|
How To Use This Site:
You can mouse around this front page for the latest
stories about our karts and engines. Driver stories are here
too. To look at individual karts mouse up to the right hand
top of the home page and click on teh names of the karts or
engines you are looking to purchase. We also have pages
across the top of this home page that have videos, pictures,
team news and how to contact us.
Special
Notes:
Used
Engines and Karts
Call today (916)390-6474
before they are
gone! First to pay gets them, we do not reserve engines for
people. Great engines only come by every once in a while.
Lead Stories:
How To
Win
Big
Over the years we have been
blessed to win over 50% of the national races and 60% of the
regional titles in the starter class. It wasn't always our
engine and our Tornado chassis but many times we had a part
in the win with one or both. Sometimes people switched from
our engines because they were given free ones by someone
else trying to buy a name for themselves, but our training
and input helped put the team on a course for success.
We are working on a special
video for the teams that want to win big. Of course the
majority of kids would say they want to win big trophies. My
four did. When the boys all sat at a table with me and I
asked what are our goals for this coming race season they
said "we want to win"! The next questions was meant to help
define that better. I asked, win a club race, win a club
championship, a regional championship, a national
championship? Of course they picked the hardest one for me
and them in choice E, all of the above.
When I told them how hard
that would be on me, their family and them... they told me
not to worry, they would do their part and drive. When I
explained such a goal would be much more work than soccer
practice or baseball practice. "It's ok, we are ready!" A
great proud Dad answer but also a very big time and monetary
commitment. So we wrote down together what we thought it
would take in the amount of test days, practice days,
practice races and long distance travel. They quickly agreed
to the tasks and for the most part did the work. We were
fortunate in that the track in Davis was only 2 miles from
our house. On a cool clear day you could hear the shifters
practicing.
In our upcoming video, How
To Win Big Races, we will cover some of the secrets of
winning teams of the past and what we feel your goals list
should include. After having created an Inc 500 company with
a few hundred software programmers you get accustomed to
making a plan because software people, bless their hearts,
can be like herding cats. Here are some basic steps to think
about.
 Set
a goal and work backwards from that date. Great teams that
have the best shot have been in planning for over a year.
Good teams have a 7 month plan and happy go lucky teams say
I think we can get to that track at the end of the month and
have a chance to win.... Little do they know that will
require all the top great teams to crash or have mechanical
difficulty.
Engine locating, engine
testing, engine aging and engine rotation takes a great deal
of time, especially in the stock C50 and other classes where
the engines can vary greatly from the manufacturer. Add to
that driver training, chassis testing as well as crew chief
training and this gets very difficult fast. A high end bond
trader once said to me, I thought my world was really tough
until we decided to go kid kart racing. The pressure is so
much greater in racing. So much to learn and so little time.
One of the benefits that we offer is that we have done this
so many times that it's not new to us. Few single car NASCAR
teams ever do well because they don't have the data sharing
to bracket settings and get to the final answer fast enough
to let the driver learn the track.
 So
another tip is to get with a team, a club team, a local kart
shop team, a national team like ours or some group that you
can work together with all season long. That's why so many
people sign up to be selected for our Tornado Factory Driver
teams. September is when we start taking applications. Not
everyone gets in but we work hard to get Dads, Moms, Uncles
and Grandfathers trained early. Then we work on the chassis
and engine programs. When the time comes for the big one
you've got to be ready for adversity. Weeks before key races
engines have a tendency to blow or break because we are
putting them on the edge to get them ready to sing. Ring
strategy... that could be three chapters in itself. Let's
save that for another day.
 That
should be a start for some of you hard researching teams. I
can tell you that with the economy there were only a few,
less than you can count on one hand, well prepared great
teams last year. I can also tell you that more than five
teams are already well on their way for next year. They
don't have Cadetitis (that almost incurable mania to move up
to a much more powerful and competitive class) and they had
their plan to win a national before this years races were
run. Anyone can win. You all have a chance. It isn't about
whom has the most money. This year's winner is a Refer
mechanic, two years ago, a policeman, the year before that a
Indy 500 Champ (nice motor home, better than average budget)
the year before that restaurant owner. One little girl that
won more regionals than any boy had the smallest budget I've
seen in racing but one very hard working and educated
Father. So it's all up to you, start planning. Build your
own kart from scratch and do it all yourself or hook up with
a top team and get proven equipment that passes tech and get
seat time for your driver. Good luck, see you at the races.
Jerry
and Zach Preiser on the walk back
after tech
Many Try But Only A Few
Get This Feeling When Its Over
P.S. What happened to our
goals? One national title (third for the little one), one
regional title and second/third in the club. You just can't
always win them all... But it is so much fun trying.
Over Inflated?
