This weekend marks the 17th annual Anderson Mayor’s Cup Grand Prix, hosted by the Anderson Sertoma Club. After partnering with the Great Lakes Pro Series (GLPS) for many years, the Superkarts! USA Central States Challenge (SCSC) will also partner with the annual event to further establish its significance in the sport. The Indiana-based GLPS program, hosting their third round of the season at the event, will join forces with the SCSC as they open up their 2011 season at the temporary circuit. The Indiana city, located just outside the Indianapolis area, will be the destination of many karters from the surrounding area while the historic month of May begins down the road at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for some of karting’s former stars.

 

The Anderson Sertoma Club has hosted the event in numerous locations throughout the city limits of Anderson, with this year’s temporary circuit to be constructed outside the Anderson Mounds Mall. The Sertoma Club has invested heavily in the event year after year, more so now by way of competitor safety, recently purchasing a second load of Scribner Plastics track barriers to bring their total to roughly 860 barriers to outline the course to be used for this year’s event and other karting events throughout the year.

 

The two day race weekend will be separated into two events. Saturday’s action will be a non-points event, run as the official event day for the Anderson Mayor’s Cup Grand Prix, welcoming racers of all forms of karting to race under the same banner. Classes range from Kid Karts to 125 shifterkarts with five of the 12 race groups competing for a cash purse. A full list of classes and entry form can be found in the forms section of the Great Lakes Pro Series website (www.glproseries.com). The day’s proceeds from the event will go to the Sertoma Club, who in turn distribute the money raised to put on the event to numerous charities throughout the area.

 

Sunday’s action will be reserved for the Great Lakes Pro Series and the Central States Challenge categories. Thanks to similar class structure and rules, the two organizations will combine like-categories into single race groups to further amp up the competition and action on the track. Depending on the series, class lists and entry forms can be found at their respective websites.

 

“We couldn’t be happier to form this partnership with the Great Lakes Pro Series and the Anderson Sertoma Club,” commented Pam Freund of the SKUSA Central States Challenge. “It has been nothing but praises about what the club does for the many charities they support and how welcoming they are to all the karters that attend their event. Terry and Shirley Riggins of the GLPS have been long-time promoters in the sport and like family to many karters in the area. It will be truly a pleasure to bring our program in as part of this long-standing event in Central Indiana.”

 

“This year’s Anderson Mayor’s Cup Grand Prix is sure to be one of its best,” stated Great Lakes Pro Series director Terry Riggins. “Having worked with the Sertoma Club for many years, you will not find a better group of individuals who worked endlessly to support the community and the many charities they support. Their support of the Grand Prix for 17 years now only shows how much motorsports means to them and the enjoyment they have each annual event. We are happy to have the Central States Challenge come on board, as it will only increase the talent pool we have this year, which is sure to be an amazing two days of racing.”

 

The race also begins the beginning of the Central States Challenge participation of the Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine program. It is interesting in the context of many factors, and it is even used to create racing games popular online. Drivers 15 years old and over competing in the SKUSA Central States Challenge shifterkart classes will be among those who have a chance to be part of this new grassroots relationship through the Mazda Road to Indy. The SCSC will be sending one driver to the Andersen Race Park in Palmetto, Florida on November 28-30, where drivers will be given the opportunity to test a USF2000 car. In order to be eligible, drivers will have to compete at all six rounds of the race series.

 

The Great Lakes Pro Series opened up its 2011 season at the end of April with a double-event weekend at the nearby New Castle Motorsports Park. A host of drivers took part in the two-round event with nearly every class dominated by one driver. Cole Mathewson and Kurt Mathewson, former series champions, started the season off with double wins in 125 Pro and 125 Masters. Colton Aldridge took home three wins on the weekend, doubling up in TaG Senior while adding a 125 Stock Moto victory on Saturday with all the Junior categories having double winners, including Drake Woodard, Ryan Bjerke, Devon Smith, and Griffin Bjerke. All the winners, including the same competitors who attended the New Castle round, will do battle once again at Anderson.

 

The Great Lakes Pro Series would like to thank the 2011 supporters: MG Tires, Alden Engine Components, eKartingNews.com, National Kart News, Streeter Superstands, Bush Trophy Case & Embroidery, 2nd II None Racing, Evolution Karting, and Margison Graphics. For more on the Great Lakes Pro Series, contact Terry and Shirley Riggins - (765) 643-2752 and also visit their website - http://www.glproseries.com 

 

SKUSA Central States Challenge would like to thank all of the 2011 partners: Crockett Motorsports, Margay, MG Tires, K1RaceGear.com, Mates Concrete, Ostrom Painting and Sandblasting, Unique Heating and Cooling, Riverlake Racing (RLR), Nado Alley Silk Screen and Embroidery, and WaltersWebDesign.com. To follow updates on the upcoming 2011 Central States Challenge, be sure to watch their website - http://www.centralstateskarting.com - and see how you can become of the growing SKUSA regional program.