Karting Komments

The following statement was released by the organizing committee of the Rock Island Grand Prix following its meeting on 9 June:

The Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race now celebrating its 15th season, is one of the most revered events in racing. It is produced each year by a not-for-profit organization. We are not a profit machine. Each year we plan to break even financially in an effort to keep costs to the racers as low as possible. Our goals are to produce high-quality racing and entertainment for competitors and bring people to downtown Rock Island, Illinois.

The country’s recent financial situation, however, has now put the future of the event in question. Unexpected losses in 2008 (caused by the economy, high fuel prices and the loss of competitors and sponsors that resulted) ate up much of the event’s reserves. The 2008 event saw the lowest turnout of racers in its history.

The 2009 budget was based on a further loss of sponsor support, some cuts in expenses and some minor increases in fees to racers. In the past, the event was able to rely on substantial sponsorship and small fluctuations in entries were not a concern. Some of those sponsors have been lost over the past 2 years and we have not been able to replace them due to the economy. This has left us much more dependent on competitor fees.

Historically, entries at the RIGP have ranged between 380 and 410. Last year entries dropped to 250 – the lowest in event history. The 2009 budget is based on attaining the same level of entries as in 2008. The business plan for the event does not allow for holding an event with less than 250 entries.

So far entries for 2009 are running at roughly HALF the number that were registered at this time last year. The organizing committee of the RIGP has determined that if there are not at least 150 entries in hand by its next meeting on July 14, it will consider suspending the event for 2009 with no assurance that it will resume in the future. Even at 150 entries, the race may not be held if there is a belief that it will not attain an ultimate entry level of 250.

Should the organization ultimately decide to suspend the race in 2009, sufficient resources exist to pay for expenses which have already been contracted as well as return sponsor and competitor fees. No one will be out money. Entries received between now and mid-July will not be processed until a decision has been made to move forward.

The Organizing Committee of the Rock Island Grand Prix is under the assumption that entries will pick up and the race will be held. We are moving forward based on that belief. But it is the feeling of the committee that if revenue projections cannot be met, it is better to suspend the event early before many competitors have finalized their plans, rather than at the last minute. The losses that would be sustained by meeting existing commitments would be far less devastating than going through with an event of this magnitude without adequate revenue.

Efforts have been made to encourage participation through contacts with many teams, importers, tracks and kart shops. To date those efforts have generated little participation. We also thank our friends at Ekartingnews.com, Ekartingnews.ca, Vroom.it, and National Kart News for their efforts to enhance our exposure in a tough year.

We understand that some racers must wait until the last minute to make decisions about whether or not they will race. We encourage those who can, to register soon so we can gauge the level of support we can expect. If you cannot commit at this time, but are planning to come, please let us know by email. That count is important too as we try to assess whether we can reach the ultimate goal of 250 entries.

It is our hope that by stating this position early, the karting community will have time to respond so that we know where we stand when we make the decision. We hope that the support will be significant enough to allow the event to continue for 2009, rather than forcing Rock Island to join other legendary street races like Elkhart and Quincy which now exist only in history books.

In addition to entries, sponsorships are still available ranging from $350 on up.

Racers can enter online with a credit card at www.rockislandgrandprix.com or print out the Entry Packet from the Web site and submit it by mail with a check or credit card number. You can also call our office and we will mail the Entry Packet to you.

If the Rock Island Grand Prix is the one race you look forward to, or a race you always wanted to run, you might make this the year. Otherwise the future is uncertain.

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AKRA Media
Bruce C. Walls
bwalls@fast.net

2nd Annual Wayne Poole Memorial Race

MONROE|, N.C.-Plans are in the works for the official Second Annual Wayne Poole Memorial Race. This year’s race to raise funds for the Wayne Poole Memorial Foundation will be held Saturday October 10th during the AKRA American Speedway Championship Dirt Series National at Palmetto Motorsports Park in Gaston, SC.

