5-26-10 JDC Motorsports Visit USF2000 Victory Lane in California

Rookie standout Goikhberg captured two wins in non-points doubleheader at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Junior formula car leaders JDC MotorSports added a pair of victories to its all-ready impressive record this past weekend (May 22-23), as Mikhail Goikhberg scored the Championship class wins in both races of the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda doubleheader at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Fellow rookie standout Martin Sala added a runner-up finish in race one, before finishing fourth in race two at the Northern California track.

Run in conjunction with Rounds Five and Six of the Pacific F2000 Championship Presented by Corsa Car Care, the duo got their first chance to sample the renowned undulating Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course on Thursday via a pair of test sessions. While no official times were taken, the Russian and Colombian racers were both believed to be among the fastest drivers on-course, despite primarily focusing on learning the track and working on ideal qualifying and race setups.

One day later, both Goikhberg and Sala further positioned themselves for strong outings in the non-points doubleheader, posting times among the top-five in the two practice sessions. The No. 10 Chetverg/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry of Goikhberg was second quickest in both runs, while Sala’s The No. 19 Gulf/Aero Gal/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports was fourth quickest during the two sessions.

In the lone qualifying run on Saturday (May 22), the JDC racers matched their earlier runs, with Goikhberg securing his first-ever front-row starting positions, and Sala lining-up on row two for the two races.

Race one of the weekend commenced on Sunday morning, with both Goikhberg and Sala getting away cleanly when the green flag flew. Keeping the early race leader within striking distance, the duo made their move on a lap six re-start, with Goikhberg taking over the lead just ahead of his teammate Sala. Goikhberg retained the top spot for the next six laps, until contact with the polesitter - while battling for the lead - relegated him back to ninth place in the running order.

Fortunate to avoid the incident, Sala became the new race leader and appeared headed towards a potential win. The Colombian’s hopes of a victory were dashed unfortunately two laps later, when series officials ruled he had jumped the previous re-start, forcing Sala to pit for a stop-and-go penalty.

Showing great resilience and speed in the closing stages of the race, both Goikhberg and Sala charged their way back forward. Goikhberg, in what was superb recovery drive, captured his first USF2000 National Championship win, while Sala made it a JDC MotorSports one-two in the Championship class, advancing to second at the stripe.

The JDC MotorSports drivers and crew had little time to bask in the glory of a one-two finish however, as a short time later the USF2000 cars were back on-track for race two of the event.

Once again getting good launches at the waving of the green flag, the JDC MotorSports duo positioned themselves to challenge for top honors as the race progressed. For Goikhberg that opportunity came on lap 14, following a second re-start. Once out front, the former Ontario Formula Ford Championship front-runner never looked back, setting a new lap record – 1:24.566 – en route to his and JDC MotorSports second win of the weekend. Battling for position all the way to the checkered flag, Sala narrowly missed joining in the podium celebrations, crossing the line in fourth.

JDC MotorSports will now make the journey east, with Round Three of the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda taking place this coming Saturday (May 29) at the O’Reilly Raceway Park oval as part of the famed Night Before Indy event.
 

5-26-10 De Phillippi Exits home Race With Star Mazda Rookie Lead

Mazda speed Motorsports driver finished a season-best fourth at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Connor De Phillippi further strengthened his position as a leading up-and-coming American open-wheel talent and Rookie of the Year contender this past weekend (May 22-23), with another impressive outing in Round Three of the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver scored a second consecutive top-five finish in the highly competitive series, taking the checkered flag in fourth in front of friends, family and supporters. De Phillippi exits his home race leading the Rookie of the Year title fight and fourth overall in the championship chase.

Racing on home soil – California – for the lone time in 2010 series competition, De Phillippi was excited about getting the opportunity to once again showcase his skills behind the wheel in front of loved ones and supporters. That being said, the highly-rated Californian focused on using the opening two test sessions on Thursday and two practice runs on Friday to fine tune his No. 11 MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development/Justice Brothers/Sparco/Rock View Farms/Oakley/Power Balance/Redline Athletics/Red Line Oil JDC MotorSports entry for the always important qualifying session on Saturday, rather than go after a fast time.

De Phillippi, have posted times just outside of the top-five throughout the first four sessions, entered qualifying confident he could post a quick time on the undulating road course in northern California. That belief proved justified, as despite battling traffic throughout his run, De Phillippi ended qualifying fifth – quickest among the JDC MotorSports contingent – earning a row three starting position.

Returning to the cockpit of his Star Mazda steed one-day later, De Phillippi was aware that getting a good launch from the now traditional standing start and avoiding any first turn drama would be key to a good result. The 17 year-old reigning Skip Barber National champion did just that, rapidly working his way forward to fourth place. With passing opportunities at a premium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, De Phillippi focused on running mistake-free fast laps, hoping that those in front would make an error. While De Phillippi was able to repeatedly pressure the driver ahead, he was unable to find a way past. The end result was a career best fourth in his third-ever Star Mazda Championship race.

“This race weekend was a great success,” stated De Phillippi. “The car in the race was spot on, and everything just seemed to click. Once again we had another top-five finish, which moves us further up in the point standings. I can not thank the team enough for all the hard work they have been putting in!”

De Phillippi now travels to the spiritual home of formula car racing in North America – Indianapolis – in order to take part in Round Four of the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear on Saturday night (May 29) at O’Reilly Raceway Park. De Phillippi enters the famed Night Before the 500 event – the first of two ovals on the series calendar – fourth in the overall championship chase and leading the Rookie of the Year fight.
 

5-18-10 Road Race Grand Nationals Info

It's that time of year again where the Best Drivers compete in the Road Race Grand Nationals Held at Buttonwillow Raceway on June 29th thru July 2nd. The IKF National Board has voted to allow Sprint competitors to race the IKF Grand National Road Race at Buttonwillow,CA. The process of competing in previous road races to obtain a Road Race license has been waived.
In order to race at the Grand Nationals:
1) Must be an IKF member. (may join with request for license)
2) Must submit request to IKF office, a letter reflecting at least two years of racing experience.
3) Request will be reviewed by IKF and a qualified license may be issued.

The process is open to Sprint Kart (IKF National Classes) only. NO 250c.c. classes or laydown classes are included.

For those who compete at the annual NCK Infinion road race, this is a perfect opportunity to race for the "DUFFY"

For the Registration Form Click Here. If you are bringing in an RV, you will want to have a look at the RV parking chart. Pits, garages, and RV spots are available on a first-come first-serve basis! Get yours today! If you are not planning on spending the night at the track, for a list of good hotels that are close to the track click here. This will also show you a list of fun post-race things to do including activities at the track and away from the track. For Info about the planned track configuration and technical details of the track Click Here. Lastly,contact information for several of the main RRGN officials and planners Click Here. For the full Event Schedule Click Here. IMPORTANT NOTE: No online registration is being offered for the RRGNs. All forms must be mailed to NCK 27237 S. Lammers Road Tracy, CA. 95377.

