e-KMI.com Archives

International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

GO KARTING!
A Guide To The World's Most Popular Motorsport.

Kart Expo International

FYI ARCHIVES
11-19-2000

NEW “SPEC” KART SERIES INTRODUCED

Palm Springs, California - For the first time, an international “spec series” for karts will be introduced in the United States as part of the Rotax Max Challenge World Championships. Utilizing only approved chassis and tires along with sealed Rotax engines, this type of racing is similar to the exciting U.S.-based IROC series (International Race Of Champions) that has its focus on the talents of the driver not the cost of the vehicle and its preparation.

The Rotax Max Challenge will provide the amateur racing enthusiast with the experience, excitement, and challenge of racing world class karts without the commitment of considerable time and dollars. With the complete kart priced at less than $5,000 U.S., a ‘recreational” racer can now race at the most competitive levels of kart racing with minimal commitments of cost and time, and still look to becoming the Rotax Max “World Champion”.

The Rotax Division of Karbz, Inc., located in Palm Springs, California is conducting the U.S. Rotax Max Challenge 2001 through the appointed Max Challenge Centers throughout the country. Each Max Challenge Center will sell karts with “spec” motors and tires and conduct local racing. Competitors will qualify for the National Championship and compete to represent the U.S. in the Rotax Max Challenge World championships in Malaysia in November, 2001.

“We are very proud to be selected to organize and administrate this unique racing program allowing many recreational kart racers to have the opportunity to compete for an international championship with the Rotax Max Championship series,” said Joe Ramos, president of Karbz, Inc.

This years Rotax Max Challenge World Championships was held in Puerto Rico, on November 14-20. Eighty drivers from 26 countries were invited, all expenses paid by Rotax and Bridgestone, to compete in the championship event. All drivers used sealed Rotax FR125 Max engines and used the same spec Bridgestone tires. This ensured that the racing was close and extremely exciting.

Follow up story-

New Racing Series Fast Track To “Major Leagues”

Las Vegas, Nevada - The new Rotax Max Challenge, introduced last week at the Las Vegas Kart Center, offers an affordable, unique opportunity for both aspiring race drivers to launch their careers or recreational drivers to enjoy the competition in high performance racing environment.

With over 80% of today’s CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) drivers, as well as NASCAR drivers like Jeff Gordon getting their start with kart racing, it is clear that karting is one of the best places to prepare for an auto racing career. Kart racing provides an economical and accessible path to successful motor racing.

With CART drivers Paul Tracy, Memo Gidley, Alex Barron, Casey Mears, Bryan Herta, Richie Hearn, Alfonso Riebero, Claude Bourbonnais and Alex Tagliani racing in a 20 lap introduction event, these identical Max Challenge Maximo Karts showed why they are the fastest growing kart class in the world. Tracy paced the first part of the race with the lead then changing several times leaving Memo Gidley to take the checkered flag.

After the win Gidley said, “These karts are great! They are fast, forgiving and demand a smooth driver to be competitive which is the secret to winning. There are no surprises driving these Maximo Karts.”

Tracy added, “This new series is a great opportunity to enjoy competitive racing with affordable and well prepared equipment. It will be a very successful series.”

Richie Hearn stated, “The Max Challenge Maximo Karts are fast enough to require a high skill level to be competitive. I wish this series was around when I started racing. They’ll really be fun to drive.”

“These karts demand you become a smooth driver”, added Bryan Herta, “and I like that the cost of actual racing is under control.”

The Rotax Max Challenge Series will be conducted in 2001 at 12 Max Centers located throughout the USA. (See News Briefs for a list of the centers).

I-20 RACEWAY COMES BACK TO LIFE

Flint, Texas - The old I-20 Raceway has been purchased by LTO Motorsports of Flint, Texas and will be renamed Ark-La-Tex Raceway. Plans are underway to convert the drag strip into a karting track with state-of-the-art lighting and sprinkler system. The new track will be located just south of the return road on the old drag strip. The tracks will be a 1/5th mile dirt tri-oval with 8 degree banking and wide sweeping turns.

The old drag strip had some of the legends like Don (The Snake) Purdome, Gene (The Snowman) Snow and Shirley Muldowny racing on its surface throughout the years. Fans will find kart racers like A.J. Foyt IV (two-time International Kart Federation [IKF] Duffy winner), and local karting champions like David Snyder, IKF points champion in the Master Class and son Greg Snyder State Champion for Texas and Louisiana in the Junior II 2-cycle class racing on the new surface this coming year. As an added bonus, plans are under way to bring the 600 and 1200 Sprints to the new Ark-LA-Tex Raceway for the year 2001.

With kart racing the fastest growing motorsport in the country, the Ark-La-Tex Raceway will hold races every Saturday evening and will host the first annual Hill Billy Grand National race next fall. The tracks will also be host to IKF and World Karting Association (WKA) events. The grand opening for the new track is scheduled for March, 2001. For more information, contact LTO Motorsports @ 930-894-7129.

4-CYCLE TECH SEMINAR

The next World Karting Association (WKA) 4-cycle Tech Seminar Co-sponsored by WKA and Jimmy Eagle is tentatively scheduled for February 25, 2001 in Perrysburg, Ohio. The seminar will be presented by long-time 4-cycle technical director Ralph Helms. The program is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM and will take place at the Holiday Inn Express in Perrysburg, south of Toledo, Ohio. Participants will either receive a certificate of attendance or will become a certified tech inspector. The fee for the 1 day program is $75.00. For more information about the seminar contact Jimmy Eagle of American Go Kart at 248-361-1010. All attendees must be members of WKA. To contact WKA call 704-455-1606.

END

View Other Past "FYI" Articles

Kart Marketing Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 101
Wheaton, IL 60189 USA
Telephone: 630-653-7368
Fax: 630-653-2637
Email: karting@msn.com

Back to Home Page

Neatconcept, Inc