Formula 100 Karting Rules Update

The Formula 100 Karting Series has released a few rule updates prior to their opening round on February 17th.

Tire rules have been decided upon for the 2013 season. In order to help make kart racing more accessible for new, part time and budget racers, the Formula 100 Karting Series will once again institute its approved “SL” compound tire rule for its Novice, Sportsman and Intermediate classes. Most tires are eligible to be run under this rule, which means that no matter what tires you currently have, or what your budget is for new tires, you will be able to find and use whichever tires you choose to race with F100. This competition between manufacturers helps save the racer money, as the racer is now free to find the best deal on tires possible or to use leftovers from another series. This rule is not designed so that competitors will go out and test between all the different legal tire brands and types to find the fastest one for the specific track conditions. This rule applies to racers who race in Intermediate or Novice level classes, where tire compound should not be the ultimate deciding factor in a race. While some of the approved tires may be slightly faster than others, by allowing many different brands and types, F100 is helping to make racing more accessible and affordable for the racer.

For the Advanced class, there will be 3 spec tires. The Bridgestone YLC will continue as one of the spec tires. In addition to the YLC, the Burris B44 and Burris B55 tire have been added to the list. The Burris tires have proven to have excellent grip and longevity. The Burris tires are also much more affordable than the YLC tires, making them an excellent choice for Advanced class racers. Unlike the Intermediate level classes, where tires have a smaller chance of being the deciding factor between a win and a loss, the Advanced class will continue to utilize spec tires in order to combat this much more likely possibility. With racers often separated by less than a tenth, competitors would be right to test all the available tire brands to find an edge on the track. For this reason, the spec tire is the right choice for the Advanced class, and by allowing multiple spec tires the Formula 100 Karting Series continues to give the kart racer money saving options by furthering a competitive marketplace while also helping to keep costs at an acceptable level by not overwhelming the racer with too many tire options.

The Formula 100 Karting Series has also made changes to its Senior Open class. Due to concerns over potential expense from a base weight open engine class, where it would behove the racer to make as much horsepower as possible, F100 has decided to implement a weight to power ratio to determine the appropriate weight for driver and kart, with weight minimums implemented for each engine type. Reed and Rotary valve engines will operate with an 11.61 lbs per horsepower ratio, with a 360 lb minimum weight, while Piston Ports and McCullochs will operate with a 12.6 lbs per horsepower ratio, with a 315 lb mimimum weight. The Senior Open class was never designed to be a spending frenzy, but was instead designed to give all powerful 100cc engine packages that did not fit into the other F100 classes a place to run. By implementing an open ruleset, F100 saves racers money. No longer are racers handcuffed by spec rules, which limit competition in the marketplace, both from a manufacturer and retailer standpoint. This rule allows racers to use parts that would otherwise not be legal for their engines under spec class rules, and also to run engines that would not be legal were a spec class to be implemented. The open nature allows racers to choose what powerplant to run, how they will make their power, how much power they would like to make, and what replacement parts they would like to use. It is this freedom that will save the racer money. F100 also understands that a truly open class is detrimental to cost saving, and thus the weight to power ratio calculation is put in place to make monetary outlay in the search of horsepower less beneficial to the racer than it would be under a traditional open class structure. All drivers wishing to participate in the F100 Senior Open class must have their engines dyno tested at the approved F100 engine dyno testing center, and must bring their dyno sheets with them to the race in order to be allowed to compete. An engine horsepower protest has also been put in place should a racer feel the need to protest another competitor’s engine and weight combination.

For more information on The Formula 100 Karting Series and the rule updates please visit www.F100karters.com.

Formula 100 Karting Series 2013 Schedule

After a successful first season that saw tremendous growth and incredible racing, The Formula 100 Karting Series has released their complete schedule for the 2013 season. The southern California based 100cc specific kart racing series will hold 7 official points races throughout the year. The Formula 100 Karting Series will visit some amazing tracks including Apex Kart Track, Willow Springs Kart Track, Grange Motor Circuit, and the world famous Adams Motorsports Park. The complete 2013 schedule is included below.

The Formula 100 Karting Series offers classes for almost all 100cc engines. Please visit the following link to download the 2013 Formula 100 Karting Series Rules and Class Structure: http://www.f100karters.com/rules-and-classes. For more information on the Formula 100 Karting Series please visit their website, F100karters.com.

Date	Location
April 14th	Apex Kart Track
May 18th	Willow Springs Kart Track
June 8th	Grange Motor Circuit
July 27th	Adams Motorsports Park
September 22nd	Willow Springs Kart Track
October 20th	Apex Kart Track
November 30th	The Thanksgiving Dash for Cash in the Desert, Grange Motor Circuit

Formula 100 Karting Series Round 6

The Formula 100 Karting Series hit the track for the 6th and final round of the 2012 season on December 9th at Grange Motor Circuit in Apple Valley, CA. A beautiful December day in the high desert greeted the racers as they arrived to do battle. Ivan Urueta had already clinched the Intermediate class title, but points battles were yet to be decided for the final 2 podium positions in the Intermediate class, while all 3 podium positions in the Advanced class were still up for grabs. The closest battle in Advanced was between Stu Hayner, who came in with a 6 point lead over Sebastian Bacon for 1st place in the 2012 Series Championship.

