At the banquet, on the phone, via email – with racers, shops and series race directors – we’ve had many discussions about tweaks, adjustments and all-out changes we should and shouldn’t make to the NHKA rules for 2017. Thank you to all who made thoughtful contributions to the effort.

There have already been a couple NHKA News emails from Race Director Mike Camarra with early versions of these changes to encourage input. Consider what’s here the final changes until after the season opener at Canaan on April 22, 2017. So carry on and prep your kart with confidence. However, know that once we’ve run a race or two, we may make further adjustments to ensure that the competition as fair and safe as possible.

Hello Mini ROK, Mini Swift and the New TaG Mini Class
For the last couple years, young karters around the country have been working the kinks out of a couple new engines: Mini ROK and Mini Swift. By all accounts they are reliable and quick – but not too quick. Our local shops are eager to offer them, and we’re eager to see them on track… so much so, we’re putting them together with the Mini Max to create a new combined class:
TaG Mini
AGE: 9-12 Years Old
MINIMUM WEIGHT: 245lbs
TIRES: MG Red 4.60 x 5 Front and Rear
MINI ROK & IAME MINI SWIFT
     ENGINE RULES: TaG USA
     GEARING: Open
     CHASSIS: 950mm Wheelbase – No Front Brakes
ROTAX MINI MAX
     ENGINE RULES: USRMC Micro & Mini – EVO or NonEVO, no mixing
     GEARING: 12/76 or 13/82
     CHASSIS: 950mm or 1010mm Wheelbase – No Front Brakes
           NOTE: Mini Max may run 1010mm chassis with 6.0 x 5 rears, but must weigh 265lbs

Hello Mini Max 1010mm Chassis. Goodbye Mini Max 1010mm Chassis.
It seems like just last year Rotax forced Mini Max drivers onto the 1010mm chassis. Now they are requiring the 950mm. So for 2017 only, the NHKA will allow either chassis to be raced with a Mini Max for the new TaG Mini championship (see the rules above.) However, starting in 2018 we will no longer allow the 1010mm chassis.

Goodbye 80cc Comer
This will be the last season for the Comer K-80 due to the limited availability and rising prices of these engines. For 2017 only, the K-80 can be raced for points towards the Briggs 206 Cadet championship. For now, we’ll keep the 5.30 spec gear ratio, but nudge the weight up to 245lbs. We want to make sure both engines have a fair shot at winning, so we may need to make adjustments as we go along.

The NHKA is giving you a year to get full value out of any K-80 purchases you’ve already made, and to start figuring out which engine you’ll race next. In 2018, racers 7-12 years old of age have the option to continue 2-cycle racing in the Micro Max or TaG Mini classes, or switch over to 4-cycle racing in the 206 Cadet class.

As a club, we think the best choice for most cadet-age racers is the Briggs 206. The speeds are age appropriate, especially as these youngsters work up the confidence to attempt passes. By literally reducing the impact of expected mistakes, we hope to see more racers practicing this core skill earlier. Then you have all the other reasons we recommend the Briggs 206 to racers of any age: It’s affordable to buy and own, reliable and easy to maintain, sealed at the factory for fairness on the track. This all adds up to a package that allows drivers to focus on what they care about most – racing! It’s also a great choice if you aspire to compete at the national level. The 206 has become a mainstay at the Rock Island Grand Prix, also, both AKRA and WKA national touring series offer Briggs 206 racing using the same rulebook as the NHKA.

Hello MG Red Spec Tire – World Formula, Micro Max and TaG Mini
Starting in 2017, the MG Red will be the spec tire for World Formula Light and Heavy, Micro Max and TaG Mini, while remaining the spec tire for all Briggs 206 classes. The goal is to save you money with a harder compound tire that offers consistent performance across a long life cycle. This change should eliminate the pressure some drivers feel to buy new tires every race. Truth be told, we’re not anticipating much drop off in speed in World Formula. In fact, we’re betting most of you will figure out how to tune and groove on a much freer kart to the point of beating your times on stickier tires.

To put a period on a related topic, the idea of switching World Formulas to 6” rear wheels has been shelved. Both Light and Heavy classes will continue to use 11 – 7.10 x 5 rears and 10 – 4.60 x 5 fronts.

Goodbye Helmets with 2005 or Older Certifications
With the new year, many older Snell and SFI certifications expired. If the sticker on the inside and/or back of your helmet has a date of 2005 or older, you’ll need a new helmet to get on the track. Go check your helmet right now. If it’s no longer legal, be sure to give an NHKA sponsoring shop a shot at fitting you with a new one!

