May 29th, 2009
SwedeTech customers participate in 7 ProKart Challenge classes and accumulate 3 pole positions, 11 podiums spots, and 4 Wins.
Two of the attractive aspects of the ProKart Challenge Series (PKC) is the laid back social atmosphere within the pits and the intense racing action on the track. One of these elements was missing when I rolled into the pits for Friday’s practice, no one was laid back. There was intensity in the air that has been missing from karting for a long time (with exception to the SuperNats).
Leave it to Tom Kutscher, founder of the PKC, to challenge the NorCal pilots and the SoCal pilots to an ego fest. Murmers in the pits of drivers and teams talking about how many points are being scored for their end of the state. Rob Howden’s voice echoing through the pits as he shouts out “ BOOK IT!”.
SwedeTech Racing Engines has supported our customers at the PKC races for over three years, and our customers have supported us back with results. This weekend would be no exception.
The S4 / S4 Magnum class was first on track for the weekend. Cory Gwin ( Emmick Cobra Karts ) placed his Honda CR125 machine on pole and brought home the win for the Emmick boys. Ken Schilling (Extreme Karting – GP ) and Jeff Smith ( Aluminos - GP ) battled throughout the weekend, but Ken narrowly edged out Jeff for third.
S3 was the second class of the weekend, and this class never disappoints the crowd. SwedeTech customers Jimmy McNeil ( Visalia Racing - CRG ), Tommy Thompson ( Trackmagic ) , and Jacob Neal ( PCH Motorsports - CRG ) swept the top three qualifying spots. In the second prefinal, Jimmy McNeil’s air filter came loose and he was removed from the track on the last lap, dashing any hopes of a win. Clinton Schoombee ( Select Karting - CRG ) used the heat races to improve his qualifying position and by the end of the weekend, after a spirited battle with Jacob Neal, would bring home a well deserved 2nd place. Jacob Neal captured another S3 victory.
The HPV 2 Jr. driver’s were also in attendance this weekend. After the qualifying round, Luis Tyrell ( Kartel – Top Kart ), Kiel Spaulding ( Trackmagic ), and Donavon Wheeler ( Trackmagic ) placed their karts in positions second, third, and fourth for the first heat race. Luis Tyrell was strong all weekend long, but a broken exhaust mount ended his chance for a podium finish. Kiel Spaulding stayed consistent all weekend long and drove his kart to a well deserved second. Dylan Lupton ( Cambrian Go Karts - Birel ) was unable to participate in Friday’s practice, so he used qualifying and the heat races to move up in the grid order, and at the end of the day finished fourth.
Steve Wiener ( FX Racing – Trackmagic ) was the lone SwedeTech customer in the TaG Masters class. Qualifying third and taking second in both heat races, Steve was the only driver in the field who contested the overall winner. At the checkered, Steve would finish second, with a 16 second margin over third.
The TaG Jr. class is always exciting to watch, and this weekend, the strong NorCal drivers had strong SoCal competition. Louie Pagano ( Dave’s Performance – Birel ), Kiel Spaulding ( Trackmagic ), and Dylan Lupton ( Cambrian Go Karts – Birel ) qualified within 0.119 seconds of each other to start the first heat race in second, third, and fourth. When the drivers took the checkered for the final time, Dylan Lupton finished second, with Louie Pagano and Kiel Spaulding wrapping up third and fourth.
The S1 and the G1 group hit the track at the same time. Jacob Neal ( PCH Motorsports – CRG ) and Gregory Liefooghe ( Leading Edge – Intrepid ) qualified 2nd and 4th. Robert Marks ( Top Kart – Visalia Racing ) qualified 7th overall, but 2nd in G1, not bad for a guy that hasn’t been in a kart since the SuperNationals. At the end of the day, the familiar name of Gary Carlton ( PCH Motorsports – CRG ) topped the podium. Jacob Neal was a strong second and Gregory Liefooghe was fourth. In the G1 class, Fernando Diaz ( Aluminos – GP ) was standing on the top step, with Eduardo Martins ( TonyKart Florida ) in the third spot.
