KART CLUB RACING AT CALSPEED

In light of recent events, CalSpeed Karting feels its’ relationship with the Los Angeles Kart Club has become damaged beyond repair. While it is not necessary for two organizations to like each other to conduct business, CalSpeed feels it is necessary for the organizations to respect and trust each other. Unfortunately, due to the handling of the overnight camping issue, CalSpeed feels that both trust and respect have been permanently lost between the two.

For this reason, CalSpeed Karting has made the difficult decision to revoke Los Angeles Kart Club’s contract for 2015. While LAKC will no longer be the host, this weekend’s club race at CalSpeed will go on as scheduled. CalSpeed has assembled a competent and professional crew to handle all registration, timing, officiating, and technical inspection duties and will host a first-rate event. The same classes, weights, and rules will be run as originally scheduled. The points earned this weekend will accumulate toward a season championship.

Since CalSpeed does not have access to LAKC’s pre-registration list, racers will need to re-register for their class(es) with CalSpeed. However, CalSpeed will NOT charge a race entry fee for this weekend’s race. Since most racers have already pre-registered and paid LAKC to race, we do not feel it is fair to charge them again. More details on the registration process will be announced shortly.

Saturday practice fees remain unchanged. Drivers must retain their wristband on Saturday for Sunday entry. Pit passes for crew and spectators will be the standard $15 per day (Saturday or Sunday) or $25 for a 2-day event band.

CalSpeed will honor all pit spot reservations made with LAKC. As always, racers will be able to park in their spot as early as Friday and retain the spot throughout the weekend.

There WILL be overnight camping on Saturday night and it will be offered at no cost to the racer. Anyone wishing to stay the night must be onsite by 6pm Saturday night in order to sign the waiver and receive a wristband.

Regarding the future beyond this weekend, CalSpeed is committed to building a new race series with direct input from the local karting community. That said, the goal for 2015 is to build upon the strong foundation of racers, teams, shops and sponsors already in place. The same applies to the class structure and rulebooks currently in use. We plan to keep these in place so there is consistency and security for everyone. Next week, the new series will start the process of contacting the sanctioning bodies, suppliers, sponsors, and other partners to secure their involvement and support for the remainder of the season.

While the circumstances leading to this decision are unfortunate and regrettable, we feel this is the best option for the long-term health and well-being of kart racing in Southern California. Not everyone will agree with this decision and some will outright object. That is expected and understandable. However, CalSpeed will move forward to produce a race series that will ultimately be judged by the kart racing public.