e-KMI.com FYI

CLICK HERE

International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

Kart Expo International
ExhibitorInformation and Show Directions

FYI
02-13-05

PILOT FOR ‘ULTIMATE KARTING’ TV SHOW TO DEBUT AT KART EXPO WITH A VISION OF NATIONAL SYNDICATION

Scottsdale, Arizona — Phaelos Mediawerks will introduce a pilot for a nationally syndicated karting program at Kart Expo (Feb 26-27) at the Pheasant Run Hotel & Convention Center, St. Charles, IL. The 30-minute “magazine style” program, to be titled Ultimate Karting, will be shown and passed out on DVD at Booth 1, which the producer shares with the Laps for Kids project, a partner in promoting the sport. Adam Abraham is the show’s creator and executive producer.

Coming on board for the pilot are Wally Cahill, Phoenix-based radio personality who hosts Motorsports Mania on KFNX (5-6 pm Sundays, 1100AM), and Alan Rudolph, Chief Instructor at the Bondurant SuperKart School and holder of national kart driving titles, including several King of the Streets crowns at the Rock Island Grand Prix.

In addition to publicizing and promoting their television show, the Ultimate Karting crew, joined by co-producer Marcia Willmarth, will bring their camera and microphones to “cover” Kart Expo. They are scheduled to produce two episodes of the show from the event. In addition, on Sunday, Cahill will do a remote broadcast of his 1-hour Motorsports Mania show from Kart Expo, and transmit it back to his KFNX listeners in Phoenix.

Intended to be of interest to an audience that is new to the sport and to karting insiders, Ultimate Karting will cover the sport’s many forms and aspects; bringing karting news, products, prospects, events, and new developments into homes across America. While the current focus is on the pilot, the first 27 shows have been outlined.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. More information on the show is available at www.ultimatekarting.tv

FLORIDA’S PREMIER KARTING COMPETITION HEADS TO MOROSO MOTORSPORTS PARK

Jupiter, Florida — Taking aim at Moroso Motorsports Park is the much-anticipated 7th Annual Florida Winter Tour on February 12-13, 2005, presented by Fittipaldi Racing Karts. This will be the second stop of the three part race series with the finale in Jacksonville. Moroso’s 9/10 mile Kart Track opened in May of 2004 and is already regarded as one of the finest in the Southeast. As home base for Fittipaldi Racing Karts, Moroso’s new facility is completely turnkey and appealing for national caliber events. The Florida Winter Tour, developed by Formula Kart owner Bill Wright, offers great competition in the winter months as racers from all over the US, Canada and South American countries gather for an impressive rivalry and wheel-to-wheel action. The Tour consists of 11 classes: Pro Shifter, Expert Shifter, Expert Shifter Heavy, Master Shifter, Stock Moto, Junior Shifter, Easy Kart 125 Pro, Easy Kart 60, Rotax Senior, Rotax Senior Heavy and Rotax Junior. Over 150 karts from 8 different countries are expected to attend.

After he closed out the 2004 season at Walt Disney World as STARS ICC National Champion, Alex Speed confirmed that he would be participating in the Florida Winter Tour, running under the MRP tent. Bill Wright was able to verify his receipt of entry and stated “We’ve been very fortunate in the past to host many former, reigning, and subsequent National Champions during the Tour. I am especially excited to hear that The Speeds will be making the long journey from the west coast. I’d like to think our success and growing prestige over the last few Winter Tours has something to do with his coming. I’m certain the guaranteed $20,000 Pro cash purse helped!” Speed was able to take 2nd place in the Pro Shifter class during the first race in Homestead last month.

The Tour has also brought new blood to the States, including 17 year-old Canadian racer Marc Flood. Flood is a native of Montreal, Quebec and has taken up the Winter Tour as his first racing venture outside of Canada. He is not your standard tourist. Marc, who has received the honor as the Most Improved Driver of 2004 season at the Québec Karting Commission awards banquet, is also ranked #2 in the Québec Karting Championship. After the first race of the series in Homestead, Flood qualified with the second fastest time on Saturday and Sunday. The pre-finals on Saturday had set him back for the finals but he was able to come up from the 13th slot to take first place. Sunday’s turn of events had him on the same track until a rear axle broke causing his exit of the race. Flood will head to Moroso Motorsports Park and is expected to bring heavy competition to an already tough lineup.