Last year’s first annual race raised over $10,000. That money was split between two deserving motorsports students and other needy causes. According to Wayne’s mother Jeannie,

“It is more about Wayne’s name than the money. The money is used for a Scholarship fund for Trinity High School students where Wayne graduated. It goes to a student who does not get any major scholarships, and it’s in the amount of $2000.00. The school said this is one of their better scholarships because of the amount and that the student does not have to have the best of grades. Also it goes to purchase school items for kids, Christmas gifts or other items and if funds are available help with power rent and other necessities. It’s also used for animal rescue for food and shelter. People are carefully chosen and must be in very bad need. Not someone who drinks and does drugs.”

According to AKRA Promotions Director Bobby Waltrip this year’s auction will include; many autographed items from NASCAR’s top series. “We will be announcing the autographed and other items as we receive them and there will be several big surprises,” Waltrip added.

Wayne, who lived in Archdale, N.C., began his eight-year karting career in 1994 as a Junior 1 competitor. He called two tracks home; Liberty Raceway in Liberty, N.C. and Coleridge Raceway in Coleridge, N.C. “I was race director when Wayne started in karting,” recalled AKRA owner Bill McCutcheon. “It was a joy watching him mature from a young child into a grown man. He always had a smile on his face and a joke in his back pocket. It’s an honor to hold this race and auction in his memory.

During his career Wayne was a winner on and off the track. He was fiercely competitive on the track, but when racing was over he was everyone’s friend. Early on Beef Performance recognized his driving talents and began sponsoring him. “He earned his first national championship with Beef Performance in 1996,” Wayne’s mother Jeannie Poole recalled. Years later he left Beef Performance teaming up with Phantom Racing Chassis and Tod Miller Racing Engines. His #92 red kart was always a contender.

“Wayne and his family were a great example of what karting’s all about,” McCutcheon described. “Wayne was a great young man and a true champion.”

Wayne was driving his pickup November 29th, 2005 when he was involved in an accident. He died at the scene.

“I want to keep his memory alive for the younger generation of karters,” Jeannie said of her son. “He was great at the sport he loved so much and I loved doing it with him. His favorite class was Limited Lite and he always blew the doors off his competitors. Off the track he was always there to help people and he had a great attitude. Kart racing was wonderful for us. For us it was always about our family, our karting family.

“One of my fondest memories was the 2002 national at Jasper (Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, FL). Wayne won three poles that weekend and went on to win all three races from the pole,” she said.

The second annual Wayne Poole Memorial Race winner will pocket $2,000 for their effort. The Memorial Race will be a combined Animal Heavy (375lbs)/Briggs flat head (325lbs) raced under ARKA rules. Competitors in this race will be required to make a $50 donation to the Wayne Poole Memorial Fund. All proceeds from this race will be used to help a deserving student attend college. Two rounds of qualifying will determine the 30-kart feature field. Round one will fill the top 20-positions. Those not making the first round will have a second chance to make the main.

Both Animal classes will pay $1,000 each. Under this format there is a chance for one lucky racer to pocket $4,000.

AKRA will be making periodic announcements prior to the race. Any one who wants to be involved as a sponsor or wants to donate to the Wayne Poole Memorial Fund can e-mail Bobby Waltrip at bobwal17@ctc.net.

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Friday June 14th 1996 was the first time I visited Amelia Motor Raceway. They were hosting a Burris Tires dirt national that weekend. It was also the first time I met Marc Chimentto and his wife. Before going there myself I heard about AMR from local Delaware racers and how great a track it was. And when I got there I saw what they were talking about. I also met a young 11-year-old racer, whose name escapes me now, who had been battling cancer most of his life. He was determined to beat the disease and continue karting. I wrote a story about him, his battle with cancer and he’s dreams of racing.

