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| Features |
| EKN Profile: Italian Motors Moving Into the Future |
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For the last 15 years, one of the powerhouse teams in the North American karting community has been Italian Motors, winning numerous events and championships. This past year was an especially productive one for the operation, highlighted by successful on-track efforts and opening a brand new racing facility in the Pacific Northwest. Their expansion puts them at the top of the tier in three aspects - kart shop, karting team, and karting facility. Karting has seen a number of generations carry on the tradition, and the Valiante family has certainly made its mark in the sport and is in position to carry on the name for years to come.
The history of Italian Motors begins not in karting, but in auto repair service in the Vancouver, British Columbia area. Founded in 1978 by Claudio and Beverley Valiante, the shop was focused on European brands and quickly expanded into a large parts supplier. As it continued to grow, they began importing marquees such as Fiat, Lancia, Maserati, Innocenti, Lada, and Yugo. It wasn’t until 1993 that the Valiante family entered the karting business, becoming the North American importer for the Tibi Kart. Two years later, Italian Motors made the decision to import the Italkart brand.
From there, the company has grown to be one of the largest suppliers in North America with a location in Canada and a joint venture store in Washington called Seattle Karting Specialties. The operation expanded a second time with the creation of Italian Motors USA, to better serve their customers located in the United States. In early 2010, the Valiante family broke ground on a new state of the art karting facility in Sumas, Washington, located along the United States/Canadian border. The Sumas International Motorsport Academy (SIMA) officially opened on July 31.
 | The Italian Motors group is a large and successful family
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Italian Motors is a family operation, like many other karts shops in North America. Led by Claudio and Beverley, their children Michael and Claudia have been instrumental in the progression of the company. Both were successful behind the wheel and have helped the karting business grow.
“Italian Motors is a big family, aside from our immediate members,” stated Michael Valiante when speaking with EKN. “My wife Nicola and other family members - cousins or aunts - have been part of Italian Motors at one time but we have many others who aren’t family but have contributed so much that they are like family to us. John Knowles and David Jurca are two of the longest supporters of IM since we have been together. Scott Cowell, Karla Vizi and Michael ‘Packman’ are three long-standing employees who we feel are family as well. There are so many others, I could go on for ever.”
One product that has been with Italian Motors almost since its entry into karting is the Italkart chassis. Manufactured by the Squerzoni family in Italy (SKM), the brand has been developed and found the majority of its success in North America thanks to the Italian Motors operation.
 | Michael Valiante is considered to be one of the top karters in the last 20 years
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
As Valiante points out, the Italkart name and success has grown year by year, “The two companies have worked together for more than ten years now. Sticking with one chassis brand has allowed us to service our customers and stock any part they might need. Each kart is derived off of the last model, which has led to consistency in the chassis line rather than ‘a hit or miss’ approach like some other manufactures. It has really been developed for the North American market, which offers adjustability and versatility at a price point far below competitors, even though you are getting arguably a better package. All of these things have led to a top-of-the-line chassis that we really understand due to the long standing unique relationship between the two companies.”
While the Italkart chassis brand is linked to the Italian Motors name, a number of other products make up the core business of the operation. Italian Motors is also an importer for IAME and TM racing engines and has a highly regarded engine service program that produces some of the best powerplants in the sport. Along with the Italkart chassis, Italian Motors is one of the importers the SKM kart parts line, the Italian company that manufactures the Italkart chassis. IM is also the exclusive North American importer for MIR racewear, one of the most popular kart safety apparel brands in the world.
Helping to push their product line has been the success of their race team. Led by Michael - a former multi-time U.S. and Canadian national karting champion and current Grand-Am Daytona Prototype driver - the team has produced some very talented drivers over the course of the last 15 years. Aside from Valiante’s personal accomplishments, drivers like David Jurca, Jordy Vorrath, Tyler Dueck, Colby Jenn, Joey Wimsett and others have developed under the tutelage of the team at Italian Motors. Drivers under the Italian Motors tent have scored victories and championships across North American, including Superkarts! USA, Stars of Karting, and the International Kart Federation. In 2004, Italian Motors was the EKN Excellence Awards Team of the Year. The team also supports a number of programs throughout the Pacific Northwest area, both at the regional and club level.
