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Monday, 13 September 2010 10:34 |
 The third year of the Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge North program completed on September 4 with the sixth round of the 2010 season. Following the event, the championship standings for the nine categories were tabulated with the champions decided. The series continues to call the Jim Russell International Karting Center home, contesting five of the six events at the Sonoma, California facility – with the only event outside the Napa Valley region the PKC West Coast Shootout in Santa Maria last month.
With the new Stock Moto ladder system that Superkarts! USA implemented for the 2010 season, the regular Stock Moto division broke into two groups – the headline S1 Pro Stock Moto and S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto. Coming into the PKC North finale, former ICC front-runner Fritz Leesmann showed the most consistency on the year in S1 that saw five different winners in six events. Leesmann led the way in the standings from the beginning with the feature win at the season opener, adding three runner-up finishes heading into the final round. Poised for his second victory at round six, Leesmann was leading the way until five laps to go when his carburetor came off his Honda powerplant. Scoring enough points up to that point in the event, Leesmann scored the title championship. Brett Buckwalter – the 2009 TaG Senior champion – made his return to shifter kart racing in S1 as well, scoring second in the standings with four podium finishes despite no victories. Inaugural Stock Moto series champ Jason Toft completed 2010 third in the order with a win at round four. |
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Friday, 10 September 2010 10:15 |
 On all accounts, the inaugural Superkarts! USA Pro Tour is being considering a great success by the organization, thanks to solid participation and incredibly exciting competition. SKUSA’s return to national series competition in 2010 materialized thanks to the passionate requests by many of their racers for more ‘big races’ – which fueled the development of the SpringNationals and SummerNationals. These two new events were then partnered with the famed SuperNationals to present a three-weekend (five-race) Pro Tour circuit for this year. With a limited number of classes, loads of track time and a focus on family fun and enjoyment, the inaugural Pro Tour has been extremely well received. Fast-forwarding to 2011, discussion regarding next year’s program began earlier in the season using feedback from racers, and SKUSA expects a significant increase in participation next year if the recent confirmations by new drivers, shops and teams are any indication. As a result, it is with excitement and high expectations that Superkarts! USA releases their schedule for the 2011 Pro Tour.
The season will begin with the second annual SpringNationals, set for the April 29 – May 1 weekend, which will be held once again at the Jim Russell International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway. The wine country region’s location just north of the beautiful city of San Francisco makes it a popular destination for racers and their families alike, and the facility is one of the most picturesque in the country. The fact that it’s simply one of the finest racetracks in the country makes it the perfect choice for the Pro Tour opener. |
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 07:52 |
 The third season of the Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge North program wrapped up this past weekend at the Jim Russell International Karting Center with the completion of round six in the championship chase. The Sonoma, California facility hosted some of the top talent from the West Coast as the series championships were on the line. Former national champion Alex Speed seems to be reaching his peak as the racing season journeys into its final stage with the NorCal native scoring his second S1 Pro Stock Moto series victory in just his third start. The same could be said for Bobby Kelley, who scored his second straight TaG Senior main event win to secure the class title.
Coming into the sixth and final round of the PKC North program, the S1 division had witnessed five different winners in that many races – with round one winner Fritz Leesmann leading the way in the standings. His bid for the title began strong, as he secured the pole position in qualifying with a 47.981-lap on the ‘National’ circuit, edging out Speed by six-thousandths of a second. Championship challenger Brett Buckwalter ended up third in the order. The positions remained unchanged for the top two spots in the heat races, with Leesmann leading the way in both over Speed. Buckwalter ran third in the first but a slow start allowed Jason Toft and a returning national star Matt Jaskol by for position, dropping him to fifth in the results. The main event looked similar to the heat races, with no change in the running order until lap 15. Leesmann was leading the way before his carburetor unexpectedly came off the engine, ending his hopes at a second victory on the season. Speed inherited the lead and went on to the win by just under a second over Toft – with Buckwalter completing the podium. |
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Written by John Motley - National Technical Director
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 14:32 |
We have had an increasing number of inquiries regarding the use of “Air Striker” carbs and other Kehin variations of carburetors for use in Stock Honda classes.
While we try to keep rules changes to a minimum, there occasionally are issues that require clarification or change. Whenever possible we reach out to stake holders such as competitors and engine builders prior to making changes. We have done so in the following rules update effective October 1, 2010.
Our previous changes to the class have all been to reduce costs and equalize competition. We have mandated stock, readily available, reasonably priced components for these classes. These changes have been almost universally welcomed.
In keeping with this philosophy we are issuing the following carburetor specifications for all Stock Honda classes, including S5: |
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 10:42 |
 If there’s one thing that goes hand in hand with any sport, it’s time. Winners and losers are decided by fractions of a second, and that were never truer than in competitive racing. Timepiece makers have long recognized the symbiotic relationship between the two, and virtually any sport in the world can speak of timekeeper affiliations.
For the 14th annual SKUSA SuperNationals, Superkarts! USA is pleased to announce a new partnership unique to the sport of karting with renowned French watchmaker: Bernard Richards Manufacture (BRM). The company has a vast relationship with motorsport, with numerous partnerships in both open wheel and prototype racing. The brand is synonymous with precision and excellence, offering a line of luxurious chronographs featuring precise automatic movement.
BRM has agreed to offer a handsome prize package for this year’s TaG Sr. and S4 race winners. Each will receive a one of a kind, custom-‐built commemorative watch to recognize their achievement. It’s a prize worthy of a SuperNationals win and has a retail value of approximately $5,000 USD. |
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