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International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide
International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide


Kart Expo International
ExhibitorInformation and Show Directions

 

 FYI
11-28-04
    ITALKART EXPANDS INTO THAILAND 
    Italkart Racing Factory is proud to announce its expansion into the Thailand karting market.  Thomas Randorf, the owner of Italkart Thailand will be the exclusive importer for the country.  “I am really pleased to be the importer for Italkart. The chassis has been extremely fast in testing and we placed 3rd in our first outing.  We are excited about our future and thrilled about this exceptional product.” 
     
    Thomas Raldorf was born in Denmark and has more than 24 years of experience racing nationally and internationally in Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Cyprus, Cambodia and Thailand.  He captured numerous national titles and worked with great drivers such as Jan Magnussen (who later won 4 World Championships). 
     
    James Cox,  Business  Development  Manager for Italkart agrees, “this is a great opportunity for us and it is the first step in going worldwide.  We are delighted with this new importer relationship and our goal is to grow at a rate that will allow us to not only offer the best possible product but service as well." 

    For further information, visit www.italkart.com and view the world dealers page.  You can contact Italkart directly at info@italkart.com for more information.
     
     

    PAUL TRACY AND FORSYTHE CHAMPIONSHIP RACING FEATURE ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL
    Chicago, Illinois —  During the Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterrey at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterrey California the History Channel spent time with Paul Tracy and the Forsythe Championship Racing team filming the defending 2003 Series Champion for the prime time television series ‘Tactical to Practical’. 

    The ‘Tactical to Practical’ History Channel show will air on Tuesday November 30th at 1PM and 7PM Eastern, Noon and 6PM Central, 11AM and 5PM Mountain time – and separately on the West Coast on the same day at 1PM and 7PM Pacific time.

    Jonathan Gruber of the History Channel’s production company said “It was a great experience being a part of the Champ Car race in California and we really enjoyed working with Paul Tracy and the Forsythe team – we are very happy with the show we have created and we hope that the fans of the Champ Car World Series, Forsythe Championship Racing and Paul Tracy will enjoy this different perspective of their competitive racing series and their incredible racing cars and teamwork.”

    Team spokesman Peter Davies said “This was a good opportunity to work with the globally acclaimed History Channel to showcase our great racing series Champ Car - the most competitive and most technical racing series in North America - and to bring our fans ‘behind the scenes’ with Paul Tracy, his engineers and crew and to take an inside look at some of the technical aspects of the racing cars and Forsythe Racing.  We hope the fans of the team, Paul and Champ Car will enjoy the ‘Tactical to Practical’ History Channel show, and that it will play some small part in exposing this great racing series to a new audience across the United States.”
     
     

    KART EXPO ANNOUNCES SEMINAR SCHEDULE
    Wheaton, Illinois — The producers of the 2005 Kart Expo International presented by SSC Racing will again offer free seminars during the show on February 26-27; something for everyone — 2-cycle racers, 4-cycle racers, sprint, speedway, shifters, and indoor kart racing and others. 

    “We have assembled some of the most interesting seminar topics in our 13-year history presented by experts in each field,” said Darrell Sitarz, Expo Director.  “This year we have the largest meeting room available at Pheasant Run Resort and Convention Center in St. Charles, Illinois, the Turquoise Room, on the 2nd Floor in the Tower, so we should be able to accommodate a huge crowd. 

    The following are the seminar topics/times to date: 
    Saturday: (Times are tentative)
    11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – A DEALER DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR, presented by Joe Ramos, SSC Racing

    12:30 PM – 1:30 PM - UNDERSTANDING THE DISC CLUTCH, presented by Thomas Fehring, SMC

    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM - INDOOR KART RACING CENTERS – 3 GREAT IDEAS, 3 MAJOR MISTAKES, presented by Robert McGuffey, Entertainment Architecture

    2:30 PM – 3:30 PM - BE PIT FIT, presented by Jim Leo, Pit Fit Training

    3:30 PM – 4:30 PM - 2-CYCLE CARBURETORS, presented by Carroll Ford, E. C. Distributing

    4:30 – 5:30 PM - TIRE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DIRT OVAL RACER, presented by Sheldon Gecker, Gecker Motorsports

    Sunday: (Times are tentative)
    11:00 AM – 12:30 PM - UNDERSTANDING THE DRUM CLUTCH, presented by Jim Donovan, Max-Torque Ltd. and Jim Hall, Crew Chief for racer Andy Hall

    12:30 PM – 1:30 PM - INDOOR KARTING FEASIBILITY, presented by Peter F. Olesen, Peter F. Olesen & Associates

    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM - 4-CYCLE CARBURETORS, presented by Carroll Ford, E. C. Distributing

    For more information, go to the “Kart Expo Update” section of this website.
     
     

    GRAND VITESSE RACING ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF $500,000 RACE SERIES FOR TAG KARTS
    Toledo Ohio —  The Karting World Will Never Be The Same! For Years, Kart racers have complained their sport has never been taken seriously...That no promoter is willing to put up prizes large enough to even meet expenses...That they are tired of running for a Trophy, Coffee Mug, or Trinket!

    Their wishes have been answered!

    Grand Vitesse Racing which recently set the karting world abuzz with the announcement of the first large purse race for TaG type RaceKarts...The PJ1 $25,000 TaG Spectacular Presented By Grand Prix Distributing, has taken karting to a new level!

