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FYI
08-26-2001

SSC RACING AND PAUL TRACY KARTS JOIN FORCES

Palm Springs, California – Joe Ramos, President of KARBZ Inc., dba SSC Racing, officially confirmed entering into a comprehensive licensing agreement with Paul Tracy of Tracy Karts. This agreement will allow SSC Racing to develop, build and distribute a full line of Tracy Kart products. The line will include chassis and turn-key models starting with a Tracy Kid Kart, Tracy Cadet 80/60cc shifter, Tracy 100HPV, Tracy 80/125cc shifter and a Tracy RMax (Rotax). Gearbox Racewear, also owned by KARBZ, Inc., will introduce a full line of Tracy Kart safety and casual apparel.

“We’re very excited and honored to have established this relationship with Paul Tracy and Paul Tracy Karting/MRE Racing. The programs and promotional opportunities have been flowing here as SSC," said Ramos. “I have a lot of respect for Paul, not only as an accomplished Champ Car driver, but also for giving himself back to the sport that allowed him to fulfill his dreams. It is SSC’s goal to do everything possible to help Paul meet yet another goal – to help young drivers fulfill their own dreams. This will aid them not only as future racers, but as well-adjusted, mature young men and women that represent our sport with pride and dignity and who will move on through life in whatever endeavors, taking something worthwhile from their karting experience.”

“To this end,” Ramos added, “we plan to introduce such programs as “Paul Tracy Motorsports for Kids”, and a special “Paul Tracy Rotax Max Challenge” for the disabled community. “This program, with Paul’s endorsement to the disabled community, is something very special to me, personally. SSC team driver Roy Schellenberger and Florida’s recently crowned RMax Challenge Regional Champion, William Peetz, are two guys who have been disabled in motorsports accidents but have continued to have the drive to compete. I’m proud to have some affiliation with these guys.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity and I’m excited to be joining forces with SSC, CRG and their whole team to manufacture and distribute the Paul Tracy Karting Chassis,” said Paul Tracy. The SSC organization is a perfect fit for Paul Tracy Karting and I believe that we will see the results speaking for themselves in the near future.”

Ramos added, “Our relationship with Paul Tracy Karts extends through a multi-year contract. This allows us both plenty of time to develop products and programs which will help young kids and bring heightened awareness to kart racing.” He continued, “ We have already started developing new chassis models at our factory in Italy. The development team in Italy, is headed by five-time world champion Danilo Rossi (manager of CRG), who is working hand-in-hand with Tim Pappas of Paul Tracy Karting/MRE Racing. Both Tim and Danilo are committed to winning and will bring the most competitive line of products ever seen on American circuits. The Tracy Kart products will also be distributed worldwide. We’re currently developing our marketing strategy that will fit international distribution of all Tracy Kart products.”

Official introduction of the new Tracy Kart lines will be shown early in November, 2001 at the SEMA Show and at the Stars of Tomorrow/SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas, Nevada as well as at the PRI Show in Indianapolis, Indiana during the first week in December.

BANKE RELEASES “JACK THE BEAR” AND MORE

Carson City, Nevada – Banke Racing Works announced that after extensive testing with spectacular results, that the new Banke/RLV “Jack the Bear” 125cc exhaust system is now available from Banke and RLV dealers everywhere.

According to Betty Banke, the new “C2 Jack the Bear” pipe may be the best pipe ever developed. It produces the same power band as the Banke/RLV B4 system, but more of it! With spacer tuning, the length can be set for low end or top end. The new pipe provides the wide power band necessary for today’s racing requirements.

Also from the Banke racing laboratory – Banke in cooperation with KB Performance Pistons, a division of United Engine Machine, is pleased to announce the completion of a year-long project in the development of a RS-style 125cc piston. The pistons will be available in early September.

The new pistons will be offered with the following attributes:
a. Run-in will not be required –install the piston, heat cycle the ring and line up.
b. Blow-by does not exist
c. The pistons are designed around the KB hypereutectic alloy, so piston life is greater than ever.

For more information see their web site at www.bankeracing.com or e-mail to bbanke@msn.com.

CENTURY PERFORMANCE TO OPEN IN COLORADO

Denver, Colorado – Century Performance, Inc. will officially open the doors to their new full-service kart shop on September 6th. The new shop will cater to all classes of karters from 5-HP Briggs to the 125cc shifters with a strong effort in introducing more young people to the sport.

All chassis repair and set-up as well as engine rebuilds for all classes will be done at the facility that is located at 2125 South Platt River Drive in Denver, Colorado 80223. The new shop will offer complete machine shop services as well as welding and metal fabrication.

Century Performance, Inc. is a dealer for Birel and KGB karts as well as Woltjer and SwedeTech racing engines. The shop will also offer used and consignment karts along with both line of new karts. The DRC Racing Products line will also be introduced during the shop opening, which consists of products, manufactured by or for Century Performance. The DRC line of products at present includes driver gear and accessories for karts and pit.

Trackside support will be offered by Century Performance as well as chassis set-up seminars at the shop during the winter months. In addition, Dustin Courter will continue to make himself available for one-on-one or group driving instruction.

For more info call 303-975-1114 or on the web at http://century-performance.com.

LONG LEADS BRIT CHAMPIONSHIP

Knockhill, Scotland – Californian and kart racing champion, Patrick Long, became the first American driver ever to lead the prestigious British Formula Ford Championship, following his dominant victory last weekend at the Knockhill circuit in Scotland. Starting fourth on the grid in wet, drizzly conditions, Long judged the slick surface perfectly and moved into the lead by the end of lap one. He led all 24 laps for his third victory of the season.

Long’s points-grabbing result, coupled with problems for Swedish challengers Robert Dahlgren and Richard Goransson later in the race, vaulted Long into a 15-point lead in the championship over Dahlgren. If Long captures the British Formula Ford title, he would make history as the first American to do so.

“This weekend changes everything,” said an ecstatic Long. “The entire championship has been turned upside down with me in the lad. I guess you could say it’s my championship to lose. None of us had ever turned a lap at Knockhill in the wet, so I think I found the limit faster than the other drivers did today. I was definitely going for the win and was fortunate enough to get the job done.”

Long came to grips with the damp Knockhill circuit immediately, passing the second and third place starters on the outside of Turn One. He then hounded teammate Goransson before slipping past entering the last turn on Lap One. From there, it was clear sailing for the Van Diemen Works driver, although two Safety Car (Caution) periods did bunch the field requiring restarts.

Patrick Long’s historic title quest continues September 1-2 at Thruxton. On August 25-26, he will drive in a Euro Tour Formula Ford event in Sweden. Long is currently second in the Eurotour Championship following the first round at Donington.

FORMER KARTER FINALLY SCORES

Budapest, Hungary – Up and coming Italian motor racing star Giorgio Pantano scored his first points finish of the FIA Formula 3000 Championship season when he finished fifth at the Hungaroring facility in Budapest.

Pantano, who has risen rapidly through the motor racing ranks, was competing in karts only two years ago and is now performing just one step away from Formula One grand prix racing – his ultimate goal.

The Italian ran strongly from the start of the meeting in Hungary, although ultimately he qualified his Astromega Lola only 11th. “We were looking good for a place in the top six,” he said, “but I think we were just a bit unlucky. The track was definitely quicker in the second qualifying session, but for various reasons we were unable to get a clean run. There were cars spinning off, there was dirt on the track and I made a mistake on what turned out to be my best lap. I thought, ‘Oh no, not again’, but things went pretty well for us in the race.”

At a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult, Pantano moved up to ninth place on the opening lap and moved up the field as rivals made mistakes on the dusty, slippery track. By lap 30, he had climbed to sixth place and that became fifth on lap 34 when title contender Mark Webber spun off. For the third time this season, Pantano also set fastest lap of the race.

“The important thing today was patience,” said Giorgio. “It was very, very easy to make mistakes because track conditions were very difficult. It didn’t take much to lock a brake or stray off line, and if you did that it was easy to get into big trouble. I am not in this business to finish fifth. I want to win every race I do, but this marks a small new beginning. We have ended our run of bad luck and we showed our race speed once again. If we had been able to qualify in the top six, as we should have done, who knows what we might have been able to achieve? But this has definitely been a step forward and I am looking forward with relish to the final two races.

Pantano’s next race is on September 1st at Spa, Belgium.

GEORGE CARLIN WILL SPICE UP SEMA DINNER

Diamond Bar, California – George Carlin, the headliner comedian at this year’s SEMA Industry Awards Reception and Banquet, and the Chevrolet Camero have something in common. Their careers were in development stages in the 1960s.

Both endure as American favorites and both will be at the SEMA Show Tuesday October 30- November 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada this year.

Carlin is the opinionated, controversial and caustic performer with a twist of innocence whose latest book, “Napalm and Silly Putty,” made the New York Times Bestseller List earlier this year. An earlier book, “Brain Droppings,” also made the list.

His cameo-role performance in the newly released film “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is stealing attention away from the movie’s stars.

Carlin has been performing comedy full-time since he and (then) partner Jack Burns quit their day jobs in radio to concentrate on comedy in 1960. He made more than 130 appearances on the Johnny Carson “Tonight Show,” and was a high-rotator guest on other popular television shows of the 1960s as well.

In the ‘70s, he abandoned mainstream entertainment venues for the counter-culture folk clubs and coffeehouses whose audiences relished his beyond-irreverent routines.

Carlin’s records and HBO specials have merited Grammy and Emmy nominations and awards. Carlin was awarded a start on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1987.

And like Cameros, which have their detractors (principally Mustang fans), Carlin also has his share of people who don’t appreciate his style or his performances.

The SEMA Banquet will be at the Las Vegas Hilton on Thursday, November 1 beginning with a cocktail reception at 6:30 PM. Dinner will follow at 7:30 PM with entertainment and awards interspersed through the evening before Carlin’s performance. Tickets are $50.00 per person and may be ordered online at www.semashow.com or call 909-396-0289 x127.

Note: The SEMA Show is a trade-only event. Kart Racing will be represented at the show by a number of companies and associations.

END

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