Some people really have a
hard time being second or third. For those that have worked
in the tech shed, we know that it is often second and third
that are cheating, not first. First place often goes to the
team that did the homework, tested, researched, practiced
and then tested again to be sure. They make it look like it
is illegal. Some people think it is okay to modify port
timing, cut cases and such to catch up with those running up
front. They think splitting hairs in tech isn't fair.
What the top engine
builders know is that often it is just a hair difference to
get an engine from third to first. In the stock engine world
like the C50 or Gazelle it often comes down to sorting
through factory parts to find the one that fits just right,
has the right blow down, has the right wall clearance. We
have to hit the basics right on the money. At many races we
stay safe a thou or two because some tech directors may not
have good equipment but at big races with national level
tech guys we can reset to be right on the line.
Some people that build
engines gamble on cc's or timing hoping the tech guy will
give it to them but we like to keep it legal and know for
sure the win is ours, legally. So when we quote our win
record on the right we quote the name of the driver and when
as well as where the win happened. One thing is for sure we
didn't over inflate the win, we didn't cheat to win and we
did do our research. Our wins are not inflated, they
were pumped up by hard working honest teams along with our
own team of engineers, onsite and contracted expertise. When
you work with us we may be slow but we put out great
equipment that you too can win with.
Luke Howard Wins SKUSA
Regional Independence
Luke has been on a tear this year finishing on the podium
in a large percentage of the races locally and regionally.
He had a great chance at second at KKN restricted but didn't
take the right steps in the tech shed. There are many
learning experiences in karting and they'll be back next
year, more ready to take another shot at KKN. Luke races
dirt and asphalt and has become a force to be reckoned with
at each race he goes to.
Congratulations Luke, thanks for taking us to Victory Lane
with you. The Red Bull bullet looks fast. Thanks for the
pictures.
Tenth Anniversary Sale
We've grown each year and we
want to thank you all with a tenth anniversary sale. We have
amassed an amazing win record with no dealers, almost no
advertising and almost no free karts or engines given away
to talented drivers. We have earned our spot at the top of
the ladder of engines and chassis by engineering more
advantages into our products.
Comer C50 Stealth Save $300
Comer C50 Super Stealth save $100
Save $100 on any of our kart frames, for this week only.
2011 C50 Engine Mount and
Clutch Cover On Sale
At the beginning of this year we introduced a new engine
mount for our Tornado Kid Kart Chassis and the C50 engine.
We kept the parts secret to give our 2011 kart drivers an
advantage. Some factory drivers tested and raced them with
great success. Now we are allowing registered Tornado owners
to purchase them. They are highly machined and engineered
pieces and are an investment.
The clutch safety guard fits into the engine mount and holds
tight with one bolt. If the clutch nut splits the guard
holds the clutch drum in place keep the shoes from flying
off and hurting your driver or kart. The C50 clutch nuts
have a tendency to split and this is a nifty device to keep
your drivers arm safe.
This is the only C50 engine mount specifically designed to
fit the C51 case halves. Pricing for the Clutch Cover and
Mount are as follows.
F4 Engine mount: $265
F4 Clutch cover: $175
F5 Engine Mount: $475
F5 Clutch Cover $280
What's the difference between the F4 and F5 other than the
price? The speed of course. How does it produce more speed,
don't ask. A lot of time and engineering went into these and
the workmanship is really beautiful. The prototype is shown
above but they come in a red anodized Finish.
What Do We Think
Of KKN?
That Trophy Is Taller Than Zach!
Way to go Zach and Jerry
Preiser, Sam and Kevin Paley for giving the Tornado brand a
1,2 finish. We were very happy to regain the title with Zach
driving and Jerry tuning. Sam Paley (pictured below) gave a
great run and his Tornado engine was screaming but in the
end Zach edged him out for the win. Zach is a Tornado
Factory driver and had the Tornado Kart and engine working
well to get to the front. He gambled in the week prior and
it paid off.
We had a very tight engine
because it was apart only days before the race. Zach had put
in 9 of 10 days of practice and break in for us in the days
prior to the race. But as with some other champions of the
past in Leatherberry and Lazier their engines were apart
only days before the race too. There is a technique in
getting to the front in big races that few know and few will
share.
Tech played a significant
part in the race again this year. It seems as if after last
years failure of those that over ruled tech, they were
determined to tech heavier and better. Engines that were
modified heavily by machinist were caught and sent back
early in the race weekend. The leader of the final race took
a DQ for 5 thou off on port timing handing the win to Zach.
You can miss by a thou but no one will give you 5 thousands
that's just too big of an advantage and has to be
intentional on a professional builders part.
Zach had taken the pole,
won his heat race, won the preheat and in essence won the
final but didn't get to put his hands up with a victory
celebration because he thought he was second. We took a
gamble on new technology that we had invented in the months
prior that came in late. It was installed only a week before
the race and Jerry had to be creative in conditioning the
loaner engine for race day.