Classes:
Yamaha KT-100S Light (370lbs)
Yamaha KT-100S Heavy (400lbs)
125/150 Open FKE II (400-465lbs)
 
Unlimited/FKE III (400-475lbs)
TaG Enduro (410bs)
80cc Laydown (410lbs)
 
Inter-Continental-E (465lbs)
Yamaha Ltd Light Sprint (330lbs)
Yamaha Ltd Heavy Sprint (360lbs)

Formula 80 Junior (320lbs)
Rotax Max Junior (320lbs)
Rotax Max Light (370lbs)

Rotax Max (390lbs)
TaG Heavy (400-415lbs)
TaG Light (370-400lbs)

Formula 125 Limited (385lbs)
Formula 125 Limited Heavy (420lbs)
Formula 125 (385lbs)

Formula 80 Senior (360lbs)
Super Stock CR125 (400lbs)
Briggs World Formula Medium (365lbs)

Briggs World Formula Heavy (390lbs)
WC Super Stock CR125 II (400lbs)
NCK TaG Enduro II (370-410lbs)

TaG Front Brakes Optional (400lbs)
WC Super Stock CR125 (400lbs)
Super Stock Sit-up (320-365lbs)

WC TaG Front Brakes Optional II (400lbs)
80 Laydown II (410lbs)

5-31-10 All Star Karting Prairie City Kart Club Race #5
Club Race #5
June 13, 2010
Esses Track 

Practice Days, 6/11 & 6/12                                   
Race Day, Sunday 6/13
Friday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM  
Gates Open @ 7:00 AM
Saturday – 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Registration closes @ 8:30 AM 
Practice starts @ 9:00 AM               

Practice Fees
Race Fees 
$20.00 – Member                                        
$50.00 – 1^st Class 
$40.00 – 2^nd Class for members
$30.00 – Non-member                          
$60.00 – 1^st Class 
$50.00 – 2^nd Class for non-members        
$35.00 Kid Kart 
$45.00 Non-member     
Spectator/Pit Pass - $10.00

IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR CLUB RACING AND CLUB CLASSES, WE WILL ALSO BE HAVING A KLONE WARM-UP PRACTICE & RACE. 

KLONE NATIONALS WARM-UP
JUNE 12^TH & 13^TH AT PC CLUB RACE. 
$$  SPECIAL KLONE RATES  $$          
KLONE’S PRACTICE SATURDAY & RACE SUNDAY-BOTH DAYS FOR $25.00.           

Safety Equipment Required:  Helmet Snell 2000 min. req./approved driving suit or heavy leather jacket with heavy jeans, high top shoes, neck collar & gloves.  All Kid Kart and Jr. 1 drivers must have SFI Certified Chest Protection.

Racing Rules & Scoring:  Race run per 2010 IKF Rule Book.
1^st Heat = 4 Minute Qualifying / 2^nd Heat = Pre-Main 10 Laps / Main Event = 20-24 Laps Takes All

Track Rules:  No Skate Boards, Go-Peds, MiniBikes, or Glass Containers allowed in Grid/Paddock Area.  

Catering provided by:
Mr. Pickles                               
LODGING is located off Zinfandel Exit of Highway 50:            
~Holiday Inn of Rancho Cordova 11269 Point East Dr. Rancho Cordova, CA 95742, 916-635-4040 Visit HeritageHotelGroup.com and go to the Holiday Inn of Rancho Cordova page and make reservations online to access the promo code SM51 and get 25% off room rates.

 ~TRACK PHONE:  (916) 985-6009   
ADDITIONAL INFO:  kartel Motorsports (916) 383-5278~                       www.AllStarKarting.com

5-31-10 Registration Opens June 1 for 14th Annual Skusa Super Nationals

Las Vegas spectacular promises to be best karting event in American history

If you ask anyone who attended last years Superkarts! USA SuperNationals in Las Vegas, they will tell you that it was very likely the greatest karting event in the history of the sport here in America. The professionalism of the SKUSA staff and the cool factor of the venue, coupled with an extremely high level of competition that was multiplied exponentially by the participation of F1 hero Michael Schumacher, made sure that the race reached new heights. With that incredible event in the history books, SKUSA officials are now focused on topping last years race with some calculated improvements and upgrades, all aimed at making it an even more enjoyable experience for the organizations competitors. The race to the SKUSA SuperNationals podiums will get the green flag early next week, when they open up online registration for the 14th edition of the annual event.

There were many competitors who missed out on the chance to participate in the 09 edition by failing to enter early enough, and SKUSA is expecting to see many of the classes fill up quickly, just as they did last fall. The online registration at www.superkartsusa.com will go live for the SuperNationals at midnight on Monday, May 31, allowing racers to guarantee their position in the qualifying line-up when the race gets underway at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino on November 17. SKUSA is once again working on the participation of some major professional drivers, but nothing can be announced at this time. Drivers like Dan Wheldon and Raphael Matos are expected to return, and thanks to the attendance of Schumacher, Sebastien Buemi and Nelson Piquet Jr. in 09, the SKUSA SuperNationals is certainly on the A list of motorsports events.

A total of 11 classes will be on the schedule, highlighting the best shifter and TaG drivers in the nation and from around the world. In order to fit all of the categories into the daily schedules, certain classes will have a maximum entry that once hit, will begin the waiting list process. Just as was the case in 2009, TaG Senior is expected to hit the cap of 80 entries very quickly, while a maximum of 40 drivers will be set for those classes expected to reach the mark, which include S2, S4, TaG Master, TaG Junior and TaG Cadet. The following is a list of the classes that will be run this year at the SuperNationals:

SuperPro KZ2 (per CIK rules)
S1 Pro Stock Moto
S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto
S4 Master Stock Moto 30 years of age or older
S5 Junior Stock Moto
G1 ICC or Built Moto 30 years of age or older
KF2 (per CIK rules)
TaG Senior Approved SKUSA TaG Engines
TaG Master Approved SKUSA TaG Engines
TaG Junior Parilla Leopard
TaG Cadet MiniRok

One of the highlights of last years SuperNationals was the quality of the track that was designed by Tom Kutscher and his staff. The layout is expected to be very similar this year, once again providing a very racy and incredibly safe venue. The daily timetable will again see SKUSAs innovative split schedule, which will see five classes run in the morning and six in the afternoon. This approach has provided teams and drivers with more time to prep their machinery for action, while it also affords more time for racers and their families to enjoy Las Vegas. SKUSAs infamous AfterParty will once again take over the Rios VooDoo Lounge on Sunday evening and a Tuesday night kick-off party is also on the drawing board. With a dedicated focus on making this race bigger and better than last years extravaganza, the 2010 SKUSA SuperNationals are not to be missed.

Online registration will open midnight on this coming Monday evening (May 31), while the special room code program for the Rio, which offers up incredible hotel prices, will be available on July 1. SKUSA also expects to have the weekend schedule available within 30 days. Any shops, teams or companies that wish to be part of the race through class, associate or award sponsorship should contact Tom Kutscher directly as the SKUSA head office. Information can be found at www.superkartsusa.com

5-31-10 Red Line Oil Karting Championship Race #3 Recap

Sunny skies and a breezy day greeted sixty-three racers to Race #3 of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship at the Jim Russell International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway. This was the first race using a new format with the combined results of two heat races setting the grid for the Main. Strong fields were seen in almost every class. 80 Shifter was the GoPro featured class with Tom Nelson taking home a GoPro Hero Camera. Eric Sterner was the Molecule "Dirty Driver" this race and was awarded Molecule suit cleaning products. The "Rolf by Design" chassis repair award went to Dave Moody who tweaked his DD2 chassis during the race. Café Andiamo provided meals to the pole winners in Micro Max, Rotax DD2, Junior Rotax and Senior Rotax.

80 Shifter
80 Shifter was selected as the GoPro featured class for Race #3 with the winner taking home the GoPro Hero Camera. Five Masters and one Formula 80 driver took the track. Veteran Tom Nelson took the pole ahead of Formula 80 Justin Gald and Masters Greg Richter. In the first eight lap Heat, Nelson controlled the race and took an eight second win over Richter with John Buddenbaum coming home third. In the second Heat, Nelson again took the win, but was less than two seconds in front of Gald with Richter finishing third. In the Main, Richter took the lead after turn one and held the lead for one lap, but Nelson went by on the straightaway going into lap two and did not look back as he cruised to a nine second win, his second win in a row. With the win, Tom took home the GoPro Hero Camera.