The addition of Moroso’s 9/10 mile Karting facility has a taken over new generation of interest. The Moroso Jon Smith Subs Series will run in the Spring & Fall, offering competitive classes for all ranges of age and experience. The next event dates are: February 19th, March 19th, April 16th, May 21st and June 18th.

The Florida Winter tour is the kickoff to Moroso’s 2005 karting schedule. On February 12-13th, gates will open at 8am each day. Moroso will have practice days on Thursday and Friday, February 10th from 10 am to 10 pm (2 sessions) & on the 11th from 10 am to 6 pm. The cost for Open Practice is $45 per kart and $25 for each additional driver. Crew and spectator tickets are $15 each day per person while children 11 and under are free. For more information, please call the Moroso office at (561) 622-1400 or visitwww.MorosoMotorsportsPark.com andwww.FloridaWinterTour.com.

BOBBY RAHAL TO APPEAR AT THE STARS OF KARTING BOOTH AT THE KART EXPO
Seattle, Washington — Reigning Indy 500 champion owner and Snap-On Stars of Karting presented by the IRL series principal Bobby Rahal will appear at the upcoming Kart Expo show in St. Charles, Illinois on Saturday, February 26.

"I'm really proud of what we've been able to build with the Snap-On Stars Series in the past few years. We need to keep that momentum going with the IRL coming on board this year as Presenting Sponsor and to continue to support our Series Title Sponsor Snap-on, which is why it is important for me personally to come to Kart Expo and really stay acquainted with the karting community." “Bobby really has a strong commitment to boosting the profile of our series and North American karting as a whole, his presence at Kart Expo shows that,” remarked series marketing director Jeff Swoboda.

The Snap-On Stars of Karting series will be represented in booth #304 at the show that runs over the weekend of February 26-27 in suburban Chicago. The series will be sharing space with its allied sanctioning organization the WKA and is using the conference to inform participants about the 10-race season to come and meet with current and potential partners and sponsors. The series still has sponsorship and promotional opportunities available for companies interested in using the series to reach out to the karting market. Interested parties planning on being at the show can contact Jeff Swoboda at 818-985-4377 or jeff@starsofkarting.com <mailto:jeff@starsofkarting.com> to set up an appointment.

Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by the Indy Racing League is based out of Seattle, Washington, sanctioned by the World Karting Association (WKA) and owned and operated by 1986 Indianapolis 500 champion and IRL IndyCar Series team owner Bobby Rahal, IndyCar Series driver Bryan Herta and veteran karting promoter Paul Zalud. www.starsofkarting.com, www.worldkarting.com.

Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of tool and equipment solutions for professional tool users. Product lines include hand tools, power tools, automotive diagnostics and shop equipment, tool storage products, automotive diagnostics software and other solutions for the transportation service, industrial, government, education, agricultural, and other commercial applications, including construction and electrical. Products are sold through its franchise dealer van, company direct sales and distributor and Internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $2+ billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin and employs approximately 14,000 worldwide. www.snapon.com.

Formed in 1996 by Tony George, Stars' presenting sponsor Indy Racing League provides the ultimate in wheel-to-wheel racing excitement through the IndyCar Series and Menards Infiniti Pro Series. The 2005 season marks the 10th year of competition for the IndyCar Series, the pinnacle of open-wheel racing in America. The 17-race schedule, featuring 14 ovals, two road courses and a temporary street circuit, consists of the most events in season history. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series, an essential stepping-stone for drivers and teams striving to reach the IndyCar Series, will feature series-high 14 races in 2005, including three events on road courses and one street course. www.indyracing.com

PRINCE MICHAEL AWARD OF MERIT PRESENTED TO DOCTOR WHO TRANSFORMED MOTOR SPORT’S MEDICAL SERVICE

London, England — Mr Kenneth Walker, who has dedicated over 40 years leading improvement and change in medical services in British motor sport, was presented with the Motor Sports Association’s Prince Michael Award of Merit last night, Thursday 10 February 2005 at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London. Mr Walker received his award from His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent himself.

