Club News - 2003
Dec 26
We've got the Member Survey that everyone filled out at the Awards Banquet tallied and posted. Check out the results here.
Dec 24
STOLEN KART: 2001 Energy 4-cycle (blue) chassis. When stolen the morning of Dec 24, '03 kart had black CMS nose, stock Energy wheels on front, Dougles wheels on rear, white weights carrying #7, Alfano data system and Briggs Stock motor. Motor distinct by "Bubba" written in Magic Marker on the front of crankcase and "D95" stamped into block. Tips as to this kart's whereabouts should be directed to the Pickaway County Sheriff's office at 740-474-2176 and/or Bob Strawser at 740-474-7330.

Dec 21

MSOKC has reached an agreement with the U.S. importer of Vega Tires to be the 2004 Series sponsor and spec tire supplier for all classes. In addition to supplying members with our new spec tire - the Vega SL5 "Blue" - at a special discount, $2000 in merchandise will be contributed to the 2004 awards banquet.

Either Dunlop SL4s or Vega SL5 Blues will be permitted for the first three MSOKC races of the season to ease the transition. Beginning with the fourth race (May 30th) only Vega Tires will be legal for earning championship points. As always, racers will be allowed to race any tire brand and compound but championship points will be awarded only to racers on the spec'd Vega SL5 "Blues" for race #4 through #13.

Pricing and ordering procedures will be announced soon.
Dec 13
From the better late than never category: Former MSOKC karter Jonathan Dick won the SCCA Formula 500 National Championship in the Valvoline Runoffs at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course back in September. Jonathan placed second in the 2000 MSOKC Briggs Medium Championship. The race was recently televised on the Speed Channel and will be aired (cabled?) again during the Speed Channel Run-offs Marathon on Christmas. Dad and mechanic Ron says SCCA's F500 class is a great way for karters to transition from karts to cars. Belated congratulations to Jonathan and Ron!
 
Still no word on when the "Bo & Joe Show" will air on MTV. Last we heard, the segment about Strawser and Fagan for the new "Intense Rivalries" program was set to be the series pilot but that production and scheduling challenges have pushed the debut back repeatedly. We'll let you know as soon as we do.
Dec 08
Election results are in: The 2004 MSOKC Board of Directors are (listed in alphabetical order): Jim Conlin, Eric Fagan, Tom Hickey, Beth Hopkins, Mike Long, Bo Strawser, Bob Strawser, Steve Tatman, Mike Unger, Mike Yoerger, Roberto Zayas. Alternates are: , Mike Dolby, Keith Hume, Eric McQuate and Matt Fetter.
Our mystery photo has received a few suggestions but we could use more. Check it out and sent in your idea.
Dec 02
2003 Junior Sportman Adam Roberts is our profiled driver for this month.
Well, it's happened again. A strange karting picture has found its way into the MSOKC image files and we need help finding a caption. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Nov 27
Special thanks go out to Erin Dillon for heading up the 2003 Awards Banquet project. It is easy to underestimate the amount of work required to pull off an event of this size and complexity. From deciding on the place setting gift to contacting all the sponsors, from coordinating the catering service to preparing the PowerPoint presentation, her efforts were monumental. Assisting Erin were Beth Hopkins and Sara Long as well as Dana and Julie Conlin. Also a huge thank you goes out to Mike Long who was able to arrange a last minute replacement projector for the original equipment that, although reserved, was not available as planned Saturday evening. Thank you all for a great celebration!
 
The proposed 2004 MSOKC TAG class rules can be downloaded in MS-Word format or Adobe PDF format for your review. Comments or suggestion on the proposed rules should be directed to Tom Hickey.
Nov 25
Over the off-season we'd like to compile a list of local publications to put on a press release mailing list. If you would like to see news about MSOKC in your local paper, send Jim the publication name, address and news submission email address.
 