If you only knew everything
we went through in the days prior to the race to get the
very latest stuff ready to go. Let's just say that included
some creative engineer and a persistent Dad with the guts to
take the rides of his life.
Someone at the race said that almost 30% of the field was on
a Tornado Kart or had a Tornado engine. We don't really know
who has our old equipment but we think we had at least 3 of
the top 5 racers in Unrestricted. We are sorry we couldn't
be part of the race this year. It's good to see a three year
old chassis win the race and it goes to show you that our
Tornado's Chromoly lasts. Jerry will be the rare owner that
probably makes money on his engine and chassis purchase as
many people are vying for his equipment.
I do predict next years race will be won by a 2010 or 2011
or newer Tornado chassis. The technology advantage is just
too good with up and down as well as length adjustability.
Our new mount and clutch safety cover were not run in this
race yet we still achieved almost 370 head temps all inside
the rules. While the system and process is not known to the
public it does work and we appreciate Zach and Jerry putting
their trust in us as Factory Drivers do. Thanks for taking
us to Victory Lane with you in the Show Me state. Thanks to
everyone that worked so hard to put the race together for
the kids.
Man That's A Good Feeling After Clearing Tech
Ethan
Arndt Takes Lead in SWRC Series
Ethan has been steadily
progressing and with a solid performance at the last SWRC
race he's taken the points lead in the series.
Tornado Kid Karts
Winning Across USA
The Tornado
Kid Kart drivers have experienced unusually high success
this season. We have been fortunate to have garnered the
attention of some top talent and our hard work in the
engineering department has paid off. While most are still
not utilizing the full Velociraptor system of technologies
the design of the 2010 and 2011 Kid Kart chassis' have
proven themselves to be the most adjustable and most likely
to win chassis on the market.
With no dealer
channel, only phone support and a lot of practice a US Kart
maker that has less than 2% of the market has over 70% of
the regional title leads. Most of the regional titles that
we are not leading are series that don't have a Tornado in
the field.
A systematic
approach to development of the chassis and engine packages
have given our young drivers the ability to overcome older
drivers with more experience. We have even been able to over
come issues associated with crew chiefs that are new to
racing. Our education approach to kid kart racing combined
with a strong Chromoly steel chassis that was specifically
designed to win have combined to be a dominating force in
the karting world. The old days of assuming that an Italian
kart had to be the fastest are long gone. The Tornado has
proven for several years to be the simplest kart to
configure and win with in America.
Our karts last longer, perform better out of the box and
help drivers train quicker. It's hard to underestimate the
value of a stable platform when learning to race. It's like
trying to learn to play tennis while standing on milk crates
that wiggle. When you drive a mild steel chassis from Europe
you have to guess at when to turn in at the corners. When
you drive a Tornado you simply need to aim at the corner and
the kart reacts instantly. So if you would like to give your
driver a chance to run up front and learn with a firm
footing then it is time to trade in your old kart for a new
Tornado, you'll be glad you did.
Luke Howard Tames New Castle In His Red Bull
Tornado
Again we want to thank the talent drivers that make us look
so good weekend after weekend and those that support them in
the pits. We can feel the warm smiles all the way out here
in California on race weekends. Thanks for taking us to
victory lane with you.
Cory, Howard,
Arndt and Preiser All Win!
Kid Kart Factory drivers had
a great weekend at four tracks this weekend. Nicolas Cory
pulled off the biggest win as he won from the back row in
the final of a nice sized field at the Route 66 regional
race. Howard won comfortably at New Castle Indiana on his
first venture out for a regional series far from home and
Zach Prieiser fought a faulty engine but still got a win at
Elkhardt Lake Wisconsin and two thirds at Dousman. Not to
worry Zach two new test engines are on the way up to you.
Ethan Arndt won at Gulf Coast Karters, taking the pole, heat
and final comfortably against a talented field.
We are very proud at how well
our Tornado Factory drivers did this weekend. Tornado
Factory team drivers run our karts and engines exclusively
and only one of the four was running VR technology, so there
is room for improvement. That's two wins in a row for Cory
in the 66 series. We really appreciate all you young men
putting our name on your karts, suits and taking us to
victory lane with you.
Bradio Wins
Braden Johnson's moved up
out of karts and into dirt modifieds. He just sent me a
message that he won this weekend by half a track. He also
said that he could have news soon of a very very big
sponsor. We won't talk about it until he's got it done but
wow.
Here's a video that
he sent us this week. He was one of our best Tornado Factory
Drivers ever and a straight A student.
