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| Superkarts! USA Focused on Improvement for California ProKart Challenge |
| Friday, 21 December 2012 13:06 |
 Southern California karting is now preparing for the beginning of the 2013 racing season, kicking off with the opening round of the Superkarts! USA California ProKart Challenge on February 1-2 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. With another wildly-successful SuperNationals in the books, the SKUSA staff is now back to work putting things together for the ninth year of the flagship ProKart Challenge series, and the program will see improvements in certain areas as well as the continuation of an incredible package of event and year-end prizes for series competitors. One of the most exciting items of note is a new incentive program for Mini Rok drivers, which will be part of the evolution of the TaG Cadet class in PKC action.“We enjoyed some exciting racing in our local ProKart Challenge last year, and that means a great deal to us as it was a big step moving back to a single series for all of California,” offered Tom Kutscher, SKUSA President. “As we plan for 2013, our focus remains on steady and continuous improvement, and this year we’re really looking to develop and support our youngest drivers – TaG Cadet – with a new opportunity for racers to get on-board the Mini Rok program.” Working in cooperation with Vortex, SKUSA has a fleet of 15 new Mini Rok engines that will be sold at a deeply discounted rate to inject even more life into the class, one that boasted an incredible field of 68 pilots at the SuperNationals. This Mini Rok 60cc engine is the spec powerplant for the TaG Cadet class, and one of the key features of the program is the $3000 claiming rule that SKUSA employs, which eliminates the stigma of well-funded teams being able to benefit from hand-picked engines. The Mini Rok also provides young drivers with the opportunity to run the California ProKart Challenge, the SKUSA Pro Tour and the prestigious SKUSA SuperNationals. However, parents must commit to running at minimum the entire PKC regional series in order to receive the discounted price of just $1550 (plus delivery) for the complete motor package. The retail price for the motor is $2800. One of the motivators behind this new effort is the steady decline of club and regional racing opportunities for KPV and Comer class drivers within the IKF program in southern California. This incentive plan has been put into place to help support young competitors looking for a solid engine package in a strong and growing organization. Interested KPV and Comer parents should contact SKUSA Head Office via e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to apply for this discount engine purchase program. To further extend this program, thanks to significant feedback regarding the need for this adjustment, SKUSA has elected to open the TaG Cadet age window to drivers who will turn eight during the 2013 calendar year. This essentially opens the class to drivers aged 7-12. Should this interest turn into actual race entries, Kutscher is considering plans to offer a new TaG Novice class (ages 8-9) to support the new influx of young drivers into the PKC program. In addition to the ProKart Challenge and Pro Tour, the SKUSA-spec TaG Cadet class will be offered by the Los Angeles Karting Championship (LAKC), giving these racers yet another series in which to gain experience. “We’re working together with LAKC to help stabilize the sport in SoCal, and in addition to discussing our 2013 schedules to eliminate conflicts, we’re also supporting the LAKC class structure with our rulebook for selected categories,” Kutscher continued. “They already run our Stock Honda classes in one form or another, and the addition of TaG Cadet to their program for 2013 will give these young racers the opportunity to run twice a month, with PKC and LAKC, as well as at the season-ending SuperNationals.” The benefits of ProKart Challenge participation are very lucrative, with event prizes, year-end awards and special opportunities. PKC will continue with their popular prize-giving approach at each race’s podium presentations, where drivers need to be on-hand for the chance to win free race entries, Mothers products, VP Fuel, Motul oil or MG tires. The PKC program also offers some unique and valuable benefits when it comes to the SuperNationals. Drivers competing in the first four California ProKart Challenge events of 2013 will be eligible for the SuperNationals Priority Pre-Entry Program, which will provide them with a special window to reserve a spot in the SuperNationals before the official registration opens. In addition, each of the PKC class champions will be guaranteed a position on the SuperSunday starting grid regardless of their heat race points, which is an invaluable commodity. This year, a number of drivers were lucky to be able cash in on this ‘get out of jail free’ card after trouble in the heat races. Reigning PKC TaG Senior champion Matt Johnson was one who needed to leverage the spot; he then drove an incredible race from 42nd to 16th, making things interesting. PKC has always been dedicated to providing a quality banquet experience for their racers to properly celebrate the season, and a number of major prizes will be awarded at the end of the 2013 campaign as well. The previously mentioned TaG Cadet drivers will again be gunning for the opportunity to travel to South Garda, Italy to compete in the Rok Cup International Final in October of 2014. This coming October, the 2012 PKC TaG Cadet champion Hunter Kelly will participate in the event, alongside Hayden Wagner, whose name was pulled from a group of TaG Cadet drivers who had participated in all six PKC races in 2012. SKUSA will be well represented in this incredible international event. Superkarts! USA is also set to debut a new ‘PKC Team of the Year’ trophy in 2013, designed to acknowledge the efforts of the racing teams that provide the backbone of ProKart Challenge competition. The award will be based on presentation, attitude and sportsmanship, and will have a perpetual trophy that will be given out for the first time at the PKC banquet in October. 2013 California ProKart Challenge ScheduleFebruary 1-2: ButtonwillowMarch 1-2: Phoenix May 3-4: Adams May 31-June 1: Willow Springs September 6-7: Santa Maria September 27-29: Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix Online registration for the opening round of the California ProKart Challenge on February 1-2 at Buttonwillow – as well as additional event details – will be available by December 31. Racers are also urged to renew their Superkarts! USA memberships as soon as possible – available online now at www.skusastore.com – especially those drivers looking to upgrade their license levels for 2013. |