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FYI
10-03-04

AN APOLOGY

Due to a massive computer malfunction, FYI and NEWS BRIEFS for October 3rd were late being posted. We apologize for any inconvenience this delay may have caused. Thank you for your understanding.

—Darrell Sitarz, Publisher

‘STARS’ DRIVER ALAN SCIUTO WINS RIDE IN 2005 SKIP BARBER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Hilliard, Ohio — After beating some of the best karters in the business on his way to winning this year’s Snap-on Stars of Karting ICC Western Division class, 16-year-old Alan Sciuto hoped some post-season awards might be coming his way. Today, the first honor came and it was a big one. Sciuto, of Orange, Calif., is the recipient of the second annual Snap-on Stars of Karting - Skip Barber National Championship Scholarship ride and will contest the series fully funded in 2005 against some of the best up and coming drivers in North America. Chosen by a distinguished panel of motorsports personnel, Sciuto joins 2003 winner Robbie Pecorari as a recipient of this award. Last year, Pecorari won a race and scored five podium finishes on his way to fifth place in the 2004 Skip Barber National Championship Presented by RACER magazine.

In Snap-On Stars competition this year, Sciuto won two races (Moran #2, BC #2) and scored a total of seven podium finishes during the eight-race season in the “Kosmic Racing Team” ICC Class. Ironically, his worst finish of the year was the first at Moran Raceway in Southern California, where he did not score a point. Following that slight hiccup, he actually won the very next race, never finished off the podium and beat Ron White by a mere eight point margin.

“I am very honored and excited to win the Stars-Skip Barber Scholarship,” commented Sciuto. “I want to thank those who voted for me and believed in me. As always with these awards, there are many deserving drivers who could have won this, so this is amazing. While last season (2003) was successful, I believe I improved quite a bit this year and learned some key driving skills in the Snap-on Stars of Karting that I know will help me in the future, starting next season with the Skip Barber National.”

“We are very proud of Alan and this award,” said Stars’ principal and IRL IndyCar® driver Bryan Herta. “He did an exceptional job on and off the track this season on his way to the ICC Western Championship. Competing in the Skip Barber system has shown itself to be a very effective and beneficial proving ground for young drivers, including myself. The emphasis on driver ability and skill through equally prepared cars in the National Championship is key to their long track record of driver development. We fully believe Alan will be successful and proud to have him carry the flag of the Snap-on Stars of Karting Series.”

Rick Ratajczak, Skip Barber Racing series director, was equally effusive. "Alan Sciuto is well deserved of this award with the success that he has achieved this year in the Snap-On Stars of Karting series. Alan has great natural talent, but is not afraid to work his tail off as well. He has a terrific attitude off-track, too, which is a key to success in modern motorsport. The big step up to the Skip Barber National Championship is the next great challenge for Alan, as he follows in the footsteps of the many other talented young karters in the past history of that respected championship."

Snap-On Stars of Karting, based at Team Letterman-Rahal headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio, is sanctioned by the World Karting Association (WKA), the largest sanctioning body of kart racing in the United States. Owned and operated by 1986 Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal, IRL driver Bryan Herta and veteran karting promoter Paul Zalud, the series currently runs six classes of competition under this sanction, consisting of ICC, ICA, 80cc Junior, JICA, EasyKart and Cadet. WKA is a membership-owned, non-profit organization that regulates and promotes the sport of competitive WKA kart racing. WKA establishes the rules and procedures to set standards by which to sanction tracks and conduct annual championships for various types of WKA karting. For more information, please visit www.worldkarting.com.

MICHIANA RACEWAY PARK RETURNS TO HISTORIC HERITAGE WITH NAME CHANGE, PROPERTY FOR SALE
Buchanan, Michigan — MRP Motorsport, owner of Michiana Raceway Park, recently announced a new look and name for the 42-year-old racetrack that they have operated for nearly 20 years. The ¼-mile racetrack located on approximately 20-acres of scenic Southwest Michigan land has been renamed Rolling Green Raceway (RGR) and is accompanied by a fresh logo as well as a very exciting business opportunity for interested entrepreneurs.

