Official EKN Awards 2008 Discussion

David Cole · Last edited by David Cole on Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:10 am, edited 1 time in total

This thread is the Official 2008 EKN Awards Nomination Discussion Thread. EKN readers can discuss their lists and others. No lists published on this thread will be used in the final calculations. Forum rules apply to this thread, so please follow the guidelines while discussing the topic.

To submit your list, visit http://www.ekartingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=78021

For more information on the program, visit http://www.ekartingnews.com/news_info.php?n=11586
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Kelly Michimi · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:08 am Post subject: 2008 Nominations

Just wanted to explain a few of my choices.
For Young Drivers:
Tommy Andersen won 2 WKA National Points Championships as well as 2 WKA Grand Nationals in 2008 and finished 1st Place at SuperNats. I am shocked that I am not seeing his name more in these votes. I think b/c he has moved up to seniors this year, people forget that he was a Junior driver in 2008. He was the only one who established any sort of dominance in the WKA Junior classes last year, as we had a lot of different winners of every race, w/the exception of Tommy in the HPV Jr. classes. Trent Hindman b/c he won the Stars East and West, pretty much dominated Stars, and finished 2nd at SuperNats.
For mechanics, I put Tim Andersen because like Jeff Robinson (for Cody), and people in the past like Dave Snell (for Christian Pahud) and Rick Morrow (for Eric Morrow), he is one of a dying breed of dads who still does all the tuning and manages to win championships. I could easily pick a dozen or more Super Tuners for that award - Mike Doty, Jamie Scieracki, Tim Lobaugh, Chris Lobaugh, Wes Boswell, Tyler Dueck, Mike Maurini, the Harakas, the list goes on and on (sorry I didn't list all of you). But I still have the most respect for the Tuner Dads. After all, Karting is supposed to be grassroots motorsports, so I really respect these guys who can win and succeed on a low budget w/their dads as tuners (or moms-Kyle Crump's mom turns a mean wrench!).
For events I picked Robopong b/c it is such a big event, lots of fun, different in that it's an endurance race and a chance for current karters to race against some top professional race car drivers. Fantastic event! I picked WKA Man Cup NewCastle b/c so much was decided there and came down to that last race of the season. Some big, close battles in points championships were decided there and the Manufacturer's Cup itself was decided there. It was historic in that Birel unseated Margay in it's very long run at the top spot and in that other chassis mfrs. competed hard and made great strides including Merlin which tied Margay for 2nd place and Arrow.
Rising Star Josef Newgarden & Conor Daly - I think they were more after current Pro Kart class drivers so I probably misunderstood that, but I tried to pick a couple of guys who competed in karting heavily in the past & still run some kart races (and I know Conner ran a few Pro Kart class events, not sure about Josef), but both Josef & Conor have moved up and are doing well and are rising stars that I think have a good shot of making it beyond.
Those are my opinions/explanations.

Mike Cole · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 30

For Team Of The Year nominations, MRP had a very good year with several of their team drivers achieving national wins and championships. Also, MRP lead Birel to its first Manufacturer's Cup.

Regarding the Young Driver Of The Year nominations, Tommy Andersen certainly had a good year and deserves nomiation. For the Jr. Sportsman/Cadet drivers, Jake Cole was the most dominating 2-cycle young driver during the 2008 season. Jake earned earned more national championships (Yamaha Jr. Sportsman and Cadet) and was more consistent with 13 top 5 finishing positions (out of a possible 20) than any other Jr. Sportsman driver in the Manufacturer's Cup Series, and his 5 national wins in this series ties him with Austin Self for the most wins. The Cadet class during Manufacturer's Cup was huge averaging about 40 entries per race, and winning the Manufacturer's Cup Cadet championship is no less of an accomplishment than the STARS Cadet championship which averaged about 19 entries per event. We did not participate in the STARS series during the 2008 season for a number of reasons, and unfortunately for Jake, this seems to have resulted in his 2008 results getting overlooked. Jake also finished 3rd in the HPV Jr. Sportsman Manufacturer's Cup season points. Several drivers in addition to Trent Hindman had very good years (including James Bennett, Kyle Kalish, Austin Self, Logan Bearden, and Jeremy Remick) and are deserving of being nominated.

Mike Maurini - Stars of K · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 67

The Snap-on Stars of Karting Series would like to nominate the Performance Racing Industry All-Stars Karting Classic for the Event of the Year. Below are some raw numbers that help solidify our cast for a nomination for Event of the Year.