The Prince Michael Award of Merit is the Motor Sports Association’s most prestigious individual award. Although the Motor Sports Council (the sporting commission of the Motor Sports Association) has the power to make this award annually to a maximum of two recipients, it is only given out when ‘a meritorious service to British motor sport’ is judged to have been served.

Mr Walker, an eminent orthopaedic consultant surgeon, has been a volunteer motor sport medic in Britain since the Sixties. In that time he has been largely responsible for major advancements in medical facilities at British motor sport venues and the improved training of event doctors.

On receiving the award from HRH Prince Michael, Mr Walker said: “I’ve no idea why I’ve been nominated for this. Improving medical facilities in motor sport is an on-going process and not just the work of one person. This award must, therefore, be seen as the result of a very fine team effort.”

Mr Walker, from Virginia Water, Surrey became involved in motor sport by chance in the early Sixties when he was invited to take up a medical officer’s role at Brands Hatch by a fellow doctor who had interviewed him for a job. Since, he has been a prime mover behind many improvements to trackside safety and medical services. During the last 40 years he has held a number of positions, including that of Chief Medical Officer of the British Racing & Sports Car Club, the British Formula One Grand Prix and Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship, Chairman of the MSA’s Medical Panel and as a member of the MSA’s Motor Sports Council.

Mr Walker added: “I was instantly hooked by motor sport, but horrified at the lack of medical facilities and the fact that people could quite regularly perish or be seriously injured. There wasn’t even a medical vehicle and whereas today we have all kinds of specialist equipment and drugs on hand, back then there was just a bag of salt water and a grass bank. I asked myself why and looked into trackside structure. For example, we couldn’t put out fires so looked at how to put them out or have the fuel contained. Marshals wore these very ineffective aluminium fire suits that gave them a minute to do the job before they flaked out. A lot of things were quite obviously bad and had to be changed.

“Perhaps the toughest change to get through was the response time of medical crews to reach and start treating injured drivers. It’s now inside three minutes – anything over that and a driver with a blocked airwave will suffer irreparable brain damage. Before, 50 per cent of deaths were due to an obstructed airway so getting this changed was quite an achievement. We’ve saved a lot of lives.”

Mr Walker has also been largely responsible for major improvements in medical facilities at circuits and on events, with the regular setting up of inspections – passing is imperative to a venue’s operating permit. He has helped shape training programmes for rescue teams and medics and worked closely with 2002’s Prince Michael award winner Tony Reynolds, the President of the British Motor Sports for the Disabled, in opening up the sport to disabled competitors.

“There are so many simple things that we’ve put right over the years: fire marshals around the track, rescue units, fast medical cars and so on. It’s come on quite a lot since sitting there on South Bank at Brands Hatch in the Sixties,” said Mr Walker.

Dr David Cranston, currently Chairman of the MSA’s Medical Panel, has paid tribute to Walker, likening him to legendary doctor Sid Watkins who in the last 30 years has transformed medical facilities in Formula One. Dr Cranston said: “Ken has done for British motor sport what Sid Watkins has done for F1. I’ve always seen him as a mentor and everyone involved in providing medical services at motor sport events has looked up to him as a leader. Every competitor out there has also got a lot to thank him for. Ken will be the first to deny it, but he richly deserves this award. He is a first class guy.”

Editors’ note: The terms of the Prince Michael Award of Merit are well defined and strictly adhered to in considering nominations. The qualification of ‘meritorious service’ encompasses the following definitions: distinguished services or significant contribution to British motor sport; outstanding achieving in British motor sports; a conspicuous or exemplary act of bravery or courage or heroism while competing in or officiating at a British motor sport event. People ineligible to receive this award are: current members of the Motor Sports Council; directors and staff of the Royal Automobile Club; directors and staff of the Motor Sports Association; those who earn or who have earned their living principally through motor sports.

