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FYI
07-15-2001

KARTING AUCTION SITE – UP AND RUNNING

Los Angeles, California – On June 29, P4K announced the launch of KartingAuction.com, a classified ad listing service for karting enthusiasts in the USA and Canada. Further enhancements to the new site including an auction service are expected to be launched in Late July 2001. The services are provided at no cost to buyers and sellers.

KartingAuction.com will have the following features that will appeal to kart racers:
1. Auto Notify – A “personal search agent” that automatically sends users new ads that match keywords that have been user defined.
2. My Checklist – “Mark” certain words for future retrieval, equivalent to circling an ad in the newspaper.
3. PayPal – KartingAuction.com is working with the popular payment system PayPal, which enables buyers and sellers to complete online transactions safely and securely. The site is in talks with escrow.com to fulfill the need for escrow services for larger items and they should have this service available in early July.

“This endeavor began in March 2001 as a way to bring those buying and selling used karting equipment together," says Mike Moser, President/CEO of P4K. “Our goal is to have in the vicinity of 700 listings by the end of the 3rd quarter, making us the market leader in this niche. CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) has already secured a banner advertisement on the site and has led to further requests for advertisements from other racing related companies. I believe KartingAuction.com will be a fantastic way to fill a need in the karting industry.”

INJUNCTION AGAINST TEXAS TRACK

Lampases, Texas – On Monday July 9th, the folks from TNT Speedway were present at a hearing in order to defend it against local citizens complaining about noise from the track. The judge did, in fact, side with the citizens by enforcing a temporary injunction against the track. The court stated that the track could continue to be used for private use, but not for public use. The final court date is expected to be within 30-90 days. The purpose for imposing the injunction was based on noise.

After the ruling, the track owners purchased a decibel meter to help determine how to get below the mandated decibel requirements set forth by Texas law. They will be testing approved exhaust silencers this weekend and hope to find acceptable ones that will meet dB requirements.

Anyone interested in assisting the track management can contact them at tntspeedway@aol.com or by calling 254-542-3497.

PRATER OUTLASTS THE COMPETITION

Mt. Meridian, Indiana – Round four of the SSC Pro Shifter Series at Putnam Park Raceway found another furious battle for the top spot with the eventual winner, Clayton Prater, winning the battle o mechanical attrition to take his first Pro win of the season.

Sunday morning qualifying saw Todd Jurs putting in a quick lap to sit on the point followed by Kevin Heatter and Marc Miller, the winner of Saturdays Formula S1 race. Next were Tim Koutney and Chris Wright in 5th position.

At the start of the 25-minute race, a group of ten karts shuffled for position. Koutney was not able to complete a lap as he retired with a blown head gasket giving Miller a great chance to close in the point standings.

The early leader was the pole sitter, Todd Jurs, who looked very comfortable in the front. Within a few laps, Miller looked like he wanted to be in second position and after a few laps the group, led by Miller, closed back up on the rear bumper of Jurs. The lead pack then consisted of Jurs, Miller, Heatter, and Prater. Erik Winberg, Chris Wright, Patrick Burke, Derrick Roderweiss and Jon Kettlewell. On lap 5, Roderweiss got into the side of Burke, sending Burke straight into the turn-10 barrier. That would end Burke’s day with a severely broken machine. By lap 7, the lead group had been narrowed to four drivers while Jurs, Miller, Heatter and Prater were able to pull away from the rest of the field. Each driver took turns at the front though Jurs, running consistently quick laps looked comfortable in the lead.

Attrition was taking its toll as mechanical failures took many of the front-runners, one by one, out of the race. Wright and Winberg both went out on the same lap with problems. Miller went out on lap 13 with a broken motor mount, spoiling his chances of coming away from Putnam with the points lead. Heatter severely blistered a left front tire and went out on lap 15. Also on lap 15, race leader, Todd Jurs, after his engine blew a head gasket.

Clayton Prater, running in the top five the entire race, was left alone as the leader and was able to hold off for the victory. A charging two-kart draft of Roderweiss and Kettlewell closed the gap considerably but fell short by .439 of a second at the line.

The SSC Pro Shifter Series will venture to Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois on July 29 for Round #5 of the series. Last year, the wide-open track layout of Gateway made drafting a must and ten-wide action possible for last lap darts for the finish line. The racing action promises to be the same this year as the competition at the front of the pack has been fierce all season.

VINTAGE KART NATIONALS

Cuddebackville, New York – According to the promoter, Carl Billington, sufficient entries have been received to insure a successful event. In fact, there will be a minimum of three classes: dual engine, single engine and Sportsman. The Sportsman class is for slower engines: Clinton, West Bend 580, Bushing motors and those who only want to "Track Test” or “Track Display” their equipment without mixing it up with the all out racers. If additional entries require it, the single engine class will be split into A and A-Super classes while the dual engine class will be split into B and C.

Because enough people signed up in advance, making the event possible, entries will now be accepted by mail, up to July 30, at $80 and on-site on race day at $85. Entry is by driver, per class. Entry fee includes practice on Saturday, a pit pass for both days, one class entry on Sunday and transponder rental on race day. A second class is available for $25. An informal swap meet and kart show will be held throughout the weekend at no additional cost.

For more info call 978-632-9682 or karter@tiac.net.

END

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