After a morning of open practice the day started with the first of 2 peapick heat races for the Novice and Intermediate classes. The peapick results would be used to determine the grid for the main events. When the dust had settled after 10 exciting laps, it was Bryan Bender who emerged to claim the checkered flag in heat 1. After being sidelined for many months with a severe shoulder injury, Bender made his first race of 2012 count, as he piloted his new Birel machine to top finishes throughout the day. Right behind Bender was Willow Springs race winner Adrian Yong who continued his impressive driving with another strong run. John Shepherd would finish in 3rd place, and although he brought home good results on the day, Shepherd struggled getting his CRG chassis dialed in and was not particularly happy with his performances. After a solid season in 2012, Shepherd will look to put himself at the front of pack in the Intermediate class in 2013. Tom Denker put in another strong drive as he was the first of the  Novice drivers to cross the finish line in heat 1. Denker has been impressive all season and will look to move up the ladder next year and do battle in the Intermediate class. Following behind Denker was another impressive rookie, Jeremy Specht. Specht would have a marvelous day in the high desert, showing speed and determination in his racing. Gregorio Urueta would finish right behind Specht. Urueta had a tough day at the track. Tire and engine issues led to frustrating results, but Urueta has proven himself to be an excellent racer all year, and he will be a force to be reckoned with in 2013. Vincent Lefevre, who participated in his first race of the season at Willow Springs, had a strong showing at Grange, crossing the line behind Urueta. Lefevre got his Top Kart Kt100 powered machine dialed in after a difficult day at Willow and he was able to put down some solid laps. Mike Heron had some trouble in the first heat, but his day was only just beginning as Heron would put in another strong showing eventually landing him on the podium.

The Advanced class was next to take the track. A strong group of racers showed up to battle in the Advanced class and with the points championship and season ending podium positions up for grabs, it was sure to be a great day of racing. In the first heat Kyle Hayner continued his run of excellent drives as he grabbed the checkered flag. He was followed closely by Sebastian Bacon, who was looking for a strong finish and a possible 2012 points championship. Kalvin Chen piloted his number 56 machine to a 3rd place finish in heat 1. Chen challenged for 2nd for much of the race. He and Bacon had a great battle at Grange, as they have for much of the year, with Bacon able to hold off Chen in heat 1. Stu Hayner would grab a 4th place finish as he looked to maintain his 6 point edge over Bacon in the points championship. Tom Ricketts followed closely behind Hayner coming in with a 5th place finish. Jason Bunch, who had an impressive season in KPV4 Heavy with Tri-C Karters, had a difficult day at the track. He would cross the line in 6th position in heat 1. The result was not one that Bunch will be happy with but his determination will allow him to get back into top form, and he will be a driver to watch during the 2013 season. Ivan Urueta would round out the field. Ivan Urueta, much like his dad Gregorio, would also have a bit of a tough day. His lap times were there but he was not able to put up the results that he is accustomed to. Urueta had an off day, as did Bunch, but with continued work both will have their share of podium finishes during the 2013 season.

Heat 2 provided some great racing action as well. Drivers in both classes looked to add a strong result in the 2nd heat in order to solidify their grid positions for the main event. First on the track were the Novice and Intermediate groups. Up front, Adrian Yong and Bryan Bender swapped positions, with Yong taking the win, and Bender taking 2nd. Both drivers raced very closely all race, and it was an exciting race for the spectators to watch. Jeremy Specht would have another strong drive as he would cross the line in 3rd. Tom Denker followed closely behind Specht also putting in another excellent drive. Mike Heron would cross the line behind Denker in 5th. John Shepherd finished in 6th, followed by Gregorio Urueta and Vincent Lefevre.

Next up was the Advanced class. Stu Hayner would be the first to cross the line as the checkered flag flew, followed closely by his son Kyle Hayner who put in another excellent race. Kalvin Chen and Sebastian Bacon would flip flop in heat 2, with Chen taking home 3rd and Bacon coming home in 4th. Tom Ricketts followed closely behind Bacon in 5th, with Ivan Urueta and Jason Bunch rounding out the field.

With the grids set for the main event, it was time to decide the 2012 Formula 100 Karting Series Points Championship. With Bryan Bender electing to start in the back of the field, Adrian Yong would take pole position for the main event. Bender would work his way through the field in a few laps and would eventually meet Yong at the front, but would be unable to unseat Yong from his top position. Yong would claim his 2nd victory in as many races, putting in another strong performance. Bender, in his first race of the 2012 season, would also put in a strong showing crossing the line in the 2nd. Bender will look to continue to challenge at the front of the field in 2013. Jeremy Specht would follow the 2 intermediate drivers putting in an excellent showing en route to claiming his first victory of the season. Specht has continued to put in good drive after good drive and his steady improvement and progression throughout the season has been impressive to watch. Specht will look to continue his winning ways heading into 2013. Following behind Specht was Mike Heron who, after struggling in Heat 1, continued his excellent day with a solid result. Like Specht, Heron will look to continue his solid driving heading into the 2013 season. Gregorio Urueta was finally able to get his tire and engine troubles sorted out in time for the main event and he would put in a good performance on his way to a 5th place finish (3rd in class). Urueta was a force in the Novice class in 2012 and he is looking forward to an excellent 2013 campaign. Tom Denker had speed all day, as he has all season, and was able to translate the speed into a solid result. After excellent performance in both heats, Denker would bring home a 6th place finish in the main. Denker proved himself to be an excellent racer throughout 2012 and Formula 100 is looking forward to watching him pilot his number 19 Birel during the 2013 season. John Shepherd raced well in the main, but a spin sent him off the track and finished his day. Shepherd had an excellent 2012 season, finding himself on the podium in the year end standings. Shepherd will look for a repeat performance in 2013 and he will continue to push towards a first place finish. Vincent Lefevre, after a solid race in heat 1, continued to have trouble with his kart and would round out the field in the main event. Lefevre will look to continue to dial in his equipment heading into 2013. With more seat time and more work Lefevre will be a driver to watch heading into the 2013 season.