The previous winners of the Prince Michael Award of Merit are:

1991 Jack Romain

1992 Tony Bird

1993 Peter Cooper & Tony Fletcher

1994 John Felix & George Hall

1995 Brian Molyneux

1996 Tom Dooley & Dick Newsum

1997 Alec Rivers-Fletcher & Donald Grieve

1998 Michael Fenwick & Keith Douglas

1999 No award

2000 Bob Rae

2001 No award

2002 Tony Reynolds

2003 No award

2004 Mr Ken Walker

KART EXPO RELEASES “FINAL” EXHIBITOR LIST

Wheaton, Illinois. The “final” exhibitor list for the 13th Annual Kart Expo presented by SSC Racing has just been released. This year, the show with exhibitor space again sold out, will feature a myriad of exhibitors with products ranging from apparel, chassis and engines, to insurance and track designers and everything in between.

The show will run Saturday, February 26 and Sunday, February 27 in St. Charles, Illinois, about 45 miles west of Chicago. Kart Expo is one of the largest kart racing shows in the world with nearly 300 booths of equipment and services on display.

EXHIBITOR LIST

BOLD = Sponsor — [000]= Booth Number

Advantage Trailers [134, 138-142]
AIM Sports LLC [215-219, 314-318]
Alfano Data Acquisition (Canada) [410/412]
AMB it USA [300]

American Power Sports [201]

Amsoil Synthetic Dealers [414]

Apexway Products Corp. (Taiwan) [525]

Azzurro Wheels [426]

Bad Dog Tools [707]
Badger Kart Club [110]
Beta [131]

BGR Graphics [613]

Birel USA [232/234]

Boca Bearing Company [801]
Bowman Leisure Karts Ltd (UK) [109/111]
Briggs & Stratton Motorsports [116/118]
BTK Motorsports [431-530]

Burris Circle Track Series - RKA [804]
Burris Corporation [701/703, 800/802]

Burris Junior Pro Series [604-610]

CDOC, LLC [619]
Champion Racing & Distributing Inc. [529-535]

Chicken Hawk Racing [11]
Chuck’s Custom [413/415]
CKT Racing Engines [323-325, 422-424]
CompCor Distribution LLC [719/721, 818/820]

Contemporary Systems [216]

ContiTech North America, Inc. [06]

Corby Concepts [03]

Courtney Concepts [810/812]

CRG srl. [402]

DeCal Works [437/439,536/538]
Deep Seat [532/534]
Digatron [433/435]

Dino A/S (Denmark) [711]

Douglas Wheel [335]

DRE Inc. [104]

E.C. Distributing [811]

Easy Kart America LLC [229-235]

Effeciemme (Italy) [537]

E-KMI.COM [Lobby]

Electra Motorsports [214]

EndruanceKarting.com [113]
Entertainment Architecture [709]
Exotic Toy Builders/Robin Subaru [700]

Fast Lane Racing Apparel [214]
FKP USA, INC. [154-158]
FORMULA CAR MAGAZINE [417]

Formula K Raceways [521/523]
Freeburn Track Repair [513]

Freeline [133/135]

Fun Parts Xpress [715]

G.
GCK Motorsports [02]

Gearbox Racewear [303]
Gecker Motorsports [716/718]

GEM Products Ltd. [108]
G-Man Kart Works [317/319, 416]
Goldspeed USA, LLC. [144/146]

Grand Prix Distributors [708]

Grand Products, Inc. [813-817]

Haase USA [405/407]
Henry Motorsports [409/411]

Hewitt Inertia Dynos [502]

Hilliard Corporation, The [105]
Howden Communications Inc. [419/518]
HMS Motorsports [205/207]

IMI Motorsports/Team Biland USA [712]

Impact Helmets [333]
Intense Karting Imports [401/403, 500/502]
International Kart Federation (IKF) [416]
International Karting Products [819]

INTERNATIONAL RACING ASSOCIATION (IRA) [SKY BOX]

Italian Motors Ltd. [539-543]

Jim McCullough Racing [710]

J & J Racing [710/712]
John’s Kart Shop [123/125]
Jules Raceway [227]

K.
K & N Engineering Inc. [311]

Karting Industry Council [Skybox]
Kart 1 Distribution [423/425]
Kart Components (UK) [107]
KARTFAX.COM [Lobby]

Karting Worldwide [330]

Kartlift [620/622]

Kart Parts Unlimited LLC [120/122]
KartShirts ‘Nuff Said [08/09]

