Superkarts! USA, the leader in Spec Shifter racing in the United States, has announced a driver based marketing initiative that will assist in the development of career kart racers and young professional drivers with the intent to keep their roots firmly planted in the sport as they progress through professional racing ranks. Leading the way in this initiative is the formation of the S5 Jr. class, which will debut at SuperNationals XI this November 14-18 in Las Vegas, NV. Never before has a kart racing organization attempted to construct a progressive marketing program that feeds manufacturer and US importer efforts into driver development programs that are geared towards assisting young drivers growth and development over time.

The idea sprung to mind from Superkarts! USA’s marketing chief, Jim Baltutis soon after SuperNationals X ended last November, and was cemented into a near final concept after Baltutis and SKUSA CEO Tom Kutscher visited Sao Paulo Brazil and the Granja 500 race later that month. “Last year it was clearly apparent that this sport never leaves the blood of the one time serious participant. Whether it’s Scott Speed’s Herculean–like effort to participate in last years SuperNationals, or seeing Brendan Langlois qualify alongside Felipe Massa at Brazil’s premiere karting event a short time later, I was left with an indelible impression that the sport of kart racing is infectious to anyone who comes across it” says Baltutis, but most importantly, “they all come back.”

The truth is too many would-be participants are infected in a way that’s not so good for the overall health of the sport, with plenty walking away from the sport soon after getting involved. Because of bad advice, purchases, and lack of customer support, the result is some feel they got stung, and badly. “Sadly, that’s the reality for some entering the sport” says Kutscher, “I’m hoping misinformation will be a thing of the past, as this platform grows talented young drivers into long-time kart racers, while keeping out-of-pocket costs down to realistic levels so a talented driver can continue in the sport for many years. The key is reliable customer support on all levels. Kart racing will always springboard talented individuals into higher levels of competition, but with a true SKUSA sponsored effort, perhaps the organization be rewarded with greater exposure and reach from those making the jump in the future.”

“S5 Junior, as a new and innovative class, is the perfect opportunity for an organization such as Superkarts! USA to think forward in terms of driver development of the career kart racer,” says Baltutis, adding, “In an effort to determine how far the concept can grow, we’ve ironically decided to limit the class to certain chassis- on top of the already solid and in-place Spec motor rules package.” Limiting chassis is for strategic strength, and long-term growth. Establishing a strong dealer network with reliable customer support for the class, and ultimately the Spec program overall is paramount in this decision. Certain manufactures have already shown a clear commitment for a strong dealer network, and market presence, so they are–by virtue of their ongoing commitments- already factored into the S5 program. Other manufacturers were contacted by Superkarts! USA and have indicated they would support the program. “Presenting ideas to a select group of forward thinking companies is always better than trying to broadcast to a large group, no matter what the masses say,” emphasizes Kutscher.

Immediate marketing concepts and plans will include the following:

• Build a career gearbox karter from a young age: 12 to adulthood on the same investment platform
• Initiate co-op advertising programs
• Establish third-party funded events, programs and sponsor opportunities
• Form strategic B2B alliances with SKUSA sponsors, including spec oil (Motul), tire (MG Tires) and fuel sponsors
• Reduce costs based on reliable customer support
• Create factory/team presence at all events, not just national events.
• Create affordable financing and race packages for customers
• Create a special assistance program emanating from SKUSA that begins by pairing drivers with qualified shops

“All this is possible with a managed group of manufacturers and importers” says Baltutis “the opportunities lie in the creativity of the various programs nationally, and locally. Superkarts! will present the “core twelve” or so companies marketing programs they can all participate in equally- and then build from. It’s also important to note that there is no manufacture paying the organization to participate, as it’s simply about choosing a correct path for the growth of the class, the drivers, the series and planning accordingly.”
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The following kart manufacturers can participate in the S5 program, and all participants will follow forthcoming technical inspection rules to be posted by Superkarts! USA with regards to participation.

S5 Jr. Eligible Chassis

• Arrow
• Birel
• CRG
• First Kart
• GP
• Intrepid
• Italkart
• Margay*
• Sodi Kart
• Tony Kart
• Top Kart
• Trackmagic*
• Wildkart
• North American manufactured chassis (includes Margay and Trackmagic, as well as other manufacturers with welded frames constructed in the Unites States)

Shifter karts in S5 Jr. will be powered by the very reliable Honda 125cc motor package used so successfully over the last few years as defined by the Superkarts! USA stock rules-set. The key difference is that the motor package will be restricted with a custom SKUSA-provided exhaust restrictor and an 2 hole air box that when combined together reduces the power down to what would be comparable to an 80cc motor. This low cost modification can be removed as the driver graduates to the upper levels of the sport.

In addition to SuperNationals XI, the SKUSA plan is to establish a strong regional presence for S5 Jr. over the next couple of years in the Great Lakes Region, ProKart Challenge and Desert Kart Challenge.

Additional information on the class, including the availability of the 125 motor modification kits is available on http://www.skusasupernats.com/