Snell Foundation Specifications
CMR 2007 (Youth)
12/20/2020
M2010
12/20/2021
SA 2010
12/20/2021
CMR 2026
12/26/2026
No longer legal: SA 2005, M 2005 and K2005

SFI Specifications
24.1/2010 (Youth)
12/20/2021
31.1/2010
12/20/2021
41.1/2010
12/20/2021
24.1/2015 (Youth)
12/20/2026
31.1/2015
12/20/2026
41.1/2015
12/20/2026
No longer legal: 24.1 (Youth), 31.2a, 41.2a,
SFI 24.1/2005 (Youth), 31.1/2005, 41.1/2005

Hello 30mm Headers on TaG Jr. Leopards
To promote parody, and stay current with the TaG USA rulebook, Parilla Leopards in the TaG Jr. class should now have 30mm exhaust headers.

If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t wait until we’re standing on the grid in Canaan, email [email protected] today. Otherwise we’ll see you at the track soon!

Last weekend’s IKS race at F1 Outdoors set the stage for some of the tightest championship points battles we’ve ever seen. The Double Finale at Canaan Motor Club promises to be a wild one.

Stock Moto Shifter
With his rugged good looks, clearly Stock Moto points leader Keith Buffo would take the best picture hoisting the IKS championship trophy. But with the top 5 separated by only 27 points, he’ll need to pull off the pole/prefinal/final hat-trick to keep the title from Evan Polisky, Mike Kavanaugh, Dave Nadeau or Jake Seidel (who is doing a rain dance as I write this.)

World Formula Light & Heavy
A scant 10 points are all that separate Nick Leung and Richard Hemingway in the battle for the World Formula Light championship. That is once crazy tight points race by any measure… except this one: In World Formula Heavy, David Olbrych, Dan Dupre and Dave Nadeau are all within six points of the championship. That’s nuts.

TaG Junior
While Jonathan Treilof has the TaG Junior championship sewn up, only 49 points separate Henry Goddard, Bryce Czuba Nicholas Roth and Haley Lederer in their four-way fight for the remaining two steps on the IKS championship podium.

TaG Senior
The TaG Senior championship is completely up for grabs. With a mere 29 points separating the top four, either Christian Sarnecki, Chris Kierce, Derek Franklin or Zack Morrison could be your champion when the checkers are thrown.

Mini Max
Ireland Norstrom may have the NHKA Mini Max title locked down, but she is going to have to put in some work to win the IKS title. When you calculate the drop, Evan Slater is only 15 points back, and Darren Long is only 22 points behind him.

The NHKS/IKS Double Finale is going to be an intensely dramatic and wildly fun day of racing at Canaan with so many championships to be decided on the last lap of the season. Many thanks to Mike Oliver and family for sponsoring the trophies. This is going to be great!

The final event of any season always makes for exciting racing, this will be doubly true on October 1, 2016 at Canaan Motor Club when both the NHKA Racing Series and Interstate Kart Series seasons wrap up in one crazy-intense Double Finale.

We’ll soon see how this weekend’s IKS race at F1 Outdoors plays out in those standings, let’s take a look at the races to watch in the NHKA points championships.

Stock Moto Shifter
Shifter kart racing is officially back in 2016! Week after week, the drivers of our fastest classes showed up in force to bang gears and bumpers for every position. While Alan Morrison rides off into the sunset with the KZ Shifter championship, it is another story entirely for the Stock Moto Shifter drivers. All year long Mike Kavanaugh, perhaps the series’, shall we say, most seasoned racer, sat at the top of the points. However, when you figure in the drop, young gun Evan Polisky pops to the top of the standings with a 20-point advantage over Jake Seidel going into the last event. That would be a reasonable cushion if it weren’t for the fact that the entire top-6 are separated by only 80 points! Now that’s some competition!

World Formula Light
You know you’ve had a championship winning season when a 2nd place finish is your drop race. Such is the case for “Fast Freddie” Fawcett in his CFMotorsports prepared Margay World Formula Light. While Richard Hemingway sits fairly secure on the second step of the championship podium, Mike Oliver (who, with his family, is sponsoring the event’s trophies), Michael Antonov and Ed Bernardon are only separated by 40 points in their battle for the third spot. Meanwhile, World Formula Heavy Champion “Dammit” Dave Nadeau will be looking to make it a perfect season by driving his Lefty’s Brewing sponsored kart to a ninth straight victory. This would be an NHKA first in a competitive class. Good luck and congrats!

TaG Junior
Strange but true: Nikolas Georgantas and Garrett Miskoe have only met on-track three times this season in New Hampshire, but none the less will be battling it out for second place at the Double Finale… that is, if they both show up. Meanwhile, Stephen Krueger banged out top-two finishes like it’s his job, earning himself the TaG Junior championship. In his spare time, he hopped into his 80cc Junior Shifter, often hanging tough against the 125cc shifters.