Speaking of press releases, we could use a writer or two. Duties would include choosing a subject (kart racing in general, an MSOKC event, a MSOKC racer, etc.) and writing a one to two page double-spaced story and getting it to a designated Board member. We'll take care of distribution to local publications and the MSOKC website. You don't have to be a member and we'll give you full credit for your efforts. High school or college students interested in journalism are particularly encouraged to use this opportunity to gain experience and get published. If interested, email Jim.
Nov 23
Your 2003 MSOKC Champions and group photos are in place and ready for your review.
Hume Motorsports unveiled it's web site over the weekend. If you'd like your website listed on the MSOKC links page send the address and a brief description of the site to the webmaster.
Nov 19
For those of you whose dog ate their banquet information or otherwise lost it, address and map is available here.
Minutes from the November 13 Board of Director's meeting have been posted.
 
WKA will require 2-bar nerf bars on all karts next year. The double-high side bar configuration is intended to improve safety in side impacts. MSOKC will be deciding early next year whether to adopt this new configuration for 2004.
 
Tom Hickey is heading up the organization and promotion of MSOKC's TAG class. Contact Tom for details about racing your TAG package with us next year.
 
Contact Mike Unger if you're interested in news and info about the new Kid Kart class for next year.
Mark your calendars for more kart racing on TV. SpeedTV will be airing the Stars Of Tomorrow ICA & ICC in the upcoming weeks:

4:00pm - Sunday, November 23
5:00pm - Monday, November 24
4:00pm - Sunday, November 30
5:00pm - Monday, December 1
4:00pm - Sunday, December 7
5:00pm - Monday, December 8
12:00pm - Sunday December 28
Nov 13
Board of Directors minutes from the October 23 meeting are available.
Nov 09
The Driver Profile for November is on Justin Gearhart, youngest of the Gearhart Motorsports drivers who will be moving up to Senior Briggs Stock Medium for 2004.
Nov 06
We need help coming up with a caption for a karting racing photo. Click here to see if you can help us out.
Nov 04
If you currently have a Driver Profile on the Racer Bios page and feel it needs updating, email Jim with those changes or submit a whole new form if you prefer. If you're not on our Racer Bio page, download the form in either MS-Word or Adobe PDF format here. We're running low for the off season.
 
There will be a Board of Directors meeting Thursday, November 13th at 7:00pm at INFONETICS in Grove City. For directions and map, click here. The meeting is open to everyone.
Oct 30
Late breaking news!!! The repaving equipment hit our track this morning (Thursday, October 30), putting down a complete smooth surface on CRP that will cure over the winter and be ready for hard racing next spring. For those of you that must see to believe, pics are available here.
There are only a few days left to get your reservations in for the 2003 Awards Banquet. Erin Dillon and Beth Hopkins have been working hard to bring you a banquet that will top last year's (as if that's possible). You be sorry if you let this last chance to visit with your racing friends in 2003 slip away. Over 60 racers already have reservations.

Erin MUST HAVE (operative word: MUST) a final count by Sunday, November 2nd. So if your check is in the mail or will be this weekend, it is IMPERATIVE you email Erin at Jdillon6@columbus.rr.com to let her know your intentions by Saturday.

If you need another copy of the registration form, you can click or download one here but email Erin now.
The tentative 2004 schedule has been announced. You will find a significant number of Saturday evening races during the summer months. By racing in the evening rather than during the greatest heat of the day we will not only be increasing the comfort level of our drivers but will also be preserving the new CRP asphalt.
 
Julie Conlin will be stepping down as points chair at the end of 2003. She feels that a full schedule of work, school and preparing for college will not allow her to perform her duties as she would like. If you have a working knowledge of MS-Excel or other number-crunching programs or methods, let one of the Board members know. If you'd like to get an idea of what the position involves, contact Julie at julie@conlinss.com.
Oct 23
Remember the MSOKC (un)Classifieds for that equipment you won't be needing next year. They're free and they market to a local customer base.
 