Next up was the Advanced class who took to the track for the final on track event of the 2012 season, with points leader Stu Hayner and 2nd place racer Sebastian Bacon gridded 2nd and 3rd for the main event. As the green flag dropped it was the inside of row of Kyle Hayner and Bacon that would get the jump, with Bacon moving into 2nd. Stu Hayner would fall to 3rd, with Tom Ricketts jumping into 4th. The racing stayed clean and tight through most of lap 1, until the final corner. Stu Hayner stuck a nose in on Sebastian Bacon but while attempting to back off was tapped by Tom Ricketts from behind as Ricketts tried to push Hayner past Bacon. Hayner would spin out and would drop all the way to the back of the field. With Bacon maintaining his 2nd position, Stu Hayner would have to work his way back through the field in order to claim the 2012 Series Championship. Kyle Hayner would put in an excellent drive, running away with the main event. His number 55c Birel was dialed in and Hayner made few mistakes making it difficult for Bacon to make up any ground. While Hayner continued to put in an excellent and impressive drive up front, most of the action in the race occurred in the battle for 2nd between Tom Ricketts, Sebastian Bacon and Kalvin Chen. Ricketts hounded Bacon, criss crossing several times, and bumping and touching through many corners. The racing was clean and hard as Bacon tried desperately to hold off the speedy Birel pilot Ricketts. Chen followed closely behind Ricketts waiting for the right time to pounce. With Stu Hayner moving through the field eventually getting himself into 5th position with only a few laps to go, Bacon knew the importance of maintaining his 2nd place finish. On the last lap Bacon led Ricketts followed closely by Chen. On the final turn Bacon ran a blocking line keeping his kart to the inside. Ricketts went high attempting to set up a pass coming onto the main straight. Chen, who had been waiting for the right time to make his move, ducked to the inside and followed Bacon through the final turn. A drag race ensued between the 3 drivers and as they came down the straight it was Bacon who pumped his fists in celebration as he held off the hard charging Chen and Ricketts to bring home a 2nd place finish and seal his first Formula 100 Karting Series Senior Advanced Championship. Chen would follow closely in 3rd, with Ricketts, who raced a very strong race, just missing the podium in 4th. Stu Hayner made up much ground after his lap 1 scuffle but was not able to move past Chen or Ricketts. Ivan Urueta posted solid lap times but had a rough day at the track. After becoming accustomed to finishing in the front of the field, Urueta came home with a solid but dissapointing 6th place. Bunch would come in 7th after a difficult day at the races. Both Bunch and Urueta will look to forget about their day at Grange. Both will be serious contenders in 2013. Congratulations to Kyle Hayner for an excellent performance and a well deserved victory, and to Sebastian Bacon for taking home the 2012 Series Championship.

After an excellent first season, The Formula 100 Karting Series capped its year with a great day of racing at beautiful Grange Motor Circuit. Congratulations to Ivan Urueta and Sebastian Bacon for their 2012 Season Championships, and also to Stu Hayner, Kalvin Chen, Adriany Yong and John Shepherd for their 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the 2012 Points Championship. The Formula 100 Karting Series is working diligently to put together its ruleset, class structure and schedule for 2013, and each of those items will be available very soon. For more information on the Formula 100 Karting Series please visit their website, F100karters.com.

The TKM BT82 Piston Port Engine and TKM Festival Onboard Video

Check out the video below for some great driving action from the TKM Festival in England. The Festival is one of the largest one make engine gatherings in the world. The TKM BT82 2 stroke engine is the engine featured in the video. It is very similar to the KPV/HPV engine package and the Yamaha KT100 in terms of performance. The US received these motors and they were popular for a short time but did not have the staying power of other 100cc packages. Now the British made BT82's that are stateside mostly sit in garages unused. Check out the video and if you're interested check out the TKM website for more information on the engine.

http://www.tal-ko.com/bt82.html

http://youtu.be/eZupAkli2dM

Formula 100 Karting Series Round 5; Willow Springs

Round 5 of the Formula 100 Karting Series 2012 season proved to be every bit as exciting as the prior 4 rounds. The racing in all classes was hotly contested, and the surprisingly mild desert weather made the experience at the beautiful Willow Springs Kart Track all the more pleasant for the contingent of F100 racers who made the trek to the site of the 2013 IKF 2 Cycle Grand Nationals. After a several month hiatus from action, the Willow Springs Kart Club and Mike Manning sprung back into action for the late October gathering, and graciously hosted the 100cc specific Formula 100 Karting Series.

