First Ever Shifter kart SCCA Solo2 Champion

[Todd Bellew]

Can anyone name the first SCCA kart solo champion crowned in Topeka in 1997?


Brian Kay probably knows this. lol

More importantly...lol... Who built the equipment that won.


Sorry for the loaded questions
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Thank You,
Todd Bellew

[Alan Sheidler]

Technically, because the class of F125 was run mostly as an exhibition, and certainly on a different day and course than the actual National Championships, the fastest guy was not a "Champion" but a "Winner".

The term "Champion" was not available for the class until 2003, and that would be Dan Cyr, followed by Paul Russell, and this year Tom Harrington.

Going back to the "Winners", I believe it was Harrington in 2002 and 2001, Larry Paille in 2000, and Byron Short in 1999. I may be off by a year on those. I beleive I got my kart in 2000, but was driving one of the Quicksliver CRG/Kawasaki karts when both Paille and Short were winners.

1997? Hmmm... Brian Priebe?

[Todd Bellew]

They ran races all over the country that year and was included at Topeka. I figure that at your national championship race you have champions. So guys kept going for 6 years as exhibition only?? Seems strange. I would think you'd know by then.

Yes it was Brain Prebe. You missed part though.
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Thank You,
Todd Bellew

[Todd Bellew]

OK I'll give it away. It was my kart, I was in Topeka in 97. We ran the same course the cars did though. As we did at every national race that year.
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Thank You,
Todd Bellew

[Ryan D Thompson]

[Todd Bellew]

When reading through the other posts you'll notice Alan thought that the karts didn't run the same track in Topeka as the cars.


MY point, which seemed rather obvious, was when I was there they ran the same track. That's all.
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Thank You,
Todd Bellew

[Alan Sheidler]

Todd,

Since I was not there, I can't say for certain that the same "track" was not used, I was just told it was that way. Makes sense to me.

There is an issue, and here is my rationale/understanding:

Since karts were then run mostly as an exhibition/trial, drivers were also allowed to enter a "normal" SCCA class that week. There is a rules prohibition against pre-running specific course layouts, or entering more than once, since part of the challenge of autocross is starting from scratch with no practice.

In later years, karts were certainly run on the same course as cars, and have been since.

The first year, though, I'd be betting they ran on the same surface, but with a different layout. That way, Priebe & Co. could also run in cars and kick butt twice in one week. (Priebe or Short, or anyone who ran in another class as well would know.)

Note I am not disputing that at "National Tour" and other events, karts ran the same courses. We're talking National Championships week in Topeka, 1997.

Alan

PS. The "whose equipment" question was just too much of a slow pitch for me..... I prefer fastballs or curves!

[Bob Monday]

Man, I hate paging down a thread and finding the riddle already answered!

As a Neon guy, I knew he was going for "Brian Priebe" as the answer... and there was only one logical answer to "whose kart?".

As I recall, they took over the north course that had been set up for pre-Nationals practice and/or the Neon Super Solo for the F125 competition prior to the start of Nationals. How's my memory?

You guys who want to argue whether this was a "national championship" can now resume. =

Bob

[Brian Kay]

All these years I thought 97' was a F125 Nat'l championship. Does this make my wife Kelly the 1st F125 Ladies champion? (98')

I'm pretty convinced 97' was the real deal. The tours and PS2's were.
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Brian K - www.T2RaceKarts.com

[Vernon Head]

My understanding is that 2003 was the first official year for the class. Up until then it was a provisional class. If you won Nationals before 2003 you didn't get your name in the rulebook in the National Champions section.

In my opinion it doesn't matter. If you won Nationals, you're a National Champion.[/img]

[Brian Garfield]

Wasn't around then in ANY form of Solo, however, it's pretty obvious that in the back of the Rule Book, 2003 is the first year. That would certainly verify what Vernon is saying.
I have experience with STX as a provisional, and the same thing happened.

HOWEVER, the Pro Solo Championship is NOT the same, it goes in the book the first year (it did in STX). But, I notice the first year for the F125 Pro Solo Championship is listed as 2000. Anyone care to explain that?
Alan??

Brian
(one step closer to F125...I have my 15 passenger van now...)

[Tom Harrington]

First, ProSolo…

Prior to 2000, F125 ran with BM. Since BM was pretty much unsubscribed at the time, it was just F125. In 2004 we became Mod Index along with everyone else. See, in ProSolo, the National office, Howard in the past, determined what classes would be offered.

National Tours…

I unsure how long F125 was offered at national tours, but I’m pretty sure it was from 1997 on. Remember the arrive and drive program? That was the beginning of F125.

For National Tours, it is also the national office, but the local regions may also petition for their local classes at National Tours they host.

Solo2 National Championship in Topeka.

Prior to 2003 (1996 or 1997 thru 2002), F125 was a provisional class at Solo2 Nationals in Topeka.

For the Solo2 Championships in Topeka, the SEB determine what classes are allowed/run and what Championships are awarded. F125 has accomplished several things, the least of which is how any class becomes a full national class. It was not until 2001 that this process was defined for us and all of SCCA (25 karts combined open and ladies for two years.) In 2003, F125 became a full national class. Prior to then we were provisional. This meant they, the SEB, did not have to offer it at national and the rules could be changed at any time.

Any person who won the Solo2 Nationals prior to 2003 is a National Winner, not a Champion. Dan Cyr was the first F125 National Champion.

-Tom

[Alan Sheidler]

[Dave Hironaka]

[Brian Garfield]

Dave, not according to the rulebook... At least if we're still talking about Pro Solos...

Brian