August - Go Racing Magazine

Leesman
Qualcomm
Stadium, home
of the San Diego
Chargers and all-pro running
back Ladainian Tomlinson, was the
backdrop to a picture perfect day for ProKart
Challenge racing in Southern California this past weekend. As
the best player in the NFL, Tomlinson owns the yardage that
is Qualcomm on any given Sunday. However, on this day it was
-- of course – PKC Saturday. Racing ruled, in spite of the fact
that the stadium was packed with over five thousand Chargers
fans for fan appreciation day! Yep, the 2-stroke sights and sounds
actually over-powered the ‘Bolts rally, and even managed to lure a
few hundred curious eyes over to the PKC event to see just what
exactly was buzzing over in parking lot section P1.
What was buzzing of course, were 101 race ready go-karts
that comprised the 8 th round of the Eagle One ProKart Challenge
presented by Mazda race series. It was PKC’s first visit to the
facility – which is managed expertly by the SDKA and president
Mike Nadeau – and it likely won’t be the last. The challenging
parking lot layout, combined with the arms-wide-open reception
the series received from the San Diego locals, is reason enough to
return as soon as possible. A special shout out to PKC driver Bill
Cox is also in order as he considers the facility his second home,
and was more than helpful in making the weekend go off with out
a hitch for all involved.
Sean Buur
of Go Racing was
in attendance handing
out hot-off-the-press issues
of the magazine that featured the
last PKC round in Santa Maria. Mazda, who
has been the PKC presenting sponsor all season, brought a couple
of vehicles down – including the new MX 5. The Chargers fans
who came to celebrate the start of the NFL season invariably
left with a taste of being turned on to a new sport – and their
interest aided in the event’s overall atmosphere. Throw in the
fantastic turnout of PKC family members and friends, who were
there partly because of what San Diego has to offer (Sea World
is where many headed the day before), and it simply made the
race feel a bit more important than usual. A notable observation
was seeing drivers all over the pits explaining to the newbies in
attendance just what these amazing machines are capable of doing
out on the racing surface. One Chargers season ticket holder even
commented that perhaps he’d scalp a few home game tix for a
down payment on a new kart. Amazing! Frank Bain and FX: were
you listening?
There was attrition on the track, and lots of it, in fact. The
abrasive surface challenged the MG Tires for the first time ever
in the series. Even so, the rubber performed flawlessly, despite
the wear and tear. As tires went away during the main, it was
impressive to see who managed tire wear the best. Fritz Leesman
and Nick Halen were the most notable in that department. It
Go Racing Magazine Page 35