After 2 early morning practice sessions, the Novice and Intermediate classes would take the track first for their qualifying session. Ivan Urueta paced the field, as he has done many times throughout the year, earning 3 points for pole position. Ivan drove the red number 33 Birel fast and smooth, and even though he had very few laps under his belt at Willow, his inexperience did not show as his times were blisteringly fast, besting the field by almost an entire second with a 47.809; truly a remarkable feat for the young KPV pilot. James Hayner qualified second in his black Birel, posting a fast time of 48.437. Hayner has put in solid performances throughout his time in the drivers seat, and Willow would prove no different. Behind Hayner, Adrian Yong put down a solid time of his own at 48.730. Yong has become a fast and consistent driver behind the wheel and each time he hits the track he seems to improve. His development over the course of the year has been remarkable and he is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Series newcomer Tyler Coffman, who made the journey to Willow Springs from Bakersfield, after spending the previous day in Fresno for the IKF Region 11 race, qualified in 4^th position with a solid lap time of 48.860. Coffman also had few laps at Willow, and his ability to quickly learn and attack the track was impressive. Qualifying 5^th was Alex Bacon. When Bacon’s OTK kart is on track it is fast, as evidenced by his solid lap time of 49.280. Behind Bacon, Dave Harrison maneuvered the 67 kart to a 6^th place qualifying spot with a time of 49.356, followed closely by series stalwart Steve Muehler, who was looking for another solid performance. John Shepherd rounded out the intermediate class in the 7^th position. Shepherd, who had been driving a very nice Tony Kart for most of the season, had switched Italian chassis manufacturers for the Willow Springs race and was now on a nice looking CRG. Unfortunately for Shepherd the new chassis did not provide much luck as he would struggle during qualifying and through much of the day while trying to get the kart dialed in. If Shepherd can get the CRG anywhere near the level of where he had his Tony Kart then there is no doubt that he will return to his podium finishing ways of earlier rounds.

Behind the Intermediate group, the Novice group completed their qualifying with Gregorio Urueta taking the top spot. Gregorio, much like his son Ivan, has proved himself to be a fast, consistent and solid racer, and his skills were on display yet again at Willow Springs. Close behind Urueta was Jeremy Specht. Specht has continued to develop as a driver and his rate of progression has been quite impressive. At Willow Specht threw down a qualifying time .01 off the top Novice qualifier Urueta. The 3^rd fastest time of the day in the Novice group belonged to Rich Johnson. Johnson drove fast and smooth and looked the most comfortable behind the wheel that he has looked all season, and his lap times showed it. Newcomer Vincent Lefevre rounded out the field. Lefevre, who had only recently purchased his KT100 powered kart, did an excellent job on track, and with each lap he looked faster and more comfortable in his kart after years away from the sport.

Following the Novice and Intermediate group, the Advanced group took to the track for their qualifying session. As always the field was very close, with about a half second separating top qualifier and the final position. Stu Hayner would have trouble with a flat tire and would have to pull in. Kalvin Chen in his beautiful white Birel would put down the fast time of the session with a 47.832. Chen’s time would gap the field by almost .2, a very solid performance. Behind Chen was another Birel driver, and winner of the Orange County Grand Prix, Jean Michel Crettaz, who clocked a time of 48.090. Kyle Hayner and Sebastian Bacon qualified 3^rd and 4^th, with times of 48.216 and 48.261 respectively. Tom Ricketts qualified just behind Bacon with a time of 48.422.

As the heat races commenced the stage was set for another exciting day of Formula 100 action. Leading off the days heats were the Novice and Intermediate groups, who took one green flag in a combined race. Once again, Ivan Urueta took off from the group, eventually besting the field by 3 seconds at the checkered flag. Adrian Yong put in an excellent effort coming home in 2^nd place, as he continued his strong performances on the day. Newcomer Tyler Coffman rounded out the podium with a solid 3^rd place performance. Dave Harrison followed closely behind the KT100 pilot Coffman, with Steve Muehler following Harrison, some 10 seconds back. Behind Muehler was Novice class heat race winner Jeremy Specht, who continued his excellent driving on the day. Gregorio Urueta would finish just behind Specht, as Specht was able to get around the Novice class pole sitter en route to the heat race win. John Shepherd would cross the line behind Urueta. Shepherd, who has put in many strong performances on his Tony Kart, was not quite able to get his new CRG dialed in on the day and his results reflected this struggle. The speed is in the CRG though, and with more work Shepherd will be able to navigate back to the top of the field. Rich Johnson finished just behind Shepherd, as he continued to put forth his best day of work so far this season. Johnson cut another second off his time from qualifying. Newcomer Vincent Lefevre would round out the field. Lefevre, who was just getting back into karting after a long hiatus, looked more and more comfortable as the race went on, cutting a further 5 seconds off his lap time from qualifying. The heat, however, would end Lefevre’s day, but F100 looks forward to having Vincent compete in future events. Alex Bacon finished in the back of the pack as he was not able to finish the race. This has been a problem for Bacon this season. Even though he puts down fast laps, racing incidences and kart issues have thwarted his efforts.

