Jan 30, 2023

In late August of last year, I realized that time was ticking away for me to confirm a team to race with at the 2022 Cup Karts North America Grand Nationals at New Castle Motorsports Park, one of my favorite events of the year. Disappointingly, I’d missed the event in 2020 and 2021 due to […]

Sep 27, 2022

It’s been two years since the EKN duo of Rob Howden and David Cole hit the track at the same event, stepping away from the microphone and their laptops to get back behind the wheel. That was the 2020 USAC Karting Battle at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This weekend, again in the […]

Jan 02, 2020

With a new season of Margay Ignite events ready to launch for 2020 – both Ignite Majors and Ignite Challenge races – the timing is perfect for our Editor-in-Chief Rob Howden to detail his first opportunity to compete in an Ignite event. Rob participated in the USAC Karting Battle at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis […]

Nov 06, 2019

In early July, the EKN crew of Rob Howden and David Cole were offered the opportunity to join the Comet Kart Sales team to compete in the USAC Karting Battle at the Brickyard.  In this two-part series, Rob and David will detail their experiences with the American-made Comet Eagle chassis at one of the coolest […]

Oct 25, 2019

With a regularly packed schedule of over 25+ races on my annual travel calendar, I will normally jump at any chance to strap on the helmet and compete. Sadly, I didn’t get an opportunity to drive in a single kart race in 2018, and it was the first year since I started karting in 1995 […]

Nov 30, 2018

There is no other event like it in North America, or around the world. It’s the Rock Island Grand Prix. The Labor Day weekend street race brings karters to the Quad Cities area and Rock Island, which is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, to compete for two days around the city’s Arts […]

Dec 06, 2017

Each Labor Day weekend, the city of Rock Island, Illinois turns into karting mecca. The Rock Island Grand Prix – a volunteer-based event and organization – welcomes racers from all over the country and select countries from around the world, all arriving for the chance to compete on the city streets in a two-day karting […]

Oct 23, 2017

The sport of karting in North America is in a very positive place right now. The #OperationGrassroots movement continues to grow, strengthening the base of the pyramid by helping to re-establish the fun, fair, and exciting racing that we have grown to love and even form lifestyles around. This movement has caught the attention of […]

Mar 15, 2017

One of our goals for the 2017 season is to get the EKN staff back behind the wheel more often. Karting is not just our profession, but the sport we love. For me, karting has been a passion since my early days, as I was born into the sport as a second generation driver. My […]

Feb 15, 2017

It’s not uncommon for the EKN office to receive invitations to drive karts in club and regional events, and trust me, if we had the time and an unlimited travel budget, I’m sure that David and I would accept every offer. There are some tracks and clubs that we’d love to cross off the bucket […]

Dec 15, 2016

When you get kicked off the horse, you jump back on. That’s exactly what I did this past Labor Day weekend, having endured a disappointing 2015 edition of the Rock Island Grand Prix. Last year, thanks to all the hard work and effort by the crew at Margay Racing, I was able to start all […]

Dec 11, 2015

For the eKartingNews.com staff, the 2015 season is about getting back behind the wheel. Racers at heart, our goal is to work with teams and chassis importers that offer the best products and services here in North America, all while sampling some of the best facilities that karting has to offer. This will be an […]

Oct 23, 2015

For the eKartingNews.com staff, the 2015 season is about getting back behind the wheel. Racers at heart, our goal is to work with teams and chassis importers that offer the best products and services here in North America, all while sampling some of the best facilities that karting has to offer. This will be an […]

Sep 14, 2015

For the eKartingNews.com staff, the 2015 season is about getting back behind the wheel. Racers at heart, our goal is to work with teams and chassis importers that offer the best products and services here in North America, all while sampling some of the best facilities that karting has to offer. This will be an […]

Jul 03, 2015

If there’s an area of excitement in regards to the potential growth of our sport in North America, it’s the recent development of new tracks all over the continent.  We now have an excellent facility in Mooresville, NC, right in the heart of NASCAR country, a new club-owned track in Calgary, Alberta, and the ground […]

Jun 02, 2015

For the eKartingNews.com staff, the 2015 season is about getting back behind the wheel. Racers at heart, our goal is to work with teams and chassis importers that offer the best products and services here in North America, all while sampling some of the best facilities that karting has to offer. This will be an […]

May 21, 2015

In the wake of exciting news regarding the changes planned this year’s edition of the Rock Island Grand Prix, and as we discuss our plans for EKN Live coverage of the great annual event, I’m brought back to last September and what was one of my most enjoyable trips to the Quad Cities. As a […]

Sep 23, 2013

One of the perks that we enjoy through managing the ‘Internet hub’ for the sport is our many connections within the industry. Karting is filled with many passionate enthusiasts, and there are many great events figures which we are thrilled to be associated. The Rock Island Grand Prix exemplifies that status, as the all-volunteer crew […]