Monday, February 08, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pan American Rotax Challenge dates, format and locations finalized.

Pan American Rotax Challenge Series officials are pleased to announce that the final details on the schedule and format are set. Several adjustments have been made to the original plans including reducing the number of events from 4 to 3 for the first season. Because of a very full race calendar in the US and Canada it was decided the August date at F-1 New Jersey would not be part of the 2010 program. This long waited series will start its inaugural season in April at MSR Houston, located in Angleton, Texas 30 minutes south of Houston. This is a true international series, patterned after the very successful Rotax Euro Challenge. Drivers from all nations are welcome to attend and future plans are for Pan American Series races to be held in Canada, Mexico and South American countries as the program grows. Discussions for a 2011 date in Canada are already underway.

The 3 events are:
April 23-35 MSR Houston
June 11-13 New Castle Motorsports Park (Note: the Pan American race at New Castle will take the place of the annual Rotax Summer Shootout)
September 3-5 California Speedway

The 6 race series will crown champions at the end and award 7 spots to the 4 Rotax Grand Finals classes: Junior Max – 2, Senior Max – 2, DD2 – 2, DD2, Masters - 1.

The three events include a Friday official practice, Saturday-Sunday format of Qualifying, Pre-Final and Final each day. One set of tires is allowed each race day for Junior and Senior classes. Mini Max and Micro Max will use the same tires for both days. Drivers will pick up their tires each morning for races that day.

Seven classes will compete at each event. The new class this year is a dedicated DD 2 Masters (415lbs). This class will also compete at the 2010 Rotax Grand Finals for the first time. Each weekend competitors will be able to earn points for finishes in the Pre-Final and Final of each day. The top five qualifiers will also earn points each day.

Points chart continues down to 1 for 34th position in the Pre-Final and 19 for 34th position in the Final. Bonus points will be awarded for the final race in California. A multiplier may be added for class sizes less than 10. The championship will be decided using the best 4 finishes for each driver. Entry fees and registration information will be available Feb 15th and registration will be online. Walk up entries will be welcomed but will not be eligible for online entry registration discounts.

Each entry fee will include:Entry, Drivers Pit Pass, 5 gallons of spec fuel, 1 Liter of spec oil, Tires for both days (Mini Max and Micro Max are only allotted one set of tires for both days), and 1 pit spot per driver (additional pit spots can be reserved)

Additional information will be released as it becomes available. The information portal for the Pan American Rotax Challenge will be http://www.rotaxmaxchalleng.com/panamerican
The Pan American Rotax Max Challenge is organized and managed by SSC Racing, Palm Springs, CA. This is an International Rotax Challenge series open to all Rotax drivers in the world. The 2010 series champions will be decided on
a points basis counting the best 4 of 6 race points totals. Top finishing drivers in the Junior Max, Senior Max, DD 2 and DD2 Masters classes will be awarded spots to the Rotax Grand Finals where World Champions will be crowned in these 4 premier classes. For more information about the Pan American Rotax Max Challenge, go to http://www.rotaxmaxchallenge.com/panamerican .

information provided by Gerald McCrackin
To Southern Colorado Karters

We are happy to announce the formation of the Pikes Peak Kart Racing Club,
aka "PPKRC". With the formation of the club we feel we can provide a
venue for all karters of all ages and racing classes to come together and
enjoy the racing experience of Southern Colorado. Our goal is to grow the
number of kart racers in Southern Colorado by providing a club that not
only races here in Southern Colorado but also at other tracks around
Colorado. We are having a general Membership Meeting on Monday Feb 8th at
6:30 p.m. at Pikes Peak International Raceway at the main offices to
discuss in further detail our mission, vision and future plans for PPKRC.
Please come join us in this exciting new venture and come support Southern
Colorado Karting. If you know of any other karters or former karters who
may or may not be currently racing or have gone to Denver to race please
let them know about this meeting. Our intent is attract Southern Colorado
karters back into karting by providing a club that can meet there karting
needs. PPKRC wants to build its base by exposing new families to karting
and grow not only the club membership but also karting in general to
support our local tracks. Please join us for some exciting announcements
about the future of PPKRC including Race Camps, New Karter Education
Classes, Special Two-day Race Events, Swap Meets, Driver Coaching, Ladder
Program and yes a Club House.

Topics to be discussed:

- Spirit and Intent
- Vision
- Membership
- Board of Directors
- Marketing and Promotion of Club
- Year One
- PPKRC Future Events
- Race Events
- 2010 Class Structure
- Points System within Club
- 2010 Racing and Event Schedule
- 2010 Sponsorship Opportunities
- End of Year Awards Banquet
- Open Discussion

Other Topics that need to be worked out by a Race Committee at a later time
and place include:

- Registration
- Safety Equipment
- Driver Requirements
- Equipment Rules
- Racing Rules
- Post- Race Rules
- Flag Rules
- Race Officials
- Protest, suspensions & Appeals

As you can see we need to go over a lot of information. Please be prompt in
arriving at PPIR so that we can get the meeting underway ASAP and get you
back home within a reasonable timeframe. In the following days more
information will be coming.

Email ppkrc@q.comfor any questions, or if you can
help in the formation of the club, there's plenty to do for all.

Again the general membership meeting on Monday Feb 8th at 6:30 p.m. at
Pikes Peak International Raceway at the main offices.

Pedal to the Metal

PPKRC

Christian Bird Wins TFT Up and Comer Award
information provided by Team Full Throttle, 704.664.1755

An influential driver development program based in Mooresville, NC, has named 16-year-old Colorado racecar driver Christian Bird as its "Up-and-Comer" award recipient for the 2009 season.