The Advanced class heat was every bit as exciting as the Novice/Intermediate heat. Taking the track a short time after the F100 Novice and Intermediate race had concluded, the Advanced had picked up an extra driver, with James Hayner deciding to make the move up to the top level of the Formula 100 Karting Series ladder. This proved to be a wise move by the youngest Hayner, as he would register the fastest lap time of the heat race, laying down a 47.790. Kalvin Chen would continue his strong performance on the day taking home the heat race victory by a healthy 1-second margin. Behind him, 5 drivers would cross the finish line all within a second of each other. Tom Ricketts would be the first of these drivers, continuing his string of solid heat race performances. Ricketts has performed very well early in the day at each of the Formula 100 Karting Series events, but his results in main events have been mixed. If Ricketts can carry over his solid heat race performances into the main events he will enjoy a great deal of success moving forward. Right behind Ricketts was James Hayner who, as already mentioned, clocked the fastest time of the heat. His brother, Kyle Hayner, would finish right behind, less than a tenth back, putting in another solid drive in the number 55 Birel. Sebastian Bacon finished behind Hayner, with Jean Michel Crettaz slotting in behind Bacon and finishing in 6^th. Stu Hayner, who appeared to have some good speed early in the race, would finish almost a second back of Crettaz. After behind bumped off line midway through the race, Hayner was not able to regain the form he showed early, but he would be back with a strong showing in the main.

The first main of the day was the Novice and Intermediate combined main. With points leader and heat race winner Ivan Urueta deciding to take advantage of his attained A license grade by moving up to the Advanced class, the Novice and Intermediate main appeared to be anybody’s race. Adrian Yong jumped at the opportunity and blasted away from the field, impressing everyone by putting in another excellent drive. Yong would best the field by 10 seconds en route to his first career victory. F100 congratulates Adrian Yong for his accomplishment! If he continues to drive the way that he did at F100 round 5, there will be many more victories to come for Yong. In second place, and also putting in a strong effort, was the KT100 pilot and series newcomer Tyler Coffman. Coffman drove well, and even though his kart was not perfectly dialed in, he was able to put down fast lap after fast lap and he would take home the 2^nd spot. Dave Harrison would finish 3^rd. Harrison picked up speed as the day went on, further dialing in his number 67 Birel. Not far behind Harrison was Novice race winner Gregorio Urueta, who continues to impress everybody with his results on the track. Jeremy Specht, who gave a valiant effort in chasing Urueta and who has also impressed everyone with his on track performance, would slot in right behind Urueta to take P2 in the Novice class. John Shepherd would finish behind the 2 Novice drivers. Shepherd was awarded the hard charger award for his work in the main event. He will look to dial in his CRG for the next round of the series where hopefully he can return his podium finishing ways. Rich Johnson crossed the line behind Shepherd, cutting a further half-second off his lap time, to make his total improvement a hefty 1.5 seconds for the day. Johnson kept the nose on his Birel clean and put in an impressive performance. With continued improvement Johnson will be poised to battle Specht and Urueta for future Novice class victories. Alex Bacon would finish behind Johnson. Bacon continued his string of bad luck. When on the track, Bacon is fast, but things have not gone his way so far this year. With continued effort Bacon will attain the results he is looking for. Steve Muehler had a strong day, but early race contact caused him to retire only a few laps in. Muehler has raced very well all year and he will look to continue his excellent 2012 season at F100 round 6. Vincent Lefevre was not able to participate in the main event, but F100 looks forward to Vincent’s continued participation in the series.

The last race of the day was the Advanced class main event. As with all the Advanced class main events this season, the racing was incredibly close. Stu Hayner, starting from the back, would take home the checkered flag. Hayner blasted his way through the field and withstood an early challenge from Bacon, and a continued challenge from his son Kyle, en route to the feature win. In second was Kyle Hayner, who put in a solid drive. Hayner would comment that he was very happy with how the number 55 Birel felt, and his comfort with his machine showed as he hounded his father for the lead for much of the race. The battle for 3^rd and 4^th was hotly contested between Sebastian Bacon and Kalvin Chen, both of whom had led the race for brief periods of time, but had fallen off the pace of the Hayner’s. Bacon would lead Chen and hold onto 3^rd for most of the event. The two would go side-by-side several times with Chen not able to nose past Bacon. On the first white flag lap Bacon and Chen would go into the final corner with Chen sticking his nose under Bacon to attempt the pass. Bacon would give way and over-under Chen heading towards the line. Thinking he had the position won Bacon was very surprised when he crossed the line to see another white flag. The extra lap proved to be all that Chen needed. Bacon held Chen off for much of the lap. At the final turn Bacon drove a defensive line while Chen swung wide. Bacon slid one wheel off the track and rode the exit burm and this mistake proved enough for Chen to slide underneath Bacon to take the 3^rd position away. It was an excellent, exciting and clean race between the two, and a testament to the competitiveness of the F100 Advanced class. Bacon would eventually be disqualified from the race at the scales, as it was found that he was 2 lbs under the minimum weight. A tough result on track and a loss of points made the day especially difficult for Bacon, the pilot of the number 80 Kosmic machine. Behind Bacon was Jean Michel Crettaz who was not able to translate his speed early in the day or his fast lap times in the main into a better result. After winning round 4, Crettaz will look to yet again stand atop the podium at F100 round 6. Ivan Urueta, moving up from the Intermediate class, put in a solid performance and will be a force to be reckoned with as he continues to transition to the highest level F100 class. Urueta was unable to finish the race but in his time on the track he was able to put down the fastest lap of the race. Tom Ricketts had mechanical trouble and was unable to complete the race. After showing well early in the day, Ricketts was unable to translate his speed into a podium result. He will look for a better result at round 6. James Hayner would round out the field. After gridding in 3^rd Hayner experienced some trouble on an aborted green flag start. He would end up in the marbles and would be unable to keep his kart going. Hayner was disappointed with the way his day ended but he performed well in his first race with the Advanced class and his presence is a welcome addition to the group. He will look to continue his excellent performances at F100 round 6.

