Dennis Palatov unveiled his DP4 go-kart at the new Oregon Raceway Park this past weekend. This was the first on-track appearance for Palatov's creation and according to the lucky few who lapped ORP in the DP4, the $25,910 go-kart out performs the uber fast Caterham CSR, not to mention just about any street driven automobile. So what is the DP4 you say? Well, it's sorta like a Lamborghini Gallardo with an eating disorder.
Utilizing a motorcycle engine and gearbox, power is sent to all four wheels via a center differential and chain drive system that operates both the front and rear differentials. Engines choices range from 600cc-1400cc, to include a 200hp turbocharged powerplant sourced from Suzuki's Hayabusa. Tipping the scales at a featherweight 800lbs, the DP4 is probably the closest thing you can get to an F1 car without having to sell your soul. Follow the link for a bit of on-board footage from ORP... [read more]
Image and Info: Jalopnik
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
On the final lap of a local kart race, Kyle Prokup of Granville, Illinois, managed to spin his 125cc TAG kart and roll backwards across the finish line to collect the race win. Well done sir, well done // [comment]
Once a week, the Northwest's newest karting facility, Pacific Grand Prix, allows a handful of street driven cars to lap their 0.82 mile circuit. Amongst those that turned out for yesterday's lapping session was this Corvette Z06. Like an auto-x course on steroids, we can only imaging the noise this thing made as it worked its way around the 15 turns that make up PGP's street course.
Image comes courtesy of Chris Mason. Click here for more info on PGP // [comment]
This weekend will see the highly talented Finnish karting superstar and good friend of CTD, Aaro Vaino, make his car racing debut. The 16 year old from Espoo, Finland who last season collected the FIA European SKF karting title will line up on the grid at the Motorland Aragon circuit for the first round of this season's Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup.
Vainio is looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen such as Kimi Raikonen and Mika Hakkinen but will face a huge new challenge in adapting to the cut and thrust of the Eurocup series having moved straight up from from Karts, much like Raikkonen who made his car racing debut in the British Formula Renault series. In the most recent tests however, Aaro has shown good pace notably setting the fourth fastest time ahead of many more experienced rivals... [read more]
The young Finn who also placed second at last years FIA World Karting Championship in Macau commented:
"The team is highly professional, winning the past Euro Cup. The French have their own ways of doing work, but the integration has gone well. For the initial period, I have set a target to finish in the top five which is a hard target, but I believe it to be a realistic one."
Asked about pressure and expectations that follow such a prestigious talent Aaro explained "Expectations are high for me, and maybe even the team, but I do not feel pressure to be tough, however. All around there is the understanding of me pursuing my first year in formulas, and hopefully I will have time to learn and develop."
The opening round of the series also marks the debut of Renault's all new single seater after a long research and development phase dating back to 2008.
Twenty three drivers are registered for the series including title favourite Daniel Mancinelli who has set the pace during winter testing.
Editorial: Neil Tozer
Photos: Renault Sport/AaroVainio
As promised, here are a few photos I took yesterday afternoon when myself and a pair of Continental Sports Car Challenge drivers, Joey Atterbury and Ted Anthony Jr. visited the Pacific Grand Prix karting facility in Auburn, Washington for a bit of mid-season seat time... [read more]
Pacific Grand Prix is the Northwest's premiere karting facility. It's 0.814 mile circuit is the largest in the area and offers both beginners and experts a challenging layout, with as many as 15 turns, to include a banked left hander that dumps onto the front straight. 
These are the 5hp rental karts. PGP does however, rent both 125cc TaG (Touch and Go) karts, as well as 125cc Shifter Karts.
While Joey struggles to adjust the tension on his chain, fellow CTSCC driver, Andrew Caddell, and I have a few laughs at Mr.Atterbury's expense.
Joey hit the track pretty early, taking advantage of the rare March sunshine.
Joining Joey on track was this Yamaha R6 powered home-built kart. You could tell this thing had legs and would have been better suited on Pacific Raceways 2.1 mile circuit that sits just next to PGP.
Fellow CTSCC driver, Ted Anthony Jr., who arrived shortly before I had to leave, was able to borrow Joey's TaG kart and get in a few laps around PGP. Thankfully, ColdTrackDays correspondent, Curtis Creager, decided to bust out his light capturing equipment so as to document the occasion.
Pacific Grand Prix is a great place to spend a sunny Spring morning and an even better place for guys like Joey and Ted to stay sharp ahead of their next CTSCC race.