TaG Masters
Once again Tom Prioli leads the TaG Masters points going into the Double Finale (estimated drop applied). However, if Tom wants to win his third straight championship he’ll have to hold back a hard-charging Marciano dos Santos who is only 35 points back, Derek Franklin lurks only another 30 points back, and Ryan Ouellett only 50 points behind Derek. This should be a great race, as usual.

Mini Max
The adorable/fierce Ireland Nordstrom has locked up her second NHKA Racing Series Championship in a row with a commanding 110-point lead in Mini Max. The battle for runner up honors will be the one to watch. Going into Saturday’s Double Finale, Evan Slater holds a 40-point advantage over Ryder Currier. And never count out Anna Pellegrini as she takes her bid for the third step of the podium.

The season’s last race has all the makings to be the season’s biggest. On October 1st kart racers from across New England will gather with friends and family at Canaan Motor Club to settle championship battles in both the NHKA Racing Series and the Interstate Kart Series. Put your brand in the heart of the action by sponsoring the trophies.

Trophies won at this double season finale are certain to hold special spots on mantles for years to come. That’s because they will represent one of the most triumphant days in many a racer’s career. This is a unique opportunity for your brand to be literally etched upon those special memories. It’s probably the most powerful and lasting one-to-one marketing tactics you’ll ever deploy.

We need to order the trophies soon, so email [email protected] today to tell us you’re in.

As you know, Tom Prioli will be throwing the final checkered flag at CFIK on Saturday August 27th. He fought the good fight, but when a big national chain shows up with unlimited resources, there’s not much a small independent business can do. While we’ll all miss the track, at least we’ll get to keep the best part of the place – the Prioli family.

“Of course we’ll continue racing with the NHKA and supporting the club every way we can. My mom, dad and I can’t thank the NHKA community enough for their support of Checkered Flag. When I think about the generosity at our Racing Against Cancer events, I feel so fortunate to have such an awesome extended family.” Over NHKA’s 5-year partnership with Tom, he has been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars for worthy causes, introduced tons of people to karting, and made lots and lots of fun memories.

Tom doesn’t hesitate about his favorite memories, “The World Formula Indoor Karting Championship. I will miss that more than anything. Racing outdoor karts indoors was insane fun. But what made it so special was the way we helped each other as much as we competed against each other. Just like we do outdoors with in the NHKA. That kind of comradery shouldn’t have an off season.” At Saturday’s drivers meeting, Tom mentioned he was trying to organize one last night for the World Formulas, but unfortunately it was just too short of notice for most drivers to make happen.

7pm Saturday August 27th – Be There!
The NHKA is going to help Tom give Checkered Flag the kind of send-off a dear old friend deserves. Starting at 7pm August 27th, the NHKA will buy the first race for the first 20 NHKA members to arrive. Also, there will be unreal deals on any remaining merchandise – used GoPros, helmets, driving suits and collars as well as new driving gloves, CFIK t-shirts, hoodies and other memorabilia. All that plus Tom’s Going Out of Business bargain race pricing and you have the makings of a fun night of deals and racing with your NHKA buddies while showing the Prioli family how much Checkered Flag has meant to us. And if some beer and snacks were to appear for when the racing is over, that would be alright too. Let’s make it a good-bye party with the emphasis on party!

One important request: Please go easy on the karts. Race, have fun, but know that these are core assets, and their condition is critical to Tom’s exit from the business. Besides, if we do this party right, the last thing Ron will want to face Sunday morning is a bent kart. Just remember why we’re there.

It’s great to be back at Canaan for Race 7 of the NHKA Racing Series driven by Checkered Flag Indoor Karting. The forecast couldn’t be more perfect – meaning that it appears that mother nature is giving her canopy murder spree a rest. So come one, come all as we switch things up by running the left-side combo track counterclockwise. This is the same configuration we ran the season’s first two races at Canaan, but in reverse. It should be interesting. Let’s try to not make it TOO interesting.

This weekend’s trophies will be sponsored by Lecam Machine Company. Lee and Mike Camarra’s day job since 1984, they’ve helped countless customer’s turn ideas into high-quality products – CAD design to prototype to small-medium production runs. Best known for their motorcycle, kart and auto racing components, Lecam Machine is also a trusted partner across multiple industries for custom one-off parts and part modifications that enable companies to extend the lifespan and capabilities of their machinery investments. And being owned by Lee and Mike, you know you’ll get winning results fast. Call (508) 588-2300.