Hudson's Happy
Happy - Two IKF R7
Titles
Hudson Morrow wrapped up
the IKF R7 Saturday and Sunday Titles this weekend at
Calspeed running the 2011 Tornado Velociraptor Edition and
set fast time on the track. The Saturday and Sunday series
were combined for the last race as the series fell on hard
times. Hudson set fast time in the final by .7 seconds and
did what he had to do to win the title. Just like Braden did
a few years back, he didn't need to win the race to win the
title he just had to place close enough to a few of the
competitors. He placed second comfortably after leading the
race.
Preston Andersen was second
in the qualifying but had troubles in the heat race as an
accident put him back and finished a lap down even though he
was running as fast as the winner of the heat. In the final
he made it from the back row to the podium finishing in
fifth. Dezel West also had a great weekend finishing up
third on the day. These Vegas boys do a great job with as
little track testing time as they have. If Vegas could get
it's own track where they could practice everyday they'd
really by tough to beat. The cement makes them really light
on the wheel and is a wonderful training ground. The World
Championships will be there in August. www.jrkartingwc.com
Polley Wins Again
 Alanmykael
continues to love the full size slim kart Tornado makes, the
Tornado Rookie. He says the kart is on rails in the corners
and easy to driver. Only a few people have what is a stretch
version of our highly successful Cadet, but those who do
clean up against the Italian imports. Michael and the rest
of the Polleys head off to Newcastle next for some tougher
competition. Thanks for taking us to victory lane with you
again for two races in a row in the Clone engine class!
Ethan Arndt Breaks
Record At SWRC
Ethan's crew chief committed
one of the biggest violations of the winning kid kart
parents rulebook, taking the head off on race weekend. He
wanted to be safe and easily legal on cc's so he checked the
engine over and set it up to be safe. We'd set it up very
tight on the last rebuild and it was too close for comfort.
The head removal held Ethan back on Saturday but the engine
came back in on Sunday and Ethan broke the track record by
half a second.
He didn't win but he was in
position to as he sat on the front row for the final. A
wreck took out half the field on the start but the race
director kept them running. Out here in California that
would have most likely been a restart of the entire field.
Ethan's getting the kart and engine dialed in and he'll be a
force to be reckoned with in coming races. We are confident
he'll be taking us to Victory lane with him soon. Ethan,
don't beat up good old Dad too much, he is really learning
this stuff fast and soon he won't be making those rookie
mistakes.
Crew chief training often
proceeds at the same rate as driver training but most of the
time drivers actually get ahead of their crew chiefs.
Drivers drive for a few hours while good crew chiefs are
often up late nights for days trying to figure out things to
go faster. Keeping these engines in the sweet spot isn't
easy.
Luke Howard Wins
One of our Tornado Factory
drivers has been on an early spring tear like a Kansas
twister. He's been tearing up the tracks in the Midwest. His
team is called Thunder and Lightning Racing, Luke is
Lightning and his younger brother Blake is Thunder. They won
the second race in a row at the PDC in Independence
Missouri.
"It's Soooo
Expensive"
Or Is It?
We hear
this from time to time. Your equipment is so expensive but
is it really? When we got into karting we had to purchase
three karts all at once for our four boys. The wifester said
that's $5400! Yes, that's true. Upfront it was but let's not
forget about the back end of the transaction, because unless
all three tangled down the straight and ruined every part of
those karts we were still going to sell them and get money
back. Remember to calculate the resale value, and also be
confident about the fact that Tornado karts have the very
best resale value in the business.
Why you
ask...? Because they are made of quality Chromoly tubing
that is super fast, light weight and last longer than all
the Frenchman chasing Lance Armstrong up the hills in
France. When people go to sell our karts they get back 50%
to 80% of the original investment. That's right our karts
are an investment. The limp noodles from Italia don't have a
good resale because the mild steel is spent after a year or
less and the kart's can't perform because they sag.
So let's do
the math together karting Mom's and Dads, kids you follow
along too... you can correct their mistakes and help them
justify the fast one for you! Say we get an Italian kart and
it's $500 cheaper. Yeah, you saved money on that first
exciting day you fell in love with karting...Then we add a
hollow axle, smaller brakes and all the other things the
Tornado comes with as standard, cha ching, the prices is
going up now. We are now about the same price. It's true,
you have a spare 9 pound solid axle from Italy but hey
unless your clubbing a huge catfish you caught what are you
ever going to do with it... you can't race it.. Now when you
finish up and move up a class you will be lucky to get $750
for that pasta special from overseas because it has sagged
and it never really did well all season or at the end of the
season. The Tornado on the other hand was winning the club
championship and the new crop of parents that did do their
research are clamoring to purchase the kart that won. The
Tornado goes for $1500 or more.
