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| December 20, 2012 News |
| EKN Exclusive: The Young Guns of the Karting Industry - Part 4 |
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We’d like to take this opportunity to offer up a new segment of the eKartingNews.com editorial arsenal - ‘The Young Guns of the Karting Industry’ – where we take the opportunity to profile energetic and dedicated members of the sport’s business community. This article series will be focused on profiling some of the younger industry players who are now making a big impact on the sport. Karting is lucky to have the experience and knowledge of many industry veterans, but we are also extremely fortunate to be seeing a new generation of experts building a foundation on supplying service and support to racers all over the country.
Over time, EKN will select a trio of ‘young guns’ to profile, members of the industry who are building solid reputations and will be trackside for years to come.
 | | Brian Fisher |
Brian Fisher (DRT Racing): One name that grabbed a lot of attention this year at the SKUSA SuperNationals was road racing veteran Brian Fisher. The Virginia native now living in Tennessee caught the interest of the S4 field when he qualified just two-thousandths off the pole position, and battle for the victory on SuperSunday in just his first sprint race since last year’s SuperNats. The lead engineer at DRT Racing is heading up the goal of developing a strong customer base and dealer network for the DR Kart brand here in the United States, and his performance have a lot of racers looking at the chassis, and his Fisher Racing Engines program.
Fisher was introduced to the sport through his father, a racer at the Woodbridge Kart Club. He began racing himself in 1994 in the laydown Junior categories at the road racing club events. Moving into the Senior ranks, Fisher stuck with the laydown kart and scored a number of victories and championships in Yamaha and Controlled competition. Some of his biggest accomplishments during that time were winning at the WKA Daytona KartWeek against some big names, including Fulks, Freber, Baldus, and many others).
During that time, he began developing his own engine program. Starting with the Yamaha KT100, he expanded to most 100cc engines and established Fisher Racing Engines. He stopped working within the karting industry for about three years, returning in 2005 by adding 125cc shifterkart motors. Building a strong customer base once again along the east coast, he’s also moved on to the TaG engines, including Rotax. He’s always developing and looking to make gains in his engine program as he eat, sleeps and breaths horsepower.
Aside from his Fisher Racing Engines program, Brian worked with the Righetti Ridolfi importer for a time before teaming up with DRT Racing. He met owner Don Guilbeault as most road racing connections happen, helping out one another. Don was about to restart his race when he discovered a bent axle. Brian noticed and ran over with tools to straighten it out in time for him to restart. The friendship continued to evolve and both now have combined, with the goal of taking DRT Racing to the next level. They are looking forward to a promising 2013 season with a number of new DR Kart dealers signing on in the coming weeks, along with continued support from Danilo Rossi and the factory.
 | | Jesus Vasquez |
Jesus Vasquez (P1 Engines): From the west coast to the east coast, P1 Engines is a name you can find on the side of many engines at the club, regional and national level. Jesus Vasquez has created from the ground up a successful engine service company for the karting industry, focused on high-quality work and exceptionally customer service. 2012 was another successful year for P1 Engines and its clients, combining for 23 wins on the SKUSA Pro Tour and WKA Manufacturers Cup Series including six series championships. P1 Engines helped power drivers to three IKF 2-Cycle Grand National victories, a win at the Rock Island Grand Prix along with multiple regional and club championships across the country.
At the age of 15, Vasquez began working at the Adams Kart Track (now Adams Motorsports Park) in Riverside, California. He worked with the facility’s karting school and helped everywhere else around the track. In 2003, Jesus went to work for Position One Motorsports as a personal driver coach, engine builder and tuner for Luis Martinez Jr. During that time, Vasquez developed the ‘P1 Engines’ brand as they expanded the engine program to drivers within the California region. P1 Engines continued to find success and expanded across the country very quickly. Jesus took over the ownership of the brand, forming his own company and becoming one of the leading engine service centers in the United States.
P1 Engines is focused around two-cycle single-speed type engines, ranging from the Cadet level, 100cc engines, and TaG/PRD power plants. Vasquez follows the same procedure for each and every engine that hits his workbench, each done personally by him to ensure the highest quality control you can have in the industry. P1 Engines has moved into a new and bigger shop recently, adding two employees to assist in work around the shop and taking care of the office needs. Vazquez also purchased a new trailer to haul around to SKUSA Pro Tour and other events on the season to provide even more trackside support for customers, include more tooling and engine supplies. A busy schedule is on the horizon for P1 Engines in 2013, attending WKA, IKF, SKUSA Pro Tour and numerous regional events on the year.
 | | Jason Berry |
Jason Berry (SwedeTech Racing Engines): A familiar voice and face you hear and see at the SwedeTech shop and across the country at major events is Jason Berry. The NorCal native has been with SwedeTech first as a customer, and a strong relationship was formed between him and owner Reine Persson. Certainly one of the most passionate personalities in the paddock, Berry demonstrates his love for the sport every day. His passion helped convince Persson into bringing Berry in to work with the company, as it continues to hold on as one of the leading engine service shops in the industry.
Berry got his start in the sport back in 1995 at the Blue Max Kart Club in Davis, California after purchasing a Trackmagic with a Yamaha KT100. He progressed up the ranks, with 2001 his best season of racing. He was awarded the Kinsmen Kart Club ‘2001 Most Improved Driver’, and also finished second at the SKUSA SuperNationals in the S2 category (125 Amateur) aboard an MBA with SwedeTech power. His career within the karting industry was groomed at the KLS Racing operation, one of the top programs in the country during its time. Berry was there when the organization captured many wins and titles with drivers such as Alex Speed, Scott Speed, Gary Carlton, Brett Buckwatler and AJ Allmendinger. When they moved, Berry parted ways and began looking for work outside the karting industry. Unhappy with where he was, he turned to SwedeTech for a return in the sport. While he attempted at doing some engine work, his skills at the front desk has helped to grow a strong customer service program for the many clients utilizing SwedeTech power and parts.
Jason is typically the first person you talk to on the phone when you call SwedeTech, offering tech support and processing all of the orders. He also assists with trackside support, which is his favorite aspect of being part of the SwedeTech family. This off season, Berry and SwedeTech are looking to revamp their online presence, both with the company website and the shopswedetech.com site. Their new site will offer tech videos, printable tech material, and a seamless online shopping experience with deep descriptions of their product lines. |
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