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| Features |
| EKN Championship Spotlight: Bryan Eady |
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 | Bryan Eady became the first ever Stars of Karting TaG ICC national champion
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
As the cost of pro-level shifterkart racing continues to rise, the Stars of Karting brass introduced a new gearbox package to its program in 2008 and as a ‘semi-pro’ offering, it provided an opportunity for both young talent and budget-minded veterans to enjoy what the traveling series has to offer. It also served up a stage on which a quick young pilot could shine. The Touch and Go Intercontinental C (TaG ICC) class was introduced on the Snap-on Stars of Karting program in 2008 as an alternative to the Intercontinental C (ICC) division. The cost-efficient and reliable TM K9ES engine was to be utilized throughout the season, putting more focus on driver ability and chassis tuning. With a solid cash prize package offered to the winning drivers throughout the season, it sparked some interest in a returning driver - Bryan Eady - who would go on to claim the first ever Stars of Karting TaG ICC national championship by a narrow margin.
Eady began his career behind the wheel at age five at his Northern California home aboard a 5HP Briggs and Stratton Box-Stock dirt kart. Over the next five years, Eady built up experience and knowledge at the young age to set himself up for a breakout year in oval racing in 1992. Racing at the local speedway track in Chico, California, Eady took home 18 A-main victories in his 125cc Outlaw dirt kart and 13 A-main wins in the Pro-Stock Outlaw class, capping the season off with a runner-up finish at the IKF Speedway Grand Nationals in Kerman, California. The following year, he took his talents to the asphalt to compete in the sprint division. Running a 60cc shifter, Eady ran at the IKF Gearbox Grand Nationals, where he would finish fourth before earning IKF Expert status with two Duffy wins in Jr-1 Light and Jr-1 Heavy at the IKF 4-Cycle Sprint Grand Nationals in Marshalltown, Iowa.
In 1999, Bryan continued to campaign events on sprint courses, earning local IKF 4-cycle victories while once again standing on the podium at the Grand Nationals. Throughout the season, he spent testing an 80cc shifter kart, prepping for the upcoming inaugural Superkarts! USA SuperNationals in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the event did not go as planned as electrical issues hurt any chances of competing for the win. Eady ended the season by returning to the oval ranks, where he was invited to pilot a 500cc Open kart.
KLS Racing had become very aware of Eady’s accomplishments and acquired his talent to run for them in 2000, notching regional SKUSA and IKF victories in 80cc Junior competition. Now 15 years old, Eady then moved up to the Senior ranks the following year as part of a transition to the Leading Edge Motorsports squad where he was positioned as their lead Formula K1 (80cc Senior) pilot on the growing SKUSA ProMoto Tour. After posting a pair of victories on the challenging circuit, Eady earned the Western Division title before making run to a top-five finish at the SKUSA World Finals in Norman, Oklahoma. It would not be quite enough for the national crown as he would lose the title by just seven points to Jeff Schaab.
Eady was absent from the karting track during the following few years to focus on finishing his education at Shasta High School in Redding, CA and participating in extra-curricular activities. Racing was still in his blood and he calmed his nerves by racing RC cars, returning to the local circle track for some Outlaw dirt kart racing as well.
 | Piloting a Leading Edge Motorsports Intrepid, Eady was a factor every weekend in the TaG ICC division
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
After a five-year hiatus from the sport, Eady made a triumphant return at the SKUSA SuperNationals in 2007. Teamed with his father, Steve, running an Intrepid chassis, Eady set out to win the S3 Stock Moto division. From the beginning of the event, Eady was among the fastest in the competitive class. Earning the pole for the main event, Eady led the early going until getting challenged by veteran Tom Dyer. The two shuffled the lead spot until Dyer came away with a last lap pass to take the victory. The runner-up finish was a huge feat for Eady with his absence from the sport and earned him a position on the SKUSA MG Tire Granja Viana 500 team in Sau Paulo, Brazil to compete against many high-profile names in motorsports. With the achievements earned in the short 2007 season, it sparked a surge into the 2008 season.
“After working for me throughout 2007 for my customers, I knew I had to work something out to race Bryan at the SuperNationals in S3,” stated Greg Bell of Leading Edge Motorsports. “He did what I thought he would despite leaving the sport in 2002, coming back like he never missed a day. He asked to hire him in the off season and help him put something together for 2008. So I did and never regretted that decision.”
The year began with two runner-up results in the Florida Winter Tour and SKUSA WinterNational championships, all coming within the first three months of the year. The attention then turned to the national level, where he teamed up with Leading Edge Motorsports to contend for the TaG ICC title. Focusing on the Stars of Karting Western Division, Eady took the point lead following the opening weekend in Utah with two victories at the Miller Motorsports Park. The next month, traveling to the Race of the Americas at the New Castle Motorsports Park, Eady battled back from a qualifying penalty and heat race trouble to finish fifth and third in the two feature races.
Heading to the Western Division finale, Eady had a comfortable lead but clinched the title with a flag-to-flag victory at the Seattle Grand Prix. A fourth place finish in the second main came after he was forced to start last in the Sunday final after issues in the pits, and this result put him in a tie for the point lead with Michael Hogg as they entered the National Finals. Another qualifying penalty would put Eady behind his championship rivals, however, a heat win and two runner-up finishes in the remaining motos put the 21 year-old on the outside pole grid position for both features. From there, he would go on to earn the first victory, giving him the slight advantage heading into the final 20 lap race of the season. Falling back to fourth at the start, Eady took some time gaining back the spots he lost, eventually working back up to second and earning the first ever TaG ICC national championship.
“With the help of Champion Racing, Douglas Wheel, Italian Motors and Grand Products, we were able to put Bryan up front and win the championship,” continued Bell. “He works hard at what he does, for our customers and understands the products we sell. He’s always willing to help the new guy in the sport, no matter who it is, to help them achieve their goals. Bryan is the perfect match for Leading Edge Motorsports and its customers.”
The upcoming season is still in question for Eady as a full season in the Stars of Karting KZ2 division is up in the air. Eady is set to compete in the ProKart Challenge North series in the TaG Senior division, while running some selected IKF events, including the 4-cycle, 2-cycle, and Shifter Grand Nationals. A trip east to the Rock Island Grand Prix to compete in the revised King of the Streets that will run the stock moto engine package is on the calendar along with competing at his favorite event - the SKUSA SuperNationals. |
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