This year’s edition of KartMania! is in the books. While Saturday’s weather was a big disappointment, boy did we ever have some fun Friday on the Canaan Motor Club’s full road course. So much speed and flow! What the track may have lacked in hard braking zones, it more than gave back with the subtle complexity of banking, drafting, off-camber exits and elevation changes. The track offered the thrill of the fastest corners many of you have ever driven… like the kink onto the pit stretch. Talk about a blazing fast corner that puts you right on the edge. Some of the region’s best shifter and TaG drivers spent the whole day trying to find a way through without lifting. Not sure if anyone did, but a few went for wild rides into the infield trying. Fortunately the track’s safe design prevented injury and kart damage. Friday night we had ourselves a great party. Thank you to everyone who brought side dishes to share. And a huge thank you to chef Marcello DeCampos and crew for the awesome BBQ, and to Dave Nadeau and Lefty’s Brewing for the delicious beer.

Then it rained. Despite everyone’s efforts to dry the track – TWICE! – non-stop drizzle made it a losing battle, and the races needed to be called. The disappointment has left all of us with a feeling of unfinished business on the long track. While we have nothing to announce officially, we can say that getting back onto the full road course is as much a top priority for us as it appears to be for many of you. Obviously these events are more expensive and complex to put on, so a huge turnout is critical. Be sure to let Mike know how strongly you feel about racing on the big track – especially if you’re one of those people who doesn’t voice your opinion very often.

Back to the Business of Winning Championships
There’s a vocal faction of competitors in the NHKA Racing Series driven by Checkered Flag Indoor Karting that misses the intense, up-on-the-wheel, close-quarters racing we used to do on the S3 Lot at NHMS. So it was decided to bring back short-track racing by running this weekend’s big combined IKS Race 3/NHKA Race 5 event on the kart track. This configuration links both crossover roads with short portions of the front and back stretches. So pack those tiny drive gears and tall axle sprockets, and check those brake pads. It’s time to go short track racing!

Big Shout-Out to Trophy Sponsor Central Mass Powersports
CMP, located in Lunenburg, MA, sells and services just about every type of motorcycle, personal watercraft and snowmobile, along with gear for riders of all ages. If it has an engine and it’s fun you’ll find it at CMP – including the lineup of Top Kart chassises. CMP also carries a full line of engine parts and a wide selection of trailers to get your kart to the track. Be sure to stop by to thank the Pescatore family this Saturday, and visit CentralMassPowersports.com to find out what CMP is all about.

Thank you to everyone who pre-entered for KartMania! With a solid idea of who will be racing, we now have a complete schedule for Friday’s practice and the races on Saturday. Click here to view and print.

The gates will open at 5pm today for trailer drop-off and camping (no services or campfires.) Registration and safety tech will be open. Gates close at 10pm. Late arrivals are allowed to QUIETLY park overnight on the property outside the gate (not on the street.) Alcohol, fires and noise are strictly forbidden!

Gates, registration and safety tech will open at 7am Friday and Saturday. Please keep in mind that registration for the races closes at 9am Sunday.

We hope everyone will hangout for Brazilian BBQ by Marcello de Campos. Festivities are sponsored by MAK Contracting and Lefty’s Brewing. Please bring a side to share. Rice dishes, mac and cheese, macaroni, potato and garden salads would all be perfect. (Please let Mike know what you’re bringing.) Dave Nadeau will have some Lefty’s on tap, but folks are encouraged to bring their own beverages.

Please be extra diligent as you make your final preparations on your kart. With road racing, speeds are high, so for everyone’s safety, Paul will be super picky in pre-race tech. There’s nothing to do in addition to what you do for a regular NHKA race, but everything needs to be done to perfection. Also, shifter karts will be expected to have air boxes and silencers – same as are required at F1 Outdoors. This is a permanent rule change for all races at Canaan Motor Club.

Yes, there’s a good chance we’ll see rain at some point. Yes, we’ll race. However, classes scheduled for the full road course may switch to the shorter, tighter circuit we’ve been racing this season to keep the speeds down. Mike will make an announcement if this track change is necessary.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Canaan!

Tomorrow, June 25, 2016, the NHKA Racing Series driven by Checkered Flag Indoor Karting is back in action on the wildly varied Hill Course at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With not so much as a drop of rain in the forecast, Race 4 will have none of the rain set-up guesswork that played such a big role in the previous event. Competitors will be back to the usual Hill Course challenge of balancing their karts to fly through the bowl but still get that key launch off the super-tight turns.

We’re pleased to welcome back trophy sponsor Earthwork Industries. The company provides complete environmental remediation services throughout the Northeast. Their expertise includes wetland restoration, contaminated soil removal, remediation systems, drainage, sewer and water connections, commercial and residential septic systems (including MA Title 5), and more. Next time you have a project, be sure to visit http://earthworkindustries.com or call 508.643.4430.