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| March 05, 2012 News |
| EKN Paddock Pass: Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - PKRA Formula K Raceway |
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During the years that the Howden Media Group produced Super Kart Illustrated Magazine, the publication’s staff often reserved a page or two when laying out the race reports to reflect back on the weekend. This space was dubbed the ‘Paddock Pass’ and was used to detail some of the highlights that helped make the event so interesting. Here on eKartingNews.com, we already provide unmatched session-by-session updates and daily race coverage from big events throughout the year. The one thing that has been missing in these timely reports is some of the behind-the-scenes information. As we have done on several occasions this summer, EKN will bring added coverage of every Trackside Live event with the new ‘EKN Paddock Pass’, which will help fill in our readers on our thoughts of what happened on-track and what was being talked about off the racing surface.
 | The Formula K Raceway circuit provides a setting for some great racing
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Formula K Raceway
For many, the Phoenix Kart Racing Association (PKRA) facility that hosted the latest rounds for the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas is known as Formula K Raceway. The 3/4-mile track has seen its share of historic events throughout the years and continues to challenge all competitors. The circuit has multiple layouts, with the Gatorz COTA officials electing to use the ‘Full’ course in the clockwise direction. This put pressure on the drivers and mechanics with 12 turns to master, and only one long straight to stretch out the legs on their Rotax powerplants. The inner sections of the track kept drivers and mechanics on their toes, as any speed lost there would hurt their run down the long straight. The turn 10 banked ‘monza’ could very well be one of the best corners in the country. Used as the opening corner for the races as it sits at the end of the long back straightaway, the banked turn provides a catalyst for great action as the over 30-kart fields shuffled through the corner, provided the best opportunity for passing throughout the weekend.
World Talent
The goal for virtually every driver in the Senior, DD2 and Junior categories is to win the championship and earn the opportunity to show their talents on the world stage at the Rotax Grand Finals. In Phoenix, the Senior drivers got a taste of the talent pool of the ‘Olympics of Karting’ as Aussie David Sera made a slight detour on his way back home from competing in Florida. During a layover in Los Angeles waiting for his flight home, Sera decided to take in a Lakers basketball game. That night, he began exchanging text messages with Gatorz COTA promoter Andy Seesemann. It didn’t take long to convince the 2011 Rotax Grand Finals runner-up to stay an extra week and compete under the Full Throttle Karting tent. The very next morning, Sera joined Seesemann for the 350-mile trip from LA to Phoenix. Running Andy’s personal equipment with KartSport North America team manager Eric Jones turning the wrenches, Sera drove to victory in both main events. The North American contingent proved to be competitive with the star pilot, keeping Sera out of the top spot in qualifying both days, and did not make it easy for the 11-time Australian karting champion during the main events. The best part of watching Sera on the weekend was his discussions with the Arrow drivers under the FTK tent. You could tell that they really took David’s words to heart and wanted to step up their game in his presence.
 | Aussie David Sera raised the bar of talent in Senior Max while visiting Phoenix
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
The Full Challenge
The first two race weekends are now in the books for the Gatorz COTA and the naming of the series is a true fit…it’s a ‘challenge’. The opening two tracks of the series have challenged the competitors both weekends, and the fields in the seven divisions have been incredibly competitive. Heading to the series finale weekend next month, the challenge for the point titles will be amplified, aside from the DD2 classes. Many who shined bright in Tucson, struggled a little in Phoenix. Despite the fact that six of the seven categories witnessed double winners this past weekend, the point chases are as close as you can get heading to the CalSpeed Karting facility in Fontana, California on March 30-April 1. The circuit will bring its own bit of challenge thanks to a new resurfacing of the layout, which was completed just last month. Grips is said to be virtually non-existent, making things very interesting. With trips to the Rotax Grand Finals on the line, just one more ‘challenge’ lie ahead of the eventual champions.
