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| June 29, 2012 |
| Team News: Leading Edge Motorsports Victorious at California ProKart Challenge |
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The Leading Edge Motorsports squad, led by veteran Greg Bell, traveled to the Buttonwillow Raceway Park for the fourth stop of the California ProKart Challenge series. On June 22-23, five drivers flew the LEM colors aboard the popular and successful Intrepid and Praga chassis models with strong results. A total of two pole position, numerous fast laps and two victories by Trevor McAlister and Jack von Quilich highlighted the trip.
McAlister has showed the speed since returning to the karting ranks last year. The early part of 2012 saw some hardship that affected the final results for ‘T-Mac’. Now, the multi-time national race winner is gaining his winning stride after picking up his second straight victory at the California PKC program. The event began with McAlister qualifying in the third position, confirming the LEM-prepared Praga kart was suited better for race conditions then an outright fast lap. Trevor proved it in the opening heat race, moving to the lead by lap 2 and driving away to the race win. Leading the first eight laps of heat two, Trevor saw the lead slip by in the final two laps, as he fell back to fourth after two others passed by as well. Un-phased by the loss in position, he stormed back in the opening lap of the feature with a brilliant first circuit on cold tires. Once into the lead, he drove the Leading Edge Motorsports Praga machine to a one-second victory.
“One of the key’s to Trevor’s victory is his consistency and the ability to tune the kart so it doesn’t fall off as the tires lose grip,” commented LEM’s Greg Bell. “His lap times in the final were only six-tenths off of his qualifying time. That’s just two-tenths lost each session, which was key into keeping Trevor at the front all day.”
The young Jack von Quilich has shown the grit and determination that you find in veteran karts. After a serious wreck at the SKUSA Pro Tour SpringNationals, he was back behind the wheel the next session and for the remainder of the weekend. His hard work and education from LEM’s Greg Bell has equated into his first victory in TaG Cadet. JVQ working one on one with his father paid off with no distractions qualified on the pole position as he posted a fast lap four tenths quicker then the next competitors showing the horsepower and chassis potential with a determined driver. After a hard-fought battle in heat one, Jack finished third but rebounded to win the second heat by nearly two seconds. His LEM-prepared Intrepid kept the speed through the main event as he drove to a staggering five-second victory for his first win of the season. The win and JVQ’s consistency in the first half of the series puts him into the championship chase.
 | Trevor McAlister earned his second straight victory in the S4 class aboard his LEM Praga kart
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
“We would like to think we have made a difference in Jacks program. He has been improving each and every time we hit the track,” continued Bell during his trip to South Bend, Indiana. “Jack’s hard work finally paid off with his first win of the season. I see plenty of more in the future for this young kid.”
The TaG package developed by Leading Edge Motorsports continues to prove as one of the fastest in the country. TaG Master driver Randy Froom earned his third pole position in four series events with a lap of 47.392 seconds aboard his LEM Intrepid. After winning the opening heat race, Froom was removed from the results for a loose bumper. He bounced back with the fast lap in heat two, driving up to third until a mechanical his carburetor swivel broke, putting him back to sixth after starting 12th. The 20-lap feature was a race-long battle for the third step on the podium with Froom getting edge out at the finish line by just eight-thousandths of a second, a simple transponder placement win. The fourth place finish was his best main event result thus far in the series. He will win once the gremlins go away.
Veteran racer Jess Peterson made great strides on the weekend in his move to the Praga kart. After qualifying outside the top-10, Peterson worked his way forward in the heat races. Starting just outside the top-five for the main event, his progression continued early as he was up to fourth at one point running with the leaders until an overzealous driver got under him with a low-percentage passing attempt. Peterson eventually finished eighth after 20 laps to record his best finish of the season. TaG Junior driver Taylor Jacobs was working on recording a his best California PKC result of the season as he battled inside the top-five all day. Running fifth in the main event, Jacobs was sidelined as the heat and track conditions affected the engine’s performance.
“Overall, the weekend was a great success. We gained two victories, Froom once again showed he was among the quickest in the TaG Master ranks. Jess is making great strides in his transition to the Praga kart and Taylor will bounce back from this weekend, no doubt. Our engine performance continues to show the Leading Edge Power is among the best in engine service for all TaG and Stock Moto packages. The upcoming weekends are looking bright as the Leading Edge Motorsports 2012 season continues.”
 | TaG Cadet driver Jack von Quilich piloted his LEM Intrepid to his first series win
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
The Leading Edge Motorsports is on the road this week as the operation is in Indiana at the Michiana Raceway Park in South Bend for the JET Karting Rotax Shootout, a warm-up event for this year’s United States Rotax Grand Nationals set for August. After returning back to California, LEM will then prepare for a trip to Tooele, Utah to contest the SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals set for July 20-22 at the Miller Motorsports Park. To learn how you can be a part of the growing operation that is Leading Edge Motorsports and working with veteran Greg Bell, contact Bell directly at 209.369.0921 or e-mail leadingedgeguy@sbcglobal.net and be sure to visit http://www.leadingedgemotorsports.com
About Leading Edge Motorsports:
Since 1995, Greg Bell and his Leading Edge Motorsports outfit have provided the foundation for a number of the sport’s champions. Based in Lodi, California, Leading Edge Motorsports is a full-service kart shop providing the best equipment for all levels of the sport. As an Intrepid dealer, LEM is available to support Northern California customers of the brand. The combination of LEM, Bell and driver Brett Felkins scored the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour TaG Senior championship in 2011. LEM was recognized as the national Team of the Year by eKartingNews.com in 2001, and in 2006 along Champion Racing. Bell added a Mechanic of the Year award that same season. From arrive-and-drive programs and kart preparation to driver coaching and parts supply to get you on the track, Leading Edge Motorsports is the answer to the question of success. Winning never gets old. |
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