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FYI
06-17-2001

ANDERSON KARTS COMING TO AMERICA

Ponoma, California – Championship-winning Anderson race karts from England are now available in America through new U.S. distributor, Anderson Karts USA.

“We are proud to be introducing the most sophisticated racing kart in the world to the U.S. market,” stated David Dewhurst, director of marketing for Anderson Karts USA. “Anderson has dominated British road racing events for many years with its M8irage and Maverick chassis and now it’s time to take the lead in North America.”

Anderson karts will be available for the Kadet class as well as 125cc sprint and road race versions and the all-conquering 250 Maverick.

“Anderson karts are different from every other kart on the market today,” explained Anderson Director of Engineering, Barry Lawrence. “Every part of an Anderson kart is hand built in the British factory. Everything from the unique adjustable steering geometry to the six-piston rear-brake calipers us hand crafted only for the Anderson kart. This raises the bar on quality that others are going to have to match.”

Unlike less sophisticated karts on the market, every Anderson kart will be delivered virtually race ready with a long list of high-end parts normally associated with much more expensive formula cars. The 250 Maverick chassis includes rack-and-pinion steering, fully adjustable camber and caster, full bodywork, including nose and side pods, a two-element rear wing, four-piston front brake calipers and vented rotors, six-piston rear calipers and a vented rotor, steering-mounted brake-bias adjuster, side-mounted aluminum radiator, parallelogram motor mounts and all cables. A racer only needs to choose an engine, exhaust and tires.

Similarly, the all-new 125cc Maverick chassis can be ordered with all the same high-end features except for the multi-element rear wing. A driver can also choose between a conventional three-pedal arrangement or a two-pedal system with a hand clutch. The rack-and-pinion steering can also be replaced by a more common direct-steering system.

With such sophistication, it is hardly surprising that the all-new 125 Maverick Sprint chassis was up with the leaders in its very first race in England at the end of 2000. “Were starting 2001 with the fastest and most sophisticated karts America has ever seen,” said marketing director, David Dewhurst. “With the help of Yamaha Motor Corporation, Varner Motorsports and FMF, we have a winning combination for other to follow.”

You can see the exciting full line of high-end Anderson karts and equipment at www.andersonkartsusa.com.

EVANS CONDUCTS ROTAX CONFERENCE

Palm Springs, California – Scott G. Evans, Rotax Max Challenge National Technical Director, based in Chicago, Illinois, traveled to SSC Racing headquarters in Palm Springs, California, to conduct training on the operation and service of the Rotax Max FR125 spec. engine.

Evans spent Saturday, June 9th with the HQ Production Staff, covering all aspects of the FR125. Among areas of particular note were ways to determine whether or not this sealed, spec-class engine had been tampered with. Evans has been to a number of regional Rotax Max races and official challenges and is clearly the premiere expert in the United States on all FR125 technical matters.

On Sunday morning, June 10th, Evans conducted the conference to which all West Coast and Southwest Rotax regional distributors were invited. In attendance were Andy Sesseman and Jay Carmody (SoCal region); Bill Hettick (Washington/Oregon region); George Barros (NorCal region); James and Dan Rooke (Arizona region); Curtis Coksey and Brooke Parker (Nevada region); and SSC staff: Peter Ruiz, James Perez, Kerry Goss, Tom White and Joe Ramos.

Ramos, mastermind of the introduction of the Rotax program in America stated, “This type of training and interface with our regional distributors is essential to maintain the tight control on the spec portion of the U.S. Rotax Max Challenge. Our primary mission with Rotax is to make it the first spec program to succeed. Where like-programs have been introduced to the U.S. in the past, the single point of failure has been the loss of spec controls.” He further stated, “ Evans’ technical savvy and in-depth understanding of the FR125 are not to be kept secret. Earlier this year, we sent Scott to Austria to train at the Rotax factory, and we fully intend to share his knowledge with all of our regional distributors, the only authorized Rotax FR125 service centers for the Rotax Max Challenge.”

Tom White, SSC Communications Director and administrator of the U.S. Rotax Max Challenge offered, “Two more meetings are planned. Tentatively, we are working to hold an identical program at Norway Speedway (near Chicago) for the Midwest and Northeast regional distributors, and another to benefit the South and Southeast regions.” When asked for more information, White stated, “The future meetings are in the planning stages, but we anticipate that within the next six weeks both will have been completed.”

For more information about the U.S. Rotax Max Challenge, please contact Tom White at 760-864-1320 x13 or twhite@sscracing.com.

FORMER KARTER IS, WHAT ELSE… FAST!

Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan – Of all the drivers roaring through the streets of Detroit this weekend, one will have a particularly unique story to tell.

Former karter, Sara Senske, 21 of Kennewick, Washington is one of the fastest-rising female drivers in open-wheel racing today. As she drives for Lynx Racing, the only championship-winning team owned by women to have graduated drivers to the ranks of the CART Fed-Ex series, including Patrick Carpentier (now driving for Player’s/Forsythe) as well as Alex Barron and Memo Gidley (CARTs new ‘super sub’ duo). All of these drivers are former championship kart racers!

Now in her fifth year as a Lynx driver, having paid her dues in the Barber Dodge school series (the Little League of racing), the Star Formula Mazda series (High school varsity), and the now defunct Women’s Global GT series (women’s semi-pro fast pitch softball), she now drives in auto racing’s equivalent of college varsity, the Barber Dodge Pro Series. The next step up the ladder of open-wheel racing is the CART Toyota Atlantic series (equivalent to triple A baseball) followed by the majors, the show, the CART FedEx series.

“It’s a long ladder to climb, bit I belong to the best team to help me get there, and by the time I do, I’m going to be one heck of a player,” says Senske, who drives the black with turquoise and yellow trim #19 Lynx Racing Reynard 98E. “A course lie the one on Bell Isle is a major step in my training because if you can survive and do well in a race here, you can survive and do well anywhere!” Senske continues, “ I had some things going on in my life last year and crashed here, which really drove home the importance of having your mind in the right place before climbing into a race car. Since then, I’ve been working with the team and with a driving coach named Ron Langford who specializes in mental preparation, so I’m expecting to put in a much stronger performance.”

2001 marks the 11th anniversary of Lynx Racing, one of the most unique organizations in auto racing today. Created and owned by two women, Peggy Haas and Jackie Doty, Lynx is both a championship-winning race team and a uniquely successful driver development program that focuses on a driver’s mental, psychological and spiritual growth in addition to their on-track skills.

The Lynx mission is to seek out young drivers with the desire and potential to become champions at the highest level of the sport and provide them with the funding, equipment and training to take the last step toward realizing that potential, a process the team calls “Destiny by Design”.

In addition to Senske, the Lynx stable of drivers also includes David Rutledge, 22, and Michael Valiante, 21, both of Vancouver, BC, Canada, who are teammates on the championship-winning Lynx Racing CART Toyota Atlantic team. Rutledge and Valiante qualified and finished 1-2 in the Atlantic race held last weekend at the Air Canada Grand Prix of Montreal.

END

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