The Awards Banquet registration form needs to be returned to Erin Dillon by November 1st. If you've lost or never received your paper announcement/registration form download and print either a MS-Word version or an HTML version. The banquet is a party for all our racers, not just our champs. You will be missed if you aren't there.
 
The following members have been nominated by their peers for the 2004 MSOKC Board of Directors: Jim Conlin, Mike Dolby, Eric Fagan, Matt Fetter, Tom Hickey, Beth Hopkins, Keith Hume, Roy Hume, Mike Long, Eric McQuate, Bo Strawser, Bob Strawser, Steve Tatman, Mike Unger, Mike Yoerger and Roberto Zayas. Of these, eleven will be elected by your ballot collected at the Awards Banquet.
The profiled driver for October is Jenna Gearhart, fifth in the 2003 Briggs Medium Championship.
 
WKA has announced that the Discovery Channel will be doing a documentary on karting next year. The press release can be found at http://www.worldkarting.com/news/10-2003/discovery.html.
Oct 16
Here they are - final points for 2003. Congrats to all our champions! Check them out along with all our other racers. Especially Bob Strawser and Dennis Picklesimer whose Briggs Super Heavy title was decided by only two points. Great job to everyone that turned a wheel with us this year. We're glad you came to race with us.
 
There will be a Board of Directors meeting Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00pm at INFONETICS in Grove City. For directions and map, click here. The meeting is open to everyone.
 
Mike Unger is looking for YOUR suggestions for upcoming National Kart News articles. Do you have a tech related subject you'd like to see explored in NKN? If so, email Mike at abbey1@bright.net and let him know.
 
The 2003 MSOKC Awards Banquet will be held again at Gala Events in Grove City on November 22nd. Your invitation should have arrived in your mail. Please see that your reservation and payment is back to Erin Dillon by November 1. There will be no tickets available at the door. Remember, everyone's invited and no one leaves empty handed so come on out, celebrate our champions, do some bench racing and get yourself some door prizes. If you haven't received your registration form check back here soon for a downloadable copy to fill out and send in.
 
Your esteemed webmaster suffered data loss if some consequence during a botched migration to a new laptop computer and narrowly avoided what would have been an ugly and highly publicized episode of workplace violence. The people responsible are still alive, the webmaster is not in jail and most of the back-up systems worked as planned. However, email to the webmaster sent between October 1st and October 13 should probably be set again, especially if an expected reply was never received or if your (un)classified ad was never posted.
 
If you are not on the MSOKC email list to receive news and notification of club events and topics, email Jim Conlin to have your email address added.
Sept 30
Points through Race #12 have been posted. With only two races to go Julie has calculated the points with the third dropped race included. This should give everyone a better idea of their place in the point standings with regards to the final adjustments. Your dropped (worst) races are indicated in yellow.
www.chrisputman.com
Anyone wishing to purchase glossy photos of the pictures taken by Chris Putman on September 21 can contact him directly via his email: chris@chrisputman.com.

Sept 28
www.chrisputman.com
New karting enthusiast and professional photographer Chris Putman has posted some awesome shots of our racers from the 9/21 race. Check them out at his website. Chris has put together a Yamaha Can kart that he hopes to race next season after some practice and testing.
Holy Smokes! We almost forgot to post our September Driver Profile. This month is Briggs Stock Medium driver Jacob Gearhart.
Sept 17
If you haven't already, mark Saturday, November 22nd on your calendars for the 2003 MSOKC Awards Banquet. Trophies and other awards will be presented to our top performers but remember, no one leaves empty handed as door prizes and table give-aways will punctuate the evening's festivities. With a 6:00pm start time, you should be able to watch the Buckeyes mash Michigan into the ground and still have time to spruce yourself up and get to Gala Events Southwest in Grove City in time for socializing, dinner and award presentation. Still a bargin at only $25 per person. Forms will be mailed out October 1st and will have to be returned by November 1st. Racers, family, friends, workers, spectators - everyone is encouraged to come out and celebrate with our Champions.
 