Photo: Justin W. Coffey & Curtis Creager
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
Yesterday afternoon, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge driver, Joey Atterbury, along with fellow CTSCC drivers, Adrew Caddell and Ted Anthony Jr., joined myself and Curtis Creager at the new Pacific Grand Prix karting facility in Auburn, Washington.
Hoping for a bit of seat time before the CTSCC heads to Barber Motorsports Park for its third round, Joey hit the track in his 125cc TAG kart and, sharing driving duties with both Ted and Ryan, lapped the 0.814 mile circuit for the better part of the afternoon. Stay tuned for a few photos from their karting session, but in the mean time check out this helmet cam Joey sent me last night // [comment]
Powered by a Yamaha 450 WR four-stroke motorcycle engine, which is attached to a five-speed sequential gearbox, the Hyper Pro Racer is the ultimate kart, or so it seems. Weighing just 352 pounds, this exo-caged Aussie superkart features an FIA-approved roll cage, Ohlins aluminum-bodied race shocks, as well as cross-vented disc brakes with billet four-pot aluminum calipers, which according to Hyper Racer, allows their superkart to run laps nearly as fast as a GT Production car... [read more]
Fast and affordable (the track day Racer S is currently priced at $26,546 USD, while their hillclimb Racer R is priced at $31,947 USD) watch as the Hyper Pro Racer runs a few laps around the Bryant Park hillclimb track.
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
Images and Info: Hyper Racer via Autoblog
With Kimi Raikkonen stepping away from single seater competition this year, Finland has another potential "Superstar" in waiting. In an exclusive interview with ColdTrackDays, 16 year old 2009 FIA CIK European SKF Karting Champion, Aaro Vainio, reveals his thoughts on his transition to Formula Renault for 2010.
The Finnish youngster, who last season placed 2nd at the World Championships in Macau in only his first year at karting's highest level, is set to make his car racing debut in the 2010 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup. Vainio, who along with the likes of Felipe Massa, is managed by Nicolas Todt (son of FIA President, Jean) is gearing up for his first season out of karts, after signing with SG Formula, who were co-champions in the 2009 Eurocup... [read more]
Stéphane Guérin, SG Formula's team-manager has already been hugely impressed with the talented Finn during winter testing, "He did his first test laps for us at Nogaro before we then went on to Portimao in Portugal. This circuit is, in my opinion, a fine judge of the abilities of a young driver. In this short time, Aaro has already demonstrated his human qualities. He appears to be well-equipped with the necessary mental and physical qualities. We haven’t been easy on him in terms of miles covered since he arrived but we have been mightily impressed."
In our exclusive with the fresh faced youngster our first question was:
CTD -- Will you miss the extreme competiveness of high level karting?
AV -- " For me leaving karting is a big thing and with all that I have achieved in the last 12years, it's bit sad. I think that I will miss it a bit, but I know that these are the steps that I have to take to reach my goal."
CTD -- Having tested the Formula Renault 2.0 recently how will your driving style have to alter/change?
AV -- "Driving between Formula Renault 2.0 and karting is totally different. In formulas you have to drive by using the brakes in the right way but
in karting you can drive more with just the steering. So in formulas you have to think about mass transfer and lateral grip."
CTD -- What do you rate as your biggest challenge for 2010 and why?
AV -- "This year I think it will be to get used to the car's behaviour in the races, and how that can change over the course of what will be a much longer distance. Generally to gain experience of formula driving for my future career."
CTD -- Do you think you can mount a challenge for race wins immediately?
AV -- " I think it's not realistic to speak about race wins in the first part of the season. Of course I will do my best to win but it will be really hard in the beginning, but still my goal is to win my first races of the season.
CTD -- Were you ever tempted to try rallying, as you come from Finland?
AV -- "I have always been interested in rallying, and it has been almost as big a passion for me as Formula One. Going side ways is what I like
maybe the most. It was one of my biggest pleasures in karting when it was wet and slippery. I really like rallying alot!"
CTD -- Will you still drive Karts at all anywhere this year?
AV -- "I don't think so but of course it would be fun and good for training physically.
CTD -- Who were your motorsport idols/heroes when you were younger?
AV -- "To come from Finland it's big honour for me to be involved in motorsport and it's hard to say who is my main idol. But for sure names like Räikkönen, Häkkinen, Vatanen, Alen, and Kankkunen.........are big names for me!"
Our good friend Aaro kicks off his debut season in the first round of the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup at Motorland Aragón (Spain): 17 – 18 April, 2010
CTD will be following the career of this talented Finn very closely over the course of the next few seasons and if funds allow we may well place a small wager with our local bookmaker on the possible identity of the next Finnish F1 Title contender! Watch this space.
