TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

[Paul Harraka]

TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPION
For the last 2 years I and a few other WKA National karters have been trying to get a TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. Now is the PERFECT time for it. I've talked to WKA president Randy Kugler about it and he is very interested in the idea and in favor of it. The format would be to have a JOINT IKF-WKA race at a neutral venue. This year would be PERFECT for it as the IKF Grand Nationals are scheduled to be held in Marshalltown in July. Marshalltown is not far from the HEART of WKA MFG. CUP racers in the Midwest and Great Lakes and it is a neutral venue. I GUARANTEE THERE WOULD BE OVER 600 ENTRIES. The rules wouldn't be a problem. Just put Gary Schnieder, Lynn Haddock,Chris Villareal or Ron Emick together and let them find compromises. The IKF and WKA rule books are VERY,VERY SIMILAR already.In fact, in most 2 cycle classes they are IDENTICAL. The only real differences are in the WKA Jr. Spts./IKF Rookie classes where IKF allows Cadet karts in all Rookie classes and WKA only allows them in Comer. This is a MINOR problem. In the Yamaha classes IKF still allows you to machine the head to center the gasket and in HPV WKA allows you to open the ports to spec. Again, MINOR rule differences that can be compromised by the respective Tech officials, (NOT the hierarchy).
My son, Paulie Harraka and I have run WKA National races for 3 years now and we have been fortunate enough to have had some success at it and we have loved racing on the WKA National circut. However, it is now time to take Go- Kart racing to the NEXT LEVEL. 2- cycle racing isn't growing because the series is stagnant. People move out after a few years because we keep going to the same tracks over and over again. Racers want a new challange. I LOVE South Bend. It is a FIRST CLASS facility and Marshall Martin is one of the best and fairest people we have ever raced for, but do we need to go there 4 years in a row? Why not bring the Gold Cup series there this year and send the Mfg. Cup seriers to a different track, then send the 2-cycles back to South Bend in 2003? I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE GOLD CUP RACERS ARE DYING TO GO TO SOUTH BEND. It is a win, win situation for everyone if you keep the racing fresh and exciting by mixing up the venues.
Go-kart racing NEEDS NATIONAL MEDIA EXPOSURE and a TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE will get it. Just because you call a race by a certain name means NOTHING. My son won the "World Championships" at Jacksonville twice. Does that make him a "World Champion"? Even I'm not conceited enough to belive that. (sorry Paulie).
I know this can be done if WKA and IKF officals put the effort in to make it happen and not get into a pissing contest over series egos. WKA is a GREAT organization, with great officials and staff. But so is IKF. My son and I went out to Santa Maria California in July to race in the IKF Grand Nationals and IT WAS GREAT. They had over 340 entries and the Rookie Sportsman classes, (jr. spts. in wka), were HUGE. 31 Comers, 27 HPV's. In the Junior hpv race they had 39 ENTRIES! IKF is strong in the Rookie classes where WKA is weak, yet WKA is strong in the Senior classes where IKF is weak. They are both strong in the Junior classes. It would br benificial to BOTH organizations. I must also add that we were TREATED WONDERFULLY by ALL of the IKF people. Chris Villareal, Ron Emick. Art and Rod Verlinger, and ALL of the workers and officials treated us very fairly. Tom Argy ran some of the BEST and FAIREST races we have ever been involved in. He and Bingo Emmons, the WKA race director, would work great together.
NOW is the time to do it. E-MAIl and write letters to Randy and Tony and to the IKF officials and tell them this is a race that WE WANT. If you are in fovor of it post a message on this site and on 4CYCLE.COM. I know that Randy and Tony read the posts.
If can be done.
Paul Harraka

[Joe Klenotich]

I have this vision of you sitting at the computer with arms waving and loud voice getting all this down--sorry, couldn't resist--prior to history taking its course and the IKF/WKA schism, the chance was there to do just that.

I think you have a great idea Paul, I would just add that value accrues with exclusivity; I would much prefer a 20 kart field of either carefully selected drivers, or(much more preferred)drivers who have earned "points " to compete in this event than the typical 30 kart field which includes the "let's show up" segment...we have enough of those at the typical WKA National. Alternatively, we could have the percent qualifying approach as a means of addressing large fields. Either way, I'd like to see a more stringent approach--not just another race.
Next weekend--you may know this--we're having the first Track Challenge here in the Midwest with nominated drivers from 4-5 tracks and 2-3 series, such as MWSS and GLSS--only top 25 go to the feature--we'll see how it works, etc. It's at Dousman.
I think another problem--as speeds have increased and fields have become tighter, there are tracks that are marginally adequate which is probably why you see SB again--quite frankly there are fewer venues.
Keep this going it's good idea

[John Denman]

A movement in this direction was started for shifter a few years ago, one for Road Racing and one for Sprints.