As the series moves into its 6^th and final round of the season, the points battles are heating up. Ivan Urueta has claimed the Intermediate class crown. Congratulations are in order for his excellent performances this season. Adrian Yong, John Shepherd and Timmy Fritch are all within a few points of each other for 2^nd place points position in the Intermediate class. Steve Muehler and Kyle Gash are not too far behind them, and with solid performances at round 6 they could jump up into the top 3. The results at round 6 will have a huge impact on the season ending points standings.

As with the Intermediate class, the points battle in Advanced is tight with many positions still up for grabs. Stu Hayner currently leads the points by 6 over Sebastian Bacon, and 11 over Kalvin Chen. Jean Michel Crettaz is in 4^th, followed closely by Tom Ricketts. The results for round 6 will also have a huge impact on the season end points standings in the Advanced class.

As a reminder to those of you interested in the current points battles, only F100 members are eligible for the year end points standings. If you are not a member and you finish in the top 3, your finishing position will be forfeited and your position will be given to the F100 member that finished closest behind you in the standings. If you would like to become a member of F100 so that you may be eligible for the year end points standings, please contact formula100kartingseries@gmail.com for a special offer.

Round 5 of the 2012 Formula 100 Karting Series proved to be every bit as competitive and exciting as the previous 4 rounds. Racers continue to battle for their chance to stand atop the podium. Many thanks go out to Mike Manning and everyone involved with the Willow Springs Kart Club for helping to make the Sunday afternoon contest possible. F100 looks forward to round 6, tentatively scheduled for early December, to close out the year. For more information on the Formula 100 Karting Series, visit their website, F100karters.com.

Formula 100 Karting Series Round 4; Orange County Grand Prix 2012

The 2^nd Annual Orange County Grand Prix hosted Formula 100 Karting Series Round 4 on September 15^th, 2012. Once again F100 drivers showed up in force and put on a great show for the many spectators attending the event. Although located near the beach, the Orange County Fairgrounds experienced weather that was much warmer than expected. Combined with the tight and technical track, this made for a challenging weekend for many racers, and provided some great action on the track. As the sole group of karts at the event, the Formula 100 Karting Series would provide all the 4 wheel action that fans could want.

The F100 Novice class had a great turnout, with past winners Gregorio Urueta and Jeremy Specht in the field along with newcomers Steven Hastings, Mike Heron and Jeff Fritch. Tom Denker, who has raced very well throughout the season, proved his racing might on the temporary course as he ran away with the victory in the main, his first victory of the season. Denker looked strong throughout taking the top spot in qualifying as well. With laptimes verging on the Intermediate class level, Denker is quickly becoming a formidable driver, and his performance at the OCGP was very impressive. Urueta, who has won 2 prior races, had some trouble in the heat and made contact with one of the hay bails placed around the track. He was not able to start the main, but he will be back for round 5 and as always will be a force to be reckoned with. Newcomer Steven Hastings impressed everyone. In his first race ever he ran lap times near Denkers and took home the 2^nd position. Hastings looked smooth and fast on the track, maneuvering his Top Kart with the proficiency of a much more seasoned racer. Hastings addition to the class makes for even tougher competition moving forward. In 3^rd place, and putting up a great fight for 2^nd, was Daniel Young. Young kissed a barrier earlier in the day but was able to get his kart back on the track for the main. He pressured Hastings for the entire race, and the battle between the two provided the spectators with a great deal of excitement. Young raced hard and clean in his first race since the opening round, and he will continue to challenge for podium positions and overall wins as the season progresses. Jeremy Specht, winner from round #3, put in another strong performance on the temporary OCGP course. Specht hit his marks all day as he brought home another strong 4^th place finish. With each race Specht continues to progress and having tasted victory already, he looks to stand atop the podium again at round 5. Newcomer Jeff Fritch took home a solid 5^th place at his first race of the 2012 season. After several years away from a kart Fritch looked strong and like he belonged in the drivers seat. His laptimes improved throughout the day, indicating an increased comfort level as he spent more time getting acquainted with his kart. With more seat time Fritch will be a threat for a podium finish. Mike Heron, in his first race of the year, ran the 2^nd fastest lap time of the day in the Novice class and looked strong. Heron, in his beautiful Birel number 42, got the kart dialed in the for the main and looked to be making a charge towards the front of the field to challenge the leaders. Unfortunately an accident with Rich Johnson thwarted Heron’s plans, but with a strong showing at round 4, Heron will be poised to make a run at the podium at round 5. Rich Johnson also brought a beautiful Birel with him to the race. The number 00 kart of Johnson wore the colors of Full Throttle Karting and with Johnson in the drivers seat the kart looked poised to challenge all comers. Johnson had a rough day on track, making contact a few times, but each time he was able to fix the kart and get on track for next event. Unfortunately his day would end in the accident with Heron, but Johnson will be back for round 5 and will look for another strong showing. Gabe Perreira arrived to the race a little late due to prior commitments, but was able to learn the track quickly. His laptimes were steadily decreasing and Perreira looked excited to challenge during the main event. Unfortunately trouble befell the number 95 machine early on and he was forced to retire, but Perreira will race again and with the steady improvements he has already made this season, Perreira is one to watch as the year goes on.

