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FYI
07-28-2001

AN APOLOGY – Due to a glitch in our Microsoft e-mail software, last weeks FYI and News Briefs were late in being posted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please remember, all stories and columns on this site are archived by date for future reference. – Thank you, Darrell Sitarz, Publisher

CART SNUBS KARTING – DENIES e-KMI.COM CREDENTIALS

Wheaton, Illinois – In a fax received on July 21, Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) officials denied press credentials to e-KMI.com for the Target Grand Prix at Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero, Illinois held July 28-29. Upon receipt of the notification, a “protest” was filed with the speedway and with CART officials for this unprecedented development.

Matthew Freedman, Director of Public Relations and Promotions said in the fax to e-KMI.com that the request for credentials was based on a “Notification from CART officials to deny (the) request”. The “protest” letter was sent to both Freedman at Chicago Motor Speedway by fax and mail and to officials at CART by fax on July 21. Darrell Sitarz, President/CEO of Kart Marketing Group, publisher of e-KMI.com, has since received no reply.

“Just when CART needs all the positive publicity it can get, from wherever they can get it, they pull a stunt like this,” said Sitarz. “With karting and CART being involved in the “Stars of Tomorrow” program and the relationship between the two open-wheel sports well-known, this is certainly a slap in the face to karting as a sport and all who participate.”

A formal protest will be made next week to the National Motorsports Press Association, of which Sitarz is a member.

HISTORY AT CHICAGO MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Cicero, Illinois – Lynx Racing driver and former kart racer Sara Senske, 23, of Kennewick, Washington, made auto racing history Saturday July 28, 2001 by becoming the first female driver to start on the front row and score a podium finish in a race sanctioned by Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART).

On Friday, Senske qualified second in her #19 Lynx Racing Reynard 98E for Saturday’s 45-minute Barber Dodge Pro Series support race at the Target Grand Prix of Chicago. In Saturday afternoon race, under cloudy skies, Senske ran second for the entire race, fighting off challenges from several drivers, to finish second by just one car length behind pole-sitter Nicolas Rondet.

“It was a proud moment for me, as both a woman and as a driver,” said Senske, now in her fifth years as a Lynx Racing driver and her second season in the stepping-stone Barber Dodge Pro Series. “I was accustomed to qualifying up front and running for the win in every series I competed in before this, but it’s been a struggle to get back to that level of accomplishment is a series as competitive as this one. I think I’m finally there, and I’d like to thank Peggy Haas and Jackie Doty of Lynx Racing for having faith in me and (for) bringing me to this point in my career.”

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 racing 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 levels of the sport and provide them with the funding, equipment and training to take the last step towards realizing that potential, a process the team calls “Destiny by Design”.

For more information on Lynx Racing and its drivers contact the team’s public relation manager, Peter Frey at 818-906-6997.

BONDURANT REFRESHES FLEET

Phoenix, Arizona – After over 3,200 operational hours, the Bondurant SuperKart School has refreshed their fleet of KGB Spy 125 Shifter Karts. KGB is very excited about how well the Spy chassis has held up considering the extreme conditions and constant punishment put forth from the students.

After closed examination of the first fleet, KGB North America has revised this new set of karts to better suit the karting school. Not only were the chassis thoroughly prepped for hard driving, but also the chassis was designed specifically for the driving styles of Bondurant students. Among these changes are the addition of a removable front axle and re-engineered front-end geometry to accommodate the hard tires used at the school. The new line of Spy 125 karts is waiting for prospective drivers at the Bondurant SuperKart School.

For more information regarding the Spy 125 karts check out the KGB North America web site at www.kgbuse.com. For info regarding the Bondurant SuperKart School call 800-652-KART.

eKARTINGNEWS LAUNCHES FORUMS

Due to the demise of the popular karting forum web site: THEkartingwebsite.com eKartingnews.com has decided to present it’s own version of karting forums. Following six days of extensive beta testing, which were highlighted by hundreds of helpful suggestions, eKartingnews.com has officially launched their new “Discussion Forums” on July 24.

Much of the forums were modeled after the format championed by the soon to be retired “Thekartingwebsite.com”. According to eKartingnews.com, there are a few new topics for their message boards and a few familiar ones are gone. Their decision not to include certain forums was in no way based upon a lack of respect for the different sects of karting, but merely from a desire to keep the number of forums to a limited quantity. They reassured readers that the moment that they see a real demand for a new subject, or a need to delete one, that they will react to those needs and requests.

One important note: eKartingnews had originally intended to erase the “feedback” forum following the conclusion of their beta test, but they decided that they enjoyed having an interactive arena. Their readers will continue to be able to post their thoughts, suggestions and criticisms about all aspects of eKartingnews, and they will have an opportunity to respond to such inputs.

BRET LOVEJOY APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF IAAPA

Alexandria, Virginia – Bret Lovejoy was appointed President of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions in 2001, to succeed John Graff upon his retirement at the end of this year.

Lovejoy joined IAAPA after 10 years with the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), the last seven serving as its Executive Director. Prior to working for ACTE, he spent three years on the legislative staff of U.S. Congresswoman Marge Roukema (R-NJ), and before that held several consulting, realty, and legal positions in the Washington DC area.

A graduate of Washington & Lee University, Lovejoy holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a law degree from the College of William and Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law.

Mr. Lovejoy is married and lives in Sterling, Virginia.

END

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