Largest Kart Show return to Pheasant Run area expected to reduce exhibitor costs in tough economy

Wheaton, Illinois – The Sodi presents KART EXPO, North America’s largest trade show devoted exclusively to the karting industry has announced that it is moving the nearly 20-year-old event to the DuPage Expo Center in west suburban Chicago.

 
Darrell Sitarz, the show’s founder and director returns Kart Expo to the recently renovated exhibit hall which is directly across the street from Pheasant Run Resort a popular karting industry location.

Sitarz said, "We are returning to the Pheasant Run area in response to our exhibitor’s requests and to drastically reduce their costs to do business at Kart Expo. We expect that some exhibitor’s costs can be reduced nearly 30% on average which makes it easier to exhibit and sell at the show."

Kart Expo previously held the show at Pheasant Run between the years 2001 and 2006 and Sitarz says that the exhibitors have been saying that they missed the intimacy and affordability of that location. The DuPage Expo Center is considered as part of The Pheasant Run Resort Campus. Exhibitors will have a choice of three hotels in the area including host hotel Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express and the beautiful Pheasant Run Resort itself.

Sitarz said, "In the past, exhibitors told us that they simply enjoyed the low-key intimacy of this location and so we have returned. It is a more kart-oriented location and, frankly, much better suited to the industry than PRI."

The new location provides exhibitors with a wide variety of off-site entertainment including two nearby gambling casinos and the famous Zanie’s Comedy Club located directly inside Pheasant Run.

Sitarz said, "We know how our exhibitors like to enjoy themselves and DuPage Expo is right in the middle of one of Chicago’s suburban hot spots so spouses and families can make this a real holiday in addition to presenting their products and services to the many buyers who attend."

It is no mystery that this is a soft economy and Kart Expo at DuPage Expo will feature an industry roundtable on Friday, Feb.21 which will address this topic. The roundtable will feature key executives from retail, motorsports and manufacturing sectors.

Sitarz said, "We have a responsibility to help the industry to grow even in these soft-economic conditions and so we are bringing some of the top people to Kart Expo to discuss key issues surrounding the current market and, most important, what steps can be taken to grow."

As a special note, Kart Expo has extended Trade only Hours from 8 AM to Noon on Friday, Feb 21st.

Sodi Kart is the title sponsor of Kart Expo and a longtime supporter of the show.

Peter Bekkers, head of Sodi Kart USA said, "Sodi applauds the move from Schaumburg to DuPage because it does indeed reduce costs for exhibitors and we feel that this important for a show of this stature. Sure, PRI may be fun to go and see Orlando but Kart Expo is for real karting business."

ABOUT KART EXPO 2009:
Location: DuPage Expo Center
4050 East Main St., (Rt #64)
St. Charles, IL 60174
Dates/Times & Schedule:
February 21-22, 2009
Saturday: 8:00AM-Noon – Trade Only
Saturday: Noon-6:00PM – Open to the public

Sunday: 10:00AM – 4:00PM – Open to the public

Roundtable:
February 20, 2008
Location and Schedule to be announced
Exhibitor Contacts:
Darrell Sitarz
Karting@msn.com
630-653-7368

ABOUT SODI KART: Although one of the largest in the karting industry, Sodikart is a mid-size company, fully devoted to the karting industry. Being the industry leader, with revenues increasing annually exceeding 20% or more the last 3 years, Sodikart is financially one of the strongest kart companies in the world. Worldwide operations are overseen from our 80,000 square foot, multi-level plant in Europe, where Sodikart employ’s over 70 employees.
Sodikart was created in 1981 by Gildas Merian, its current chairman. Originally the company focused on distribution and was heavily involved in racing and even achieving world championship in 1993, 2nd place in 2003, 1st place in 2004 and 2nd place in 2005 and 2nd in 2006 and the world championship in 2006. The company has steadily grown the past 25 years and has become a key player in the karting industry.

www.sodikart-usa.com
Kart Expo is produced by: Kart Marketing International, Inc.
www.e-kmi.com

AAR has 5-10 employees, 50% of their business is karting.  AAR Povides track-side services through their dealer network to Karting, Quarter Midget, Bandolero, Legends, Jr. Drag, Mini Cup etc.

Contact:
Susan Miller
AAR Racing Gear, LLC
9879 Main Street
Suite 135
Woodstock, GA 30188

Phone: 800-699-9493
Fax: 866-536-6390

Website:
http://www.AARGear.com/

Product Lines:
Accutech
Aim
Alpinestars
AMB
Arai
Bell Racing
Design Engineering Inc
Eibach
Extreme
Finish Line
G-Force
G-Force/RaceQuip/Impact!
GPAD
HANS
Hawks Head
Herb Adams
Impact!
Indocil Art
Intercomp
K1 Race Gear
Kidracer Formula 5
Kirkey
Longacre
M & R
MatMan
Merscom
MiraCool
Nervo/Coggins
Oval Craft
Panelfast
Penske
Piloti
Quantum
Race Quip
Racewear
Racing Optics
Racing Optics
Raytek
Ribtect
Robic
SenDEC Corporation
Severe Racing
Shock Doctor
Simpson
Sparco
Steve Smith
Tanner
TKO
TRP
UltraShield
Valhalla Racing
G-Force
Multiple Manufacturers

The World Karting Association, or WKA, North America’a largest sanctioning body for kart racing. It was founded in 1971.

