Are you on the KartSportNews mailing list? If you subscribe (there’s no cost, just need your email address), you’ll receive the latest news, information & updates direct to your inbox. Currently, this is a weekly service, sent on Wednesday afternoon. Join up HERE!
VIDEO – Oceane Colangelo is Girl Racer 46 and this docu-series will cover the journey of a young girl chasing her dream of becoming successful in the male dominated world of motorsports. At age eight, she’s off racing the best in her class around Australia, armed with her talent, determination and her father’s dedication. Will it be enough? Watch the first instalment below, and keep an eye out for episode 2!
JUNIOR SPROCKETS – hopefully the kids are revved up after watching the video above! If so, take them along to a Junior sprockets day. KA’s national introduction to karting program for children makes a return to Queensland in the July school holidays, firstly at Ipswich on Tuesday July 6, followed by Townsville on Friday, July 9. Bookings are required.
- Ipswich – https://kartingaustralia.wufoo.com/…/2021-junior…/
- Townsville – https://kartingaustralia.wufoo.com/…/2021-junior…/
DRIVER ACADEMY – Former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella is a co-founder of Top Gun by Pro Racing, a new driver academy to prepare young karting stars for their first foray into single-seaters. Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi will be the chief instructor, alongside Luca Filippi, a former Formula 1 tester for Honda. The academy runs across a five day format. All participants are lodged in a common venue and parents are banned from access during the working component of each day. The experience includes driving theory, PR, marketing, using simulators, plus track time in Formula 4 and Radical race cars. The inaugural course runs from July 28 to August 3.
LOGISTICS – Praga Australia / Karting HQ presented this new Praga liveried truck to the world at the Warwick Rotax Pro Tour round recently. “Ain’t she a beauty. Huge thank you to Andrew at Kart Wraps for the perfect design for our truck and the endless hours to get it all done, and another huge thanks to Dylan from Five Lights Graphic & Design for helping pull it all together.”
STATE – Michelle Rowe has been announced as the new President of Karting Queensland. “Michelle is the first female President for Queensland and the second female President ever in the Nation in 35+ years” Karting Queensland posted. According to KQ, she is the first female leader of a Karting Australia affiliated State Association since the late June Hodgetts was Karting S.A. President in 1985/86. Congratulations Michelle on your new appointment! (UPDATE: South Australian karting stalwart Ian Williams has submitted a correction, informing us that Barbara Hepworth was the SA State President back in the mid-80s, and June Hodgetts was the State Secretary (not President) for “something like 27 years”.)
VALE: Ian “Bluey” Castles. The Victorian Superkart Club expressed it’s heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ian Castles, a long time member, previously from sprint karts, who passed away recently. “Ian (Bluey) was a racer, engine builder, mentor and mate to many in our club”.
NO BIND – Getting the bearing cassettes perfectly aligned reduces drag in the rear axle assembly, as demonstrated by Tony Kart Australia, this axle sliding through with very little resistance.
CELEBRATIONS – The Adelaide Superkart Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a formal function on July 17. Past and present racers, members, officials and fans who wish to reconnect and reminisce should contact the club.
ELECTRIC ROTAX TOUR – BRP-Rotax will tour through Europe with its Project E20 electric kart. The machine will be in use at the German Electric Kart Championship plus various RMC and hobbyist karting Demo Days through June and July. There will be possibilities at some of these events to win tickets to contest the e-kart class at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in December.
advertisement
BIG HIT – Who’d have thought you could shunt a rental kart as impressively as this! Looks like both are ok.
BRICK HEAD – 3D printed Lego “Go kart”
KIWI TECH – 21 Technical Officers and seven trainees attended a two-day training seminar in New Zealand recently to learn and up skill their knowledge. “On day one, Rotax Max and Vortex Mini ROK engines were fully dismantled and technical checks carried out and explained” Kartsport New Zealand posted. “This was supplemented with a run down on the new digital licensing system that is currently being worked on. Day two carried on with Rotax Max and Vortex ROK DVS engine tech inspections, written tests on all three engines, followed by a list of general technical compliance subjects and discussions in the afternoon.”
EVENT – Karts n parts swap meet in Minto on July 4.
TRIVIAL TEST – The Queensland Superkart Club will hosts its first Trivia Night next month. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) the questions are not just for racing nerds. “The theme is general trivia not just motorsport” the club advised. “So bring your friends and family and have a great night out. There’s raffle prizes and prizes for the winners. Play as a team (max 8 per table) or as an individual.” Contact the club before July 3 to book a seat.
ELECTRIC UPDATE – More on the progress of the Project E-20 kart by Rotax, which requires a (liquid) radiator to cool the engine.
DRIVING SKILLS – Loose is fast, no?
EVENT – The Pacific Superkart Challenge will run across two days at Morgan Park later in the year.
EVENT – The 2021 Whyalla City Titles, with the finals under lights on Saturday night.
THE ROCK – The Rock Island Grand Prix returns for its 26th edition on September 4 and 5. Now managed by the National Karting Alliance and sanctioned by USAC, the event is open to drivers from other FIA/CIK-aligned organisations, such as Karting Australia. There’s a long list of classes from various Briggs & Stratton categories, several Shifter classes, 100cc two-stroke plus vintage, open and Yamaha classes. Now, if it wasn’t for COVID…
INTERVIEW – Mike Wilson, 6 time World Champion as a driver plus winning constructor. Legend. (by Ariel Elkin)
GOT NEWS – Have you got some karting news? What’s going on at your club? Know someone who could write up a race report? We’re always on the look out for karting-specific news and reports to keep karters informed. Find out more HERE.
advertisement