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FYI
04-01-2001

ALEX BARRON OPENS KART SHOP

Murrieta, California – Former karter and now auto racer Alex Barron has opened a kart shop - Barron’s Hi-Performance Karts – in Southern California. The shop, located at 26811 Hobie Circle – Unit 6, in Murrieta, carries the full line of JM Racing Products and specializes in complete, turnkey packages such as the Italian-built TonyKart shifters with Honda engines, TonyKart/Vortex/KRC shifters and RotaxMax packages. The complete race shop will also carry race gear from Sparco. For info call 909-461-2404.

GIORGIO PANTANO WARMS UP!

Interlagos, Brazil – Giorgio Patano came away from his first FIA Formula 3000 race in good spirits after proving he and the Astromega team will be front-runners in the series this season.

Despite never having raced at Interlagos before, the Italian qualified in the top six. His car was damaged in a first-lap collision, however, which forced him to pit for a new nose section. Pantano returned to the track and despite running with slightly bent suspension, raced through to 10th place from the back of the field. He spun off at the start of the last lap while challenging for ninth place, however, and was only classified 19th.

“I am treating this weekend as a warm-up session,” Pantano said. “The result might not look too good, but I am pleased with the level of our performance. Although I have tested an F3 car at Interlagos before to learn the track, everything felt very different in an F3000 chassis. The car was good in qualifying and I thought we were set for a strong race. I made a decent start and was challenging Richardo Sperafico for fourth or fifth place as we came into the second turn. I was pulling along side of him, but I don’t think he saw me and we touched. It was just one of those things, an unfortunate racing accident.”

“After I stopped for repairs, I quite enjoyed my recovery drive. The lap times weren’t too bad, particularly when you consider that there were parts of the car we couldn’t repair after I clashed with Sperafico,” Pantano continued. “Generally, I am very encouraged with the way things have gone. The team has worked very well and I think we will be in good shape when we get to Imola, (San Marino) which is a home race for me. As far as I am concerned, my season starts in earnest there… and I can’t wait.”

Astromega team manager Sam Boyle said, “I’m pleased that we have had a chance to see Giorgio’s potential this weekend. He has a very calm, controlled approach to the job and we are expecting great things of him this season.

The next round of the FIA Formula 3000 Championship will be held at Imola, San Marino on April 13-14.

KIC TO MEET IN NASHVILLE

Granger, Indiana – The Board of Directors of the Kart Industry Council (KIC) will meet at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee on April 6-7. The agenda will include discussion regarding the new North American Karting Association, the 2001 advertising campaign, insurance, the newsletter, and other topics.

KIC Board Election - The election for four board members also took place last week with the following results: Tom Patronite - Azusa Engineering, Charlie Pistorio - Grand Products were re-elected. New board member are Jeff Clements - Tecumseh Products, and Darrell Sitarz – Kart Marketing Group, Inc.

BRIGGS & STRATTON CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE EQUIPMENT & ENGINE TRAINING COUNCIL

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Briggs & Stratton recently presented a check in the amount of $12,500 to the Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC). Formed in 1996 by a small group of power equipment professionals, the EETC has worked tirelessly to address the critical shortage of qualified service technicians in the outdoor power equipment industry.

“We have been supporting the EETC since its inception,” said Curt Larson, Vice President, Distribution Sales and Service. “EETC is responsible for creating the curriculum to train outdoor power equipment service technicians and has also developed an accreditation program to assist schools and colleges with industry-based standards. The technicians that are being trained today will be working on Briggs & Stratton powered equipment tomorrow.”

Briggs & Stratton is committed to designing and manufacturing a complete line of engines that are environmentally sensitive, while delivering power and performance that consumers have come to expect from our brand. Backing these products is an authorized service network of over 30,000 dealers, including more than 4,300 Master Service Technicians worldwide, providing excellent service with competitive prices. In addition, 100 Briggs & Stratton Central Sales & Service Distributors across the globe provide prompt back-up support on all after-market sales and service matters.

IAAPA NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

Alexandria, Virginia – The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has appointed Bret Lovejoy to succeed John Graff as its President. Lovejoy is currently Executive Director of the Virginia-based Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).

He will start on May 15th and report directly to the IAAPA Board of Director, overseeing the overall management of all association activities, programs and services. Graff, who is retiring after 22 years with IAAPA, plan to stay on until December 31st to ensure a smooth transition, during which time Lovejoy will carry the title of President and Graff will be CEO.

“Bret comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience,” states Bill Sims, IAAPA’s current Chairman of the Board. “We’re delighted to have a professional of Bret’s experience and expertise to lead the association’s efforts.”

Lovejoy has been with the 35,000-member ACTE for the past ten years, the last seven of which as its Executive Director, Prior to working for ACTE, he spent three years on the legislative staff of Congresswoman Marge Roukema (R-NJ), and before that held several consulting, realty, and legal positions in the Washington, DC area.

“IAAPA is an exciting organization with a tremendous future,” said Lovejoy. “ look forward to working with the membership to help shape the future of such a dynamic and changing industry!”

OPEI LAUNCHES INTERNET JOB LISTINGS

Alexandria, Virginia – The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has announced a new service for job listings in the outdoor power equipment industry. As part of OPEI’s homepage, CyberLawn, this new feature is open to everyone with an interest in the industry’s job market and it will be readily accessible and cost effective. Employers will pay a small fee for their listings; OPEI members will receive a discount: and it’s free to job seekers.

This service will be promoted extensively throughout the industry including EXPO 2001 in Louisville, Kentucky on July 20-22, 2001. For more information see CyberLawn at http://opei.mow.org , then click to “Job Listings”.

END

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Wheaton, IL 60189 USA
Telephone: 630-653-7368
Fax: 630-653-2637
Email: karting@msn.com

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