The Road Racing Nationals are held at Road America, and maybe Charlie Tackett can elaborate. We are going next year.

For Sprinters, the US Shifter Nationals are held at Norman Oklahoma. The fields are open to the who's who of shifter karts from SKUSA, IKF and WKA, even the who's not so who. Biggest Shifter Kart Sprint race in America, and a true National Championship.

But for the Clutch Karts, I am not aware of a true National Championship. This would need to be centrally located, and if there was enough interest I would be willing to help facilitate something in the Texas area.

A perfect track for this would be the North Texas Kartway (NTK) near Dallas, or Kartways of Arkansas (KOA). These facilities can handle 500 entrants, and the tracks are perfectly suited for this type of event.

NTK currently runs under KART rules, but is considering a move to IKF. One of the officers at NTK is also an officer for WKA.

KOA ran all 3 series this year (SKUSA to include a 4th).

This is an event that should stand alone from Shifter Karts to avoid diluting the value of such an event.

Mr. Gary, if your reading this, jump on in.

Lets hear from those on this web site to identify the interest level in putting this together.

[Bonnier Moulton]

quote:

---

Originally posted by John Denman:
For Sprinters, the US Shifter Nationals are held at Norman Oklahoma. The fields are open to the who's who of shifter karts from SKUSA, IKF and WKA, even the who's not so who. Biggest Shifter Kart Sprint race in America, and a true National Championship.

---

John, I hate to be contrary but the SKUSA Supernationals is a far bigger event in scope, importance and prestige than the USSN and a far better indicator of a "National Champion". Maybe in a few years the USSN will approach the status of the Supernationals, but after 1 event?

Ask any shifter driver what single event they'd most like to win. If they don't answer "the SKUSA Supernationals" it's because they've never been.

Respectfully,
Bonnier
Msquared Karting www.msquaredkarting.com

[Bob Chiras]

Great job and a great plan.

For coming years there should be an accumulation of points or awards which defines who is eligible to compete for the championships.

It would be ideal to set the standard so that racers who never race above a regional level still have a chance to qualify.

Is should be more than just us guys who have the resources to tour the country following the national circuit.

[Mark MacDonald]

Paul,
I think this is a great idea. It really would be a great way to state that so and so is the National Champion in his or her class. I would also note that the NAKC HPV Pro Invitational race is about the same, only restricted to HPV. I was at this event last year in Las Vegas, and it was run very well. My only complaint would be that some people had more time on that track than others. Hopefully this year it will be loppsided in my favor, at Charlotte. Anyway, I think it's a great idea, and I think the only reason not to do it is to risk that you might not be the National Champion, and hey we all know there's only one winner.

Mark MacDonald
MTM Karting www.mtmkart.com
330.497.3585

[Greg Keresi]

By the way...the word is that the HPV Pro Invitational has been cancelled at Charlotte.
The HPV Sr. Pro which is an open event is still scheduled.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mark MacDonald:
Paul,
I would also note that the NAKC HPV Pro Invitational race is about the same, only restricted to HPV. I was at this event last year in Las Vegas, and it was run very well. My only complaint would be that some people had more time on that track than others. Hopefully this year it will be loppsided in my favor, at Charlotte.

Mark MacDonald
MTM Karting www.mtmkart.com
330.497.3585

---

[Doug Welch]

John,

We have been lucky enough to stand on the podium in both the SuperNationals and the USSN. Far and away, for sprint shifters, the SuperNationals is the only race we want to win. If you win only one race all year, let it be the SuperNationals. Everybody, who is anybody in shifter racing, not only from our corner but from many corners, is there.

I asked the boys the oterh day if they could only do one race this fall, would they rather do the USAC or the SuperNats, does DUH sound familier.

Doug

[John Denman]

Doug,

Nothing against SKUSA, but the SuperNationals is for the SKUSA National Championship, not the the whole US.

It also takes a week or more out of school for those most competitors still attending school. Sure you could fly them in, but that begins to escalate cost.

A true National Championship is not sanctioned by a single organization, or it is simply that organization's National Championship.

In the case of this post, I think the query is for a nuetral championship like the USSN, for clutch karts. WKA has been mentioned, but there is IKF and KART. All 3 organizations have good talent, and have become more uniform in rules thanks to the meeting in Dallas one year ago.