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March 23rd, 2009
Northern California Rotax dealers Marin Karting, Cambrian Go-Karts and SwedeTech have teamed up to sponsor all Northern California Rotax Challenge drivers who wish to participate in the US RMax Challenge (USRMC) National Points program. Most Rotax members are not aware there is cost involved to participate in the National Points Standing. The Nor Cal Rotax Challenge (NCRC) must pay a fee to USRMC for every RMax member participating in each NCRC race. Marin Karting, Cambrian Go-Karts and SwedeTech will each contribute $500 each to cover this cost and support our local racers, who in turn support the Rotax program by signing up for RMax membership.
The payments collected by USRMC support the national Rotax program and also help to fund entries for drivers representing the US and the Rotax Grand Finals.
“It’s great to see some joint involvement and cooperation amongst these established karting companies,” commented Adrian Szwarcburg, NCRC series organizer. “All three companies are giving back directly to Nor Cal RMax members with a pledge to cover the cost of submitting our series race results to the National Points Standings. Working together can only continue to promote the growth of the series and the sport of karting in general. I urge all racers to support these companies in 2009″.
2008 was the inaugural year of the Rotax National Points Standings. Northern California drivers finished on top in three of the four national Rotax classes run in the NCRC series. The Rotax National Points Champions for 2008 from NCRC were Gregory Liefooghe in Senior Rotax, Glen Poy-Wing in Rotax DD2 and David Carlisle in Rotax Masters. Other notable Nor Cal mentions were Donavon Wheeler, 3rd in Junior Rotax, David Arnstein, 4th in Rotax DD2 and Cameron Pringle, 5th in Senior Rotax.
The Rotax National Points Standings was developed and implemented last year to recognize all registered RMax Challenge members in the US, and rank them against others in their class across the nation. The standings are based on finishes from local series races using a weighted points system. Race results for drivers who are 2009 Rotax members will be submitted for the National Points Standings. Rotax membership is not required to race in the NCRC series in 2009.
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March 13th, 2009
Hi Buck, Jason & Reine, It’s me…Sonny! Wanted to tell you how the first IKF of the 2009 Season went up in Redding….
First off- great showing in both Jr. 1-2 cycle and HPV1, 17-18 karts in each class. Tough competition! Our Swedetech powered Emmick kart qualified pole in Comer Jr. 1 and off pole in HPV1. Sweet!
Comer Jr. 1 heat brought a new experience for me… a flat tire when a valve stem got knocked right out of my rim! Racing was tight. So we start in 16th in the main…. gained about 10 positions in the first 4 laps, then got shot to the curb in a pass and threw a chain (and bent an axle and rim). Killed me to watch the race from the infield.
So Sunday’s a new day… Qualified 2nd and led about half the heat until the kart tightened up (thanks pop) and finished 3rd. Going into the main, first place racer got a great head start, battled it out taking third in the main. Was a great race, jockeyed back and forth with the second place racer and ran the second fastest lap in the main (missing it by 2/100’s ) .
Thanks to Buck for trackside support over the weekend and to the Swedetech crew for the awesome motors! Luckily we can throw out the DNF in Jr 1….here we come Atwater!
See ya in the pits,
Sonny Cervelli #77 and the Cervelli Bros. Racing Crew
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March 3rd, 2009
The FX Racing Makita Team closed out February at the famed Willow Springs Kart Track in Rosamond, CA for round two of the SuperKarts! USA ProKart Challenge (PKC) SoCal Series. After the dark skies and rain of the CalSpeed opener, the PKC competitors were greeted with perfect racing conditions in the California desert.
Conte Back In the Groove
After missing the first round of the ’09 PKC SoCal season, Philip Conte (Monster Energy/Makita/TrackMagic/MidCities Honda) returned to the driver’s seat in the S4 class with a brand new TrackMagic Hornet 125 powered by the SwedeTech Stock Moto. Coming off his 2008 championship win, the Lakewood, CA driver sported the #1 on his number plate. With only one day in the kart since his strong performance at the 2008 SuperNationals, Friday’s practice sessions were critical.
Working with mechanic Greg Marlow, data specialist Bill Kreig and the rest of the FX Racing Makita Team, Conte worked through multiple setups on Friday. As the checkered fell for the final practice session, driver and team felt confident they had the right combination to dominate the tight, abrasive Willow track.
