SoCal karting will be pushed into high gear this weekend as the kickoff for the 2013 Los Angeles Karting Championship season takes center stage. The program begins its 27th year on Sunday and will once again make its home at the CalSpeed Karting track, which is located outside of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The club is expecting well over 180 entries for the first of nine event dates, running in a total of 19 classes. The large grids will be filled with top talent, and this year, the racers will be vying for exciting purse money, great prizes, and lucrative entries into major events. Once again, the LAKC will be the place to race in SoCal this season.

In 2013, the LAKC is stepping up in a big way to reward its members more than ever before. Over the course of the 2013 season, cash and prizes totaling almost $12,000 will be up for grabs, with $1,700 available each race weekend. During each event, one of the four PRD classes will be randomly selected to race for a $350 cash purse. First place in the lucky PRD class will receive $125, second place $100, third place will earn $75 and the fourth place finisher will receive $50. Race tires will also be awarded to a pair of lucky racers at the morning drivers’ meetings. One set of MG tires will be raffled to a pre-registered driver from one of the SKUSA-spec classes (TaG, TaG Cadet, S2, S4 or S4 Magnum) each weekend, while Bridgestone tires will be available for those running in the IKF-based classes, further giving back to the LAKC members. And, in the 125 Open Shifter class, rather than trophies, competitors will be racing for cash prizes during each and every one of the nine races this season. A total of $200 will go to the winner, $100 to second place, and a free entry for the third place driver.

A total of $3,000 in cash will be doled out this coming season as part of the LAKC Team Championship. Series sponsors, kart shops and privateer teams are eligible for the competition, which should heat things up throughout the season. The squads are selected at the beginning of the year – teams of four competitors who can be chosen from throughout the class line-up. Driver changes will be allowed following the fifth event, with some stipulations. The final point totals from the top three drivers on the team will count in the championship. The winning team at the end of the season will receive a cash payout of $1,500, second place will earn $1,000 and the third best team will leave with $500. In 2012, 2Wild Karting scored the prestigious championship and will be returning to defend their title amongst what at this time is an expected total of 12 four-driver teams.

The LAKC Board of Directors worked diligently through the off-season to build relationships within the sport and develop new programs to further improve on the member experience, as the new year should certainly bear fruit from these interactions. The LAKC will be working closely with Superkarts! USA this season as part of its focus in improved partnerships, and will be running the Stock Moto and TaG classes using the SKUSA rulebook. The series has come inline with the California-based organization in terms of the class names of their shifter and TaG categories. As part of this new working relationship, SKUSA has offered free entry to the 2013 SuperNationals to the S4 series champion.

Vortex has also stepped up for SoCal karters in 2013. The 2013 LAKC TaG Cadet champion will earn free entry to the 2013 SuperNationals, along with tires and fuel at no expense, thanks to Vortex. In addition, this driver will be invited to compete in the Rok Cup International Final in South Garda, Italy. This program includes the race entry and pit spot, chassis, motor and tires, as well as accommodation and transportation. Only airfare needs to be covered by the winner. The TaG Cadet class has gained a great deal of momentum in the state and a strong field of young pilots is expected this weekend, and throughout the entire schedule.

The LAKC will be offering 19 classes this season. The categories provide a place for all ages of competitors, running from Kid Kart to S4 Master Stock Moto. The LAKC offers a variety of TaG racing classes, from the SKUSA-sanctioned TaG classes that include the increasingly popular TaG Cadet group to the four pure PRD classes, as well as a Rotax spec class. SKUSA’s S2, S4, and S4 Magnum classes will be highly contested each weekend, and when run alongside the 125 Open Shifter class, the gear bangers of the LAKC are going to have more than their fair share of fun on the track each weekend. Classes for Comer and KPV are also on the docket. For complete class information, head to the series website – http://www.lakc.org .

Last season, the LAKC featured closely contested championships in nearly all of the classes. This is expected to remain the case as a majority of the champions from last year will be returning to kick off their 2013 campaign, either ready to defend their title or step up in class to challenge to competition. Lloyd Mack took the top spot in the RLV-sponsored PRD Senior class last year with almost a 100-point cushion over Brandon Reed and he will be returning to defend his title. In contrast, neither Dylan Stalker (PSLSOCAL.com Rotax Senior champion) nor Jeff Dyer (2012 TaG Senior champion) will be returning to fight to retain their titles in 2013. Stalker will be working as the LAKC’s lead corner worker, and Dyer is reported to be racing a sprint car this year. This will blow things wide-open in two of the more popular classes in the paddock.

The bad news for drivers in the 2Wild Karting S2 class and the MRC S4 class is that the father/son team of Billy and Willy Musgrave will be back on the track to defend their individual titles from 2012. Willy returns to defend the S4 title, while son Billy comes back to Fontana as not only the LAKC S2 champ, but as the 2012 SuperNats S2 champion as well.

The competition this coming Sunday is sure to be typical of the high caliber racing enjoyed in the SoCal region. At a top-notch facility like CalSpeed, the racing will be close, intense and fun to both watch and be apart of. The LAKC will crank out its share of big names this season, as well as provide some of the best kart racing in the California region. With the amount of payback to the racers, the LAKC is going above and beyond in taking care of its racers and members. The series expects to see high entries all year.

Gates open on Sunday morning at 6:00 am followed by a drivers meeting at 7:30 am. Qualifying will get underway at 10:30 am and the finals are expected to roll off at 2:00 pm. After seeing the LAKC produce a first time SKUSA SuperNationals champion in 2012, it will be very exciting to see what comes out of Fontana this season.

For more information regarding the Los Angles Karting Championship head to http://www.lakc.org

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