Let's do
the math together now. What looked like a better deal with
the $500 less initial purchase really doesn't look so good
now. So if we invested $2500 and we got back only $750 we
have a loss of $1750 if we can even sell that kart locally,
chances are you'll need to ship it off to some unsuspecting
parent in a rural area without internet access. If you
invested a few dollars more in the Tornado, your mantle is
full of trophies, your memory of races won and contested
heavily is full and your DVD player will show a great couple
years. When you sell it for $1500 your total investment is
$1000. Over two years that's $41 a month for the Tornado but
$73 a month for the Top Italian mild steel kart.
There
wasn't room on the fireplace mantle for all of Cruz's
hardware.
Kids lets
review in case they haven't moused over to the purchase
button yet. $41 a month for the Tornado is LESS than $73 a
month. So it's really expensive to buy the cheaper kart
isn't it? Did they mouse over yet? It's the buy it now
button on the chassis page. Ok, now help them understand 1st
or 2nd place is better than 7th or 10th place even though
those numbers are bigger. Being on the podium is much more
exciting than watching your friends climb on the podium
every weekend... Invest in the best and only cry once. Pick
up a new Tornado or used one today, you'll be glad you made
the correct investment for the future financially and for
your young driver.
Preiser To Daytona
Zach wants to drive, Jerry
wants to test carbs and shake down engines so the team is
headed to Florida to take on the locals at the Daytona Motor
Speedway in the days after Christmas. He has a trip to
Disneyworld and a family visit planned.
It hasn't been a race in
the past, just a unlimited engine display sanctioned by WKA
as a big practice for Kid Kart Drivers. No qualifying, to
heat races, no grid for a final. Maybe some year this will
turn into a real race and forty or fifty kid kart drivers
will show up for a chance to compete at the famed track for
a real trophy that is earned. I think someone should run an
RLV pipe this year and see if anyone cares, then the race
would be really fun.
Zach will be testing out
some of his old style equipment and getting ready for the
season in an area that should be a tad bit warmer than
Wisconsin. Take lots of pictures Zach. Your new shirt should
arrive in time for the trip!
2010
Factory Drivers
.jpg)
Preston
Anderson
Preston came highly recommended for a Tornado Factory Driver
spot. He had a great season finishing up second in the last
race on a really old beat up chassis and a new Queen style
engine from us. He just started racing a few months ago and
that is a really big accomplishment in Las Vegas traffic,
tons of talent there. We are rebuilding his back up engine
now and hopefully he'll like the feel of sturdy chromoly
under his heels. Preston has worked very hard this year and
his hard work will start to pay off in 2010. He hopes to run
in Phoenix and Los Angeles. They may even try a couple IKF
races, depending on the rules this season...
One of Preston's favorite drivers is Tony Stewart and he has
a picture of himself with Tony when he was only three. He's
a real racer in my book Preston, and that's what someone
said that was watching you race for me. I look forward to
see you race in person next year. We are happy your first
engine from us spiced up the game a little in Las Vegas and
once it breaks in you'll really give the leaders some heat.
Preston chatted with us via video conference and we talked
about next year. I look forward to meeting him in person
next month. They looked at racing the first IKF Regional
race but we've put that on hold. It's off to Phoenix to see
family and test over Christmas.
Welcome to the Tornado Factory Drivers Team for 2010
Preston! A new shirt and some videos are on the way to you.
Shelby Winslow
Shelby
makes up the first brother sister team we've had and our
third female driver for 2010 on the Tornado Factory Team. Both Winslows will be on Tornado Cadets so
tuning will get a little easier for the crew. Shelby was
doing pretty darn good with an older chassis and we'll get a
chance to see what she can do with some fresh Choromly
tubing under her. We expect that she will do as well as the
lady cadet drivers ahead of her.
Without a
doubt Shelby's biggest strengths (in addition to her
infectious smile) are her unbreakable spirit and her never
ending persistence. Last season something really
clicked for her near the end of the season and she finished
strong with some great personal victories.
Shelby won the 2009 KCKA TAG 60 championship, however she
says her biggest accomplishment to date is being awarded the
"Sportsman of the Year" by the club. In 2008 (her rookie
year), she took took 3rd in points and was nominated most
improved driver of the year.
She is very excited to race on her new 2010 Tornado Cadet
and leave behind her 12 year old, bent, saggy, Italian
chassis (And so is her tuner!!!).
For 2010 she has many personal goals, but the one she'll be
first tell you is to beat her brother and secure the
"Winslow Cup". The 2010 sibling rivalry is going to be fun
watch and will push them both to become better drivers and
competitors.
Welcome
to the team Shelby! We wanted more ladies on the team this
year and you are going to help us in that goal. We hope the
new Tornado will get you to victory lane many more times
this season.
Jacob Winslow
Jacob Winslow of Lee's Summit Missouri was new to the
Tornado Factory Driver Team last season and he will be
returning and moving up to a Cadet this year. He did very
well this year and took his Tornado to victory lane many
times. Jacob ran the SKUSA series in the Midwest against a
tough group of drivers, mostly other Tornado Factory Kid
Kart drivers. Jacob took the SKUSA title and brought it home
for the Tornado Team.