There will be a MSOKC Board of Directors meeting Sunday at 7:30am at the CRP offices.
Sept 15
We got the points from Race 11 posted.
The rest of our schedule will remain unchanged. The conflict at CRP October 5 has been resolved and Race #13 will not have to be moved.
 
We will have our second enduro of the year Saturday, October 11.

1. Race will be 60 minutes in duration and will start at noon.
2. Three classes will be offered: 2 cycle (including shifters & TAGs), Senior Briggs and Junior Briggs.
3. There will be a minimum of one driver change per team.
4. All pit stops will be of a minimum of three minutes in the interest of safety - allowing safe driver changes, careful refueling for the Briggs and sensible driving in the pit lane.
5. Each team must provide Official Scoring (Beth) with a person to help with scoring.
6. Tires are unspec'd.
7. Entry fee is $40 per team. The race will not award MSOKC championship points but will award prizes for top finishers in each class.

Additional rules, weight minimums and conditions for the enduro will be announced at Sept 21 and October 5 drivers meetings as well as on this page in upcoming weeks.
Steve Tatman reports that repaving equipment and workers are scheduled to arrive at CRP October 17th. The track will be closed until sometime in March to allow the asphalt to cure completely.
As the season winds down, remember the MSOKC (un)Classified ads for selling what you won't need for next year and buying what you will.
 
The club's display back in June at the Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic got some press in National Kart News. Thanks to Mike Unger for getting the photo and story in the September issue (page 31).
August 30
Points here! Points through Race 10! Get 'em while they're hot.
 
From the FYI departemnt: So far this year we've had 123 Ohio karters race with us in 13 different classes.

August 26
August 24 BoD meeting minutes are up.
 
Jack Rollins has been re-working CRP's electrical system and lighting, fixing some of the inadequacies of the prior system. If we need lights September 6th, they'll be working good due to Jack's efforts.
 
The October 5th race may be moved to Saturday, October 11 to allow CRP to host a pro motocross event. Please watch for news and keep your schedules flexible.
 
The next Board of Directors meeting will be held Saturday morning, September 6 at 11:30 in the CRP office.
August 20
Points through Race #9.

August 19
MSOKC Starter and Briggs Super Heavy driver Bob Strawser is our featured driver for August. Click here for Bob's driver profile.
Nomination forms for the 2004 Board of Directors will be available at the concession stand window and members are encouraged to nominate themselves or other members to the BoD. MSOKC is your kart club and the future of karting in central Ohio depends on your input.
 
Future Board of Directors meetings will be held race mornings at 7:30 in the CRP office.
Minutes from the August 17 Board of Directors meeting have been posted.
July 30
New photos from the July 13th race by Rollins Kart Racing are up!
New photos from the July 13th race by Rick Pratt are up!
Points through Race 8 (July 27th) have been posted. Apologies from your webmaster for not getting Race 7 points posted. (Pointskeeper Julie Conlin had all but the protested classes done but I didn't have time to get them posted.)
 
SpeedTV's Dave Despain recently voiced his opinions regarding what karting should be. Some very interesting thoughts and ideas. 2002 Banquet sponsor TSRacing.com has a copy posted on their website. Check it out.
Minutes from the July 27 Board of Directors meeting have been posted.
 
