8/11/05
BAY AREA MINI DEALERS SPONSOR THE INFINEON ROUND OF THE STARS OF KARTING
Seattle, Washington — In a follow-up to the ultra-successful MINI Cooper Grand Prix of Reno the Bay Area MINI Dealers in Northern California have decided to take advantage of the creative Ride & Drive format that began in Reno and adapt it to the Snap-on Stars of Karting event held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA September 9-11.
As in the previous round spectators and participants from the Snap-on Stars paddock with a valid driver’s license can take a MINI for a test drive on the karting track at Infineon Raceway under the watchful eye of a pro who will bring them up to speed. Two separate one-hour sessions will be held at the lunch break and end of day of all three days of racing activities. “This format went really well in Reno and everyone that walked out of the MINIs had a smile on their face, I’m glad we’re able to do this again at Infineon,” said series marketing director Jeff Swoboda.
The event will be known as the Bay Area MINI Dealers Grand Prix of Sonoma. “The California Bay Area MINI Dealers and MINIUSA are excited to continue building upon the relationship started in June at the MINI Cooper Grand Prix in Reno, NV. We see our relationship with the Stars of Karting as a natural extension and expression of our own racing heritage. We feel that the MINI Cooper exhibits all of the attributes associated with karting, superior quickness, ride, feel, and handling. It's a natural. We look forward to a long and lasting relationship,” said Bob Zusman of MINI USA’s Western Region.
Thanks to cooperation from Russell Racing’s Karting Unit and their partnership with the Indy Racing League the series and MINI will be able to pre-promote the event at the IRL’s first venture to the Northern California venue on August 27-28.
