WKA: SpeedNews 2003-12-11

UPDATE TO MFG CUP CLASS STRUCTURE IN DAYTONA

As was previously mentioned, WKA has decided that a 3-day racing format will make Daytona KartWeek 2003 Margay Sprint Championship run much smoother. A 3-day class order was proposed, and after a number of concerns expressed to us, we have opted to move HPV Lite to Day One and Yamaha Heavy to Day Three. We hope in the best interest of the karter that this alleviates some concerns and allows for a better overall experience at Daytona. We appreciate your cooperation and support in making this new schedule work for everyone. See you in Daytona!

Day 1 - Sunday, Dec. 28th
Yamaha Masters
HPV Jr Sportsman
HPV Lite
Yamaha Jr SuperCan
Spec 100
ICA

Day 2 - Monday, Dec. 29th
Yamaha Lite
Formula Yamaha Jr
HPV Heavy
Cadet Jr Sportsman Final 1
80cc Shifter Jr Final 1
ICC Final 1

Day 3 - Tuesday, Dec. 30th
Yamaha Jr Sportsman
Yamaha Heavy
HPV Junior
Yamaha Sr Sportsman
Cadet Jr Sportsman Final 2
80cc Shifter Jr Final 2
ICC Final 2

As a reminder, for those who paid for Sunday practice via their pre-entry, refunds will only be given inside the Speedway at Registration.

ADAMS KART TRACK AND SO-CAL SPRINTERS PLAN LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP

So-Cal Sprinters Kart Club is pleased to announce the beginning of a new partnership with Power House Inc. PHI will be running all operations at the world famous Adams Kart Track in Redlands, CA.

PHI and So-Cal Sprinters are working on the final details of a long term agreement that will enable both parties to coordinate their efforts to make Adams Kart Track the finest, friendliest karting facility in the country. Troy Adams was recently presented with a check in the amount of $10,000 to help fund the renovation of the facility. According to So-Cal Sprinter President Steve Nieto, "I can not begin to express how pleased we are with the efforts and commitment Troy and Clay have made to our sport. The $10,000 is a drop in the bucket considering what the cost of the project is. The funds So-Cal presented were taken out of our Track Improvement Fund. These funds are the fruits of the efforts of many of our members. I 'm glad to see they are being put to use as intended. This has been an exciting time for So-Cal Sprinters - our new alignment with WKA, our 40th anniversary banquet, and now our home is being renovated. Thanks to those that have hung in with us. We look! forward to working with PHI for many years to come."

One side note: Due to the track repaving, So-Cal Sprinters traditional first race in January will be rescheduled to a later date of February 28th. The first race of the WKA Horstman Gold Cup West will remain on the schedule at Apex Racing in Perris, CA on February 1st, 2004.

BEEF PERFORMANCE RACING

In a stunning offseason development, Beef Performance has announced they will be closing their doors effective December 12. BPR, in a very short period of time, has become one of the most respected engine builders in the karting industry. A major opportunity to join Richard Childress Racing in the engine department on the Nascar Nextel Cup series made for a very stressful decision on behalf of the James gang.

Located in King, North Carolina, Keith and Greg James established the Beef name in 1993, with Greg serving as the companies house driver at several national events. In 1995, Beef signed Justin Moorfield of Sandy Ridge, North Carolina at the early age of 11. Now several years later, Moorfield has become one of the most revered and well respected drivers on the Briggs and Stratton Speedway Dirt Series. Other top notch competitors in the Beef Camp read as a who 's who, with Wayne Poole, Cole Canady, Corey Roberts, Alex Cline, and Wesley and CE Faulk some of the featured stars that run Beef Power.

Despite Keith 's move to the Nascar level, Greg, a member of the Speedway Dirt Series Competition Committee and a well respected figure in the karting world, insists he will pop up somewhere in the future on the kart circuit. And don 't be surprised if Moorfield is sitting right beside him in a kart ready to be cranked up for competition. On behalf of the World Karting Association, our eternal thanks and best wishes to two of the best in the business. The Beef boys will be sorely missed.

FINAL DATE SET FOR NRRS

The final date for the 2004 Dunlop Tire National Road Racing Series has been confirmed. The Dart Kart Club hosted WKA national at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH will be held May 14 - 16, 2004.

Please note: the track has been rented to another group and access to the track for karts will not begin until approximately 1pm on Saturday. There will be a modified race schedule due to the restricted track hours on Saturday. The Unlimited 1, B Stock, Formula 125, Formula 100 group, as well as, Spec 125 Sprint Final 1, WKA Sprint Lite group will race at the end of the day on Friday, May 14th. The remaining groups will run on Saturday. The track has agreed to extend the operation hours at the end of the day on Saturday to assist in the inconvenience. The Thursday parking, Friday practice and Sunday race groups will not be affected. A complete race order will be forthcoming.

In addition, the Nascar Craftsman Truck Series will be hosting a race at Mansfield Speedway on the same weekend. With this, hotels are filling up quickly. You may wish to expedite your accommodation arrangements for this event or make plans to camp at the track.

We thank you for your cooperation.

The complete WKA Dunlop Tire National Road Racing Series 2004 Event Schedule is as follows:

2004 Dunlop Tire National Road Racing Series Event Calendar
(Count the best 7 of 9 races) - Grand National event TBA

December 27 - 30, 2003 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
March 19 - 21, 2004 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC
May 14 - 16 Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH
May 28 - 30 VIRginia International Raceway, Danville
July 23 - 25 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
August 20 - 22 Putnam Park Road Course, Mt. Meridian, IN
September 17 - 19 Grattan Raceway, Grattan, MI
October 15 - 17 New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, NH
November 12 - 14 Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

-wka-