IAME TaG
Nine drivers came to Race #3 for this all Parilla class which uses spec gears to keep the RPMs down and reduce costs. In Qualifying, Jim Zootis took the pole followed by Charlie Postins and Michael Torrano. In the first Heat, Zootis got jumped at the start, lost a few spots and had to settle for fourth. Torrano took the lead early and held on for a two second win over Matt Young and Brad Townley. In the second Heat, Zootis had a much better start and controlled the field to for a three second win followed by Torrano and Young. Postins qualified second, but had DNFs in both heats and had to start the Main from the rear. In the Main, Torrano was on pole followed by Zootis. At the start, Zootis was able to take the early lead with pressure from Torrano, but Postins came through the field to challenge the leaders, first getting by Torrano then passing Zootis near the end of the fifteen lap race. Zootis came home second with Torrano taking third.

Northern California Rotax Challenge

Mini-Max
With the largest Mini Max field to date, nine drivers put on quite a show in thissecond year class in Northern California. In Qualifying, newcomer Scott Huffaker took the pole followed by Michael Avansino, Gino Gigliotti and points leader Cole Davis. In the first Heat, Huffaker dropped back to mid-pack within a couple of turns. There were several lead changes until Cole Davis put the pressure on and made a try for to pass race leader Michael Michoff going into the last turn. Davis and Michoff made contact with both karts slowing to almost a complete stop, which allowed Gigliotti to sneak by and take the win followed by Justin Yanez and Avansino.

In the second Heat, Avansino took the lead early and looked like he was on his way to the win but his chain came off forcing him to park the kart. Cole Davis then took the lead and looked like he was going to win the eight lap race when a brake problem caused him to make contact with Gigliotti in the last turn. As these two tangled briefly, Michoff slipped by to take the win followed by Gigliotti, Huffaker , and Davis. In the Main, Gigliotti was on the pole and controlled the start, but again, several drivers challenged the lead with Michoff taking over by mid-race. Disaster struck Michoff who threw a chain, putting Gigliotti back in the lead. Gigliotti was able to hold on for a slim win over Davis with Huffaker in third and Colin Daley finishing fourth.

Senior Rotax
Eleven drivers came to challenge the fast Reverse National layout. In Qualifying, Carlos Calderon took the pole with Jordan Jadallah, the 2009 champion and Matthew Weiss taking the second and third positions. In the first Heat, Jadallah took the lead off the green flag with Calderon close behind. With about four laps remaining, Calderon out braked Jadallah into turn three to take the lead. On the last lap, Jadallah now made the hard braking pass into the same turn and the two karts rubbed tires as they exited, causing both karts to slow. Jadallah was first to get away with Calderon now being challenged by Weiss. Weiss got by Calderon to takesecond, Donavon Wheelerfinished fourth. In the second Heat, Jadallah took the lead. Wheeler got by Calderon, but withing a few laps, Calderon got by Wheeler and set off after Jadallah. Calderon got right to the champs rear bumper, but had to settle for a very close second with Wheelerfinishing third and Amber Freidberg coming home fourth.

The start of the Main was a repeat of the second Heat with Jadallah, Wheeler and Calderon exiting turn one in that order. Calderon took a bit longer to dispatch Wheeler, but once he did, he slowly pulled up to the rear bumper of Jadallah and was looking for a way to get by. In the end, Jadallah did not give any opportunities to Calderon to make the pass. Jadallah took his second win of the year with Calderon finishing second, with Wheeler, Friedberg and Weiss rounding out the top five.

Cambrian Go-Karts Junior Rotax
The field was only six karts, but the quality of the driving more than made up for the small field. Kiel Spaulding qualified on pole in his first Nor Cal Rotax appearance of the year. Brody Zink and Bobby Tifft slotted in second and third on the grid. In the first Heat, Spaulding controlled the race taking a six second win with Tifft challenging Zink all the way to the checkered flag. In the second Heat, Spaulding again took the early lead and went on to a five second win. Zink finished second after a race long battle with Sean McDonald and Tifft two seconds behind. In the Main, Spaulding chose to start from the rear of the field. Tifft took the lead at the green followed by JR Raczko and Zink. It did not take long for Spaulding to work his way through the field and was in second after the first lap. Tifft drove a very spirited drive and held off Spaulding for a bit, then Spaulding made the pass and went on to an eleven second win in the fifteen lap race. The real excitement was the battle behind with Zink challenging Razcko for third then Tifft to take over second. McDonald did the same and finished third. Raczko then got by Tifft near the end to finish fourth.

Rotax Masters and Masters Light
The largest field of the day was the combined Masters and Masters Light group with seven Masters and eight Lights. The Reverse National layout favored the Lights class taking the first four positions on the grid. Mary Beth Wilson took the pole in Qualifying followed by Mert Solis and Jojo Bayabo. The top Masters qualifier was Ludovic Racinet in fifth with the second fastest Masters being Gavin Sun in the ninth position. In the first Heat, Solis had trouble from the start and dropped out. Wilson controlled the race unchallenged to take an eight second win with Bayabo in second and Jerry Pretti (Lights)in third. Gavin Sun took the Masters win finishing fifth overall with Peter Breidinger second in Masters and sixth overall.

In the second Heat, Solis came back to challenge Wilson and held on for a slim win, with Wilson in second, and Steve Weiss in third. In the Masters class, Racinet took first in class and sixth overall followed by Gavin Sun in seventh overall. In the Main, Wilson controlled the race from the green flag and took a four second win. Solis started mid-field due to the DNF in the first Heat and went off while making a pass, ending his race early. Eric Sterner (Lights) pressed hard all race and came through to take second place, his best finish in the series. Third went to Pretti, fourth to Bayabo and fifth to the Sun, who was the first Masters finisher. Second in Masters was Racinet who finished ninth overall followed by Peter Breidinger who took third in Masters and tenth overall.

Micro Max
With two of the original six drivers from Race #1 moving to the Mini Max class and one driver absent, it was a three kart field. It turned out to be Wilson Skjerven verus the Breidinger twins. Annie Breidinger took the pole in Qualifying followed by sister Toni Breidinger, then Skjerven. In the first Heat, Annie Breidinger took the lead and was never challenged to take the win with Toni Breidinger less than a second behind. In the second Heat, Annie Breidinger again took the win. Skjerven took the second position at the green flag and held off Toni Breidinger for the early part of the race, but Toni Breidinger made the pass to come home second. In the Main, Annie Breidinger took the lead off the green flag and was chased by Toni Breidinger the entire fifteen laps. Annie Briedinger did not make any mistakes and came home less than a second ahead of Toni Breidinger with Skjerven again finishing third.

Rotax DD2
The fast two-speed DD2 class had four entries with January Grove taking the pole ahead of Dave Moody and David Palic. In the first Heat, Grove took the early lead and was never challenged. Senior Rotax racer Matt Weiss jumped into the class and came home second with Dave Moody in third. In the second Heat, Grove again took the early lead and went unchallenged for the win. Weiss had problems and had to park his kart. Moody and Palic came together in Tic-Tac-Toe on the last lap and both had to be towed in. In the Main, Weiss had problems on the warm up lap and had to pull off. Grove took the lead again at the green and went on to a convincing win over Palic with Moody struggling with an ill-handling kart.

Racers will have five weeks to get ready for Race #4 on Sunday, June 27th at the Jim Russell International Kart Center at Infineon Raceway. The track configuration will be the Reverse Sprint track. All results for Race #3 can be seen on MyLaps Times Link at www.norcalrotax.com. For more information about the Red Line Oil Karting Championship and the Northern California Rotax Challenge, go to www.cameronkarting.com  or www.norcalrotax.com.
 

