News - Norcal Karters

Infineon will be hosting a Winter Race series on February 11 and 25, also March 11 and 25. The Classes are divided up into 2 different days. The TAGs will run on Feb 11 and March 11, and Shifters will run on Feb 25 and March 25. The Junior 1 Comer and Gazelle will be run on the TAG race day and the Junior Puma and Rotax will be run on the Shifter race day. Depending on the number of entries, there is the possibility of running A and B groups. To check out the Winter Race Rules and Format, and The Race day scenario visit the Infineon Track page.

The information packet and race entry forms, for the February 17, 2007 NCK season opener at Buttonwillow Raceway (road course), have been posted on the NCK website. Pre-enter to save money and eliminate standing in line.

Special Pricing - This is a "$100 All You Can Race" event. That means if you have the equipment and the stamina, you can enter and run in every event during the day, for the price of the first entry. Add $25 if you wait and submit your entry form at the gate.

If you were an NCK member last season and ran "ALL" of the NCK races in 2006 (excluding the IKF RRGNs), NCK will waive your race entry fee, for the season opener at Buttonwillow. If you entered and ran at all of the races, just write in "I'm racing for FREE," on your race pre-entry form.

Note: All participants must have an IKF Road Race License (or must apply for one) and a 2007 NCK Membership ($40 annual membership fee).

Kart numbers and transponders are pre-tech items. Transponders will be available to rent, for anyone that doesn't own one.

Changes For 2007: IKF is now requiring that ALL weights must be white in color, to create a contrast when on the track.

As of right now, there is no practice day scheduled for Friday 2/16/07. But, this is subject to change, as the track may choose to open for practice, if they are unable to rent the track to another club or private party. Note: If this takes place, it will likely be on short notice.

Two Oregon Senators introduced Senate Bill 49 recently for legislative consideration.

In effect this bill would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 12 to operate an ATV on public land (this means by statute Motorcycles, Quads, and Go-Karts). This bill would also limit those 12-16 years of age to a maximum 90cc ATV (Again motorcycle, quad, or go-kart) on public land.

Again this is a very poorly written bill and does not define the term ATV (Quad in most people's world), so it goes to the Oregon legal definition of ATV (ie off road motorcyucle, quad or go-kart)

Find the legislators and express your opinion:

http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/home.htm

Well, what would a new racing season be without a schedule change. The June 9-10 Jim Russell 2 day race weekend needs to be changed to June 30-July 1.
The reason for this date change is because the 3rd Annual Kartsport Grand Prix will take over the June 9-10 date. I do not have any details on
classes and such, but as soon I get the advance notice of information, I
will send it along. Given that the Stars National Series will not be
coming to Infineon Raceway this year, the Kartsport GP will be the only premier event at Infineon in 2007 and should have a number of classes that will allow our local Russell Series and Norcal drivers to showcase their driving skills.

Stockton Club 2006 Banquet will be held at the Lodi Brewing Company February 11th. Further details such as registration form coming within the next couple of days so please stay tuned.

2/1/07 Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival !!

West coast car enthusiasts, racing fans, hot rodders and racers are gearing up for the 2007 Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival, scheduled for March 21^st through 25^th, 2007 in Oakhurst, California, the southern gateway to Yosemite National Park. This has become such a big deal that the Madera County Board of Supervisors has declared that week in March to be "Official Madera County Film Festival Week".

Featuring automotive related films from the 40’s through today, the film festival offers something for everyone, hard to find films such as Mickey Rooney’s 1949 “Big Wheel”, the original “The Fast and The Furious” from 1955 and more than 20 others.

Film legend James Garner will be the recipient of the “Southern Yosemite Lifetime Achievement Award” for his work in automotive films. Both “Grand Prix” and his documentary “The Racing Scene” will be screened and drivers from his racing team, Scooter Patrick and Davey Jordan, will be on hand to sign autographs and tell stories about their racing careers. One of their original Corvettes, now restored by Jim Herlinger of Santa Clara, will also be displayed.

The Lee Iacocca Foundation for diabetes research has selected the Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival as one of the places to present the Lee Iacocca Award, to be given to someone who best epitomizes both the automotive sport and community service.

Of special interest to car enthusiasts will be one of the few screenings of “The Sound of Speed”, a short film about Lance Reventlow and his Scarab racing project. Director Bruce Kessler, who premiered this at the Cannes Film Festival in 1962, will be at the festival to discuss the making of this film and his own racing career.

Pontiac fans will appreciate 2004’s “The Last Ride”, starring Dennis Hopper and featuring a variety of Pontiacs, and the director, Guy Bee, who will be in attendance, speaking about the making of the film.

John Schneider, of "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Smallville" fame, will be introducing his latest film, Collier & Co. and showing off his latest Dodge Charger.

The critically acclaimed and never before screened in California, “Dirt”, a documentary about stock car racing at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas and a winner at the Austin Film Festival, will be one of the Friday night featured films. Director Jeff Bowden will introduce the film and describe all that went into making it.

For Corvette buffs, Dick Guldstrand, known as “Mr. Corvette” for his long involvement with the marque and success in racing, will be here to sign autographs, showcase his latest book and show of his special edition Corvette ZO-6.