But this isn’t about a trip down memory lane this is about a once great speedway struggling to survive. Marc tried to hold onto the heyday karting crowd that frequented his facility. But the slipped away and he lost interest in running the track so he tried leasing it out to promoters and would be promoters. The last in a long line and most recent to leave is Donnie Woodson. Donnie did a super job. This season he was going to schedule Friday night racing so as not to compete with neighboring Capital City and Margarettsville Speedways. Chimentto was against that plan. At least that’s Donnie’s side of the story.

Mention has been made about many errors Donnie and other failed AMR promoters. One topic that gets some mention is the condition of the track itself. After all what do racers come to a track to do-race, right? So to them the most important thing about a motorsports facility is how good is the track. And currently ARM’s track is like a washboard and it’s been that way for a long, long, long time. That’s what cost the track racers years ago. It’s not about Marc or much else. The main problem with AMR is the track.

It’s obvious what has to be done to change the situation at ARM. When or if the track surface is improved is when racers will return to AMR.

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Midwest Championship Series Joins AKRA

By Bruce C. Walls
AKRA Media

MONROE, N.C.-The American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) is pleased to announce that the new Midwest Champions Series (MCS) will be competing under the AKRA banner. Under the agreement AKRA will sanction the Midwest Championships Series, which will compete under AKRA rules. This addition to the AKRA family of series and tracks means that well over 2,000 racers are competing at an AKRA event every month.

According to Midwest Champions Series founder/CEO Tim Steenhoek he designed his series with low cost, a simple rules package and easier traveling in mind. His series also boasts a simple tire rule that includes branding, and simplified class structure that according to Steenhoek, “Will provide most racers with the ability to be competitive. They will get the excitement and competition of racing in a touring series without the expense of competing in a national level touring series. The four tracks we’ll be competing at are all within a 140-mile radius.”

Steenhoek’s four race series kicks off May 23-24 at historic Newton Kart Club. Founded in 1969, the Newton Kart Club’s current 1/8-mile oval was constructed in 1974. To find out more about Newton Kart Club and to see an aerial photo of the facility visit their website at: www.newtonkarting.com.

From there the series travels to Little Sunset Speedway a clay oval in Greenwood, Nebraska June 13-14. For more information on Little Sunset Speedway their website is http://www.neracewaypark.com/. Round three will be Fourth of July weekend at Wavelink Raceway Park. Racers should note this race will compete Friday night and Saturday afternoon instead of Saturday and Sunday. For more information on Wavelink Raceway Park please visit www.wavelinkracewaypark.com.

The series final race will be held at Thunder Lake Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on Labor Day weekend. Their website is: www.thunderlakespeedway.com.

AKRA President/CEO Bill McCutcheon said the Midwest Champions Series will be a great addition to AKRA. “With the Midwest Champions Series coming onboard we now have an opportunity to help grow karting in that part of the county. We also are working on a plan to invite their top 10-racers to our annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ and guarantee them feature-starting positions in their respected classes. And this is just one of many ideas we have for joint ventures.”

For more information on the Midwest Champions Series you can visit their website at: www.midwestchampions.com or e-mail Steenhoek at: promoter@midwestchampions.com or call him at 515.202-6826. For more information about the American Kart Racing Association visit their website at www.akrainc.com.
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ASHLAND, VA-John Cunningham and Tod Miller made history at Capital City Speedway in Ashland, VA Saturday (April 4th). Cunningham clocked a Stock Heavy track record in 12.053-seconds for the first ever AKRA ‘Firestone Dash for Cash’ pole and Miller took the $2,000 checkered flag. For Cunningham it was one of three poles he earned that day. He also turned lap times of 12.073 and 12.068-seconds for Animal Heavy and Pro Stock poles during the AKRA American Speedway Championship Dirt Series round two Core Racing Nationals.

A 12.083-seconds qualifying lap earned Matt Bowling the Dash for Cash’s outside pole. Three cautions kept the 23-racer field tightly bunched during the feature’s first half. Cunningham cruised into the early lead with Bowling battling with Miller over second. Miller stayed in the top three as returning veteran Donnie Nall, Stoney Creek, VA based Adam Beville took turns leading. Nall was leading when the second caution flag waved. He led the restart, but had Beville quickly blow by him down the back straight. Beville had just secured the lead entering turn three when the final caution flag took it from him returning Nall to the front.