“MRP Motorsport’s growth over the past ten years has been incredible,” said Garry Lobaugh, owner of MRP. “Our current focus on retail distribution and our acquisition of the MRP of South Bend (formerly South Bend Raceway Park) has given us incentive to find another party to develop the Rolling Green Raceway property further. We will assist the right people in making RGR a strong business venture.”

Rolling Green Raceway, formerly Michiana Raceway Park, has been a thriving karting and racing business for many years offering karting events, schools and corporate events. The track is fully equipped with a tower, concession stand, bathroom facilities, in-ground scales, storage/warehouse, a fleet of school karts and related maintenance equipment and much more.

“The location and history of the RGR property will give someone a very active business venture,” continued Lobaugh. “We are prepared to give the right parties involved full support and assistance with the Birel and Freeline product lines as well.”

Interested parties in the property may contact Garry Lobaugh @ MRP Motorsport via phone or email (269-756-9133, garry@mrpmotorsport.com).

MRP Motorsport is the largest importer of Birel chassis and Freeline accessories in North America with over 40 dealers throughout the United States. With a retail location in Three Oaks, MI and a warehouse facility that stocks nearly $2-million in inventory, MRP ensures prompt and accurate customer support. For more information on the MRP Motorsport & MRP of South Bend, contact Garry Lobaugh at 269-756-9133 or via email @ garry@mrpmotorsport.com. Also check out the website @ www.mrpmotorsport.com.

AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY RAISES $40K FOR HURRICANE-BATTERED CHARITY
Alexandria, Virginia — Amusement industry leaders raised $40,000 to benefit the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida last week during an impromptu fundraiser organized by Gary Story, chairman of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).

Although no big-ticket fundraiser was scheduled, Story asked attendees at the IAAPA Summer Meeting in Rust, Germany to donate $1,000 each to participate in a group photograph. The proceeds will go to Give Kids the World, an organization that fulfills the wishes of terminally ill children and their families by providing, for each “wish” family, a week of cost-free fun at the Give Kids the World Village—an enchanting destination that features amusement rides, round-the-clock ice cream, costumed characters, and day-trips to theme parks.

The Give Kids the World Village recently completed an expensive clean up following Hurricanes Charley and Frances, which dumped 5,000 cubic yards of debris on the property and caused minor structural damage.
“We are pleased to support Give Kids the World and we are always looking for new ways that our industry can assist in providing positive experiences for ill children,” said Story.

IAAPA has worked to raise funds and provide support for Give Kids the World since 1994. Recently, IAAPA manufacturer and supplier members provided materials and equipment to help the Village clean up after Hurricanes Charley and Frances.

The IAAPA Orlando 2004 Annual Convention & Trade Show in November—the amusement industry’s largest worldwide gathering, which attracts 30,000 attendees--features a charity golf tournament benefiting Give Kids the World.

“We are grateful for everything IAAPA and its members do for Give Kids the World, and we appreciate these recent donations from the bottom of our hearts,” said Pamela Landwirth, Give Kids the World president and CEO.

IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. The organization represents over 5,000 facility, supplier, and individual members from more than 85 countries. IAAPA strives to help members improve their safety, efficiency, marketing, and profitability while maintaining the highest possible professional standards in the industry. www.iaapa.org

KARTING WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT ON HOLD
Avon Lake, Ohio — This past weekend World Record drivers all met in Norman, Oklahoma to compete in the SKUSA World Finals and to plan our strategies for our world record attempt on October 21 & 22 or to postpone due the presidential election.

“We had a great weekend when it came to the racing. In a brief recap, our newest member to join the team Timmy Meginbier was on a roll”, said Gary Kannegiesser founder of “Laps for Kids”. “I was also very very happy with my results racing in Tag Senior and spotting my fellow competitors 41 years. I was able to finish 4th and finish the season with a national ranking of 3rd in the country.”

Kannegiesser continued, “Timmy’s dad supplied the van trailer and all his support to get the team to World Finals.
Phil Gordon drover van and trailer with karts and all the equipment from Chicago to Oklahoma and was a great wrench. Team member Travis Roberts didn’t race but did a great job for all of us in tuning the Laps for Kids Kart.”

That is where the good news ends. After a late dinner and talk of the future and the future of the World Record the team went back to the hotel to sleep on it and to decide in the morning. When they awoke Sunday morning at about 6:30 am they discovered that all our race equipment had been stolen over night. Tim’s van, trailer, all the karts and support equipment were stolen. The loss will go over $100,000.