Kart Warehouse USA [222/224]
Karting Concepts Company-KCC(Belgium) [503/505]

Kart Ventures [803]

KG Racing Products USA [508/510]

Knight Insurance Brokers [511]

Kyosei International Corp. [808]

Laps for Kids [02]

L.R. Computer Solutions [10]

Lucky Design [230]

Mach 1 Kart USA [717]

Margay Racing Products [101-103, 200-202]

Max-Torque Ltd. [338]

MDI/Rimo Karts [203]
Merlin Racing Karts/Dream Works Karting Supply [624-632]

MG Tires [329]

Millenium (CKT) [327]

Mirage Motorsports [507/509]

MM Racing [621/720]

Mogo Performance Products [305]

Motorcity Shifters [705]

MRP Motorsport [137/139, 236/238]

National Kart News [527]
National Kart Supply LLC [504/506]

Noram Clutches [337]

North American Race Parts [708]

Northstar Motorsports [823/825]

O.
Ohio Valley Karting Association [05]

OMP America LLC [306/308]

PCR America

P & H Racing LLC [806]

Parolin Racing Kart snc (Italy) [607-611]

Paul Tracy Karts & Racewear Products [307/309]

Performance Bearing [805]

Peter F. Olesen & Associates [618]

Pfeifer Industries [336]

Pilot Race Gear [615/617]

Pit Fit Training [07]

Pit Pal Products [119/218]

Planet Kart [403]

Prazi U.S.A. [821]

Precision Motorsports [100]

Premier Performance Inc. [130/132]
Profile Racing Inc. [206-212]

Prospeed Kartsports-ECS Components [512/514]

R & G Manufacturing, Inc. [12/13]

RBI Racing [814/816]

Renegade Racing Bodies [434]

River Valley Kart Club [702]
RL Karts/Gold Tires [501]
ROC TIMING SYSTEMS (UK) [332/334]
ROCK ISLAND GRAND PRIX [209]
Romeo Motorsports USA [713]

Rotax National Tech Center [408]
Rotax Race Kart Products [406]
Rotax RM-1 Karts [404]
Russell Karting Specialties Inc. [160-164]

S & M Kart Supply [310/312]
Scribner Plastics [237/239]

Secrets of Speed Publications [601-605]

Shift Motorsports [515/517]

Shockwave Karting [211/213]
SMC – Structure Mechanics Corp. [326]
Sodi Kart USA [148-152]
SSC RACING [301/400]

Stars of Karting [304]

Stone Master Kart Products [600/602]
Stratos Karts [614/616]

Streeter Super Stands [124/126]

SUPER KART ILLUSTRATED [516]

SuperKarts USA [Skybox]
Supersport Timing Ltd (UK) [115/117]

T.
Target Distributing [339, 436/438]
Team Hurricane/Cameron Motorsports [223/225, 322/324]

Team Valhalla [328]

Technic Protection [522/524]

The Decal Zone (Canada) [714]
THE INSIDE TRACK NEWSPAPER [112]
Tore Motorsports, Inc. [807/809]

Tru-Bore [102]

T.S. Racing [428/430]

U.
Uncle Frank’s 4-Cycle Racing Specialists [313/315]
USA International Raceway [04]

W.
World Karts North America [427/429, 526/528]

World Karting Association (WKA) [302]
WR International Business, Inc. [331]

Xtreme X3 [704/706]

Zamp Helmets [432]

Note: Exhibitor list subject to change without notice.

“We would especially like to thank the sponsors of the 2005 Kart Expo International. The title sponsor of Kart Expo is SSC Racing from Palm Springs, California. Additional sponsors are ROC Timing Systems, FKP, Rock Island Grand Prix, Super Kart Illustrated, Formula Car Magazine, The Inside Track, International Racing Association (IRA), e-KMI.com and KartFax.com”, said Darrell Sitarz, expo director. “We would also like to thank Kart Shirts ‘Nuff Said, the “Official Apparel Supplier to Kart Expo” as well as the River Valley Kart Club members who volunteer their services for the show.”

For more info, go to ‘Kart Expo Update’ on this site or e-mail to karting@msn.com.

END

View 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

Copyright

Back to Home Page

Neatconcept, Inc