Several rule changes/clarifications were made at the last Board of Directors meeting July 27th:
  • Beginning with the August 17, 2003 race, all competitors will be allowed to restart after the green flag with assistance from track workers or crew but that the racer will be held at the place they stopped until the last kart on the lead lap goes past.
  • The club has procedures for handling competitor grievances with officials' decisions. Competitors should make themselves familiar with protest procedures as found in the MSOKC General Competition Rules (which are posted and can be downloaded at www.msokc.org). Future protests will be held to these procedures so as to not drag on for two weeks, delaying points and official results. Further, WKA rules provide an appeal structure for MSOKC competitors that do not agree with MSOKC official decision on protests.
  • Beginning with the August 17 2003 race a Kid Kart class will be offered as an exhibition race between heat rounds with the intention to offer it as a racing class in 2004. The Board asked that Mike Unger be the organizer and general cheerleader for the class.
July 15
Alliance Atlantic films has finally announced a release date of September 26th for their karting based movie, Kart Racer, starring Randy Quaid. MSOKC hopes to do promotional tie-ins with Central Ohio theaters to gain exposure for the club and karting in general. Look here for more info as the release date draws near.
Mike Unger has supplied us with a wealth of photos from the July 5th sprint race and the July 6th enduro.
 
Points from Race 7 (July 13) will be delayed while final results in Rookie Box, Jr Sportsman and Spec 100 are determined by the BoD.
July 09
Race 6 results have been added to the points and have been posted! Kart numbers have been added beside drivers' names.
Nine teams entered the MSOKC non-points enduro last Sunday. Five 2-cycle teams and 4 Briggs teams raced for an hour straight with driver change and pit strategy determining the outcome more than outright speed. Congratulations to Bo Strawser and Eric Fagan for their victory in the 4-cycle class and Sean and Mike Dillon for winning the 2-cycle class.

Everyone involved enjoyed the event so well there is discussions going on about doing another one in the fall. Action pics can be viewed here.
Super Can driver Mike Boyd is our featured driver for July. Click here for Mike's driver profile.
July 02
Points through Race 5 are posted!
 
Our club was out at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course over the weekend with several karts on display in the infield. The track was hosting a round of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and made special accommodations for Mid State Ohio Kart Club to promote our club and series.

We distributed over 300 karting brochures to people that expressed an interest and talked with about two-thirds of those. National Kart News supplied us with about 200 magazines 170 of which were gone by Sunday afternoon. Over the three day weekend we had close to 50 potential karters sign up to be on the MSOKC email list. Many thanks to Mike Boyd, Mike Unger and Conlin SpeedSports for helping out.
June 25
The cool "Real Racing" animated graphic on our main page is courtesy of DBImages.
 
Our next race, on July 5, will be a Saturday afternoon race. Gates will open at 12:00 with races starting at 3:00, after practice.

Sunday, July 6 will be a non-points fun 1 hour enduro and a Powder Puff race. The 2003 MSOKC Team Challenge will run under the following rules:

1. Race will be 60 minutes in duration and will start at noon.
2. Three classes will be offered: 2 cycle (including shifters & TAGs), Senior Briggs (all weights) and Junior Briggs.
3. Minimum weights for each class will be the minimum for the lightest class eligible for that class - i.e., 2-cycle minimum weight will be 340lbs as used for Spec 100 & HPV.
4. There will be a minimum of one driver change per team.
5. All pit stops will be of a minimum of three minutes in the interest of safety - allowing safe driver changes, careful refueling for the Briggs and sensible driving in the pit lane.
6. Each team must provide Official Scoring (Beth) with a person to help with scoring.
7. Tires are unspec'd.
8. Entry fee is $40 per team. The race will not award MSOKC championship points but will award prizes for top finishers in each class.

Additional rules and conditions for the enduro will be announced at the Saturday and Sunday drivers' meetings.

The Powder Puff will follow the enduro and is open to all moms, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, aunts, nieces,etc., that are not regular kart racers. Entry is free.
June 17
MSOKC will have a new member recruitment booth set up in the Manufacturer's Midway at the upcoming Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic June 27, 28 & 29. This will be a fantastic chance for us to let racing enthusiasts in the Central Ohio area know about our club and get their racing careers started. We will have several karts on display, brochures, info sign-up sheets and other info. But we will need as many club members as we can to help us talk with prospective racers about what karting is all about and how they can get involved.

