A Challenge to the Superkart Community

Rob Howden

Alright guys...it looks like you're on your own. I'm done. I tried to kickstart your driver association by offering to head it up initially and when I asked for names, I received just ten. Ten out of at least 80 racers in this country. I'm not wasting any more of my valuable time. It's all yours now...I've put together an Excel file for the contact information to get things rolling and it's available to anyone who wants to run with it. I think this could be very valuable in providing a foundation for your class. And it is, in the end, YOUR class.

The national level of superkarting is evolving quickly with the development of a great looking series in the East. It is pushing away from what launched last year as a coast-to-coast deal and that it is the result of minimal support from the West. It's not surprising that the Eastern guys want to take care of themselves and but all signs, they've done it. The West guys didn't travel to support the program, and then the east guys hauled to Laguna to make it another great event. Something didn't even out.

During the past few years, JR Clasen has put in countless hours helping to organize this class and provide a management base for its development. He worked hard to promote the World Superkart Challenge, which was his only way to garner the financial payback for all of this work. Last year, we laid the groundwork for a series in order to get SOMETHING started. Well, JR has been forced out and a new East Coast series is rolling with big cash. Right now, the West has nothing.

This is not what I wanted to see happen in the second year of the championship. I was hoping for a gradual evolution. But I'm just a media guy, not one of the racers out there competing. And as a media guy, it's time for me to smarten up and get the hell back on the sidelines. SKI and EKN will be covering the national superkart stuff in a big way and we'll work closely with the Eastern program of the current iteration of the U.S. Superkart Chgampionship, but I will no longer have anything to do with it on the organizational level. I volunteered against the advice of my employees and its time to listen to their wisdom.

Now for the challenges I offered in the subject line:

#1 - I challenge the superkart community to band together. You are small and should be able to guide your own destiny. Over the last four years, you have not, and the guy that did much of it for you has been pushed aside. You will need to come together for the class to succeed and continue to grow.

#2 - I challenge the West Coast drivers to come together to work with JR Osborne and his Eastern Pro Series to match the program in races. If you can get some backing together, all the better. Debbie Kuntze has already expressed her willingness to have the series run at Fontana with the California Road Race Festival and Brad Davis has at least one date with the Portland group. Add in races at Willow and Sears, and your up to the four the East guys have. They've locked Road Atlanta in for the finale...it's time for you to travel to them like they've travelled to you for the last five years.

Well, that's it from here. It's back to the sidelines. I'm be reporting from here and if you have any good PR or gossip, I'm all ears.

Good luck in '05.

RH - SKI / EKN

Reggie Brown, Jr · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 310

Rob, was dissapointed to see this happen, but I wanted to say thank you for putting forth some effort. I wish more people would have gotten involved with your idea, but it seems like most people just want to bitch. If you have any ideas or thoughts, toss them my way. Thanks again, hope to see you at the next big superkart race!

Reggie

Debbie Kuntze · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:35 pm Post subject:

As Rob said, we have a spot both days at Fontana-run with our unlimited class. If you want to be gridded as a seperate group etc, let me know.

Also we are still putting together our 2005 schedule if you want to go to Willow
_________________
Debbie Kuntze
kart9899@aol.com
www.uskgp.com

Roger Miller · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject:

Rob, sorry to hear this. Ryen is moving up to 250/450 this year and I guess I wasn't close enough to the info to know what to do. I ask someone else about the "drivers assn" and was trying to find the application - I didn't know to just send it in.

Anyone, if this gets picked up, let me know. Ryen wants in.

Larry Dobbs · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:18 am Post subject: Superkart Community is Growing

Make no mistake, the superkart community is growing. We have four new 250 drivers for 2005 in Northern California alone. Everyone take a deep breath and look towards the next corner! We have great club races to attend and above and beyond that the sky is the limit! This weekend NCK is racing at one of the finest facilities in the country, Infineon Raceway. I know of four people who are coming with the specific purpose of gathering information so that they can begin racing superkarts in 2005. Isn't that awesome?!

Johnny West · Joined: 03 May 2002 Posts: 1182

Larry,
Can we count on you to come to Road Alanta for the final. This gives you about a year to plan and save for it. Prehaps you can team up with your 4 new found friends.

So who from the west is going to make to trip to the final?????????????
_________________
Johnny West/West Racing

Riley Will · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:52 pm Post subject:

Johnny, I left the kart that I raced at RA in Georgia so I can compete in the Big South Series and whatever Superkart specific races that are in th Eastern/Southern states next year. Can't wait to get back on the track again, I had a ton of fun racing you and the rest of the guys that were down there. Smile

As it stands right now, BRC Engineering is going to put our efforts into being at regular races with the regular guys that are supporting local and club events as best we can. Unless something comes up to change our mind, we want to support the racers that are supporting us. No more factory drivers unless deemed necessary Twisted Evil

_________________
Riley Will
BRC Engineering
rwill@brceng.com
(403) 216-0630 wk.
www.brceng.com

Mark Brown · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:41 am Post subject:

OK, so what is the west coast story? Is there someone or group of people who have got the races lined up for the West Coast U.S. Superkart Championship? Is anyone even worried about it?

You know it's the end of November, Fontana is Just around the corner and IF its going to be part of the venue, things will need to be sorted out in short order. And not at the track. There is little I can do on my end about getting tracks lined up. I don't know how or who to talk to. I know I'm might regret this, but I will do the drivers association thing. If interested drivers want to join I will keep track of it and do the best I can.

I will start with collecting info on all drivers/teams. If you can provide as much info as you can, it would be helpfull. I don't know if someone already has a list going or not, I don't even know if its what you guys want to do. If someone else is doing it already, let me know.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Thanks
Mark

Email me if your up for it.

rlmark@vcn.com

Rob Howden · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:17 am Post subject:

I have sent my driver list to Mark.....

Support this guys folks....and get him your contact information.

RH - HCI
_________________
Rob Howden
Editor / Publisher
www.eKartingNews.com
www.eKartingNews.ca
www.eFormulaCarNews.com
www.eSportsRacer.com

Kyle Rice · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:44 am Post subject:

Mark, YGM!