for all phases of kart marketing and information.

As the “cyberworld” unites with the “real world”, Kartshop.com is offering an unprecedented $1,000.000 promotional giveaway of products, services and discounts in the upcoming race season. Individual registration as well as track/event registration is available at on-line at www.kartshop.com. Everyone is urged to participate and no purchase or fee is necessary to register.

The Kartshop.com million dollar promotion is the first of it’s kind in the karting arena and is only possible through the joint cooperation of many different manufacturers, importers, kart shops, chassis builders, engine builders, track owners and promoters.

With “business as usual” changing by the second, Kartshop.com is committed to helping the karting industry grow in a healthy manner. Kartshop.com believes that through the various marketing programs that it is making available for both large and small vendors, it can help all participants grow their businesses. For karting to continue to grow and prosper there must be an avenue by which promoters, vendors and manufacturers can provide racers with the services they want and need. Kartshop.com is paving the way for a healthy unification of the “real world” with the “cyberworld”.

SIDEBAR STORY

For those interested in getting into Internet retail or wholesale sales, a free seminar titled “Getting into e-Business”, will be available at the upcoming Kart Expo. The program, presented by Sue Nuttall of IBM Business Innovations, should be most informative as Nuttall oversees one of the most effective and popular web sites in use today – www.landsend.com. The discussion will be held on Saturday, February 17th at 12:00 Noon at Kart Expo, Pheasant Run Resort/Convention Center, St. Charles, Illinois (Suburban Chicago). For more info call: 630-653-7368.

NASCAR RADIO SPONSORS EXPO

The Chicago voice of NASCAR, WAIT AM850, has signed on as a major sponsor of the upcoming Kart Expo. “We are extremely proud to welcome NASCAR Radio and WAIT on-board as a sponsor for our show,” said Darrell Sitarz Expo Director. “Karting has a long tradition of being the training ground for future NASCAR drivers and the association of AM850 and Kart Expo is a continuing extension of that heritage,” he continued. Mae Watts-Brown, sales manager of WAIT stated, “ With Kart Expo moving back to the area and the new Chicagoland Speedway opening this summer, our involvement is a natural.”

NASCAR Radio/WAIT joins Liberty Suburban Chicago Newspapers and e-KMI.com as sponsors of kart racing’s premiere show in America, Kart Expo International. The show will be held on February 17-18, 2001 at Pheasant Run Resort and Convention Center, in St. Charles, Illinois (West suburban Chicago).

AMERICKART SEEKS “CART” APPROVAL

Americkart, a karting ladder program, developed by California-based karting author Jean Genibrel, is seeking the approval and endorsement of CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams). The program is designed to put Americans back on top of open-wheel and kart racing, including the establishment of a true American National Champion and karting campus.

In a statement, Genibrel said, “Team owner, CART board member and Jaguar F1 boss Bobby Rahal, has given his full endorsement to Americkart. Bobby and I initiated the project in 1999, and brought it to the execution stage. Bobby is taking Americkart to the CART Board of Directors (next week) for funding and for infusion into the (CART) corporate structure. The alliance will promote karting outside of karting, and it will draw large numbers of new drivers who will, for the most part, remain in the sport.”

“It’s a win-win proposition,” he continued. “Americkart will produce open-wheel heroes, and karting will benefit from the mass advertising, promotions, and marketing CART and the sponsors provide. Americkart is the essence of what Bobby Rahal, CART and its sponsors are looking for to develop highly trained professional American race drivers and (will) help expand its fan base.”

In a letter received by Genibrel, Bobby Rahal said, “CART and it’s sponsors recognize the obvious value in having highly recognizable and highly talented, refined American professional race drivers participate in its series, and to represent American interests worldwide. Currently, non-U.S. drivers dominate the upper echelon of open-wheel auto racing. Reversing this situation would be of great benefit to CART and American industry. Corporations, fans, viewers, and media want to identify with race drivers. This is the basis of NASCAR’s success whose fans view their drivers as one of the “Good ol’ Boys.”

Rahal continued, “At CART, we have been keenly aware of the need for an American race driver “farm system”, similar to those is the other professional sports. I found Americkart to be the essence of what CART and its sponsors are looking for to develop highly trained professional American race drivers and help expand its fan base. Americkart can serve as an educational tool, an entertainment venue and as a positive alternative for today’s youth. The program could be the catalyst to American motorsports and the performance industry that Tiger Woods is to golf and what the American woman’s gold medal soccer team is to American soccer.”

“Drivers graduating from AmericKart will represent the United States, its corporation and the American performance and racing industry, and the new fans will be exposed to the sponsors’ products. While the project, by its very nature, cannot crate world-class drivers in even a few years, it can pay immediate dividends to CART, sponsors, organizations, and the participants,” he said.

Rahal concluded, “CART would be encouraged to take a strong position in an effort that has the support of the aftermarket industry and karting. I look forward to a serious CART involvement with the Americkart program.”

Several performance and karting companies have already extended their support. Currently, Americkart has the participatory support from CART, K & N Engineering is a title sponsor, Red Line Oil, Honda, Ford, Tony Kart, Douglas Wheel and KIC. At present, Genibrel states that over 50 companies have sent letters of support and more coming in everyday. For more information, call 562-498-8172 or by e-mail: genibrel@earthlink.net.

END

View Other Past "FYI" Articles

Kart Marketing Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 101
Wheaton, IL 60189 USA
Telephone: 630-653-7368
Fax: 630-653-2637
Email: karting@msn.com

Back to Home Page

Neatconcept, Inc