I would submit that a true National Championship needs to meet the following criteria;

1) Independently sanctioned with a commonized set of rules - if one org requires an SSV can, and another requires an SSX can, then the organization with the most Regional entries in that class for the prior year sets sets the "deviation" rule.

2) Central US location - draw a line on either side of the Texas border and go straight up to Canada. Somewhere in this boundary. (Although I am from Texas, I don't race clutch karts....) Kansas City is about as Central as it gets.

3) After June 21, before August 12. Remember most of these racers are in school, as are half of the SKUSA entrants.

A neutral championship is not for everyone. But its the closest thing to a CIK level of uniformity we are ever likely to see in this country, and a requirement to be a true National Champion.

[Dave Ridenour]

Thanks for the nice comments about SBRP. I have BEGGED Marshall and whoever else's ear I could bug to get the Gold Cup back to us. They are a great bunch of guys.

Dave

[John Denman]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paul Harraka:
It looks like I created a monster. Karting NEEDS a TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. PERIOD!!!! !

---

Take ten breaths sir. Your post hit the jackpot in terms of identifying a need albeit the 3 headed monster.

The SKUSA folks get very excited when someone mentions National Champion when SKUSA does not have exclusive rights.

Forget about Shifters, they are already covered!

But what about clutch karts (includes direct drive)?

We have IKF mostly in the west, WKA mostly in the east, and KART in the middle. Yeah a lot of easterners and westerners seem to forget about KART. But its just big enough to consider. Do you think they would co-operate on a joint venture? I hardly doubt it. Art V. tried very hard to get the big 3 to form a common set of rules, and came very close. But when money is involved, they won't work together.

So to make it successful requires an independent organizer who's sole National Chamionship is kept at a neutral level.

Gary Smith from Kartways of Arkansas comes to mind since he has run regional from all 3 organizers this summer, and has the very nice facilities to make it happen. (Even the clean bathrooms are air conditioned).

Why not give Gary a call at 870-226-3565
and see if he is interested in this?

I would love to bring this into Texas, but Gary would do a much better job. It gets a bit hot in Texas in summer, but Arkansas weather is nice then and is far easier to make it part of a vacation then Texas is.

Kartways of Arkansas is hosting the 24Hrs of Rotax and includes a televised package. I am betting Gary would be more than happy to host and direct a true national championship event.
http://www.kartways.com/home/home.html

[Paul Harraka]

John,
I agree that KART should be included. I think EVERYONE should be allowed to participate the first year and then have a qualifying structure for following years if the turnout is too big.
Also, I'm not asking for a merger or marriage between IKF and WKA. I'm just proposeing that they co-promote ONE SUPER NATIONAL RACE every year. The race has to respect the individual structures that both of the organizations are used to, I.E.: It must be the Grand National for IKF AND a National Points race for WKA. If you include KART it must meet their criteria also. That way you are GUARANTEED FULL MEMBER PARTICIPATION by ALL 3 organizations. WKA racers want a 5th race to be added. This would be perfect. However it must be a WKA points race so everybody comes without having to skip a different WKA race. The IKF racers are used to a 1 race Grand National for their Championship so it must be that also. This is very simple to accomplish if people are willing to compromise. That is why you leave the tech details up to the respective tech people, not the officers. The tech people don't care what the individual rules are, they just want to enforce them whatever they are. They will work out fair compromises in the conflicting rule areas.

[Charlie Tackett]

Paul, another organization to check with is the Badger Kart club up at Dousman. They are the host club for the Road America SuperNationals, whihc is in my opinion the closest thing there is to a road racing national championship event.

It is Part of the Mid-States Enduro Series, an independent organization, howevre, it is also a WKA regional points race for certain classes and those in those classes who wish tohave it counted as one. There have been numerous KART and IKF racers come and participate, even though neither organization offers any points for the event, inspite of Badger having been willing to work something out. It sounds like what you are describing for sprinters would be very similar to what RA is to us road racers.

[Paul Harraka]

Hey Lynn Haddock. You've been very involved in both IKF and WKA and highly respected in both org. What is your opinion on this? Do you think the rules differences can be worked out? Would you be willing to get involved in it? Do you think the race, as I proposed, would be successful?

[Dave Stevens]

Takes more than a single race to determine a championship.

A "true" champion (whatever that is...) is one that runs consistent race after race, not one that just shows up on a single race weekend and happens to win.

Dave