MINUTES
June 28, 2003
Indianapolis, Indiana

Call to order:
The meeting was called to order at 8:55 AM

In Attendance:
Charles Pistorio, Pres. Bob White, Exec. Director
Norm DeBoever Darrell Sitarz
Tom Patronite Dave Larson
John Nuttall (Guest) 

Financial Report:
Bob White reported the following:

As of: 6/28/03
Checking Account Balance $24,986.76
The checking account balance includes the net proceeds from the CD which was cashed in on 5/29/03 of $23,459.92�
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For the period ending: 6/28/03
Revenues $ 6,584.62
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Operating Expenses:   11,013.63
Net Operating Loss $(4,429.01)
 

Bob gave a recap of the year-to-date expenses along with a comparison to the same period last year.  This was followed by a brief discussion of the need to increase revenues and the possibility of raising membership dues.

A motion was made to accept the financial report.  It was seconded, and the report was unanimously approved.

Members’ Confidential Report:
Bob White distributed copies of the latest report.  The board reviewed the listing of shops/vendors that are delinquent in paying amounts owed to KIC members and once again agreed that the report is a useful tool to members and should be continued.

Election of New Board Members:
Several items were discussed.  First, Tom Fehring has resigned from the board.  Under the by-laws, the board should appoint someone to complete his term.  The board considered whether to appoint a “runner-up” nominee from the prior election (Andre Champagne) or consider a new nominee (John Nuttall).  There was a motion to contact Andre and ask him to fill the remainder of Tom Fehring’s term.  If he were unwilling to do so, then John Nuttall would be appointed.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.  In addition, the board agreed to send a letter of appreciation to Tom Fehring for serving on the board.

Next, the board considered nominations to replace three board members who will be leaving the board at the end of this year.  There was a discussion about the composition of the board as called for under the KIC by-laws. 

Article V, Section 1 of the KIC by-laws provides for a board of nine directors, seven of which “shall be employed by or otherwise associated with manufacturers, importers or distributors of karts and accessories”.  The remaining two directors shall be “employed by or otherwise associated with members who are not such manufacturers or distributors”.  After a discussion of the intended meaning of “associated with”, the following motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved:  “To encourage greater diversity, that our current directors open the 2004 board nominees to include more than two karting members not directly associated with manufacturing, distributing or importing.”

After some additional discussion, the following were nominated as potential board members:

Brad Sellers John Nuttall
Charlie Sox Randy Kugler
Chris Villarreal 

Membership:
Bob White reported that the total KIC membership is currently the same as reported at the June 2002 meeting. �
 

However, there are several new members while several current members have indicated that they will not renew. He also reported that there were only seven requests for membership applications through the website, none of which resulted in new members.

The board once again discussed what the benefits of KIC membership are and how they can be marketed to attract new members.  John Nuttall, a new member and track owner, presented a number of ideas that he has used to promote his track and race series.  These included use of press releases, e-mail and a track and shop advertising and race directory.  John agreed to prepare a proposal on the cost of preparing a shop and track/race guide for KIC.

Based on their discussion of the foregoing, board members also agreed to issue a series of press releases on the following topics: race director seminar, video tape mailings, marketing package for track, summit meeting, KIC apparel and change of address for KIC.

Membership Plaques:
As agreed at the previous meeting, wooden membership plaques have been distributed to current KIC members.  The board agreed to send a letter of appreciation to Tom and Penny Johnson of Oakland Valley Raceway Park for donating the Membership Plaques, printing the vinyl logo plates and assembling.

Marketing Plan:
The board discussed a revised marketing plan submitted by Angelo Sodano.  The board members agreed on the significance of many of the issues cited in the plan, noting that they have been discussing and addressing the same issues for a number of years.  However, the board noted that some of the issues identified in Angelo’s plan are beyond the scope of KIC’s charter or its ability to influence.  The board members expressed their appreciation for his presentation.

Track Committee:
There was no significant discussion because Tom Johnson, head of the track committee, was unable to attend the meeting.  A new KIC member, John Nuttall, has agreed to work with Tom on the committee.

Race Director Seminar:
A suggestion was made that KIC sponsor a seminar at the next Kart Expo show on how to organize and conduct a race event.  The seminar would provide information and available options on rules, scheduling, training of officials and corner workers, scoring and what to do if certain conditions occur.  After some discussion, a motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved that KIC sponsor a “Race Director” seminar at the next Kart Expo.  Darrell Sitarz indicated that Tom Argy would probably be willing to be involved such a seminar.  John Nuttall volunteered to work with Tom to prepare and present the seminar.  After further discussion, the seminar was tentatively planned for Friday afternoon, February 20, 2004.  The board also set an attendance fee schedule as follows:

 First attendee from a track or club Each additional attendee from the same track or club
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KIC Member No Charge $ 15.00
None-KIC Member $ 50.00 $ 15.00

2-Cycle Tech Seminar & National Tech Committee:
A suggestion was made that the national tech committee develop and present a seminar on technical inspection of two-cycle engines.  After a brief discussion, the board decided that it is not practical for KIC to attempt such a seminar because of the number of organizations which all have their own differing procedures.

