e-KMI.com FYI

CLICK HERE

International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

Kart Expo International
ExhibitorInformation and Show Directions

FYI
12-04-04

NORTH TEXAS KARTERS JOINS SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CUP RACING SERIES

Austin, Texas — Rod Heslor, president of North Texas Karters, Inc. today announced that NTK will participate in the newly created 2005 Southwest Regional Cup superkart racing series. NTK, located in Denton, Texas, joins Iron Rock Raceway (IRR) and Oklahoma Motorsports Complex (OMC) as the third track to take part in the 12-race series, which will begin in March 2005.

The Southwest Regional Cup will include six two-race weekends. Two races will run at the Denton facility, two at IRR of Austin, Texas, and two at the OMC facility in Norman, Oklahoma. Using a format that conforms closely with the World Karting Association (WKA) sanctioning body for this series, all affiliate tracks within the Southwest Regional Cup Series will be eligible to host not only the regional series races but also future national races under the “Stars of Karting” and the “WKA World Cup” banners.

“North Texas Karters looks forward to working with IRR and OMC in the new series,” Heslor said. “and we look forward to a bright future for racing in the Texas-Oklahoma area.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have such an outstanding track participating in the series,” said Rodney Berryhill of OMC. “Anyone familiar with the Denton track appreciates the professional race environment it offers. With NTK’s commitment, we’re anxious to get the series underway!”

The 2005 Southwest Regional Cup Series format will include six two-race weekends and a year-end banquet as follows:

SW Regional Cup
Mar. 11- 13 SWRC 1 & 2 NTK - Denton, TX
Apr. 1 – 3 SWRC 3 & 4 OMC - Norman, OK
May 6 – 8 SWRC 5 & 6 IRR - Austin, TX
June 3 – 5 SWRC 7 & 8 OMC - Norman, OK
Aug. 5 – 7 SWRC 9 & 10 NTK - Denton, TX
Sep. 30/Oct 1 & 2 SWRC 11 & 12 IRR - Austin, TX
Dec. 10 SWRC Year-End Banquet Dallas, TX

For more information on the Southwest Regional Cup, visit www.swregionalcup.com. For more information on Iron Rock Raceway, visit www.ironrockraceway.com or call 512.530-RACE. For more information on North Texas Karters, visit www.ntkarters.com. For more information on Oklahoma Motorsports, visit www.championkart.com.

INDY 500 TICKET BUYERS CAN PURCHASE A PIECE OF RACING HISTORY
Indianapolis, Indiana — Fans who purchase reserved-seat tickets for the 89th Indianapolis 500 can buy a mounted piece of the famed asphalt from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the discounted price of $10.

Pieces of the surface were removed this fall as part of the first complete repaving of the 2.5-mile oval since 1995. Those pieces were used for a special collection of track surface keepsakes now on sale at the Brickyard Authentics Online Store at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

Indy 500 ticket buyers can purchase a rectangular piece of asphalt measuring 2 11/16th inches by 1 inch, mounted on a plaque with the famous IMS Wing & Wheel logo, for $10. This piece was created exclusively for Indianapolis 500 reserved ticket holders. A similar piece sells for $25 at the Brickyard Authentics Online Store.

Both renewal and new customers are eligible to take advantage of this offer, which makes an ideal holiday gift. Fans should call (800) 822-INDY or go online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com to purchase tickets and discounted IMS asphalt pieces. The offer is limited to five pieces of track surface per customer and while supplies last.

Customers who purchase tickets at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com will see a banner ad showing the asphalt offer upon completing their ticket transaction. Customers who already have renewed their tickets for the 2005 Indianapolis 500 will receive information and an order form for the asphalt promotion via mail within the next week.

The 89th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, 2005.

SEVERAL PODIUM FINISHES HAS MIKE VINCEC LOOKING FORWARD TO ‘05
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada — For the past 11 months, 13-year-old Mike Vincec has competed in his high powered First Kart across North America. Focusing on the Snap-On Stars of Karting Championship (SoK) and the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship (SRFKC), Vincec filled his off weekends with several other national and regional level events.

Competing in 52 finals throughout the ’04 season, Vincec and his BIG Race Team scored nine feature wins, 19 podium positions, 29 top fives and 45 top ten results. Competing in the entire Stars of Karting Championship, Vincec carded the 10th place position in the Eastern championship with a strong run at the season finale finishing in 7th place.

Vincec and his BIG Race Team also competed in all five rounds of the SRFKC fairing extremely well. Doing battle in the Formula Junior, Rotax Junior and Junior Heavy classes, Vincec had his SRFKC weekends jam packed. The young Canadian had ups and downs throughout the season including his demanding 80cc shifter victory at Mosport to his carburetor problems in Sutton which forced him to retire from the pole before receiving the green flag.