6 – Grandstands holding a total of 5,000 fans, the majority of which were from outside the karting community, with standing room only encircling the track

1 – Open air tent housing all competitors allowing fans and spectators to get up close and personal with the equipment as well as their motorsports heroes

30 – Karting competitors vying for 6 spots in the All-Stars Karting Classic

1 – 44 Page color race program for the event handed out to each and every booth display at the PRI show, mailed to all karting related exhibitors and attendees of the PRI Show, and provided free of charge to spectators at the event

4,000 – Attendees of the Grand Opening Breakfast where Rob Howden, Michael Valiante, and Max Papis promoted the event to some of the most influential people in the motorsports industry

23 – Pro drivers from all forms of motorsports including NASCAR, IndyCar, ALMS, NHRA, and Grand-Am displaying their karting skills

6 – Karters who had the chance to bang wheels with some of the best drivers from around the world

500 – The amount of money given by Ilmor to both the Karter and Master Division Pole Position winner’s charity of choice

3 – Different drivers from different racing series to stand atop the All-Stars Karting Classic Podium

1 – Mobile hospitality unit full to capacity during racing action

1 – One-hour Nationally televised karting event to be broadcast in April sponsored by National Guard and Bridgestone on Fox Sports

6 – Member camera crew from Fox covering all the racing action

1 – Live audio webcast on RaceFanRadio.com

13 – Teams competed with a total of 53 drivers in the event

62– countries represented at the PRI Show that had exposure to the karting action

1 – Red Bull provided D.J. that played music in the pit tent for the entertainment of all competitors

1 – Red Bull provided driver lounge with free Red Bull product for all karters, mechanics and fans at the event

24 – The number of hours from complete setup to tear down of the event including track, scoring and pits as well as the running of the event Shocked

1 – Pyro technician that wanted to use more fireworks than we would allow

2 – Shows put on by the Red Bull stunt rider during the event

5 – Continents the event received media coverage on

0 – The number of red flags at the PRI All-Stars Karting Classic

5 – This is the fifth time in the past six years that the Stars of Karting Series has brought karting to television

Along with the promotion and recognition that the PRI All-Stars Karting Classic received in North America, a great deal could also be noted from South America and Europe. A PRI All-Stars Karting Classic race report was written in Portuguese and distributed to all our South American media contacts as well as drivers competing at the event. News from the race can be seen on several European motorsports sites as karting was once again brought to the forefront of the mainstream media. The PRI All-Stars Karting Classic generated interest world wide and plans for the fourth annual event are already in progress.

Thanks in advance for all your support.

The Snap-on Stars of Karting Series

Kelly Michimi · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:25 am Post subject: 2008 Junior Drivers - Nominations

I had thought about Jake Cole, too. I know he had a really good year also w/the 2 WKA Man. Cup championships. That's why I was really wishing they would let me put more than 2 choices.

Gary Lawson · Joined: 21 Aug 2001 Posts: 542

It shows real class when people don't vote simply for everyone on their team and their children. Nice job for the few. By the way, I guess I should vote for myself for driver of the year....at least no one has done that yet I guess Rolling Eyes

Kelly Michimi · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:54 am Post subject: oops

oops! shame on me. for some reason I wasn't thinking that 4 cycle was included in this, but now that I look at it again, it doesn't say that. I bet a lot of people made the same assumption. Had I thought of that, then Gary Lawson is a great candidate for Driver of the Year.

What did Gary have, I believe 4 WKA Gold Cup Class Championships and Rock Island Grand Prix 2 Class Wins (I think 2, some one correct me if I'm wrong). not all his wins were 4 cycle either, some were 2 cycle. and I believe he probably does his own tuning (he is, of course, on my list of super tuners : ), I just didn't list them all.

For that matter, for the Juniors, I believe Dakota Bell has 3 WKA Gold Cup Class Championships and Connor Brown had 2.

Gary Lawson · Joined: 21 Aug 2001 Posts: 542

I was purely joking about my nominating myself but they you for the consideration. I know many can't help if some of the top drivers are on their team, but I think it shows great sportsmanship when people go out of their way and nominate someone from another team. If people are truly worthy someone else will mention them I am sure.

patrick slattery · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:43 am Post subject:

Gary you should be nominated. But you need to run more MFG CUp.

Pat

Gary Lawson · Joined: 21 Aug 2001 Posts: 542

I agree I wish I had the time and money to run the man. cup races. If I weighed 160 I would be running tag for sure and as many other classes as I could. Maybe if you come work for Beasley tuning and wrenching i would have more time to race....

Mark Ashland · Joined: 21 Jan 2009 Posts: 5

Cale Wyse · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Kelly Michimi · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:22 am Post subject: reply to Mark Ashland

Mr. Ashland,
Please read my comments again and you will see why I picked New Castle Man Cup Race. It had nothing to do w/his win - believe me - we had emotional lows and highs that weekend! Please see below:

I picked WKA Man Cup NewCastle b/c so much was decided there and came down to that last race of the season. Some big, close battles in points championships were decided there and the Manufacturer's Cup itself was decided there. It was historic in that Birel unseated Margay in it's very long run at the top spot and in that other chassis mfrs. competed hard and made great strides including Merlin which tied Margay for 2nd place and Arrow.

Clark hadden · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject:

Sr... Driver of the year 100% goes to Mike Vincec Stars East west and National champion who have ever done that????

Tuner of the year?? Trevor Wickens hands down you cant pick anyone else..
Why am i right??
Stars ICC east West and National overrall + 5th at the ICC supernatz...

Carlton is good but vincec is better i'd take him any day...

Jr.driver that trent kid is fast!!!!

David Cole · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:16 am Post subject:

REMINDER

Tomorrow (January 30) at Noon we will end the Nomination process so we can collect and line up the five nominees for each award. So, get your nominations in. Thank you.
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