Automotive authors will be here too. Harold Osmer, best known for his definitive book on long gone race tracks of Southern California, will attend, not only signing books but giving a brief talk about Southern California racetracks and displaying a variety of automotive books from Autobooks-Aerobooks of Burbank. "Landspeed Louise" Noeth will be on hand signing her definitive Bonneville book and more are expected. Tom Madigan, author of "Edelbrock", will be avilable for autographs and book signings.

From Cannonball Run II, Richard Kiel, who portrayed a Mitsubishi engineer in the film, will be here, again signing autographs and talking to fans.

With so many veterans of racing at the now defunct Riverside International Raceway attending, it’s only fitting that a Riverside Raceway Retrospective be presented; with a short film of the 1965 Times Grand Prix and stories of racing at Riverside, from veterans who ran the first event in 1957 to those who ran the last in 1989.

The recent death of Formula One great Clay Regazzoni has prompted a brief remembrance program, with a special showing of the film of the 1974 Grand Prix season, where Clay, driving for Ferrari, finished second in the world championship to Emerson Fittipaldi. Speaking about Clay will be Chuck Jones, former partner in the Ensign Formula One team and Howden Ganley, former BRM Formula One driver.

One of the best things about the film festival is that the proceeds all go to charity. From the Lee Iacocca Foundation to the Children’s Miracle Network to worthy causes in the Oakhurst area, everyone benefits from this event. A complete list of charities is on the film festival website, www.southernyosemite.com

The film festival week also includes displays of racing, vintage, antique and exotic cars, automobilia and souvenir vendors, an auction of racing memorabilia, celebrity autograph signings featuring stars and well known racers and more, limited access cocktail parties, wine tasting from local wineries and other auto related events. Exhibitors will include the AAA Motorsports Experience, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norcalkarters.com, Madera Speedway, Riverside Motorsports Park and a variety of car lubs from around California.

And when you can’t watch any more movies, tours of Yosemite National Park, ski outings, golf tournaments, train rides on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railway, hosted trips to the local Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino and a variety of family oriented events are available.

Tickets are now available online at the film festival website, www.southernyosemite.com or through the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce at 559.683.7766. Ticket quantities are limited as only a few hundred people can be accommodated. Special accommodation packages with local hotels are also available.

Oakhurst is 4 ½ hours driving time north of Los Angeles and 3 hours east of the San Francisco Bay area. Airline service through Fresno Yosemite International Airport is 45 minutes away.

For complete information visit the Film Festival website, www.southernyosemite.com or contact the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce, online at www.oakhurstchamber.com or call 559.683.7766.

Media Contact:

Dave Wolin

Dave Wolin Inc.

559.760.1143

ceo@davewolin.com

The following is a press release directly from Paula McCallister released today on California Kartworld's Plans for track support in 2007:

California Kartworld is sorry to announce that we will not be allowed to sell parts at Prairie City on race weekends this coming race season.

However this change will allow us to support other tracks and other race series to best support the majority of our customers.

For those of you that wish to continue competing at Prairie City please call us directly so that we may come up with a plan to best support you in servicing you with technical assistance and parts as we normally have in the past.

Please understand this decision was out of our control although this will be a great opportunity for our customers to experience many new venues.

Thank you for your support during this change.

:For Kartworlds schedule and questions please contact them at 916-636-0116

Additional rule changes for the 2007 are as follows:

1) Tire change for 80 shifter classes will be the Bridgestone YJL tire. The YJL tire is a fairly softer tire then the commonly used YDS however no tire softener will be allowed.

2)Shiny manifolds supplied with the leopard engines early in distribution will no longer be legal. All manifolds must be from conventional shipments. The reason being is the shiny manifold was no longer available and gave those who used them a performance advantage.

3)Carbon Fiber Reeds will no longer be legal. The only Reeds allowed will be the conventional reeds supplied with the engine and must say IAME on them. Thickness shall .30 with a .02 tolerance.

More changes to come as they are released. Stay Tuned.

Mark your calendars on Saturday, February 3rd, Blue Max Kart Club- Davis is holding a swap meet/work party. The day will start with the swap meet in the parking lot. Which is open to everyone- NO CHARGE. Bring your kart related leftovers and some money for the things you'll find that you just can't do without.

The work party will be used to repair/fix-ups of the facility. For those members or non members who participate in the work party will be granted a free practice afternoon run. Members who choose not to participate in the work party will be charged to run that day.

And one final note- don't forget chest protectors for Jr. drivers a new rule for 2007. All lead weights MUST be painted white. This includes cans, or any form of weight. This is a new safety rule recently approved by the IKF national board.

A block of rooms has been reserved for all IKF racers at the Shilo Inn in preparation for the IKF Medford participants for May 26-27. $95.95 consist of a double or king with a microwave, refrigerator, free breakfast, parking for trailers, good lighting and security. The Shilo Inn is located across the street from Food 4 Less, fine foods, Dairy queen, pizza and other restaurants. The Shilo Inn is down the street 2 miles from a shopping mall, and 3 miles from Costco and a movie theater. The Shilo Inn is close to the track, and freeways. If you are interested please contact Debra ASAP to reserve your spot. 1-800-841-8680 or email at speedwaynut@msn.com.