5-31-10 Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway Kart Open Practice Track Day Thursday September 9, 2010

• First & Only open practice track day for sprint karts at Laguna Seca Raceway in 2010.
• Maximum of 25 now 30 entries and limited to drivers with at least one kart road race experience ONLY.  NO drivers under age 18. 
• 6-7 runs, 20-25 minute sessions, 3 run group: Kart, Car, Bike.  Approx 2+ hrs track time!
• +-$300 Entry fee. We are still working with an actual cost, give or take a few. No other fees needed.
• Standard road race open practice format, passing, common courtesy on and off track
• Kart classes are limited to the following classes with strictly required spec:     
  • Stock Moto 125, Laguna spec silencer (RLV), airbox
  • 80 situp shifter,  Moran spec silencer, airbox
  • Tag 125, airbox
  • No air cooled engines, Superkarts or laydown karts
• Requirements above, plus the new RLV Laguna Spec silencer for Stock Moto is required.  It has been tested and commended by Laguna track officials. This is the first time sprint karts will be running here since the 1980’s and we must make a good impression for future kart racing here. Kart racing organizations will be requiring the spec silencer for future races at Laguna.
• Mod moto w/ Laguna Spec silencer, ICC, & Rotax - RUN AT WILL only. (no sound testing has been done for these classes, all vehicles will not be allowed to enter the track after 3rd  black flag. You would simply lose your entry fee.  There will be no refunds) (Laguna dB sound booth is drivers right side, Right-side-exhaust-exit engines, although maybe noise-conservative, may trigger above db limits)
• This is not an IKF, CIK, NCK, etc event. This is an open practice event organized with a private host/track renter.
• Registration procedure: an email will be sent to emails on hand. Email will consist of Information, forms, and a link to Online registration form/ payment.

This is a pre-registration event. NO registration at track on trackday. Since there are only 30 maximum entries, we believe all entries will be spoken for by Sept 1^st.

• Please email if you want to be in this email list.     lagunasecakart@yahoo.com      
•  Currently 11 entries already spoken for. (emails from drivers guaranteeing their reservation spot)
• More information to follow and registration will be open June 2010

We are covering all our bases, & the host/track requirements so that we will have the most track time possible. We have waited so long, but Laguna Seca is now here thanks to the concerted efforts of many and the continued demand of the kart road racing community to race at Laguna Seca.       

While we realize that there might be a conflict between race dates within weeks of Laguna Seca (Millers),  Unfortunately, the timing of the track rental and logistics surrounding Karting and Laguna, we must take advantage of this opportunity. The host is giving Karters a priority on this date, less run groups and more track time. We urge all would-be Millers racers to support Millers. Millers is an actual race, Laguna Seca is simply an open practice day.

5-26-10 NNKC Championship Points Race #2 Action

NNKC wrapped up Championship point’s race #2 this past Sunday May 23^rd.  What appeared to be close to a canceled race turned into one of NNKC’s better racing days in quite some time.  The weather gods decided that sunshine would not be part of our event as they laid down a 27-degree morning and a sky full of cold clouds.  That didn’t stop 55 entries from crowding the pits.  By noon it had warmed up real nice for some good racing.  

Kid Karts took to the track first.  3 kids again came out for this race.  Gavin Van Cott, Nolan Wyman and new comer Bank Sombatsiri took turns ripping around the track and finding smooth lines to power there karts around the .669 asphalt National sprint track.  These kids like to race, they like the competition and their all good friends.  Makes for a bright future in karting for all of them. 

TaG Masters busted onto the scene with 11 karts with 7 Rotaxs and 4 Parilla Leopards.  Brian Rivera took pole with a fast time of 48.2 seconds over Dan Harris’ 48.5.  Rivera would win the first heat by 5 seconds over Harris who was struggling finding grip.  The second heat invert showed a two-kart pileup at turn 3 causing outside pole sitter Derrick DeLong to retire early.  That left Nick Wadlow in the lead with Rivera in 2^nd.  Rivera would lose a chain and retire 2 laps from the end.  Harris would end up 2^nd in the heat again.  The main event had 2 Rotax’s on the front row, Harris and Wadlow respectively, followed by 2 Parilla’s in Baker and Rivera.  As the green dropped, Rivera would give Wadlow the Parilla Push J he needed to come out in 1^st after turn 1-2.  Wadlow, with Harris on his back bumper, would jump the turn 5 curb and pop his chain coming down the corkscrew.  That left Harris, Rivera and Baker to pull away from the pack.  Rivera would set up Harris for the pass down the straightaway and get redemption for his Race #1 cone festivities.  The race would finish in that order: Rivera 1^st, Harris 2^nd, Baker 3^rd, DeLong 4^th, and Troy Berry rounding out the top 5.  The club thanks Kerry Matthews for coming over the hill and racing as he had a few off road excursions that he hopes to put behind him when he races our Night race in August.

Formula 80 Senior slid their karts on the slick track as 8 drivers again came out to test the cold temps.  Mark Nason would grab everyone’s attention with a blistering time of 47.3 seconds, with McKinney a close second at 47.5.  The first heat would see Nason stay out ahead of McKinney and Kevin Tanaka; who posted the fast time of the day with a 46.7.  Heat 2 would see Tanaka take advantage of the invert and get to P1 by the first lap, passing Mike Botelho to do so.  Robert Towne, from Redding, Ca., would squeeze by Botelho for 2^nd on lap 5.  That’s how they would finish heat 2.  The main event gridded Tanaka and Nason on the front row.  Tanaka would grab the point from the get go, watching Nason drop to 5^th at the start.  Towne and Botelho would duel bumper to bumper the entire race followed by Nason in 4^th.  That’s how they would finish, with Tanaka taking the checkers followed by Towne in 2^nd, Botelho in 3^rd, Nason in 4^th and McKinney in 5^th.   Good Job to Towne for being able to come over the hill also and race with the quality of guys we have in our shifter program and to get a podium as well.  I don’t think many others could do it.     

Jr 1-2 Cycle hit the track as 6 drivers chose to conquer the cold conditions and slippery track.  First up though was Qualifying.  Jeremy Kay stood at the top of the standings with a furious pace of 54.8, two seconds faster than the next driver, Garrett Dixon at 56.9.  The first heat would show Kay lead from start to finish as Dixon would finish a second behind.  New Comer Turbo Sombatsiri would finish in 3^rd.  Heat 2 would see both Kay and Dixon swap finishing positions as Dixon’s set up changes were enough to hold off another charge by Kay who finished .2 tenths behind.  Isaac Wyett would finish an impressive 3^rd followed by Richard Stock.  The finale was just ahead and you could see it in all of the driver’s eyes: they wanted the win as bad as the other kid.  National Race Director and Flagman Dave Brant dropped the green and Kay would jump to the early lead.  Dixon was in tow followed by Sombatsiri and Wyett.  Sombatsiri and Wyett would trade places again on lap 3.  In the meantime, Kay and Dixon would pull away from the pack.  Dixon would make a passing move down the straight on lap 4 to claim the P1 spot.  They would stay bumper to bumper throughout the race until Dixon started pulling away slightly.  Dixon would take the victory ahead of Kay in 2^nd, followed by Wyett in 3^rd, Stock in 4^th and Connor Van Cott rounding out the top 5.      

It was a cold start for the Box Stock Clones, but 12 dedicated drivers managed to press through and duke it out until the end.  Qualifying would see Jr. Clone driver Logan Wyman get pole with a fast time of 57.8, one second faster than Ray Andrews.  The first heat would see Andrews and Wyman battle, as Travis Look would hold off charging Christian Cerceau and Dave Schilt for 3^rd place.  As the second heat rolled around, Wyman and Andrews would again occupy the top spots within a couple laps.  Andrews would win this heat over Wyman followed again by impressive Look and Cerceau.  The Clones then started to bring in some impressive times, shaving off up to 2 seconds a lap throughout the day.

In the main event, it was Wyman and Andrews again putting on a great race for all to see. 