Call (614-354-3016) or write Jim Conlin for details and if you can help staff the booth any for the above days.
June 12
The FM transmitter is up and working at Circleville Raceway Park. Racers and crew can find "WCRP" on 103.4 FM when at the track to listen to race day announcements and on-track action.
June 8
Rookie Box entrants must have their engines tech'd and sealed before MSOKC Race 5 on June 22. Contact Mike Dillon at 614-539-9268 or Bob Strawser at 740-474-7330.
Junior Sportsman points through Race 4 have been revised.
June 5
Race 4 points have been posted. The new totals reflect the adjustment to Super Can Heavy, the result of a June 1 meeting between participants and MSOKC Board of Directors.
The June Driver Profile features Stivi Nechovski. If you haven't been featured yet, download the driver profile form and tell you fellow racers a little about yourself.
June 4
Circleville Raceway Park has ordered an FM transmitter that will be hooked to the PA system to allow racers to hear the announcements over any FM Radio. Hopefully it will be up and running by next race. Racers may wish to bring a small radio so they don't run their tow vehicle's battery dead.
 
Briggs Medium driver Jim Fisher has secured club sponsorship from Distinctive Truck Center which specializes in aftermarket truck accessories. They can be found on the web at www.reflexxion.com.
May 29
Points have been updated with a few corrections that have come to light after Race 2 on May 4.
May 21
Anyone who has either Saturday or Sunday open this week and would like to work for Circleville Raceway Park to help with the Great Lakes Sprint Series race this weekend please call Steve at 740-474-7697. CRP needs a scale person, corner workers and a couple of kids to paint engines.
May 20
A meeting of the Super Can Heavy drivers will be held June 1st at CRP (Race 4) before racing begins for the day.
 
Len Bailey will have his Parilla Leopard TAG (Touch And Go) kart at Circleville Raceway Park on Friday, May 30 for open practice. He invites all those interested in this class and motor to stop down and take a closer look and receive more information on it. He would also like to invite any club members that can fit in his seat to feel free to take a few laps in the kart to see first hand how this 125cc motor performs. Just look for the Blue Sodi Kart # 53.
May 17


Points through Race 2
The points through race two are finally posted. They were a bit of a challenge because OVKA scores differently than we do.

One of the differences is that OVKA scores all their drivers in the feature whether a driver takes to the track or not, reverting to heat race scores to determine probable finishing position. MSOKC, however, awards zero points if a driver does not take part in a race.

The OVKA score sheets do not therefore indicate which MSOKC drivers chose to leave early and not compete in the feature race. As a result, it is virtually impossible for us to determine which of our drivers do not deserve feature race points from the OKVA/MSOKC joint race on May 4.

We must then rely on the "honor system" for accurate points scoring. If you did not compete in the four lap feature race on May 4 at CRP and have been awarded points for Race 2, please contact Julie Conlin with the correction (and inform her of others that should not have been awarded points and we'll check into it).

Also, with this posting we are trying a new format in which in addition to the raw points total, we are providing a "Dropped Race" total that shows points and position assuming the drop of the worst race. We hope this will give a more accurate snapshot of the championship status in each of the classes.
May 14
Due to the draw of the WKA Road Racing event at Mid-Ohio, the J & J Racing Test & Tune day has been postponed. A June or July date which promises wider attendance will be posted here soon.
May 13
Minutes from the May 10 Board of Directors meeting have been posted.
May 12
Schedule Changes: Race 3, originally scheduled for May 18th with OVKA has been rescheduled for October 12 as an MSOKC only event. The venue for Race 12 on September 21 has been changed to Circleville Raceway Park.
 
Beginning June 1, MSOKC will be enforcing the new WKA rule on weight color. All added weights are to be painted white. We will also be requiring the kart's number to appear on each weight.
 