Off the Grid - EKN Food Blog
The search for great food continues, as we provide you with a look at some of the local food establishments we visit that you might not know about or just looking for something different from that normal chain restaurant
 | | AH-SO's Amaebi with the deep-fried shrimp heads |
• AH-SO Sushi & Steak (61st Ave & Bell Rd - Glendale, AZ - ahsosushiaz.com)
Cole: We hit this establishment back in 2010 during my first visit to the PKRA circuit, and it was the best dinner we had during that weekend. Returning for our Friday night dinner after hearing Rob begging for sushi all day, it did not disappoint. We elected to sit at a table rather than a hibachi table, as the place was packed. When you can’t find a seat, you know the food is good. I ordered the Filet Mignon Teppanyaki dinner from the kitchen, as I’m not a sushi guy. The steak was spot on and plenty of rice filled me up. The only complaint was too much onion in the rice, and Howden even agreed with me.
Howden: Even Shelby Jocelyn understands….David has the diet of an 8 year-old boy. This often prompts me to send him off to a burger place so I can enjoy some ‘big boy’ food. A teppanyaki joint is one bright spot, as I’ve at least convinced Cole that steak and rice is good. AH-SO is a great little place, so much so that I went back on the Saturday with Go Racing Magazine’s Sean Buur. Cole hit In-and-Out on his way back to the hotel. On my side of the table, I went with my go-to order and it was awesome. The seaweed salad had great flavor, the salmon and albacore nigiri sushi was fresh, they deep-fried the shrimp heads off my Amaebi (perfect!), and my Spicy Tuna Handrolls (I used the plural, one for the meal and one for dessert) had solid spice and tasted great. This place is now a given every time we go to PKRA.
• Matt’s Big Breakfast (801 North 1st Street - Phoenix, AZ - mattsbigbreakfast.com)
Cole: In our efforts to hit the road on Monday morning, we missed out on breakfast at the hotel, and we got hit with the hunger pains on the way to the airport. Howden’s flight was delayed by an hour, so he decided we’d hit something up in town before I dropped him off at the terminal since I had a later flight. At the airport exit, there was nothing. So we drove toward downtown and all we saw were fast food joints. Frustrated after seeing nothing on the outer edge of downtown, including near the ballpark, and we still didn’t see anything decent, so we began to turn around. I happened to hit 1st Street and began making our way back to the airport when Rob spotted it. He screamed like crazy to pull over, as I had no idea what it was. Man…was I glad he’s a food guy. Matt’s Big Breakfast has been on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and even with the 20-minute wait to get in, it was worth it. The simplicity of the place was awesome. While it was basically brunch time, I went with the Big Butter Burger. The meat was fresh and full, and I loved it. Rob went breakfast and I got a taste of the hash browns and bacon. I’ll have to try that and or maybe just add the home fries with the burger next time.
 | | Big Butter Burger from Matt's Big Breakfast |
Howden: Cole pretty much summed up how we found Matt’s, as I was really just looking for a burger joint to keep him happy. When I saw the sign, I knew quickly that thoughts of Cole were going out the window. This was all about hitting another Triple D spot. That said, he lucked out with the burger, it was, as Guy Fieri says, ‘off the hook’. I ordered breakfast, but I had to steal a bite of David’s burger. It just looked too good. To elaborate on Cole’s review, we’re talking Harris Ranch beef and an amazing bun, seared perfectly. This thing didn’t need a single condiment, let alone Cole’s staple of ketchup and mustard. My breakfast was stellar; the classic sunny-up eggs, thick slabs of peppered bacon and crisp hash browns, paired with sour dough bread and homemade preserves. Outstanding! And you know a joint is good when Cole is already asking to go back when we return to Phoenix for the SKUSA SpringNationals in April. Done, and done.
Complete Coverage
Entire coverage of the event in Phoenix can be found at the EKN Event Page. Audio recordings of the weekend’s main events will be available in the near future. |
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