During the final laps Miller and Bowling drafted into the top two spots. Miller held onto a narrow lead as fifth fastest qualifier Jonathan Hickman took second and began challenging Miller for the lead. In an exciting finish to the first ‘Firestone Dash for Cash’ Hickman kept the pressure on down to the stripe were Miller owned a 0.205-seconds advantage over him.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to get it, but he (Matt Bowling) slipped up in turns three and four and I was able to get a run on him from behind and had a good race,” Miller described in Victory Lane. “The Phantom Icon kart ran good all day. We had a little trouble getting a balance on during the last event. I want to thank my dad (Ron Miller), Harrell Wiggins.”

In addition to the ‘Firestone Dash for Cash’ karting fans got to see 22 other classes compete on the 1/4-mile clay oval. Of nearly 400 entries four racers clinched double wins. Erwin, N.C. competitor Josh Haire put his Mishue Motorsports powered Eclipse karts into Victory Lane twice including a wire-to-wire run in Super Heavy. Haire also produced the Pro Champ win taking the final flag 0.101-seconds ahead of Nall.

After a 15-hour ride from his home in Mobile, AL, 11-year-old Justin McRAE ruled both Junior Sportsman Champ offerings. After producing pole times of 12.403 and 12.319-seconds 13-year-old Eric Riggins ran flag-to-flag in Junior 3 Gold and Pro Junior Gold. Bradley Sacra followed him across Junior 3 Gold’s stripe and Jak Kicklighter trailed him by 0.929-seconds in the Pro Junior Gold race.

From second place starting positions 12-year-old Fairmont, WV racer Ryan Montgomery won both Junior 2 Blue features with Blaine Sharp trailing him across the finish line both times.

Complete race coverage will be published in Chasen’ Racen’ Illustrated and National Kart News along with 15 other publications and ezines. To see More photos visit our other website at: www.actionpicsandpromos.com.

MY KOMMENTS

AKRA drawing nearly 400 entries to round 2 of the 2009 American Speedway Championship Dirt Series, over 800 entering the Tri-State Series several weeks ago and noticeable count increases in local, regional and national race are clear indications that dirt karting is making a comeback. There are many reasons for increased entries. It shows that under the surface our economy is improving although every so slightly. But more importantly it shows that the lead dirt sanctioning body is working getting the word out-”KARTING’S KOOL AGAIN.”

In addition karters themselves are showing they play an important part in the sports growth. Creative karters in search of sponsors are doing things such as showing karts at sponsor businesses and in parades and other highly visible venues have contributed to the cause. Every time someone gets a new sponsor, every time a racer brings friends to the races and every time racers stop at gas stations and rest areas where people see their haulers and ask questions more people are made aware of karting.

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Due to the weather reports for the east coast, showing basically 4 days of rain, thunderstorms the Virginia Dirt Karting Association Season Opener scheduled this Saturday (March 28th) at Margarettsville Speedway has been canceled . Their next race will be at Capital City Speedway on April 25, 2009.

People who already sent their pre-registration in for the m’ville race,  will transfer  to the Capital City race.
For all those that did not send in their registration….you now have a couple of weeks to get ‘er done!

See you all next weekend at Capital City Speedway for the AKRA National.

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Press releases haven’t be sent out yet, but AKRA and Bridgestone/Firestone Tires will soon be announcing details of a $2,000 ‘Dash For Cash’ race as part of all 2009 AKRA Nationals. The class will be a heavy weight with both Animal and Flat Head motors. Animals must weight 375 lb and Flat Heads must weight 330 lb. Racers must enter two other classes that day and pay a $30 entry fee. A press release will be coming out soon with additional information. All announcements about this race will be published here first so keep checking KartingKomments.com for updates.

Thanks for reading
Bruce C. Walls