After another brief discussion, the board also decided to have another meeting of the National Tech Committee at Kart Expo in St. Charles, Illinois on Friday evening, February 20, 2004.  The purpose of the meeting will be to review recent accomplishments and future projects.

KIC Website:�
Darrell Sitarz reported that the site has been updated to include the latest membership list, minutes of the last board meeting and information on all of the KIC items currently for sale.  As agreed at the prior meeting, Darrell contacted Bob Evans at 4-cycle.com about hosting the KIC website.  Bob declined and suggested another vendor who might be willing to do so. 

A suggestion was made that KIC send the KIC logo to all KIC members and ask that each one display the logo on their website. John Nuttall volunteered to e-mail the logo to the current membership list. In addition, there was a motion that John contact 4-cycle.com and e-kartingnews.com about putting the KIC logo and link on their websites.  If necessary, John would be authorized to offer each a free KIC membership to do so.  The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Bob White noted that sales of KIC items from the website have been minimal and that there are a significant number of the KIC videotapes on hand. A suggestion was made to send up to 100 tapes to various cable television stations/networks and request them to be shown as a fill in, when there is free time available. The board agreed that Bob should send tapes to a list of stations that Darrell will provide.
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KIC Future:
The board members agreed that the meeting had resulted in some positive action plans with which to continue to promote the sport of karting.

Non-agenda Item:
Bob White noted that the official KIC mailing address has changed to P.O. Box 430, Independence, KY 41051.

Next Board Meeting:
After some discussion, the board agreed to hold the next meeting in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 1, 2003.

After some discussion, the board agreed to hold the next meeting in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 1, 2003.  The location will be determined at a later date.
About 3:15 PM a motion was made for adjournment.  The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

KIC THANKS TOM FEHRING AND TOM JOHNSON
The Karting Industry Council would like to publicly thank Tom Fehring of SMC for his time, effort and commitment to the sport of karting. Tom has served as a KIC Board Member for the past three years.

The Karting Industry Council would also like to publicly thank Tom and Penny Johnson of Oakland Valley Raceway Park for donating and assembling the KIC Membership Plaques.
OUR THANKS!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
A married couple of 25 years was given a bottle containing a Genie. The Genie offered each spouse one wish.

The wife wanted wealth and was given millions. The husband however wanted a wife thirty years younger than himself.

When the husband and wife went together before a mirror standing side by side, the husband saw that his wish was granted, he had grown thirty years older than his wife.

STARS, SKUSA TO MERGE
Canby, Oregon — In what can only be termed as a blockbuster announcement, top level karting organizations Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow and Superkarts! USA have agreed in principle to merge operations.

The agreement was made between SKUSA president and CEO Jim Murley and Stars principal Bobby Rahal.

“Mr. Murley and I both recognized that for professional kart racing to fulfill its potential a coming together of both our organizations was necessary,” said Rahal.  “SKUSA has had a strong role in the rising professionalism and entertainment value of kart racing and Stars has quickly made inroads in key areas vital to the success of the sport.  Combining these efforts presents all of karting with great promise and we look forward to what lies ahead.”

Discussion between the two organizations, who have oftentimes clashed on scheduling and philosophy, have been ongoing for many months.  Talks intensified this weekend at the SKUSA ProMoto event here in Oregon, with an agreement coming late last night (July 19).

“We respect and recognize the contribution Jim and the SKUSA team have made to karting“, said Rahal.  “We are eager and excited to work together to take the sport to that elusive next level.”

The first event for the new organization will be the 2003 SuperNationals, held at the California Speedway in conjunction with the Champ Car event, October 31 and November 1-2, 2003.

More information on the merger and details of the series will be forthcoming as it is made available.

NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOMED

COMPCOR  INC.
7432 E. Tierra Buena Ln, #104, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Contact: Anita Matas
Phone: 480-443-7747. Fax: 480-443-1190
e-mail: info@compcor.com

EMPIRE KARTS
302 Alabama Street #9, Redlands, CA 92373
Contact: Bill Barros
Phone: 909-793-9695. Fax: 909-793-7532
e-mail: elsocal1@aol.com

SBRP RACE OPS
1018 Culver Place, South Bend, IN 46616
Contact: Marshall Martin
Phone: 574-532-6180. Fax: 603-696-0701
e-mail: HPV99@aol.com

RACEWAY KART ASSOCIATION
2698 Bonita Ct, Lisle, IL 60532�
Contact: John Nuttall
PHONE: 630-253-8876. Fax: N/A
e-mail: racewaykart@karts.net

STARS OF TOMORROW
4601 Lyman Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026
Contact: Paul Zalud
Phone: 614-529-7000. Fax: 614-777-2047
e-mail: dfilson@rahal.com

SUPERKARTS, U.S.A.
6365 Old Avery Rd, Suite #6, Dublin, OH 43016
Contact: Jim Murley
Phone: 614-760-9540. Fax: 614-760-9541
e-mail: ceo@skusaonline.com

Note: New members and their website links will be added to the Karting Industry Council website located at www.kartindustrycouncil.com. 

OF INTEREST…

THE DRIVING FORCE
Author: Mike Hembree
Foreword by Joe Gibbs
Pages: 129
Binding: Hard Cover
ISBN: 0-8499-5536-X
Publisher: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

THE DRIVING FORCE - Handling the Curves in Life.  No sport is more electric than NASCAR racing. February through November, Winston Cup drivers engage in some of the most intense, consistently fierce competition in the world of sport.

They race on half-mile ovals where fender-to-fender bumping is normal policy. They chase each other on mammoth, two-hundred miles per hour super speedways where a single wrong move can cause calamity. In a swirl of vibrant color, they face deafening noise and pervasive danger.

The thunder of the race and the colors of the show, combined with the quality of the competition and personalities of the drivers, have made stock car racing one of the most popular spectator sports in the world. The Winston Cup series attracts more than six million fans to speedways from New Hampshire to California and Michigan to Florida. Millions more who have never attended a race have become devoted fans through television and other media coverage.

Just as drivers must focus constantly on the way ahead, followers of Christ must concentrate on God’s plan for their daily lives. We should walk through our days with a confident stride, bold in the knowledge that He holds our future. We are called to be as courageous as the Winston Cup Driver who puts his life on the line every time he steps into a race car.

In ‘The Driving Force’, author Mike Hembree correlates NASCAR racing with what it takes to be a champion driver in relation to the Bible and God’s word. Whether on the track or off, ‘The Driving Force’ is an inspirational dialog for all. 

DON’T SPILL WHEN YOU FILL�
Fueling Tips For Karters—
When it comes to the simple act of refilling your kart or other power equipment, fuel spillage is often over-looked. You may not realize it, but careless refilling leads to spilled fuel and evaporation, which releases hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere. 

In fact, fuel spillage and evaporation are responsible for up to one-third of all fuel emissions. And most of it can be prevented! Don’t leave your fueling habits up in the air. Remember these helpful fuel handling tips: 

DON’T SPILL WHEN YOU FILL – Use a funnel or non-spill nozzle. And take just a little more time … be a little more careful. 

LEAVE ROOM FOR EXPANSION – Fill fuel containers and fuel tanks to only about three-fourths full, so that tanks don’t overflow from expansion that can result from temperature changes. 

TIGHTEN FUEL CAPS – When fuel cans or engines are not being used, tightened caps will prevent evaporation. 

TRANSPORT AND STORE PROPERLY – Find a cool place out of direct sunlight to store fuel cans. Also make sure the vent is tightly closed. 

There are many ways to be “Earth Wise”, and responsible handling fuel is a contribution we all can make to help our environment. 

For a free guide, write to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, 341 S. Patrick Street, Old Town Alexandria, VA 22314.            Article courtesy of OPEI

RACE FLAGS
To continue the record of safety karting has acquired over the decades since its inception, everyone involved must remember to know the flags, follow the rules and above all RACE SAFE!

There are seven basic racing flags which are designed as instant visual notification for drivers and spectators alike. They are…

Green — Displayed at the start of practice or a race and is kept visible as long as the track is clean and clear for competition.

Yellow — Commonly known as the ‘caution flag’, is shown when the track is partially blocked by an accident, emergency vehicles or objects on the track. While a yellow flag is in use, drivers are to slow down, use caution, hold position and not pass other karts.

Red — Stop Immediately! The race has been stopped due to unsafe conditions.

Blue — Move over, a faster driver is attempting to lap or pass.

Black — Finish the lap and return to the pits because of defective equipment or hazardous driving techniques. The black flag in a rolled position indicates a warning to a driver that there may be a problem.

White — One lap remaining to the conclusion of the race.

Checkered — The event is over. Finish the lap and proceed to the pits at a slower rate of speed.

As a racer, it is your responsibility to know the flags and how the race director will use them. If you have any questions, be sure to ask during the pre-race driver’s meeting.           Article courtesy of e-KMI.com

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