Website: http://www.worldkarting.com

Phone: 704-455-1606

The WKA Racing Series:

Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series
The largest racing series of any karting program in the US, it hosts an average of 800 entries participating in twenty-five 2- and 4-cycle classes per event. Beginning its season each year at the Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, people from all over the country come to compete against the best dirt racers in the nation.

Hortsman Gold Cup Series
The oldest and most traditional 4-cycle sprint series held on karting specific road courses, it features 18 classes to choose from. This series remains to be one of the most competitive, averaging over 350 entires per national.

George Kugler/Bridgestone Manufacturer’s Cup Series driven by Mazda 
This series provides seventeen 2-cycle classes from 80cc engines all the way to 125cc shifter karts allowing a place for everyone to compete. The points season consists of 5 events held at asphalt road course facilities and averages 450 entries per event.

Rage Karts Speedway Pavement Series  
Our 4-cycle asphalt series is only 8 years old and has become one of the fastest growing asphalt series in the country. It consists of 22 classes of intense competition racing on asphalt oval tracks of 1/6 mile to 1/4 mile.

Dunlop Tire Road Racing Series driven by Mazda
This series, consisting of 38 classes, visits Super Speedways such as Daytona, Lowe’s, VIR, and Summit Point. The Road Racing Series features laydown and sprint style karts with 2-and 4-cycle engines reaching speeds up to 150 mph.

Member Profile:

BMI Karts (Barhorst Mfg., Inc) is a Factory Direct Outlet Store for Racing & Fun Karts, Minibike, ATV’s and Scooters.

BMI Karts has a huge showroom located in Versailles Ohio along with 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse full of parts. BMI manufacture a full line of racing components in its state of the art CNC machine shop. And recently purchased the assets of Yerfdog along with 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse located in Mississippi that is wall to wall Go Kart parts.

 Website: http://www.bmiKarts.com

Contact Information:

Barhorst Manufacturing, Inc.
811 E Main St
Versailles, OH  45380

Phone: 937-526-9544
Email: questions@bmikarts.com

The Yamaha Motor Corporation has been producing engines since 1953.  Yamaha continues its commitment to karting through its two-stroke engine lineup. 

The Yamaha KT100 is the most popular high-performance 2-stroke kart engine on the track.  Includes carburetor and complete ignition system.  The KT100 classes offer the most class variations and affordable racing.

Member Profile:

MANHATTAN OIL proudly manufactures Power Plus Lubricants, Liquid Horsepower Octane Booster/Fuel Improver, and is the innovator of Fuel Fragrances.

Our company believes that success is achieved by not compromising on quality and maintaining an ongoing committment to research and development. 

Manhattan Oil takes pride in the fact that its products give customers immediate results that can be seen on the dyno, clocked at the track, and literally felt at the throttle. Increased drive train longevity and improved fuel mileage is achieved by reducing friction to a minimum and improving the quality of todays motor fuels. Whether you drive on the street or on the track and whether your vehicle is a motorhome or motorcycle you will find that Manhattan Oil’s staff of motoring enthusiasts is committed to supplying you with the very best products available.

Contact Information:

Address: 
Manhattan Oil 
1525 Aviation Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
PHONE:  (310) 372-9041
FAX:  (310) 374-5150
E-MAIL:  manhattanoil@aol.com

If you have any updates or additions of kart tracks, clubs, and other resources please contact us.

Click on any state to see kart tracks

EdgeCameras.com is a family owned company focused on customer service and satisfaction. We are dedicated to creating products that will enrich the lives of young sports enthusiasts who seek to live their dreams.

We at Edge Cameras are committed to living on the edge, making life as exciting and unique as possible, and we encourage our customers to do the same.  Edge Cameras offers affiliate programs for dealers and website owners.

Website:
http://www.EdgeCameras.com

Contact information:
Phone:  425-741-2526
Skype: edgecameras Skype.com

General Inquiries, info@edgecameras.com
Media Specific Inquiries, media@edgecameras.com
Dealer Inquiries, dealers@edgecameras.com

The International Kart Federation (IKF) takes pride in its long record of achievement as a governing body for the sport of kart racing. In recognition of the need for controls over the sport, the International Kart Federation has published rules for competition since November 21, 1957. Throughout this time, the objectives of the Federation have been the same:

1. to foster strong and fair competition;
2. to provide reasonable rules for the various types of competition; 
3. to administer the competition program with impartiality, and 
4. to reduce the hazards associated with this sport.

 IKF Race Schedule

Contact Information:
ADDRESS
International Kart Federation
1609 South Grove Avenue
Suite 105
Ontario California, 91761

MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Office Phone: 909-923-4999,
Office Fax: 909-923-6940

KARTER NEWS MAGAZINE INFORMATION
Karter News Magazine
437 W. Wilshire, Ste. C,
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Phone: 405-840-3158, Fax: 405-843-1465
e-mail: karternews@ikfkarting.com

Kart Industry Council announces an alliance with DHL to deliver significant savings to its members on DHL Express shipping services!

Your Kart Industry Council (KIC) membership can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, just by shipping with DHL Express.   Ship your packages with a substantial discount of 24% and up.  Contact the KIC  to get details on how to take advantage of this alliance and begin saving now.