It all ended as Wyman crossed the finish line 3 tenths of a second ahead of Andrews.  Cerceau would lose a wheel in spectacular fashion with a display of sparks while battling with Schilt.  Becky Knapp kept a cool head and snuck in behind Schilt, taking home some hard earned top points.  They finished with Andrews overall winning the race, followed by Schilt in 2^nd, B. Knapp in 3^rd and Emily Fernandez in 4^th.  There were 7 confirmed drivers absent from this class; let’s hope for an even larger turn out for Race #3, June 13th.

Formula 80 Masters brought out 7 drivers to enjoy some cold weather racing.  Mark Nason put his shifter on pole with a quick time of 47.6, beating out Cody McKinney by less than a tenth of a second.  The first heat saw Nason take control from the green to the checkers as he grabbed the holeshot from McKinney going into turn 1-2.  On lap 2, McKinney would drop from 2^nd to 7^th in a lap and a half.  That allowed Gerry Williams and Ben Fisher to take 2^nd and 3^rd, respectively.   The second heat invert saw Dave Schilt on pole next to Steve Dow.  Schilt would get clobbered before he even got to turn 1, taking out Nason in the process.  McKinney would shoot into the lead only to see his front tire come off.  That would send him to the pits although McKinney probably thought he could have finished with 3 tires!!  Dow would charge into the lead and never look back, taking the checkers in the heat, followed by Williams and Greg Latimer.  The main event saw Nason grab the holeshot again from P3.  Williams and McKinney would tuck in behind.  That’s how they would run the entire race with Nason and Williams pulling a 5 second gap in between them and McKinney.  Nason would cross the finish line 1^st, followed by Williams in 2^nd, McKinney in 3^rd and Latimer in 4^th.      

TaG Novice was last on the grid.  7 Karts again came out for some fun at DPR, but it was Race #1 winner Matt Koerner picking up where he left off.  Qualifying at 49.9, M. Koerner was able to beat out Chris Yochum’s 50.9 for the fast time in the session.  The first heat came up and M. Koerner was back to his usual, out front and not looking back.  He would put 11 seconds between him and his father, Tom Koerner who would place second in the 1^st heat.  Kelly Morley would get into a crash with another kart down at the end of the straightaway.  She took out 5 haybales in the process.  She came out a little shaken up but she’s a warrior, as we all know!  The 2^nd heat saw M. Koerner take the invert on pole (he was the only non-X-head) and drive away from the pack.  The fight was for 2^nd as C. Yochum came from the 4^th spot to grab P2 by end of lap 1.  But in the end, it was M. Koerner winning by another 11 seconds!!  The main event drew closer and M. Koerner knew it was his race to lose.   He didn’t falter.  He led from the get go to put a punishing 23 second victory on the 2^nd place kart of C. Yochum.  This was C. Yochum’s first race so we expect him to be a great competitor all year long in this class.  Rounding out the top 4 was T. Koerner and Javier Avila, respectively.  Kind of a kool deal here: we have 2 father and son’s racing in the same class with Tom/Matt Koerner and Dave/Chris Yochum.

What a great day of racing it turned out to be.  To all the hard-core karters who toughed out the freezing cold morning, we thank you and now you can say you’ve been weather tested on a race day at Desert Park Raceway (if you hadn’t before).

Remember, Saturday June 12^th is track clean up day from 9am-noon followed by Round 3, Sunday June 13^th, Track 4.  See you then!

5-18-10 NCK Road Race Round #3 at Buttonwillow Last Tune Up Race Before the Road Race Grand Nationals

NCK round 3 at Buttonwillow 5/29. This is the perfect tune up race for the Road Race Grand Nationals next month. Get your set up dialed in and come have fun at this great facility. It is technical, very fast and the weather should be nice. Camping is free at the track Friday night in the pits. Hook ups are available for a small fee at the track. Pre registration is open now, register online and save the late fees at the track! Those of you running streets this weekend, change your axel gear and come on out! We always look forward to the North/South Shoot out. Registration link: http://nckroadracing.com/

Don't Forget to check out the Road Race Grand Nationals Info

5-18-10 RedLine Oil Karting Championship Race #3 Preview

With everyone's karts now all dried out form last months rain soaked event and sunny weather forecasted for this coming Sunday, Race #3 of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship is shaping up to be a great day for racing at the Jim Russell International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway. This month's track configuration is the popular and fast Reverse National layout.

Adding excitement to this event is a change in the race day format, adding more racing action and experience for the racers. In place of one, twelve lap Pre-Main as has been the format for the past couple of years, the series will use two, eight lap Pre-Mains, as well as a fifteen lap Main. The combined results of the Pre-Mains will set the grid for the Main.

The Red Line Oil Karting Championship continues to add new things each race with two new sponsors added to the series since Race #2. Finlay Motorsports has come on board to sponsor the 'rising star' award that will be give to the most promising young driver at the end of the year to help an up and coming talent to improve their racing game in the 2011 season. Savage Designs has also been added to support the Junior Rotax class, see details below.

The Go Pro featured class for this month will be the 80 Shifter class, with the 80 Masters class winner receiving a GoPro Hero Camera. A different class is selected to be featured each race. The 80 Masters class is one of the largest classes in the Red Line Oil Karting Championship and proves to have a great battle for the overall win each month.

The Senior Rotax class should have a strong field with 2009 champ Jordan Jadallah returning after a race off. His quest for a repeat of his Race #1 win is going to be more difficult with the strength of two up-and-coming drivers in Raymund Bustamante and Carlos Calderon who have been battling hard for the runner-up honors in the class. Bustamante took the class win in the rain soaked Race #2 and Calderon led most of the day only to give up the race lead late in the Main.

The Cambrian Go-Karts Junior Rotax class now has more at stake with the addition of new sponsor Savage Designs, who is offering a helmet paint job to the class champion. Bobby Tifft is looking to take his rain win from April and turn it into a dry win this month.

The Italian Motors IAME TaG class will have spec gear changes for this race to help keep the Parilla revs within the class goals of 16,000 RPMs. The spec gears for the Reverse National layout will be:

370# minimum weight 10-73 or 11-80
385# minimum weight 10-74 or 11-81
400# minimum weight 10-75 or 11-83

There will be different spec gears for each of the track configurations at the Jim Russell International Karting Center. Gears for Race #4 on June 27th will be announced in early June.

The Mini Max class (ages 9 to 12 years) is expected to be a strong and competitive field this month. A total of nine drivers have competed in this class this year and have provided some of the closest racing to date. Cole Davis will be looking for his second win after a dominating performance at last month's race.

Sunday (Race Day) Schedule:
8:30 AM Practice
9:30 AM Qualifying
10:45 AM Racing

Saturday Schedule:
12 PM - 6 PM Practice Available
12 PM - 6 PM Registration & Pre-Tech Available

Race Entry Fee $100
Pit Passes
12 years old & over $10
Kids 11 and under $5

For more information about the Red Line Oil Karting Championship, go to www.cameronkarting.com  , www.norcalrotax.com or email race director Ric Shaw at racedirector-ric@hotmail.com .

The Red Line Oil Karting Championship is supported with over $20,000 of prizes and awards.
 

5-17-10 Red Line Oil Karting Championship Race #3 Info

Four weeks have passed since the Red Line Oil Karting Championship (ROLKC) Race #2 and many things are happening in preparation for Race #3 on May 23rd. Below are updates for the race.