If you won a gift certificate for merchandise from one of our 2002 Awards Banquet sponsors and haven't used it yet, check the expirations date. Some of those certificates will be expiring at the end of June.
May 9
MSOKC's participation in the OVKA event at CRP on May 18 has been canceled. MSOKC racers who choose to race with OVKA will not earn points toward the MSOKC championship. A Board of Directors meeting over the weekend will address rescheduling this event as well as other scheduling issues.
May 7
Because scoring from Race 2 was done by OVKA and compiled differently than when we do our own points, it will take a little longer to get them posted to the web. We can tell by the hits to this site that you're looking for them and will get them prepared and posted ASAP. Check back here towards the end of the week. For those of you on the email update list, we'll send you an email as soon as they're up. Thanks for your patience.
Second year Briggs racer Marc Rice is featured in our Racer Bio section for May. Get to know Marc little better by checking out his Driver Profile.
Action shots from the April 13th race take by Rick Pratt are posted in the Action! section.
April 23
MSOKC Race 4 (June 1st) has been set as the date that New York based television network MTV will bring their production crews to Circleville to film a segment for "Intense Rivalries", a new weekly series. According to MTV spokesman, Mick McQuire, the half hour show will center around rivalries of participants of different action sports.

Steve Tatman, President of Circleville Raceway Park Inc., says the local filming will center around two racers, Bo Strawser from Stoutsville, Ohio and Joe Fagan of Columbus, Ohio who have been racing each other in karts for several years. Spectators are welcome. Gates open at 8:30 A.M. and racing gets underway at 11:30
 
MSOKC spec's Dunlop SL4 tires are available for sale to club members. They are priced great at 4.50-$30, 5.50-$35, 6.00-$38 & 7.10-$40. Pricing is per tire and inclusive of all shipping and other charges. Contact Steve Tatman at 740-474-7697 or at the track to purchase.
 
In a hastily called meeting of the Spec 100 and HPV drivers just before the April 13th race it was decided that the two classes would be run and scored separately for the 2003 season. Safety concerns and the large field (about 20 entries) were sited as the reason. Proponents for combining the classes are concerned about entry levels falling off for both classes as the racing season goes progresses.

Points through Race 1
April 17
MSOKC Pointskeeper Julie Conlin has posted points from Race 1!
J and J Raicng
April 14
J & J Racing will be holding a Test and Tune day at CRP all day on Friday, May 16. Biesse Kart drivers as well as all other kart drivers are invited to participate. Contact Jim Conlin for more information.
March
News
It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Roberta (Bert) Caudill, a longtime Tatman family friend who died Sunday, March 23rd at 3:00 am in St Anns Hospital in Westerville. She had a short, but valiant fight with cancer that overtook her at an extremely fast rate. She loved working at the concession stand at Circleville Raceway because, as she told Steve, she got to make friends with so many people. She will be sadly missed. Bert was 50 and leaves behind to daughters, Courtney who ran the pit gate 2 years ago, and Kylie, a computer designer for M/I Homes and her husband, Ron.
 
Len Bailey, who ran in Super Can Heavy last year, has sold his Yamaha equipment and has bought a Parilla 125cc Leopard TAG motor. Len is excited to get a TAG (Touch And Go) class going within MSOKC and is encouraging others interested in an MSOKC TAG class to contact him at 740 967-0096 or by email: darlen@netpluscom.com
 
Mike O'Chocke and Mike Unger will have their 125cc shifters at our first race on April 13th. Both are hoping that more 125 shifters and ICCs will come out to MSOKC races this year to make a good class. Mike Unger can be reached at abbey1@bright.net.
 
MSOKC will be following the new WKA regulations regarding weights added to karts to meet minimums. Weights are to be painted white for better visibility. MSOKC safety tech will be looking for safety wire, safety clips or double nuts on all weights.