The Intermediate class featured several familiar faces and some newcomers as well. Series stalwarts Ivan Urueta, Timmy Fritch, Kyle Gash, John Shepherd, Adrian Yong and Steve Muehler all showed up to do battle at round 4. Newcomer James Hayner joined them. Once again the day belonged to Ivan Urueta. Urueta took the pole, and after a crash in the heat, would move through the field to take the victory, running a sub 40 second lap time in the process, the fastest overall lap of the day. Urueta’s result would increase his points lead over JTC Motorsports drivers Fritch and Gash. Fritch and Gash would look to keep pace. Unfortunately round 4 proved difficult for both drivers. Gash was feeling a little under the weather, while mechanical troubles kept Fritch from taking the green flag in the main. Both drivers will be hungry to get on track at round 5. Adrian Yong had a strong day of racing. Yong led the field to the green in the main after a strong heat race. After some difficulty at round 1, Yong has proven himself to be a very competitive, fast and consistent driver, and with yet another strong finish at round 4, Yong continues to climb in the points standings. Newcomer James Hayner, racing under the Birel tent, put in a strong showing as well. In his first race in many years, Hayner took the final podium spot, finishing just behind Yong. Hayner will be one to watch as the season progresses as he will look for continued improvement that hopefully will see him atop the podium very soon. Steve Muehler had another solid day at the track. Muehler had some troubles in the main, but he has consistently raced very well, and continues his steady improvement. Quietly, Muehler has become a very fast and capable racer, and he will continue to challenge for victories as the season continues. He is certainly one to watch for at each race he competes in. With little drama or fuss, Muehler puts in consistent top-notch performances each time he hits the track, and at round 5 he will look to continue his excellent season. John Shepherd also had a solid day at the track, but unfortunately ran into trouble in the main as well. Early on it looked as though Shepherd had a shot at the podium. His kart was dialed in all day, but unfortunately tightened up during the main event causing a bit of an issue. Shepherd will look to pilot his Tony Kart to another solid performance at round 5.

Advanced class racing was hotly contested as usual. Tom Ricketts put down the fast time in qualifying, but the rest of the field was nipping at his heels with times all within a few tenths. The main proved to be one of the best races of the season. All of the advanced drivers were grouped into a very tight pack for most of the race. Jean Michel Crettaz would lead for most of the race, followed closely by Tom Ricketts. Stu Hayner, Kalvin Chen, Sebastian Bacon and Jason Bunch were all right there should the front two have faultered. But Crettaz raced tough, holding a tight line, which made passing on the narrow track even more difficult. Hayner would get by Ricketts with only a few laps left, leading to an exciting final lap. Coming into turn 1 Bacon was able to get a run on Chen, and stuck his nose underneath the Swiss Hutless driver to take away 4^th position. Chen held his ground and was able to get back underneath Bacon going through turn 3 and into 4. Bacon would dive in, potentially a little late, with a bold move going into turn 4, but once again Chen held his ground. The 2 would once again race to the next corner neck and neck. They would come up quickly on Ricketts heading into turn 5. Chen stuck his nose under Ricketts, barely avoiding the hay bails, while Bacon maneuvered to the outside. Slight contact was made and Ricketts bumped into Bacon. All 3 would continue on, racing closely through the final corners but Chen’s move would hold and he would take home the final podium spot. Ricketts had an excellent weekend of racing, but it was not his day to be on the podium. Hayner also had a strong showing, crossing the line with his 2^nd podium finish of the year. After starting in 4^th, Hayner moved up 2 positions to claim the hard charger award. It was Crettaz that was the star of the day though, taking his first victory of the season. Crettaz raced a strong race, putting down fast lap after fast lap. With the field as tight as it was for the entirety of the 16 lap race, it was imperative that drivers not make mistakes in order to hold their positions. Crettaz certainly put in an excellent drive making very few mistakes and is a deserving victor. Jason Bunch, a newcomer to the series, had a tough day, eventually culminating in a blown motor in the main. Bunch is a very fast and competitive racer and he will look to challenge for the overall win at round #5. Yet again the Advanced class proves the competitiveness of the Formula 100 Karting Series.

The racing that 100cc engines provide is truly excellent. The OCGP 2012 provided excitement for fans and racers alike. Moving into the next round, The Formula 100 Karting Series points chase is heating up, with close battles in both the Intermediate and Advanced classes. The date and location for round 5 is tentatively set for October 28^th at Willow Springs Kart Track in Rosamond, CA. A final announcement will be made shortly. Be sure to check F100karters.com for more information on upcoming events and for all the latest news and information on the Formula 100 Karting Series.

