Infineon Raceway Karting Center in High Gear

SONOMA, Calif. -- Karting is the fastest growing segment of motorsports today and the hub of activity on the West Coast is the Infineon Raceway Karting Center. Operated by Jim Russell International Karting, the facility has been established as one of the premier karting venues in the country and hosted a total of 15 race weekends in 2002, including six Stars of Tomorrow Series events and two Shifter Kart USA (SKUSA) events. The track has been enthusiastically accepted by the racing community, with visits from some of the biggest names in racing. Stars on the track have included NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, former-CART driver Memo Gidley, ALMS star Bryan Herta and Toyota Atlantic standout Michael Valliante. "I¿ve driven on many kart tracks around this country and this one ranks right up there," Gidley said. "It has all the elements of a first-class karting track, from tight corners to sweeping straightaways. It is a premier facility." The facility has fostered the development of new karters with several different karting programs to suit a variety of ages and backgrounds. More than 2,000 students have passed through the karting school since it opened last April. Cadet Karting programs are perhaps the most popular, and allow 8-12 year olds to take a half-day program and experience driving a race-prepared kart first hand. Those 13 years and older can experience karting through the Techniques of Karting course, in which drivers are exposed to a kart capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds and a top speed of 80 mph. Advanced and shift kart courses are also available. Amateur racers can get involved with karting through the Arrive and Drive series, in which students go wheel-to-wheel in a six-race series for a shot to win a season in the 2003 USAC Formula Russell Championship. Racers compete in Russell provided karts and are critiqued by instructors. "This series makes it easy to jump right into racing without the hassles of kart ownership, like maintenance and storage," said John Ruth, an Arrive and Drive competitor. "The program has really allowed me to concentrate on learning to drive faster and work on my racing skills ¿ and it¿s a lot of fun." Following a successful debut season, Jim Russell International Karting will make a few changes to the 2003 schedule to provide more racer-friendly action. The facility will host only eight race weekends in 2003 to allow more time for testers, students and corporate programs to access the track on weekends. The compacted schedule should also increase driver entries in the events, providing some of the largest racing fields the track has ever seen. "Because we raced so much this year, many competitors had to choose which series to enter, and this affected our attendance rates," said Ric Shaw, race director of the Infineon Karting Center. "Next year, we¿ll avoid this by providing a series with a fun racing environment that everyone can enter." Students can enjoy a new three-day karting program designed for those with no previous karting experience. This intense series of instruction will offer a unique chance to quickly advance driving skills with the guidance of experience instructors. Karting enthusiasts can look forward to a fully-packed schedule of instruction, racing, open testing and fun events at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center. For more information on karting, please contact Jim Russell International Karting at 800-831-KART or www.jimrussellusa.com.