Jacob also won his club title in Kansas City. He ran a new
2009 Kid Kart and a top Stealth old style engine. He broke
the track record in Iowa and in Kansas City and set the bar
pretty high for those that will follow him in the
Midwest. He rented an engine for nationals and did a very
good job of moving up the field to the front. We are so
proud to have Jacob returning along with his talented crew
chief and family of assistant tuners. We wish we could show
you what his team has up their sleeves or under their skin
for this season but we are sworn to secrecy. Let's just say
it will be amazing. New Cadets are headed out this week to
Jacob and he'll be ready for next year as soon as the snow
melts.
Welcome back to the Factory Team for 2010 Jacob, we are so
happy to have you on the team. Can you recommend any great
female drivers in your area? We need more ladies to balance
out the team.
Michael Schneider
The Ice Man Dallas Texas
Jeff and Michael Schneider have made quite a team over the
years. We got a chance to work with them for the first time
when they were racing Kid Karts and took their Tornado to
the KART national title. Since then they have won regional
titles, club titles and taken the first shot at a national
title. Michael has proven himself over and over again. With
a very small trailer and a limited budget he's placed at or
near the top of the podium consistently.
It's often that we get a phone call from the Midwest to tell
us how dark it is in the shadow of the big race trailers,
but how fast we are. This will be Michael's third year in
Cadets and he'll start to be one of the favorites. Last year
he took the IKF Regional Road Race title, placed very high
in the SWRC and had a shot at winning two Grand Nationals.
Michael and Jeff have been pioneers in design too. They
asked for a special torsion bar in their last chassis and
made it work successfully, showing us a new option that is
now part of our F4 and F5 Cadets. This addition helps in the
early spring racing when grip is at a premium. We hope that
we get a chance to get the Ice Man on the 2010 soon because
we value his opinion and feedback. Where there is a will
there is a way.
Welcome back Michael. We look forward to working with you
again this year and I know the other team mates are excited
to have you and Jeff in the corner as they press the limits
of the Tornado Cadet this season. Jeff has been a valued
crew chief often giving hours of his time helping others
tune. Thank you Michael and Jeff for taking us to Victory
Lane so many times over the last three years and for helping
so many other Factory Drivers get their too.
Zach Preiser
Elkhorn, WI
This young driver put on a great show last year at a
national race. He picked up an engine with not much time to
test and worked it right up next to a podium spot. All
things considered he easily could have had third spot. He is
a regular winner in Wisconsin when he is from, a native of
Elkhorn.
Zach has a determined and optimistic crew chief in his
Father Jerry and the two make a formidable team. Zach tasted
success last season and wants to finish what he started in
2010. He's got some very good equipment and will be right
there to challenge for the win anywhere in the Midwest and
rumor has it he'll be going to Daytona in a couple weeks to
dust of some parts and brush up a bit.
We are proud to bump him up from the regular team to the
Factory Driver status for 2010. Zach we appreciate how many
times you took us to Victory lane with you this year and
look forward to cheering you on in 2010. A new Factory
Driver shirt is on it's way to you!
Alanmykael Polley
This
young Illinois man is tough, really tough. He's not afraid
of rain, any driver, heck he'd drive in the snow if they'd
let him. He was a consistent top three finisher this year,
his first year in Cadets. That's a great start on a year old
used Tornado kartand he's got a new 2010 Cadet witthe
torsion bar, changeable length and mixed steel types ordered
and will soon have even more adjustability to take on his
older competition. A fresh rebuild will also help and we
just got our hands on the engine.
We
think this will be Alanmykael's year to upset some
favorites. It won't be easy but it will be fun. At the end
of the year he was right at the back bumper of the drivers
that were a year older. We know each time the Polley's are
in a race we have a shot at the top of the podium. Thanks
team Polley for taking us to the podium so many times in
2009. Happy New Year and new equipment!
World Championships
Rumors are true that a race
is being planned to give the junior kart racers a chance to
prove themselves. The race is designed to treat the junior
classes just as they would be treated in a seniors race. Set
to a standard of a Grand National from a tech standpoint and
a format that involves plenty of racing.
The race is planned for the
summer of 2010. Key features include at least 4 classes of
Kid Karts and possibly 4 classes of Cadets. Racers will be
allowed multiple chances to get into the finals.
The trophy will be a
traveling trophy with winners faces and names etched in
place for the next century. We hope teams will have a chance
to have a memorable time and everyone that comes will be a
winner. When every detail is ironed out the announcement
will be posted.
Biles Route 66 Wins
Jaydon Biles accepted the
trophy for the Route 66 series at the recent banquet. Mr.
Shankleton announced him as "Can't stand to lose Biles".