Qualifying showed the team’s confidence was well founded as Conte took P2 just under two-tenths behind Jason Attwood, who calls Willow Springs his home track. Heat 1 saw Attwood late arriving on the grid so Conte had the front row all to himself. Making a clean getaway at the start, the FX Racing Makita driver never looked back, taking the Heat 1 win. Heat 2 saw Conte starting from the front again and leading the field until two laps from the end when he was passed by Jeff Smith. Conte pushed back for the remaining laps but had to settle for second place in the end.
Starting second for the Main, Conte was determined to get back to the P1 spot. Making a perfect start, Conte launched into the lead but was under constant pressure from Jeff Smith in second. Conte kept Smith behind up until the last lap, when going into turn seven Smith put a pass on Conte. Conte fought back and retook the position on corner exit, holding on to take the win. Despite a break from driving after SuperNats, the FX Racing driver showed he will be a serious force to reckon with for this year’s championship.
Wiener Comes Close to Top Step
Prolific Southern California kart racer Steve Wiener (Monster Energy/Makita/Trackmagic) was on a roll for this round of the PKC SoCal series. Working with mechanic Brad Bowman, Wiener dialed in the SwedeTech Parilla Leopard Trackmagic kart in the practice sessions, ending at P3, just a half-second off the leaders pace. In Qualifying, the San Diego, CA driver was able to use that speed to take P2 in the competitive TaG Masters field.
Making a great start for Heat 1, Wiener took the lead and never gave it up, despite Mike Kelley getting close at the end. Starting from the pole for Heat 2, Wiener kept the lead and held it until the last corner of the last lap where he was passed by Jeff Deehan, leaving Wiener in 2nd just four-hundreths of a second behind at the flag.
Wiener was determined to get back to P1 in the Main. Dropping back to second on the first lap, Wiener made a move to take the lead into turn 9. Caught out by cold brakes, Wiener went off track, ending his run. Wiener keeps moving up the field at each event and will be looking forward to moving up the podium too.
FX Racing USA, LLC is a professional motorsports and marketing organization with headquarters in San Diego, CA offering programs ranging from auto and kart racing to corporate team building and training. The kart racing efforts are supported by Monster Energy, Makita Industrial Power Tools, K&N, Bell Racing, Trackmagic Racing Karts and Swedetech Racing Engines.
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February 4th, 2009
The FX Racing USA Makita Junior Team jumps into competition for 2009 this weekend with the IKF Region 7 Bridgestone Series. This highly competitive series is well known as a proving ground for aspiring drivers, offering the opportunity to go wheel to wheel with some of the regions best racers. The FX Racing USA Junior Team will use the IKF Region 7 series as a basis for a full season that offers up and coming drivers the challenges and support needed to expand their driving, racecraft, testing and development skills.
FX Racing will field two junior drivers for this weekend’s event at the fast and challenging CalSpeed Karting track, including regular driver Andrew Wiener. 12 year-old Andrew began racing with his local club, the San Diego Karting Association at 7 and has been hooked on racing since. He has competed in LAKC, US Kart Championship and SDKA events, taking his first race win in 2007. Andrew will be piloting a new TrackMagic Hornet 100 chassis in the HPV-2 class, and is looking forward to putting the hard work he and the team did in the off season to use in competition.
Also joining the FX Racing team for this event will be Kiel Spalding. The young driver had a taste of IKF Region 7 competition last season, participating in several events throughout the year. Kiel has built a strong reputation as a skilled driver in his home region of Northern California, particularly in junior karts over the past two years. Kiel will be driving a new TrackMagic Hornet 100 chassis with Swedetech HPV-2 power.
FX Racing USA Makita Junior Team program is designed not only to aid drivers with the support they need on track, but also to guide them in pursuing a career in motorsports. With the comprehensive approach offered by FX Racing, drivers learn about how to achieve the performance needed in multiple areas to be successful today and as they move up the racing ladder. From kart setup to driving techniques, to fitness and having the proper mindset, the FX Racing team is able to educate young drivers with feedback and coaching validated by years of experience. The team is currently looking for the right candidates to fill open spots still available for 2009. Contact FX Racing USA for more information.
Racing USA, LLC is a professional motorsports and marketing organization with headquarters in San Diego, CA offering programs ranging from auto and kart racing to corporate team building and training. The kart racing efforts are supported by Monster Energy, Makita Industrial Power Tools, K&N, Bell Racing, Trackmagic Racing Karts and Swedetech Racing Engines. For more information, visit www.fxracingusa.com.
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