1. Change of TaG spec gear ratios.
2. Change of race day format.
3. Change to Red Line 2-Cycle oil as the spec oil for the series.
4. Change to VP MS93 fuel for the Rotax classes.
5. Reminder on use of the full width rear bumper for all the Rotax classes.
6. Reminder Rotax membership is required for all the National Rotax classes.
7. Series Supplemental Rules

1. After a review of the RPM levels of the Parilla engines on the Reverse National track layout, the spec gears need to be revised in order to keep the RPMs at 16,000 or less. Brett Buckwalter monitors the RPM levels with testing each month to insure they are correct for the class. The concept of a spec gear for this class is new and may require revision on occasion until we get it right. For the May race, the spec gears for IAME Tag are as follows:

Kart/driver minimum weight or 370#, gears: 10-73 or 11-80
Kart/driver minimum weight of 385#, gears: 10-74 or 11-81
Kart/driver minimum weight of 400#, gears: 10-75 or 11-83

2. After the first two races and much discussion, some thought has been put into looking at ways to improve the series. One idea will be implemented at Race #3 with a change in the race day format to increase race action. Two shorter Pre-Mains (8 laps) and a slightly shorter Main (15 laps) will be run this race. Qualifying will set the grid for both Pre-Mains and a combined result of the Pre-Mains will set the Main starting grid. Points will be awarded for each Pre-Main as follows:

1st : 25 points
2nd : 20 points
3rd : 15 points
4th : 10 points
5th : 5 points

To accommodate two Pre-Mains, morning practice will be cut down to one, ten minute session. After Race #4, we will ask racers for feedback on this race day format.

3. Red Line 2-Cycle oil will be the only spec oil used from Qualifying through the Main for all classes.

4. VP MS93 will be the only fuel used in the Rotax classes. VP93 is the spec fuel for all major Rotax series in the country including the Grand National. This change will allow those running in other series or at the Gran National to be tuned to the VP93 fuel. Cost of this fuel is no different than the VP98. IAME TaG will continue to use VP98 and the 80 Shifters will continue to use VP110.

5. As announced earlier, full width rear bumpers will be mandatory from the May race on for all Rotax classes. The full width rear bumper is now a mandatory item in the National rule book and the Nor Cal Rotax Challenge Series will comply with this rule. If any racer has a problem complying with this rule, please email me to discuss the situation. My email is racedirector-ric@hotmail.com

6. Just a reminder that to run in any of the National Rotax classes, Rotax National membership is required. This is a requirement so we can be an official Rotax Max Challenge Series. National membership has been reduced this year to $35. You can sign up online or you can get a membership form at registration at the next race.

7. The 2010 Red Line Oil Karting Championship Supplemental Rules will be published shortly. These rules govern race events which are not covered by the various national rules. If you are a new kart racer, the supplemental rules are a good race event reference and it would be good for you to read through them. A copy of the rules are available for viewing at each event registration or by seeing the Race Director, Tech Director, or the Pre-Grid person.

I hope I have not overwhelmed you with too much information. If you have any questions, just email me. I am looking forward to some good spring time weather for Race #3 and hope to see most of you there.

Thanks, Ric Shaw
Race Director of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship
& Northern California Rotax Challenge Series
Email: racedirector-ric@hotmail.com
 

5-17-10 Planning Continues for SuperKarts USA Summer Nationals

McMurray and Allmendinger confirmed for Wisconsin spectacular

The 2010 season has now grabbed sixth gear for the staff of Superkarts! USA, as they continue to promote regional and national karting events throughout the western half of the United States. The organization took a major step during the off-season in launching a new three-event Pro Tour, and the impressive success of the inaugural SpringNationals in Sonoma back in April has fired a new wave of momentum. With that breakthrough event now in the books, much of SKUSAs current focus is now being directed on the upcoming SummerNationals, which will take place on July 16-18 at USA International Raceway in Shawano, WI.

This will be the organizations first official promotional effort east of the Mississippi, and long-range predictions call for a strong turnout of competitors, including a couple of big-name NASCAR stars. SKUSA is also working closely with several of its partners to ensure that this race will be a major league event, and the new programs that are in the works include a pre-race golf tourney promoted by eKartingNews.com and a special S5 motor rental program. SKUSA is also communicating with its foundation of shops and racing teams to promote affordable equipment shipping opportunities for those drivers who wish to participate in the next Pro Tour event. The key concepts are to produce an enjoyable event that is open to any and all karting enthusiasts.

One of the biggest confirmations for the SummerNationals is the attendance of Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray and Richard Petty Motorsports star and former SKUSA ProMoto Tour victor AJ Allmendinger. The inclusion of these professional pilots will certainly make this race one to remember. McMurray is a huge fan of the annual SuperNationals and is a karting fanatic, while Allmendinger has a long and storied relationship with the SKUSA family. Allmendinger was a big part of the initial SKUSA ProMoto Tour back in 1999, winning in both 80cc and 125cc competition.

The weekend events will get started a little earlier for the second stop on the Pro Tour as SKUSAs official online media partner, eKartingNews.com, will kick off the SummerNationals with its inaugural EKN golf tournament, which will be held on Wednesday, July 14 at the Shawano Lake Golf Club. A total of 10 tee times have been booked, beginning at noon, putting a maximum entry at 40 players for this best-ball outing. More information will be made available before the end of the month.

Tom and I were talking about how many of our fellow karting enthusiasts love to golf, and we decided that this would be a great way to kick off the SummerNationals, offered Rob Howden. Before we go into the heat of battle, well be able to get out onto the links for some fun. Were going to start filling up the prize table and hopefully this will become an annual event!

Two of the big positives from the SpringNationals were the solid arrival of the TaG Cadet class and the national launch of the S5 Junior Stock Moto program. SKUSA continues to show its support for the S5 category, and will look to further grow the first step on the Stock Moto ladder by introducing an engine rental program for the SummerNationals only. This program is in the final stages of completion and a full overview will be made available soon.

I really believe that we need to give our Juniors the opportunity to play with a shifterkart to let them see what theyre missing, joked Tom Kutscher. Ive seen this story play out so many times?once a young driver gets behind the wheel of a shifter, they dont want to drive anything else, its just that much fun. The thrill and enjoyment of driving a 125 is what fired the birth of SKUSA, and shifters are still our passion. This new program were developing is going to provide an opportunity for our Juniors to see for themselves why the S1, S2, S3 and S4 drivers wouldnt trade their shifters for anything!

Like the S5 category, the TaG Cadet class is expected to grow for the SummerNationals, coming off its big debut in Sonoma. The category launched with 12 drivers in California, all of whom have now purchased their own Vortex Mini Rok powerplants, making available the 10 sample engines offered up by Vortex to allow racers to come and play. The feedback on this new formula has been phenomenal, and the goal for Shawano is to top 20 entries for the class with the winner receiving a free engine. Any Cadet families wishing to take part in the complimentary Vortex engine program for the SummerNationals are asked to contact the Superkarts! USA head office.

Registration for the SummerNationals is now open on SKUSAs website www.superkartsusa.com and a pre-entry will save racers a great deal off the regular weekend rate. An influx of drivers from the SKUSA Central States Challenge and the surrounding Midwest regional series is expected to provide entry numbers that will top the 100+ competitors enjoyed at Infineon Raceway. Of course, those in the class championship battles will certainly be making the trek to Wisconsin, as they chase the #1 plate, the sponsored SuperNationals entry, and the 2011 SKUSA Pro Tour entry fee prize package along with the $1,750 in prize money up for grabs in the S1 and TaG Senior categories.

SKUSA will soon be releasing contact information for the teams and shops from all of their regions that have trailer space available for the SummerNationals. Travel costs are prominent in this economic climate and this program is aimed at offering affordable alternatives for SKUSA racers. For more information on the SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals, visit the www.superkartsusa.com website.

 

5-11-10 Finlay Motorsports and Savage Designs add names to Red Line Oil Karting Championship sponsor list

Finlay Motorsports will be presenting a "rising star" award that will offer driver management services for the 2011 race season.

