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PORTLAND KARTING ASSOCIATION READIES FOR IKF ROAD RACE NATIONALS 

Organization releases announcements regarding the July enduro event 

As the bulk of the ‘08 season gets underway, the Portland Karting Association remains hard at work preparing for the upcoming International Kart Federation (IKF) Road Race Grand Nationals, set for the newly-repaved Portland International Raceway on July 15-18. The four-day event is filled with ample racing action as 28 classes ranging from 4-Cycle to Unlimited are on the docket. 

To help bring in more competitors to this year’s race, the International Kart Federation has dropped their traditional three-punch rule, which allow anyone who has a qualified Road Race license to compete at the 2008 IKF Road Race Grand Nationals. The IKF will also accept qualified World Karting Association and K.A.R.T. Road Race licenses as qualified Road Racers, although the entrant still must be an IKF member to compete at the Grand Nationals. 

One of the new options for the Grand Nationals is the ‘Thrifty Five-Fifty Racer’ deal. The PKA board, along with the Grand National Committee, have been working hard to insure that racing at the Grand Nationals is more affordable amongst the rising track rental fees and traveling costs. The plan is simple; a driver can race as many classes as they can for a flat fee of $550, excluding the two ‘Pro’ classes. The deal is truly a first in karting, but the offer is only good until the June 16 pre-entry cut off date.  

Two ‘Pro’ classes will be offered on Tuesday, July 15 following the open practices. The United States Kart Grand Prix Pro Race will feature the Super Stock CR125 class. USKGP will provide $250 to the winner, along with trophies for the class. The PKA will add on top of that using 50% of the entry fee monies to pay first through 10th. The Competition Motor Corporation Pro Race will feature the TaG Heavy competitors, running at the same time as the Super Stock CR125 pro race. CMC will award $250 to the class winner with PKA again providing 50% of the entry fee monies to pay first through 10th. 

Looking to give back to the racers, a couple of contingency sponsors will be offered throughout the event. Azusa Manufacturing is awarding $100 to the winner of each class if they are wearing an Azusa driver’s suit, pants, and or jacket. NGK will be awarding a box of sparkplugs to any driver making the podium using an NGK sparkplug in their engine while running an NGK sticker on their kart. Another award to be presented during the Road Race Grand Nationals will be the annual Troy Ruttman Jr. Memorial Award, given to the person/team with the most innovative and best appearing kart. 

Hotel, restaurant, and local information can be found on PKA’s official Road Race Grand Nationals website - http://www.portlandkarting.com/2008%20Grands/2008RRGrandHome.htm