“We are all sick at this time with the loss. We all have Regional and National Championships on the line for the year with 2 months to go. We don’t know what insurance will cover and how fast, so that we can get up and running,” said Kannegiesser. ‘I want to thank you all for your support. We still want to go after the record but that will now have to be postponed till 2005.”

For more info, go to www.LapsforKids.com or call 440 670 2897.

MSA JUDICIAL REVIEW COMPLETED
London, England — Following a complete review of UK motor sport's judicial system, September's Motor Sports Council approved the wording of the revised regulations to come into force on 1 January 2005.

Among the key points covered by the new regulations are:

The National Court, appointed by the Motor Sports Council, will become the final tier of Appeal in all cases.
The Stewards of the Royal Automobile Club will be invited to sit on the National Court, and there will not be any additional level of appeal beyond the National Court in order to avoid uncertainty and delay.
The MSC National Court will exercise the functions of Disciplinary Tribunal, Investigatory Tribunal, Eligibility Appeal panel.

The MSA will appoint a 'Disciplinary Officer' to advise on disciplinary action in the respect of any breach of the regulations.

In an attempt to have more issues settled on the day of an event, the only grounds for lodging an appeal against the Stewards of the Meeting will be that a gross miscarriage of justice has occurred or that the penalty imposed is wholly inappropriate to the breach of regulations.

And to speed up the appeals process, the National Court will decide within ten days if an appeal meets either of these criteria and if so will arrange for the National Court to be convened.

There will be no right of appeal to the National Court for third parties not involved in the original incident.

The review was led by solicitor and F1 Steward Tony Scott-Andrews, Chairman of the MSA's Judicial Advisory Panel.

"It has been a very interesting task," says Scott-Andrews. "There is no doubt that the previous system was not perfect, but in re-working it we have to ensure we are absolutely water-tight legally. I must thank everyone that has contributed to the review and the re-drafting."

"I am delighted that the judicial review has been conducted so efficiently and I am grateful to Tony Scott-Andrews and his team for their efforts," confirms Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the MSA. "In many areas this is a radical overhaul, but we now have a much more effective system which should make a big contribution to improving UK motor sport for participants, spectators and officials."

The complete wording of the new regulations will be incorporated into the 2005 Blue Book, which will be available on-line at www.msauk.org.

MSA TRAINING INSTRUCTORS TRAVEL TO CHINA TO TRAIN CHINESE RACE MARSHALS; INITIATIVE BACKED BY THE FIA FOUNDATION.
London, England — The Marshals Training Seminar was held at the Goldenport International Circuit near Beijing and hosted by the Federation of Automobile Sports of the People’s Republic of China (FASC).

The training was undertaken primarily for race marshals, but recognised China’s interest in other branches of motor sport including rallying and off-road, and consisted of one day of theoretical presentations including Basic Marshalling and Personal Safety, Incident Handling and Fire Fighting, Casualty Handling, Radio and Communications and Customer Care – including handling spectators and the media. This was followed by a day of practical exercises focusing primarily on Flag Marshalling, Casualty Handling and Fire Fighting.

The seminar included the launch of the Chinese language version of the new FIA Institute training video ‘Motorsport Marshalling’ and the supporting pocket guide to marshalling, both produced by the Motorsport Safety Fund, a founder member of the FIA Foundation and an independent UK registered charity.

"It was excellent to see the enthusiasm and commitment of all the marshals, and we were most pleased to see their very positive reaction to our seminar," said Dean-Lewis. "At a time when there is much focus on the current and future development of motor sport in China, it was a great privilege for myself and my three colleagues on our International Training Team to share our experiences with other marshals and event organisers in this way. We have made a lot of new motor sport friends in a very short period of time."

Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive, confirmed the prestige of being involved in the project. "It is important to stress that no one country is more important than another in our world of motor sport and we must all share our ideas and experiences," he commented. "That said, it is obviously a huge boost to the sport in this country that the UK's standards of training have been internationally endorsed by the FIA Foundation and the new FIA Institute. I am personally delighted that Allan's vast experience has been recognised at the highest level."

END

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