Crazy Weather for Formula 100 Karting Series Race #3

The Formula 100 Karting Series held round 3 of their 2012 season on August 11^th at Apex in Perris, CA. The threat of brutal heat kept a few racers away but a strong contingent of determined drivers showed up to do battle. Scheduled as a night race, most drivers arrived around noon. Just as most of the racers were unloading their things the weather took an unexpected turn and the skies opened, hurling down raindrops onto unprepared drivers and their gear. The rain lasted for several hours. Once it had passed, prep work began for the racing that was to come.

Thanks to some excellent work by the staff at Apex and PAK the track was cleared of standing water and readied for battle. The Formula 100 Karting Series fielded a strong turnout in 2 classes, Novice and Intermediate. Unfortunately, due to the conditions, the Advanced class drivers decided to cancel their race.

The Novice and Intermediate classes took to the track together in what would be the largest senior class of the day. As usual the Formula 100 Karting Series delivered close and competitive racing and provided the rain soaked crowd with some excitement.

In the intermediate group local driver, Kyle Gash, dominated the day. Gash took the pole and the heat victory with 2 strong showings. Even though the rain was heavy, the track was never wet enough to warrant treaded tires or rain setups. As the track dried Gash seemed to get stronger and stronger and it was evident that his knowledge of his home track was paying dividends. Behind him was a raging battle between Kalvin Chen and hard charging Ivan Urueta, who recently scored a victory at round 2. Urueta and Chen would battle throughout the day. In the heat Urueta chased Chen for the entire race. Chen made a few mistakes but each time held off the passing attempts by Urueta giving Chen the 2^nd place finish and outside pole for the start of the main. Steve Muehler had a strong showing in the heat as well, as he was firmly planted on the bumper of Urueta for most of the race. Further back was David Schall who was not his normal self at Apex. He soldiered on and collected his points for the day but something was obviously not right in the Schall camp. Timmy Fritch, the round 1 winner, had engine troubles and was not able to take the green flag with the rest of the group for the heat, although he would make a brief appearance on track before retiring from the heat for good.

Great racing continued in the main. Kyle Gash led the field down to the green and with a strong bump from Urueta who was gridded right behind him Gash took the whole shot. Urueta’s jump gave him P2 going into turn 1 with Chen falling back to 3^rd. The racers would stay close throughout the race, with Urueta harassing Gash and Chen chasing Urueta. It was not until the last lap, heading into the tight infield hairpin that there would be a lead change. Gash came around the high speed right hander and drove right to set up his braking zone for the hairpin. Urueta stayed inside and beat him to the corner. Urueta would park the kart in the corner causing Gash and Chen to pile up momentarily. The pass was epic, and the fans went wild. A drag race ensued and Urueta was the first to the sweeper leading onto the back straight. Gash had led the whole race, fighting off Urueta at every turn, but on the last lap Urueta got the position with a bold move to the inside and some nice late braking. Gash would maintain 2nd position with Chen coming home in 3^rd. Urueta would lead the field down the back straight and finally to the checkered flag besting the field by almost .5 seconds. This marks the 2^nd victory of the season for Urueta who has put in strong efforts at each race this season. Urueta is currently leading the points standing in the Intermediate class a result of his strong racing.

Further back, Timmy Fritch was busy tearing his way through the field. He would eventually land in 4^th position after having passed Muehler and although his laps were on par with the leaders, his starting position had put him too far back to mount a serious charge. Fritch would get the hard charger award on the day and with that and his 4^th place finish, he maintains 2^nd position in the point’s standings heading into round 4.

Muehler, who raced beautifully in the heat, would finish in 5^th, another strong showing. Had it not been for him overcooking the hairpin in the infield, Muehler may have challenged the lead pack for a higher position. Nonetheless a strong result for Muehler, and he is certainly one to watch for heading into round 4.

As previously mentioned, David Schall did not seem like his normal "Superfast" self and he would come in with a sixth place finish. Even though his results were not strong at round 3, David is a threat to win anytime he sits in his yellow CRG and he will be on the prowl at round 4.

The Novice class featured 2 racers, Jeremy Specht and Ronald Yu. It was Ronald’s first race of the season, and he looked strong. Unfortunately for Yu, he would have trouble in the main and would retire early in the race. Specht raced strong all day. His lap times and race savvy have improved greatly throughout the season and he was able to take home his first victory of the year. The pace at which Jeremy drives and the amount that he pushes himself on the track have noticeably increased, and he has the lap times to prove it. Both Specht and Yu will be serious contenders for Gregorio Urueta, Tom Denker and Dave Mabry at round 4.

Another great event for the Formula 100 Karting Series is in the books and the series is looking forward to its next race on September 15^th, 2012 at the Orange County Grand Prix. A very large turnout is expected and thousands of fans will be present as the Formula 100 Karting Series will take to the track for its first street race of the season. For more information on the Formula 100 Karting Series visit their website, F100karters.com, or email them, formula100kartingseries@gmail.com.

Formula 100 Karting Series Onboard Video

Here's an onboard video from the July 21st Formula 100 Karting Series race. Enjoy!

From Australia its the F100 Nationals

Here's a video from down under. Its the Formula 100 Nationals! In Australia F100 utilizes either reed (ICA) or rotary (Formula A) engines. These karts fly. Check out the video: