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FYI
09-26-04

HCI ACQUIRES EKARTINGNEWS

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada — Howden Communications Inc. - a leading motorsports magazine publisher – has recently completed the purchase of Ekartingnews.com, the Internet’s top karting news site. The acquisition comes at the end of several months of negotiations between HCI and E Enterprises LLC, the company that has developed the EKN site since its launch in 2000. HCI will assume control of the site at the beginning of October and will work with the site’s editor to provide editorial during the transition.

Currently, HCI publishes a pair of motorsport titles: Super Kart Illustrated, a leading karting publication and FormulaCar Magazine, the only voice for junior-level formula car racing in the United States and Canada. “We are obviously very excited to be acquiring EKN,” said HCI President Rob Howden. “For the past couple of years, we have been considering expanding our Internet presence but that would have required an enormous investment in both time and money to develop a site and get it onto the radar for the electronic news readers. By acquiring EKN, we get a well-built website with an established following right away.”

“It was here at the SKUSA World Finals four years ago that we covered our very first national karting event as Ekartingnews.com," said EKN founder Glenn Holland. “We have a great sense of accomplishment building Ekartingnews into one of the largest elements in the sport. Rob has been helpful from the start and I could not think of a better person to take the reins and continue this great work.

“These four years have been fascinating, and our lives have changed a great deal,” added Holland. “I want to thank our advertisers, the many volunteer forum moderators and the people who have supported the effort. It was special.

“More than ever, karting needs strong leadership and integrity and we wish Rob and the team the very best in their continuing efforts.”

Howden added that EKN will remain a separate operation from Super Kart Illustrated, although the two entities will share resources. “We’re in the process of hiring an editor for Ekartingnews, whose sole responsibility will be the website,” Howden stated. “The two entities will compliment each other nicely and I can see them both evolving under our banner.”

For the remainder of the 2004 season, look for regular updates on EKN from the SKI news staff as they will be in attendance at the remaining major races of the year. The website will feature trackside reports of both the wheel-to-wheel action and the paddock happenings from the RotaxMax Grand Nationals, World Superkart Challenge, SKUSA SuperNationals and the Stars of Karting Race of the Americas.

Howden plans to announce the new editor for EKN in the coming weeks. In the mean time, Holland will stay on with the website through November to ensure a smooth transition.

‘STARS’ POSTPONES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS UNTIL NOVEMBER
Hilliard, Ohio — In response to recent and pending hurricane activity in Florida and the Gulf Coast region of the United States, Snap-on Stars of Karting officials announced today the postponement of their National Championship finale weekend, originally scheduled for September 24th-26th at Walt Disney World® Resort and Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Nationals will now be held November 12th - 14th and will utilize the same temporary track layout and weekend schedule as originally planned. The season-ending awards banquet honoring top karters in the Eastern and Western Divisions, which had been scheduled for the evening of September 23rd, will now be held November 11th at 6:30PM.

‘STARS’ ADDRESSES TWO TECHNICAL ISSUES
Hilliard, OH - Snap-on Stars of Karting addressed today two technical issues regarding its rapidly approaching series championship event on November 12-14 to be held at the Magic Kingdom® in Disney World® Orlando, FL.

"There has been some questions regarding tire usage at the Grand Final and we have decided to allow two full sets of slick tires - four front tires and four rear - for all classes including Cadet and Easykart. These tires are free for the competitors to manage at their will," details National Technical Director, Scott G Evans. "Wet weather tires will be specified in the 2004 Stars Tire Supplement." With unknown total entry counts until just prior to the event, the potential for multiple groups in each class exists and the possibility that 3 pre-final events to determine who qualifies for the final will need to be run in some of these classes is quite high. It is important that we allow competitors to have ample tires to remain competitive, especially that everything will be on the line.

REVISED UK KARTING STRUCTURE FINALIZED
London, England — Following discussions between the Association of British Kart Clubs (ABkC) and the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the revised administrative structure for karting in the UK will come into force with immediate effect.

The ABkC Steering Group has been expanded to include not only representatives of the kart clubs, but also panels of experts to consider specific fields of interest, for example direct drive, gearbox, commercial and championships.

The chairmen of these panels will be joined by representatives of kart clubs and the MSA to form the Kart Regional Committee. Decisions taken by that committee will influence directly regulations in the 'Gold Book', Karting’s Race Yearbook.

The Regional Committee will make recommendations to the MSA Kart Sporting Committee which, after approval by the Motor Sports Council, will be incorporated into the 'Blue Book'.

The Kart Control Board, originally set up to bring the sport and the commercial operators closer together and provide guidance on codes of practice for safety, has achieved its initial objectives. However, the KCB will continue to provide a link between the two sides, creating a forum for open discussion.

"The MSA will continue its role in the governance of the sport," affirms Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive. "We have recognized the importance of consultation with all parties and the ABkC forms the core of the karting community. The new structure will assist us greatly in governing the sport and will also help the sport to develop and progress."

"In the previous structure, we often felt we were on the outside, bombarding the MSA with our requirements," explains Russell Anderson, Chairman of the ABkC. "Now we are part of the decision-making process, it is up to us to make sure that the filtration of the message from the Kart Regional Committee is taken on to the next level. We are sure that this is the right way forward for karting and I am delighted that it has been well received."