They did a great job at the banquet putting a picture of
each driver up on a big screen as they called them up for
their trophies.
Congratulations to all the drivers in the series that raced.
Many series do not treat Kid Karts as a full class and keep
points. In most cases the children and the parents know whom
won that day and for the series. We are proud of all your
accomplishments Jayden, thanks for taking us to victory lane
with you so many times this year!
2010
Factory Drivers
The tension is building as
we get ready to announce the drivers selected to race on the
Tornado Factory Team in 2010. From East to West Coast, from
North to South drivers will be part of the Factory Team for
us next season. This is our third year with the program
originally requested by Royal McKee's Dad. He was a factory
racer for a motorcycle company and put the bug in our ear to
do the same.
Factory drivers race our
chassis and our engines. It is not for everyone but several
people are committed to our work and become close partners
in development. We have had several national title winners,
drivers that have gone on to win Duffy's, Screaming Eagles,
Grand National titles, scores of club titles and all of the
regional titles. In fact Tornado Factory Drivers in the Kid
Kart class have give us the distinction of the only engine
supplier and chassis supplier to have won all the biggest
competitive races in the world. From Venezuela to Mexico and
now Britain, South Africa and beyond.
We got a call last night
and at the end the team asked if they were going to be on
the list. Stay tuned we will announce drivers very soon. For
those that haven't gotten in your applications please do so.
Candy For
Christmas?
Our painter
has gotten in some great Candy color powder coats for the
new year. If you add another $115 to your order you can have
the best looking chassis around. It is a three stage process
and really stands out in the Sun.
New Chassis
Records
The 2010 is
breaking sales records this fall because of it's
revolutionary design. We have received so many orders in the
last week that we will be busy working with Santa's elves to
get everything done. The upcoming price increase next month
could also be driving sales. If you want to save a couple
hundred now is the time to order.
Having six
rear axle settings and five front spindle settings has given
our teams the advantage over the Italian karts and the older
Tornado Karts. 2010 is the year of flexibility in kart set
up for tire changes, track changes and driver preferences.
The 2010 is the best way to get the advantage on race
weekend. Get yours on order t
The Key To
The Lock
We had the good fortune to
work with a Florida Team this year. Brian Lockwood traveled to Italy
and had a chance to challenge the best drivers in the
world. We were happy to play a part in the
journey that got him the free ride to Italy. What was the
key to his success this season, drive, determination and
attention to detail rarely seen in karting by his crew
chief. Reports on engine testing include track
conditions, race conditions, and other variables often
missed by crew chiefs. Brian and his Father made a good team
and pulled off the state championships to get a free trip to
Italy for the world title.
Thank you for
including us in your experience Brian. For many people
victory lane is the top of the podium only, for us, getting
a free trip to Italy is victory lane. Thank you Brian for
taking us to Victory Lane with you!
Brian Lockwood Sporting Tornado Wear In Italy
Here is the report from Italy.
Reflections
on the 2009 Easykart International Grand Finals
Siena,
Italy, October 12-18, 2009
By
Brian R. Lockwood
We had never
raced outside of Florida. Although our in-state competition
is great—in addition to the native Floridians, we regularly
have kids from Central and South America, Mexico, and the
Caribbean competing here—the competition in Italy for the
2009 Easykart International Grand Finals was going to be the
best of the best from 15 countries—76 drivers in all.
Making our
task more challenging was that unlike the Continental
European competitors who, for the most part, brought their
own karts to a track where they’d already raced, we were
being provided with a new kart and engine for a track of
which we’d only seen pictures and diagrams. So not only did
we have to finish assembling and fitting the kart, we had to
spend the better part of one day’s track sessions breaking
in the engine. Although this gave Brian, my son, the
opportunity to run the kart around the track and familiarize
himself with its layout, it wasn’t the same as learning the
track at speed. Additionally, we’d had to fit what tools,
parts, etc. we were going to bring into a suitcase that
weighed less than 50 lbs full. It wasn’t like being at
home….
We
had heard from those that had gone before us in previous
years that “they’re real aggressive over there.” In
Florida, unfortunately “aggressive” often equates to
“thuggish”. However, watching the practice sessions in
Italy, “aggressive” was a beautiful sight to behold: a
quick flick of the wheel, maybe a tap, and the overtaking
kart was past, just like that. I came to understand the
difference between Italy and Florida: in Italy, if you left
the door open just a tiny crack, someone would seize the
opportunity to go through it. Cleanly, no thuggery. It was
magical.
Brian
said that before he’d come to Italy he thought he was a good
driver (in fact, he was). However, having now practiced
with kids from all over the world, Brian realized he wasn’t
the best of the best, and that he had some learning to do.
Brian’s driving coach, Jefferson Jorge, who'd come from
Miami, helped him immensely in this process.
