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| March 07, 2012 News |
| EKN Track Bulletin: March 7, 2012 |
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New to the eKartingNews.com segments section is the EKN Track Bulletin. Roughly once a month, the staff at leading karting website will scope out the latest news regarding kart tracks across North America. So some, this will be an introduction to a facility you may have never heard or seen before. For others, it’s a great way to keep up with what’s going on with your favorite tracks.
 | | Artist rendition of the Atlanta Motorsports Park kart track |
Atlanta Motorsports Park (atlantamotorsportspark.com)
The next newest facility in the United States will be the Atlanta Motorsports Park. Located in Dawsonville, Georgia - situated between Atlanta and the Georgia/Tennessee border - the motorsports facility will be similar to a country club, except instead of golf it will be a 2-mile road course. Outside that is an 8/10-mile karting circuit designed for racing, arrive-and-drive, and concession style karting. Right now, all mass grading and other utilities are being laid out. Roughly a quarter of the paving has been completed with the rest to be completed soon. The big track is now fully paved and the facility is roughly a month and a half away from opening.
Jeremy Porter, CEO of AMP, told EKN the track was designed by the famous F1 track designer Hermann Tilke. The layout of the tracks, both the kart and the car track, has the standards you only see in European tracks. The kart circuit will be the only CIK level A kart track in America with the most aggressive elevation changes of any track in the world. A number of industry members stated to him they have never seen a track like this anywhere in the world.
Concept Haulers Motor Speedway (concepthaulersmotorspeedway.wordpress.com)
A new era has begun at the historic Norway Illinois facility Concept Haulers Motor Speedway. Still owned by Les and Diann Finke, the track welcomes new track manager Greg Rowlee. An onsite kart shop will be run by Les and Greg while remaining open to the possibility of leasing it out to the right applicant. The track also offers a new schedule in that it is now open seven days a week with practice, rentals, leagues, and outings. There is a full race season planned including fourteen club races, hosting Great Lakes Sprint series, Midwest Sprint Series, Route 66 Series twice this season, and WKA Manufacturer’s Cup in 2012. Rowlee commented to EKN, "I am honored to be a part of this well respected track and look forward to the season."
 | | NOLA Motorsports Park new kart track building |
Michiana Raceway Park (michianaracewaypark.com)
New but familiar faces will be seen when the South Bend, Indiana facility opens up the 2012 season. JET Karting - Andy and Kris Finke - have moved their operation to the facility and will act as managing partners. JET karting will operate the day-to-day business of the track while providing a full trackside pro shop. The track itself is undergoing preparations to host the United States Rotax Grand Nationals on August 7-11. Prior to the winter, certain corners of the track welcomed new curbing with more upgrades scheduled.
NOLA Motorsports Park (nolamotor.com)
Located just outside New Orleans, the newest motorsports facility is booming with action. The multi-purpose facility on 650 acres includes a multi-layout karting track dedicated competitive karting, rental karts and is open 7 days a week for testing. The kart shop celebrated its opening last week fully stock with Rotax and CRG parts ready to help customers with all their needs. The facility’s general manager - Mitch Wright - comes from a solid background in karting and his karting director Garett Potter is busy keeping up with the new kart sales along with the sprint and oval karting sessions going on at the circuit. The track started its 2012 schedule in January and is part of the new Southeast Karting Challenge, hosting the opening round on the rescheduled April 13-15.
Orlando Kart Center (orlandokartcenter)
In a matter of a week, Orlando Kart Center got a completely new look. The two-year old circuit was leveled, adding 12,349 square yards of asphalt, or 1.5 inches of new asphalt over 0.73 miles. All the non-racing area was scrapped with a total of 150 truck loads carrying the old asphalt was removed. This old asphalt was replaced with 356 pallets of new grass in the infield. The repaving was done in just three days and the course is now open for business, though owner karts must have a specific tire compound on their karts, no matter the category. This temporary requirement serves to protect the track and allow eager customers to enjoy the new, smooth track without damaging the asphalt.
 | | Orlando Kart Center's new look |
Martins commented that he and the asphalt company did a lot of testing of tires, grip, g-force load, etc with the goal to open the track immediately after repaving. The final conclusion was to utilize the MG Blue tire compound with 15-pound tire pressure.
Sugar River Raceway (sugarriverraceway.com)
One of the oldest courses in the country got a bit of a face-lift just prior to the snowfall this winter. Sugar River Raceway - located in Brodhead, WI near the Illinois border - had about half of the 0.5-mile circuit redone with new pavement for the 2012 season. The facility was built in 1959 and is owned/operated by the Fairman family. |
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