“Loyalty has been a key factor to our development of so many drivers,” continued Valiante. “It is hard to develop a relationship with a driver who jumps from team to team. Respect and attitude are two other points. I would say we are often criticized for having too strict of a program. That's not to say that we don't want kids to have fun at all. Fun is what karting is about, first and foremost, especially at a young age. Although, once a driver is looking to take racing more serious, that is where we come in. Dedication is what we surround ourselves with. Great people with great attitudes allow drivers to feed off of and it brings out the best in them. I personally really enjoy working with drivers and watching them put in to practice what they have learned and seeing their success on and off the track. A big factor in our team and part of the development process is the sharing of information. It really is an open book as we share all the information so everyone benefits and it creates a great team working environment.”
 | The operation was named Team of the Year in 2004
(Photo: EKN) |
The team has found profound success at the annual SKUSA SuperNationals. Valiante was a winner in the event during first three years, while Jurca scored the top of the podium in 2002 in ICC and in TaG Senior in 2005. In 2010, Italian Motors was the class of the field in TaG Senior, scoring the victory with Brazilian driver Andre Nicastro while fellow IM pilots finished third (Valiante), fourth (Brazilian Bruno Ferreira) and sixth (Remo Ruscitti).
Valiante explained that commitment on all levels has made Italian Motors one of the most successful teams at the SuperNationals “We have had many people work in the racing program over the years, most notably David Carpentier, Todd Bowman, David Jurca, Tyler Dueck and Jordy Vorrath. When the SuperNats come around, we really buckle down and do as much testing and development as possible. Not to say we don’t do that during the year, but the effort we put in for this is something you couldn’t sustain for a full season. As silly as it sounds, it is almost like time stands still for that month as I lose track of the hours we put into getting ready.
 | The latest star to rise from the IM development program is Remo Ruscitti
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
“The most recent addition to the team has been Scott Cowell, who committed a lot of time and effort. When you are preparing 40 engines and 20 karts - like we did this year - it takes a certain type of person who really takes pride in what they do to ensure everyone’s kart is capable of winning, leaving the rest up to the driver. I think we demonstrated that this year. We have high expectations and it starts from the top. In any program, you just can’t cut corners because when it comes down to the final on Sunday, everyone is watching. I have been very lucky to have been surrounded by and worked with so many people that have put forth the effort to make it successful. No matter what event it is, I have always wanted the team to win and as a group, we have never lost that passion.”
The latest protégé for Italian Motors is young Ruscitti, who has steadily improved and looks set to tackle the nation’s best. The Vancouver native excelled in his final Junior season in 2008 and was very competitive in his rookie Senior year in ’09. Recording a successful season at the club and regional level, the 16-year old challenged for the victory at the Vegas event against a stout 80-driver field.
“Remo has been with IM for six years now. I have worked with him since the first day he joined the team. He is very dedicated and as he matures, he is quickly becoming one of the quickest drivers at any given event. With one more year of maturity, I think he will be one of the toughest drivers to beat in any category. He also interns at IM, spending his time in the summer prepping team karts, working on the dyno and even putting in fence posts at the SIMA facility. A great driver needs to embody many qualities, such as hard work, a winning attitude and a great understanding of how the racing equipment works. Remo is one of many great drivers we have in our camp.”
The next step to developing their already-successful race team is the addition of the company’s own karting facility. The SIMA circuit is the new home of the Italian Motors USA outfit and gives the Italian Motors racing operation a new permanent home. The facility is an added bonus to karters around the USA/Canadian border, located southeast of the Vancouver area and two-hours north of downtown Seattle. The multi-purpose motorsport complex boasts a 17-corner, 30’ wide, 3/4-mile long track, that features three different configurations. Mike Gregg was instrumental in the design along with Claudio and Michael providing their input as well. Outfitted with the proper amenities, such as a scoring tower, rentable member garages, kart storage capabilities and an on-site kart shop with professional technicians - the SIMA could grow into the next ‘crown-jewel’ of North American karting.
 | | The Sumas International Motorsport Academy (SIMA) is the latest of IM's expansion |
“The track has been a dream of my father (Claudio) from as far as I can remember. It was the last key element of having everything at our disposal to offer the best program possible. I really thought he was crazy. It is so difficult to build tracks from the ground up and I have to give him credit. Although I disagree with him on occasion, I have to admire him for what he has accomplished and the vision he had that no one else could see. All the amenities, including the 30,000 square-foot shop, and one of the coolest layouts I have driven make it an awesome facility.”
Stepping up their on-line presence, Italian Motors recently upgraded their websites to better provide information that current and new karters may need to get the products and services they are looking for. Italianmotorsusa.com and Italianmotors.com are similar in design and look although suited for the customers depending on their residence. There is no doubt Italian Motors has been successful operation in karting for the past 15 years. With their expansion in full force and the right pieces of the puzzle to offer the best service and products to their customers, there is no doubt the company will be a fixture in the sport for another 15 years and beyond. |
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