MSOKC will continue to allow 2-cycle karts to run without front nose bodywork as spec'd be WKA but look for the Board of Directors to announce a plan to phase in the nose cone rule sometime this year.
Mike Unger has written a beginner's guide to how to get around CRP exclusively for msokc.org. We've added it to the Getting Started page so check out his version on how to Nav CRP.
2003 General Competition Rules
The 2003 General Competition Rules (GCRs) have been approved by the Board Of Directors and have been posted to the web site. You can view them on-line or download a MS-Word version from the Table of Contents page.
Russell Karting Specialties
Russell Karting Specialties will again be providing tires to be awarded in each class at the 2003 MSOKC Awards Banquet. Remember to consider placing your next order with Russell and our other banquet sponsors listed on our home page.
Our Classifieds section is now featured on Kartfinder.com giving our advertisers even more exposure.
 
Tom Rice plans to join sons Marc and Matt on the track this year. But while the boys will continue to race the Briggs Stock Medium class for 2003, Tom will race in the 80cc Shifter class.
February
News
MSOKC Briggs Stock Medium and Briggs Stock Super Heavy classes will remain at 335lbs and 390lbs, respectively, for 2003.
Minutes from the February 13th Board of Directors meeting are posted.
 
If everything falls into place over the next couple of months, Brad Carroll will be running his #6 Mike Wilson kart in Super Can and a Coyote in the Spec 100 class. Engines will be built by LAD and sponsorship will come from Preventative Maintenance Services of Ohio, LLC. 2003 will be Brad's second year of karting.
 
Mike Unger plans to run his Leopard/Biesse Viper at MSOKC events first as TAG (touch and go) class exhibition laps with the hope that other Leopards and Rotaxes may come out to form a racing class.

Mike also intends to race his ICC from time to time for fun and may run the 80cc shifter class if he can locate a 80cc engine to rent or lease. Mike's work schedule will keep him from racing a full season.
 
2000 Rookie Alcohol champion Nick Evans will be competing in 80cc shifter karts with SKUSA and CART Stars Of Tomorrow. Nick will be racing a CRG chassis under the Willis Racing banner.
 
Mike Long, Rocky Johnson and Mike Unger have all purchased Biesse karts from J & J Racing in Erie, PA. In fact, there are two 2003 Biesse karts in the Unger race shop - one for Mike and a baby kart for Mike's son Noah. J & J Racing was a 2002 MSOKC Awards Banquet sponsor.
 
Second year racer Roberto Zayas has purchased a Yellow Fin HPV engine and will give the Spec 100 class at try. He may continue to race his Yamaha Super Can on his blue Birel kart and may even try to do both on the same day! With as many as five engine swaps to pull that off the Zayas pits are sure to be busy those days.
 
Long time MSOKC Briggs racer John Fox is moving to 2-cycle racing for 2003. John will be using an ex-Unger HPV engine on his trusty Coyote. John's son is said to be readying for his first season of competition too.
 
MGO Racing of Powell has announced it will be running driver Michael O'Chocke primarily in the WKA Manufacturer's Cup and some CART Stars Of Tomorrow races. Michael will be driving the team's Mike Wilson kart with E.J. Creations ICC engine. The team also plans to enter the four enduro races at Mid-Ohio.

Mike is a junior at Dublin Coffman High School. He started racing with the MSOKC in 1993, age 8, in the Rookie, purple plate, Briggs class. He won two MSOKC season point championships, one in Rookie Briggs and the other in Yamaha Junior class.

E.J. Creations also cryogenically treats many of MGO Racing's chassis and engine components with an in-house computer controlled cryogenics furnace.
 
Bryan O'Hara has taken delivery of a 2003 Biesse kart from J&J Racing in Erie, Pennsylvania and plans to contest the ICA class in WKA Manufacturers Cup and CART Stars Of Tomorrow series using Pavesi power.
Dana Conlin will move up to Spec 100 with a Biesse Viper/HPV after two years competing in Briggs Medium. Younger sister Tracy will race the Briggs/Margay in Briggs Stock Medium. Both Conlin SpeedSports karts will carry sponsorship from INFONETICS and family friend, "Fred!"

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