Editorial/Interview: Neil Tozer
Images courtesy of Aaro Vainio
Now available online, TKart is an international karting magazine based in Milan, Italy. Covering a broad range of topics from around the world of karting, their current issue highlights the relationship between some of todays Formula One stars and their start racing karts. A magazine that has managed to reach readers well beyond its native Italy, TKart is a must read for any karting enthusiast.
Follow the link for additional info on TKart's November 2009 issue... [read more]
TKartWeb No. 11 – November 2009 - 150 pages:
News from all over the world of kart
15 minutes with Gianluca Beggio: a life on and off kart
15 minutes with Danilo Rossi: I’m a lucky kart driver
Champions WSK - Kozlinski, Lammers, Cooper and De Vries
Championkart Internationals - All about the Parolin one make series
Easykart Internationals - All about the Birel one make series
ROK Internationals - All about the Vortex one make series
The Tkart nurse - On track with Le Cont
Scoop - Schumi and Formula 1 drivers on kart
Beyond the chronicles - Some of the interesting numbers in karting
Stories - Beppe Gabbiani: the life of “Mad Horse”
Theory put to practice - Wet Track: here’s what to do
TKart Broke - The Righetti Ridolfi water pump
But what do you know about Parolin steering
Is it true? - Legends from the paddock: true or false?
Report - Photos and reports on the most important races
To download your copy of TKart Magazine, click here
Following our coverage of the first annual Red White Sangari Invitational Kart Prix at the Sepang International Karting Circuit in Malaysia, ColdTrackDays correspondent Anas Zakaria sent a handful of additional images, effectively quenching our thirst for karting. And while we have no editorial to accompany said images, we feel they paint a rather wonderful portrait of the event... [read more] 
For a look at more photos from the first annual Red White Sangari Invitational Kart Prix, click here
Photo: Anas Zakaria
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey
Red White Racing (RWR) of Indonesia, a go-karting promoter, in conjunction with Sangari, a Brazilian motorsport education institution, organized the inaugural Red White Sangari Invitational Kart Prix 2009 at the Sepang International Kart Circuit on the last 21st and 22nd November. The event featured more than 100 drivers from Europe, South America and Asia. The drivers were divided into 3 categories, Micro (8-12 years old), Junior (13-16 years old) and Senior (17 and above)... [read more]
Although i've been taking photos of track racing for the past few years, i've never had the opportunity to capture any karting events before. So when I arrived at the circuit, I didn't know what to expect. What interests me the most is the Micro category. The first sights that I saw was little kids with big crash helmets. But make no mistake about it, this is the cute and the furious! When it's time to hit the track for qualifying, these kids were going at it like mad. The sound of squealing tyres, opposite locks under braking and mid corner, and the speed they carried into the bends leaves me totally in awe! Surely, this can't be real, I told myself.
I still remember a conversation between me and my friend a while ago. He asked me a very simple question. What does Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and David Beckham have in common? Well, surely they have a lot in common, such as a very successful career, a great fan following and other stuff. But my friend just smiled at me and said, "they all started early". And surely enough, that's the most simple answer you could think of. They all started very early, at a very young age. 
Karting is the most important platform that have been overlooked outside of Europe. This is why Europeans, and to a certain extent, South Americans produce the largest pool of talented racing drivers. But with efforts from promoters and sponsors like Red White Racing and Sangari, hopefully these younger generation of racing drivers will be able to compete with the best in the world in the future. And judging by this event, the signs are very promising. 
As for the race, the Micro category was won by Suhaizarul Suhaizat from Malaysia ahead of Brazilian Giuliano Raucci. The Junior category was won by another Malaysian, Nabil Jan Al Jeffri after Australian Jaei Robson was disqualified due to technical infringement. Ireland's world champion Martin Pierce took victory in the Senior category despite all the efforts by Ryuichi Nara from Japan, who pushed him very hard until the chequered flag.
Photo/Editorial: Anas Zakaria
The SKUSA Super Nationals XIII event in Vegas this weekend was fantastic! It will probably take me a day or two to get all of the photos together and to finish up my editorial, so in the meantime you may like this bit of Eye Candy from the race on Sunday. Enjoy the finer side of karting with Cyndie Allemann!
Click here for a look at more of Robert Carrier's photography, and be sure to stay tuned for additional coverage of the SKUSA Super Nationals XIII // [comment]