"Having announced the initial outline of the restructure at the start of the year, we have had quite a lot of 'fine tuning' to undertake before it was fully in place," says Bruce Goddard, MSA Business Development Director. "One of my challenges is to make sure that the kart community feels like a genuine part of the overall MSA and I'm sure this revised structure will help us to achieve this."

UK MOTOR SPORTS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN OUTLINES VISION
London, England — Graham Stoker, chairman of the Motor Sports Council, has outlined his objectives for the governance of UK motor sport over the next twelve months. In a letter to the Council members, Stoker – who was elected chairman at the start of the year – proposed changes and improvements in the operation of the UK sporting commission and these suggestions were endorsed at last week's Council meeting.

The role of the Motor Sports Council has always been to govern UK motor sport and formulate the rules, promote safety standards and oversee the dispute resolution and appeals process. Now, however, Council will also consider the policy direction of the sport, the quality and development of British motor sport and ensure that the UK's views are presented at the FIA World Council. Council will also for the first time approve the calendar for the MSA British Championships.

To accommodate the expanded remit, Stoker has extended Council meetings to allow time for adequate discussion and debate and Council members will be invited to provide periodic reports on the direction of the sport and the issues to be addressed from their respective committees. Home country representatives will also report on the important issues in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"Our aim should be to fulfill a similar function to the World Motor Sport Council, but at the national level," says Stoker. "We have often referred to Council as the 'Parliament' of motor sport, but I don't think that people really know what that means. Council is the 'Sporting Commission', responsible not only for the regulations, but also for the strategic thinking about the development of the sport. It is a tremendously important role and I hope that refocusing our energies will help us to deliver even greater progress."

TLC INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES AMOA SHOW LINEUP
Schaumburg, Illinois — TLC Industries, Inc. (http://www.tlcind.com) will bring its launch lineup of four games to the AMOA International Expo, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth 5131. The full lineup on display includes: Orbz, RC Cars, Hamster Ball, and Bandits: Phoenix Rising. Four different FlexArcade cabinet styles will also be displayed: 19” and 27” stand ups, 27” sit down and a 19” Junior sit down.

“FlexArcade was created to solve many of the issues that currently plague the industry,” says Ed Bender, President of TLC Industries. “By designing FlexArcade to work with any FlexGame Pack, operators no longer have to purchase expensive dedicated hardware each and every time they want a new game. As a result, we believe operators will be able to lower the per-play price of their games while earning a higher return on investment, allowing them to buy more content from our rapidly expanding library of games and attract more people to play games.”

For additional information about TLC Industries, FlexArcade and their AMOA show plans, please contact James Hills, jamesh@tlcind.com or call 847-534-5120. At the show, please call: 703-585-1592.

‘STARS’ EASYKART CHAMPIONS HEADING TO SPAIN
Hilliard, Ohio — Snap-On Stars of Karting drivers Cory Pollock (Easykart 125 west champion), and Carlos Duenas (Easykart 125 east champion) prepare themselves for the
chance of a lifetime. Easykart, the first feeder series to Formula BMW USA, is sending its Stars of Karting champions on a fully paid trip to "Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo" in Valencia, Spain, for the opportunity to win a $40,000 FBMW scholarship. "Easykart would like to congratulate Carlos and Cory on a fantastic season," said Salomon Bendayan, COO of Easykart America. "These are two of the most talented drivers in the
USA today, we are proud that they will represent Easykart America in the upcoming Formula BMW Licensing course in Spain."

Sixteen-year-old Pollock, and twenty-two year old Duenas will head to Spain in November for their 2-day FBMW licensing course. Any driver attending the 2-day licensing course in Spain has the opportunity to win the $40,000 FBMW scholarship, so Pollock, and Duenas will be competing against some of the best young drivers in the world. "Formula BMW USA recognizes that in order to win an Easykart Championship, a young driver must exhibit the on and off-track qualities that we are always looking for," said Alex Schmuck, Program Manager, Formula BMW USA. "We look forward to seeing how Cory and Carlos do at their licensing course in Valencia, Spain."

With four wins, and his worst finish being fourth, Pollock's consistency paid off in his run for the Easykart championship. Duenas had a bit harder time in the east; he wasn't the champion until after the last checkered flag fell at road America, even though he had three wins. With 30 different drivers scoring points in the east, and 29 in the west (some ran at both the east and west series) points were earned, and not just given away. "The battles in the spec Easykart class were fierce all year at Stars," said Go Racing Magazine Editor, Sean Buur. "You never knew who was going to win at any of the events, first place was up for grabs most days. Pollock, and Duenas did a great job by just surviving the competitive nature of this class, every race, at every track was close, becoming the champion was no easy task."

Cory, Carlos, and several other drivers will also compete for a $15,000 cash prize at the Snap-On Stars of Karting Final in Orlando, Florida early in November. "The ability to move young talented drivers up the Motorsport ladder, in an economical, equal, and competitive manner is what Easykart and Formula BMW are all about," said Pablo Montoya, CEO of Easykart America. "$15,000 dollars is a lot of money for a kart race, and we could offer such a prize if we weren't confident that every driver in the field was equipped with a package capable on winning."

END

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