    The Gainesville event will become Round #1 in a 10 Round  Series of Large Purse, Long Distance, High Speed Races for TaG Type RaceKarts..With total Prize money of  up to One Half a Million Dollars ($500,000) available!

    "The top team award of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) will reward consistency, smoothness, and tenacity over a Ten Event Season...  Individual race winning prizes of $10,000 to $25,000 will provide an incentive to win each race"...says series founder, Grand Vitesse Racing's General Manger Glen Mazzone.

    "Plans were to do this all along, even before the Gainesville event was announced...It was just a matter of ensuring funding was in place and the demand from the racers was there."

    The nine remaining venues and dates will be announced following the upcoming Holiday, as will points structure.

    "We are trying to avoid scheduling conflicts with other series, but in some cases they may be unavoidable." Continued Mazzone..."At some point the racers may have to make a decision;  To run for real money as they claim they want to do...or just talk about it." 
    Guest Seats are also available for members of the press wishing to experience high speed TaG Kart racing on a large track.
     

    And in a related story…
     

    GRAND VITESSE RACING TEAMS UP WITH FED EX TO OFFER FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING FOR ENTRIES
    Toledo, Ohio — Grand Vitesse Racing Presenter of "The PJ1 $25,000 TaG Spectacular Presented by Grand Prix Distributing" the! first race in a Ten Round $500,000 Total prize money series has teamed up with Fed Ex, the leader in high speed shipping and delivery!

    Teams wishing to enter Round 1 of the Series in Gainesville may send their entries, at no charge to them, through Fed Ex.

    "With the Holiday Season upon us, the US Mail can get a bit slow" says Grand Vitesse Racing's General Manager Glen Mazzone "As hard as the Postal Service tries, they just can't compete with Fed Ex on time sensitive shipments...It would be a shame for teams wanting to compete not have their entry processed on time"!

    Those wishing to take advantage of this offer MUST telephone Grand Vitesse Racing at 800-663-5278 to obtain proper billing codes, prior to shipping.

    The PJ1 $25,000 TaG Spectacular Presented by Grand Prix Distributing is the first of ten history making races for TaG type RaceKarts.

    Teams contesting the entire series are eligible for up to One Half A Million Dollars ($500,000) in cash prizes, with individual events paying winning teams a minimum of $10,000!

    It is strongly suggested, those entrants choosing to use US Mail use Certified mail or other type of service that can be tracked. Those using Fed Ex should address their entry to 615 Front Street Suite R (or River East Office), Toledo OH  43605.  If using US Mail, address entry to PO Box 8045, Toledo, OH 43605.

    For further information about this exciting event call toll free 800-663-5278.
     
     

    TOP DIVISIONAL KARTERS HONORED AT SNAP-ON STARS OF KARTING PRESENTED BY THE IRL AWARDS BANQUET
    Lake Buena Vista, Florida - With host Rick Ratajczak of Skip Barber Racing at the helm, all twelve divisional class champions were honored during the Snap-on Stars of Karting Presented by the Indy Racing League Awards Banquet, Thursday evening at the Bonnet Creek Golf Club on the grounds of Walt Disney World® Resort.

    With a capacity crowd filling the room, top drivers were recognized, with the top three finishing drivers in each divisional class receiving trophies. In addition, all top ten point drivers received their divisional number decal set for the 2005 season.

    CHAMPIONS
    ICC - Alex Speed (Eastern); Alan Sciuto (Western)
    ICA - Michael Giessen (Eastern); Jordy Vorrath (Western)
    EasyKart - Carlos Duenas (Eastern); Cory Pollock (Western)
    JICA - Thomas Hartensveld Jr. (Eastern); Nicolas Johnston (Western)
    80 Junior - Daniel Morad (Eastern); Cole Whitt (Western)
    Cadet - Sergio Pena (Eastern); Miles Maroney (Western)

    ICC Western Champion Alan Sciuto was also congratulated by Skip Barber Vice President of Marketing Stu Upson for being selected as the second Stars of Karting recipient of a fully funded ride in the Skip Barber National Championship for the 2005 season. The scholarship is worth $45,000.

    Beyond the awards, highlights of the night included speeches by Bobby Rahal, Bryan Herta and Michele Henn (Formula BMW USA). One unplanned speech that was perhaps the best of the night was by 80 Junior Western champion Cole Whitt, who took the microphone and adeptly thanked all of his sponsors, crew and family. Well done. 
    Originally scheduled to be given out Thursday night, the 2004 Jim Trueman Career Enhancement Award presentation and voting will now be held after the completion of Sunday's Finales. ICC competitors Alan Sciuto, Ron White and Alex Speed are joined on the final nominee list by ICA Champions Jordy Vorrath and Michael Giessen.

    While the night's festivities were vibrant and fun, Stars officials admitted that a previous scoring mistake cost ICA Eastern competitor Chris Keller his due as third place in the final standings. Stars officials regret the error and sincerely apologize to Chris, his family and team. Chris will be honored in his rightful finishing position during Sunday's Finale podium ceremonies. 

    With the celebration now complete for the 2004 regular season, all competitors turn their attention to the National Championship, where action promises to be intense as 34 drivers in the six classes still remain in the hunt. 
     
     
     

    END
     
     
     
     

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

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