With four wins and five top five results, Vincec claimed the runner up position in both the Formula Junior and Rotax Junior classes as well as 4th place in the Junior Heavy category. In the latter half of the ’04 season, Vincec hooked up with First Kart tuner Mike Maurini and the duo claimed several victories and podium positions together. Vincec also claimed the $500 GM Winners Circle Award at the SRFKC which was presented to the driver judged to have displayed outstanding competition skills and sportsmanship.

Never wanting to take a weekend off, the BIG Race Team went to their local Mosport Kart Club to gather as much seat time as possible and to perform some testing for the National series events. Garnering several victories through out the year, Vincec was a threat to take the checkered each and every time he was on the track. When the season came to a close in early October, Vincec managed a 5th and 6th place result in the Junior Heavy and 80cc Junior classes respectively.

The Stouffville, ON resident plans to start off the ’05 season the same way he did in 2004. The BIG Race Team will travel south to Daytona Beach, FL to compete in the World Karting Association (WKA) season opener which will take place in the infield of Daytona International Speedway.

“2004 was a good year for me but I am ready to get on with 2005” explained the excited Vincec. “It will be tough, but I know that we can run up front and contend for victories and championships in every race and series that we compete in.” With the ’05 schedule not yet finalized, Vincec is expected to announce competition in the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship, the WKA Manufactures Cup and the Snap-On Stars of Karting Championship.

In '05 Mike will continue on in the junior category as 2006 will be a senior option year for the young Canadian. Vincec will go all out and compete for several championships in most of the pro series across the nation. With big plans and tons of potential, Vincec is a name that you will hear a lot of in the next 12 months.

Mike Vincec would like to thank BIG Racing, Pilot Race Gear, GoDecalZone.com, First Kart North America, Arnold Engines, Hi-Tech Performance Race Engines, TXM Race Engines, The ATC Corral, Cosmo Communications and Tri-V Manufacturing.

For more information on Mike Vincec and the BIG Race Team, please contact Team Manager Mary Vincec from the information on www.mikev.ca.

DAYTONA KARTWEEK TAKING SHAPE
Concord, North Carolina — Following a visit to Daytona last week by World Karting Association officials, the outlook remains bright for the latest edition of Daytona KartWeek, set for the final week in December at the World Center of Racing.

Included in the massive multimillion dollar infield renovation project is the construction of a tunnel in turn one of the speedway. During WKA's visit, paving of turn one was taking place over the tunnel, marking the final stages for preparation of what should be a very convenient beginning of KartWeek, for not just the Road Race and Manufacturer's Cup competitors, but the Briggs Day contingent as well. The tunnel will allow Briggs Day drivers to run virtually uninterrupted on December 26th, while the Road Race and Mfg. Cup drivers will begin their parking for the next days activities simultaneously.

All new garages will greet the Road Race Series when it enters the parking area. Finishing touches were being applied to the garages last week. The Sprint track for the Manufacturer's Cup Series will get a paving upgrade, beginning on track at the head of the grid, heading to the start finish line. This particular portion of the track was a high volume area for all the heavy equipment coming to and from the various segments of the infield.

Activities for the Dirt World Championship at the Municipal Stadium appear set to go off as usual, with a plan currently being viewed to better accommodate tow vehicles.

GARAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ROAD RACE COMPETITORS AT DAYTONA
Concord, North Carolina — After meeting with Daytona International Speedway Officials on November 17th and taking a tour of the new infield at the speedway, it was decided that the new Busch Grand National garages and surrounding lot will be home for the Road Race competitors during Daytona KartWeek '04.

We would like to extend this opportunity to all pre-registered entrants for the Daytona event. You will have your choice of garage, enclosed or open air based on availability. (See below article regarding garage area description.) Cost for a garage will remain $75 and we once again ask that you put as many racers in your garage, minimum 3. Additional garage requests will be limited due to the lesser amount of garages to work with in the main pit area.

All other pit areas (non-garages) will be on a first come – first serve basis. Upon arrival to the Busch Garage lot, you will be directed by the WKA staff on where you can pit. No roping off of pit spaces to save room for your friends. Once the Busch Garage area is filled, we will place participants in the Nextel Garage area.

Please fax your request back to my attention along with a VISA/MC account number and expiration as well as who will be occupying your garage. I will add this to your pre-entry and it will be included on your confirmation. It is important that you include a daytime phone number and/or valid email address so that we may contact you in the event of questions regarding your request.

For more information, contact Sissy Howard at 704-455-1606.

END

View 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