Team Full Throttle, the only driver development program with a direct pipeline to the NASCAR community, signed Bird as one of its racing talents last summer. Just six months later, organization CEO Tom Baker selected the high school sophomore to receive the honor at TFT's year-end awards banquet.

"The Up-and-Comer Award represents a first-year TFT racer who not only demonstrated outstanding performance on the track, but also excelled within the program and displayed the necessary dedication to his craft to position himself for future success," Baker said. "Christian is leading his team's marketing efforts, excelling within our curriculum, and showing tremendous initiative and work ethic in his racing and in the classroom."

Bird said he was honored to receive the award, which he equated to winning a Rookie of the Year title in a racing series. "I've been utilizing all the tools and training that Team Full Throttle has to offer to their maximum - the books, the coaching calls, and all the resources. This was like an achievement award for the things I've done at TFT."

While Christian has been honing marketable skills like focus, leadership and communication with Coach Baker's guidance, he's also been building an impressive racing resume. After winning two state championships in TAG karts and advancing to shifter karts in 2009, Bird ran his first Legends car race last weekend on the road course of the renown Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was heading for a top-ten finish before a mechanical problem ended his strong run. "The Legends car was really fun. It was definitely the most fun I've ever had in a racecar and I would like to thank Kyle Beattie Racing for the opportunity."

Bird will continue to run Legends cars this year in the Southeast, while still competing in go-karts in Colorado for A.J. Noud and Rocky Mountain Wood Source. Like many young drivers moving up the racing ranks, he has his sights set on NASCAR, where he would like to follow in the footsteps of his favorite driver, four-time Cup Champion Jeff Gordon. "I like his driving style because it's smooth and calm. I also like the way he carries himself off the track. I really strive to model that behavior."

As Team Full Throttle's 2009 Up-and-Comer award winner, Bird seems well-equipped to follow in his NASCAR idol's footsteps. "Christian has what we look for in a racer - the type of drive and mental focus that facilitates growth and success," said Coach Baker. "We're proud to have him in the program and we look forward to strong future with him."


About Christian Bird

Christian Bird is a 15-year-old racer from Grand Junction, Colorado. Currently racing G.P. Race Karts for A.J. Noud and Rocky Mountain Kartworks with support from Woodforce in two different series, Christian will also be racing Legends Cars in the Southeast in 2010.

Christian is a member of the Team Full Throttle NASCAR Driver Development Program, and represented by Team Full Throttle LLC of Mooresville, N.C. Visit his website at http://www.christianbirdracing.com.

Team Full Throttle

Team Full Throttle is a Mooresville, N.C., based personal development program that specializes in all areas of personal and professional development, including leadership, teamwork, and communications as well as marketing, promotion, and on-track driving skills. TFT's Motorsports program currently comprises over 30 racers who reside and race in all regions of the country.

SKUSA MOUNTAIN REGION NEWS UPDATE



First, the regional board would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who has shown interest in the SKUSA Mountain Region. Your comments and suggestions are, and will continue to be appreciated and taken to heart. Feel free to email us at info@skusamr.com if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. The SKUSA Mountain Region is an independent organization and passionate about only one thing- Putting the racer first. Thru our national class structure and licensing program, racers will be able to gage their talent against the best Karters in North America. Nationally sanctioned racing with national rules and national recognition. Participation in our regional offerings assures your entry is guaranteed into national races such as the Pro Tour and Super Nationals.

Colorado is blessed with a few of the best kart racing tracks in the nation. We are indebted to the owners of these facilities who have understood the goals and desires of our group. Without their input and support we will not be successful. That being said, we need to reiterate one simple fact-We are an independent organization. We are not affiliated with any one track owner or facility. Our relationship starts and stops with them allowing us to offer SKUSAMR races at their tracks. We are not competing with them, nor do we want to control all racing in our state or region. Again, our goal is to create and maintain and organization that puts the racer first. This year, 2 out of 3 tracks (IMI and Grand Junction Motor Speedway) accepted our request to host regional SKUSA events at their tracks. Thank You Brad and Stacey, we are greatly appreciative of your support.

We have had a busy month, culminating with travel to PPIR (along with several karters) to test and refine the track configuration. Thank you to the individuals who participated this past Sunday in our test. The biggest THANK YOU of all goes out to the management of PPIR, who allowed our group access to this spectacular facility for the day.

PPIR will offer the some of the best kart racing Colorado has ever witnessed. As the host site for our first Regional race and the Regions Cup race, 2010 promises to be exciting. This facility offers amenities never before seen at our level of racing. RV parking with electrical hook ups, Restrooms, showers and full service garage space. Contact us online for more details and to get your name on the list if you need to park your RV or rent one of the garages. These amenities will be offered on a first come first served basis.



The SKUSA Mountain Region appreciates your support and needs your participation. Please join in the fun and excitement that is SKUSAMR.

Visit www.skusamr.com for the lastest Mountain Region news and information.

If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to the SKUSA Mountain Region email list, please use the following link... http://www.skusamr.com/mr/contact-usMR.html

For more information, visit SKUSA Mountain Region online at http://www.skusamr.com


SKUSA Mountain Regional 2010 Dates and Venues

May 8th/ 9th . . . . SKUSAMR Regional . . . Pikes Peak International Raceway
June 19th/20th . . . . SKUSAMR Regional . . . Grand Junction Motor Speedway
August 21st/22nd . . . SKUSAMR Regional . . . IMI NEW TRACK
September 18th/19th . . . SKUSA Regions Cup . . . Pike Peak International Raceway


SKUSA Pro Tour Dates and Venues

April 17th / 18th . . . SKUSA Pro Tour . . . Sonoma California
July 17th/ 18th . . . SKUSA Pro Tour . . . St. Louis Missouri
November 17th thru 21st . . . SUPER NATIONALS . . . Las Vegas