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WKA: KartFest '04 caps 2003 season

HICKORY, NC-KartFest '04 drew an overflow crowd of 10,000 karting enthusiasts to Hickory, NC's Metro Trade Center for the ninth annual trade show and awards banquets which ran two days instead of three this year. Venders reported brisk sales from ...

HICKORY, NC-KartFest '04 drew an overflow crowd of 10,000 karting enthusiasts to Hickory, NC's Metro Trade Center for the ninth annual trade show and awards banquets which ran two days instead of three this year. Venders reported brisk sales from the large crowd there getting ready for a new season. According to show coordinator and WKA Director of Administration Marie Borsuk the ticket line nearly wrapped the entire building.

"It's been going real good," Michael Rivers, of JRPW said of KartFest '04. "We're contacting a lot of people. We didn't come up here with the idea of selling a lot of stuff, but we're talking to a lot of customers out here and getting our name out here and letting people know what we do, what we've got and what we can offer them. We've got the new Phantom Phenom kart that we've been doing some testing on and riding and trying to figure out what we like and don't like about it. We're working with it and we've got a lot of new Animal motors. We're starting to gear more towards the Animal motors because we really feel that's where the future is heading."

Stan Kovalak, of American Power Sports was equally pleased with the show. "We're doing very well. It's by far the best show we've been to," he said adding that they were passing out their new 2004 catalog and showing their new plastic chain sprocket.

Digatron's booth was recognized as the show's 'Best single booth', Shadow Racing Chassis' booth was voted 'Most Original,' and InterComp was chosen as the show's 'Best Multi booth.'

Highlighting the awards banquets was the recognition of two Triple Crown winners in the WKA Ultramax Speedway Pavement Series and the induction of a new member to the World Karting Hall of Fame. "Winning the Triple Crown means everything to me, my dad and my brother," said Holland, NY based Triple Crown winner Wayne H. Baker who led the national points chases in G- Man Kart Works /Super Seat Briggs Limited Medium, Cool Power Briggs Controlled Medium and Custom Trophy Briggs Controlled Heavy. "We worked so hard between me and my brother that he missed out on a couple of classes this year so it means everything to us and our family."

Taking championships in Southwest Cable Briggs Junior Sportsman 2 Lite, RLV Briggs Junior Sportsman 2 Heavy and Rage Karts Briggs Junior Sportsman Champ earned Statesville, NC competitor Jake Crum the Triple Crown Award. "It took hard teamwork and that's about it," summed Crum who pilots a Tod Miller Racing Engines power Phantom kart.

Lewis Meyers was inducted into the World Karting Hall of Fame during the Pavement banquet. Meyers was recognize in a slide show tribute for his many years of involvement in karting and his many contributions to the sport. He and his son, Furman, manufacturer Titan karts in West Columbia, SC.

Now that the 2003 WKA national seasons have been officially capped with the crowning of champions it's time to start new seasons and new chases for championships.

By: Bruce C. Walls

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