Finlay Motorsports has developed a comprehensive driver management and development program that covers a broad spectrum of drivers; from beginners to recreational and professional drivers. Finlay Management has had the opportunity to work with many talented and professional drivers over the years, including karting notables such as Memo Gidley, Dane Cameron and Michael McDowell. From this experience and these relationships, Finlay has extensive knowledge of what it takes to succeed as a competitive and professional driver.

Savage Designs will be offering the Junior Rotax Champion a helmet custom design and paint job.

Savage Designs creates the world's most innovative and highly detailed helmet designs for professional racers and weekend warriors alike. Be it on dirt, street or super speedways, their designs are affordable and long-lasting, giving racers a high class presence anywhere they run.

"I personally design and paint each and every helmet that comes through our doors" Michael Savage said. "Being able to offer a young kart racer a design that he can carry throughout his racing career is a great opportunity for me to create a design that will reflect the personality and dedication it takes to make it in racing".

For series promoter Steve Cameron, adding Finlay Motorsports and Savage Designs to the growing list of sponsors is another step towards making this championship a true driver development series.

"One of our goals with the Red Line Oil Karting Championship is to give young racers the opportunity to develop their careers and move up the motorsports ladder", Cameron said. "This can be a daunting task and without guidance, it's difficult to make the right choices. Finlay Motorsports provides the expertise to help drivers maximize their opportunities, and with a Savage Designs helmet these drivers will surely be noticed".

More information about Finlay Motorsports can be found at www.finlaymotorsports.com

and Savage Designs at www.savagedesigns.com

The next race of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship is Sunday, May 23rd at the Jim Russell International Karting Center located at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

For more information on the series go to www.cameronkarting.com  or www.norcalrotax.com
 

5-10-10 Prokart Challenge South and Gatorz Karting Cup Set For Attack on Streets of Willow

Two organizations to run jointly on the 1.8-mile high speed Southern California road course

Riding off the momentum of the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour debut in the month of April, the ProKart Challenge South program is set to return to action in the month of May. The Southern California regional series for the national organization will be traveling to the Streets of Willow course in Rosamond, CA for the fourth round of the six race program. The event marks the first time PKC and the Gatorz Karting Cup a US Rotax Max Challenge program will work together to co-host a race. The high speed and challenging 1.8-mile circuit at the Willow Springs International Motorsports Park will produce great racing for both programs.

I am thrilled to be back at Streets. This is actually my favorite track, stated Superkarts! USAs Tom Kutscher. This year will be an even bigger event than before, as we are putting the event on with the Gatorz Karting Cup program. Andy and his crew do a great job, and his Rotax racers are among the best in the country. If you havent experienced road racing at 115+ mph, you have to come out. Even if you just want to check it out for Friday practice. This course is a blast!

I'm excited to co-promote this event with Tom, Patti and the ProKart Challenge, commented Andy Seesemann of the Gatorz Karting Cup. Streets of Willow is my favorite track, as is for many of the Southern California GATORZ and ProKart drivers, and a combined event makes a lot of sense in order to offer our customers the best value possible. Tom and I have talked about a combined event for a few years, and this year we were finally able to get it done.

The event will follow a revised ProKart Challenge race day format. Because of the length of the track, multiple classes will be grouped together. With the groupings, it will allow drivers to compete in both ProKart Challenge and Gatorz Karting Cup divisions. From the Gatorz program, the Mini Max and Micro Max classes will form group one. Group two includes their Rotax Junior and Rotax Senior divisions along with the TaG Master class from PKC. Group three will see S3, S4, S4 Magnum, S5 and the Gatorz DD2 classes running on-track together, while group four will be made up of S1, S2 and G1. The fifth and final group will host TaG Senior, TaG Junior and the Gatorz Rotax Masters. Qualifying will be 10 minutes per group with two 10-lap heat races followed by a 16-lap main event for all five groups (the Gatorz Cadet classes will have a shortened track layout).

The fourth round of the six-race PKC South championship will begin on May 14 with a practice day, as on-track activities will take place from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with the first 15-minutes of each hour reserved for the Gatorz Cadet classes. ProKart Challenge and Gatorz Karting Cup will offer a Friday night complimentary BBQ dinner at the track following practice, with attendees asked to bring their own beverages. PKC race pre-registrations are currently being accepted, with racers able to save $35 on their entry fees by submitting an entry prior to midnight on May 12. SKUSA memberships will be mandatory for the event, and forms are available on the SKUSA or ProKart Challenge websites. Trailer parking is available starting Thursday afternoon. Pit spots will all be handled on a first-come, first-served basis no reserved spots or extra fees necessary. Camping on site will be permitted Thursday thru Saturday night at no charge. PKC has also arranged discounted rooms at both the Devonshire Inn (661-256-3454) and the Inn of Lancaster (661-945-8771), as long as you mention ProKart Challenge when booking your rooms. More information on the event can be found at the PKC event page: http://www.superkartsusa.com/regional/pkc-south/round-4-2010.html

For more information on the opening round including the tentative race day schedule or anything related to SKUSA and the ProKart Challenge, visit the redesigned and updated www.superkartsusa.com  website or call the SKUSA head office at 951-491-0808.

 

5-13-10 Chris Wehrheim VW Jetta TDI Cup NJMP Report

“Wehrheim scores first podium of season”

 Round three of the VW Jetta TDI Cup was held at New Jersey Motorsports Park this past weekend.  This would be the first event of the season worth full points.  With the first two races of the season underneath his belt, Chris was looking forward to getting his championship campaign back on track.

The New Jersey circuit was a brand new track for Chris, but no one would think that after he went P1 in the one and only practice session on Saturday.  This gave Chris a lot of confidence going into qualifying, but unfortunately he struggled with the handling of the car and could only put the car up in the 6^th position.  After qualifying the mechanics found that the rear toe was off creating understeer in the car. 

Sunday’s weather was a bit colder for the race and with the changing track conditions the drivers that could adapt the fastest would prevail.  Straight from the lights going out Chris was making his charge to the front moving up to 4^th from 6^th in the first corner and then moving up to 3^rd just four corners later.  A battle for second spot involving four drivers allowed the leader to pull away.  As the laps wound down it would come down to a two-car battle for the 2^nd position.  With two laps to go Chris was in great position to challenge for 2^nd, but a lap driver got in the way and then spun forcing Chris off the track to avoid contact.  This resulted in Chris losing valuable time and crossed the line in 3^rd position. 

“This was a very important weekend going forward this season,” stated Wehrhiem.  “I am very comfortable in the car now and feel that a win is just around the corner.  I can’t give enough thanks to the VW crew.  After qualifying I felt that the car was not right and the team later than night found that the toe was off in the rear of the car.  In the race the car was the best it had been all weekend and that showed in the results.”

Currently Chris is sitting 4^th in the championship just four points out of 2^nd.  Next up for the VW Jetta TDI Cup is round four at Miller Motorsports Park June 5-6.  Chris would like to thank King Taco, Alpinestars, and Grand Products for all of their support. 

5-7-10 Red Line Oil Karting Championship Commited  to 80 Shifters

Although the Red Line Oil Karting Championship at the Jim Russell International Karting Center is one of the most well known Rotax series in the country, it also supports other exciting classes. Since 2002, when kart racing started at the Infineon Raceway kart track, 80 Shifters have been strongly supported with as many as three different 80 Shifter classes. This uniquely Northern California club class works well with the fast and smooth track at Infineon and continues to have the strong support of new series promoter Steve Cameron, as well as Race Director Ric Shaw. "Right now, the 80 shifter kart offers the racer the best value for the dollar of any karting class in Northern California," say Shaw. "Very good used engines can be purchased at reasonable prices. The speed performance and maintenance cost of an 80 cannot be matched by many other engines".

80 Shifter classes were some of the strongest at the Jim Russell International Karting Center through 2007, with about twenty karts entered each race. With a new series promoter and the birth of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship this year, Steve Cameron, the 2001 Formula 80 Champion at the Kinsmen Kart Club in Dixon, brings his love and support of this class to the series. Both Steve and Ric have family roots in this class. Steve's nephew Dane Cameron accelerated his karting career when he won the Junior 80 class at Infineon. Ric's son, Kris Shaw, broke into shifter karts driving an "80" which eventually led to winning the SKUSA Pro 80 National Championship in 1999.

"I am committed to the class for two reasons," say Ric Shaw. "First, 80 Shifters offer the young driver a great way to transition from clutch karts to shifter karts without breaking the bank. Second, the combination of 80 shifters and the long, smooth Infineon track has been a popular combination for the Masters class drivers." The longer Infineon track allows the 80 shifter karts to stretch their legs and run up to their true speed potential. Currently, the 80 Masters class is one of the largest classes of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship series. The current drivers have a mix of karting and race car backgrounds.

The Red Line Oil Karting Championship series offers three classes of 80 shifters:

Formula 80 (15 and older, 360 pounds)
80 Masters (35 and older, 375 pounds)
80 Heavy (15 and older, 390 pounds).

All three classes will run in the same race group. The spec tires are the Bridgestone YKC, spec fuel is VP 110, and spec oil is Red Line Oil 2 Cycle Oil. Engine specifications are those used throughout Northern California, except for the mandatory use of the longer fourteen inch muffler. "Re-tuning to the longer muffler is not all that much of a deal and besides, the sound of an 80 engine with the longer muffler is much more mellow and enjoyable to be around", says Shaw.

If you are looking for a fast and cost effective class to race, consider the 80 Shifter classes at the Red Line Oil Karting Championship. For more information, go to www.cameronkarting.com  or contact Ric Shaw at racedirector-ric@hotmail.com
 

5-6-10 Dyer and Fraser Triumph at Third Round of Prokart Challenge North
Photos by Tony Leone

Veterans prevail in headline categories while Langon doubles up in Junior ranks

Riding off the momentum from the debut of the Superkarts! USA North American Pro Tour, the ProKart Challenge North continued its season at the same facility in which the SKUSA SpringNationals were held. The Northern California regional series returned to the Jim Russell International Karting Center in Sonoma for the third round of the program. Veterans Tom Dyer and Larry Fraser took home the gold in the two headline classes S1 Pro Stock Moto and TaG Senior over two of the strongest fields. Coming off his first national victory at the Pro Tour, Daniel Langon continued his winning ways by scoring the win in both S5 Junior Stock Moto and the competitive HPV-2 Junior division.

Dyer was making his first start of the 2010 season, and the defending SKUSA SuperNationals Stock Moto champion found himself in chase mode following qualifying. Brett Buckwalter scored the pole position with a lap of 47.791 to better the times set by round two winner Nic LeDuc and Dyer. From the third grid spot in heat one, Dyer was quick on the cold MG Tires, knifing his way to the point in the opening circuit. LeDuc dropped in to follow in second as Tommy Thompson advanced up to third, dropping Buckwalter to fourth. The field stayed that way for the eight-lap heat, with Dyer taking the win. Dyer and LeDuc were able to break away from the rest of the field in heat two. Dyer led early until LeDuc took over the spot on lap six, which would be the winning pass. The third spot was hotly contested, with current point leader Fritz Leesmann earning the spot after the eight laps. The holeshot was all Dyer needed to help him claim the feature victory, as he got off the line cleanly and ran consistent lap times for the 20-lap race. LeDuc and Leesmann engaged in a heated battle for the runner-up spot. Contact was made during one instance where LeDuc was trying to overtake Leesmann. The result of the contact allowed LeDuc to secure the second spot to the checkered flag, until officials docked him one position for the infraction. That put Leesmann up to the second step of the podium and LeDuc to third.

For Fraser, the win would come easier compared to Dyers, sweeping the action in the TaG Senior category despite a strong contingent of young up-and-coming drivers in the field. Qualifying was the closest anyone came to Fraser on the day. Round two runner-up Bobby Kelley came up a scant 0.075 seconds short of stealing the pole position away from Fraser, who posted a 49.096 lap time. Frasers speed would not fall off as the day went on. Taking the heat wins by three-seconds each, Fraser led all 20 laps of the main event to score win number two on the year and inherit the point lead. Kelley ran second to him all day long until the final lap of the day when Jess Peterson snuck by for the runner-up spot. David Harwin point leader heading into round three experienced a tough race day and then retired midway through the feature race when a broken spark plug damaged his engine.

The S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto category witnessed its third different main event winner in as many races, with Neil Joseph earning the checkered flag. Point leader and SKUSA SpringNationals winner Matt Alcorn set the tone early with a solid qualifying lap (48.696) to earn the pole position. Going on to score the opening heat win by two seconds, Alcorn ran into trouble in heat two when he retired on lap five with a broken coil wire. Cody Diede would go on to take the win ahead of Joseph and Jared Woolf. Coming from the tail of the grid, Alcorn was on a charge in the first half of the feature race. Diede and Joseph exchanged the lead a number of times, allowing Alcorn the opportunity to close in by the halfway mark. From there, Alcorn quickly put himself at the point with Joseph and Diede in tow. With two laps to go, Joseph made his move and brought Diede with him to drop Alcorn back to third. Holding on to the checkered, Joseph earned his first victory of the season, edging Diede by 0.141 seconds - with Alcorn half a second back to round out the podium.

Daniel Langon is making a name for himself thus far in 2010. Coming off his first national victory at the SKUSA SpringNationals, Langon ran unchallenged in the S5 Junior Stock Moto category for win number one on the day. Competing also in the HPV-2 Junior class, Langon battled throughout the day for his second win. The fight was one with another SKUSA SpringNationals winner Kathryn Cornell who won the TaG Junior main event on Sunday a few weeks back. Langon got the edge in qualifying, by a slim 0.082-second margin over Cornell. Langon was shuffled back early in the opening heat, leaving Cornell to take the win with Jared Wolff sliding in between for second. Langon fought back in heat two, coming up just short at the line with Cornell scoring the win. Cornell and Langon ran 1-2 to begin the feature race, that is until lap four when they made contact, taking Cornell off track for a bit. This gave the lead to Langon as he would cruise to the victory his first in the class with Jack Freese scoring second and Cornell fighting back to stand on the podium in third.

Cornell will still lead the HPV2 Jr standings having won the previous two rounds and was also able to walk away with a victory in TaG Junior, her second straight win of the season. Austin Dement edged her out for top honors in qualifying by just 0.027 seconds. Cornell grabbed the lead in the opening lap of heat one, going on to take the win and matching the same wire-to-wire performance in heat two. With Dement getting shuffled to the back of the field in lap one of the main event, Cornell cruised to victory over point leader Niki Luna. Dement fought back to cross the line third; however, he would be found incompliant in tech for an improper cylinder head. That moved PKC newcomer Sean McDonald to the podium in third.

In Masters racing, both Jeff Smith (S4) and Ethan Wilson (TaG Master) carried the momentum gained at the SKUSA SpringNationals. Smith was perfect on the day, taking the main event victory by seven seconds over Alex Keith and Jim Inglebright. The win was his third straight to extend his point lead. Wilson also earned maximum points for the day, en route to his second main event victory of the season over Peter Workum and Jeff Deehan. Chris Yettito and Terrance Seto went back and forth in the S3 Novice Stock Moto class, with Yettito claiming the feature win after Seto retired early.

Now at the halfway point of the season, the ProKart Challenge North series will return to the Infineon Raceway facility on June 11-12 for round four. The SKUSA crew will first head to the Streets of Willow circuit for round four of the ProKart Challenge South on May 14-15, partnering up with the Gatorz Karting Cup for a joint event on the 1.8-mile course.