Our week went
well and we progressively improved over the course of it.
Based upon qualifying times and finishes in two heat races,
among the four USA 60cc drivers, Brian was ranked the
highest going into the final day of racing.
One
of the most memorable events of the week didn’t involve
racing. It was the “Parade of Nations” that took place
prior to the finals. The drivers all came to the front
straight, national anthems playing and national flags
flying. Brian was proud and honored to be representing the
United States in a foreign land. The USA’s 60cc boys—Colin
Warren, Christopher Morrison, Justin Wood, and Brian—had an
American flag that they enthusiastically held aloft as they
walked down the straightaway.
Brian’s final
race day ended abruptly: a first-turn push from behind spun
him around, then he was hit violently by a back marker,
sending Brian and his kart into the air, breaking chunks of
aluminum out of both right side wheels, tearing loose the
starter battery from its mounting, and severely bending his
rear axle. Thankfully, the kart sustained the damage and
Brian was unhurt. In two and a half years of racing, it was
his first ever DNF (“Did Not Finish”).
Robert
Shwartzman of Russia, who was last year’s 60cc champion, won
the championship again this year in what was almost a photo
finish. Italians Mattia Drudi and Ronaldo Roberti finished
second and third.
Brian’s
experiences over the course of the week in Italy provided
him with valuable lessons in his ongoing racing education.
He was a better driver by the end of the week than he was at
its beginning.
He can’t wait
for next year for another chance to go up against the best
of the best!
Why Is He So Fast?
Want to know why Nicholas
Cory is so fast? Traits often flow from Mother to son and
Father to daughter. What was Nick's Mom up to last week?
Setting second fast time at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in
the Petty experience. What did Nick think of this? He said,
"Mom you need to stay on the gas in the corners!"
DQ, DQ, DQ,
DQ, DQ, DQ,DQ, DQ, DQ,DQ, DQ, DQ,DQ, DQ, DQ,DQ, DQ, DQ,
Ouch, all those DQ's are adding up for a California engine
builder wanna be that has tried and tried to gain market
share by pumping out cheap engines with mods like cut rods,
leaky seals and other fuel air ratio tricks. They are crying
foul that we talk about improvements to stock carbs
that they can make easily and cheaply to the C50. They have
racked up some wins but also ruined the reputation of some
great drivers when it became know that their engine builders
were going past the rules.
Sorting through parts is costly, anyone that can claim
to make all C50 engines at a low cost is not following the
stock rules. We've helped tech guys across the country catch
them and they've taken so many DQ's that they want it hidden
from the public. They even threaten to take us to court for
explaining DQ's on a website. Thanks for the letters guys,
it was a good laugh. What's next threatening tech people
that actually DQ your stuff not to tell anyone? Maybe fewer
stickers is the answer?
There is no reason to be silent because the facts are
clear. Since their entry into this engine class, they have
failed miserably in tech. Not one or two DQ's for a cracked
part or under on cc's, but many for oversized jets or seal
that leak or flow air. What would be interesting would be to
have proper tech done on the heads and carbs so that people
could really see the issues up close.
The nice thing about it is that we have pictures, we have
proof and witnesses. DQ's are recorded on mylaps.com and the
sanctioning body also keeps a record. So even if we were
naming the builder and saying what has happened to so many
clients, it wouldn't be defaming them, they did it to
themselves. It isn't limited to just one engine maker.
The other day in Nevada a top driver took a DQ for a
polished intake port from an Ohio machinist that people
thought was really good. We took apart an engine built in
Colorado this month and it had a shaved crank, cut piston,
advanced intake port timing and illegal flywheel timing.
This group also controlled tech at some tracks. This problem
is a rampant one, it is ruining several formerly reputable
races and groups. IKF lost all respect this last year by
actually modifying the rules to allow oversized modified
jets for the C50.
So you can try to shoot the messenger that explains the
issue to the world but unfortunately all you'll do is make
an attorney one happy camper because truth is a powerful
ally. The easiest solution is to pull back your illegal
equipment and run straight up to let the chips fall where
they may.
Many dealers will run out of money soon because they can't
keep it up. People get the message and learn. A client from
the area said people don't want to buy their stuff because
of the number of DQ's, it is fast but if you want to run
legal there is too much doubt that they aren't legal after
all the DQ's. So let's go, anyone tired of our talking about
DQ's across the country should bring the case against us.
We'll defend the good drivers and teams that follow the
rules and expose the builders that don't think it is
important come to the race with legal engines and chassis.
At a race where I tech the top 9 of 10 were disqualified for
cut filters, illegal plugs, modified exhausts, modified
piston. Who was cheering that day 10th through 22nd that
followed the rules.
Hopefully those of you that want to run straight up and fair
will write a letter to IKF and ask that they get rid of the
oversized jet rule that is allowing thugs to build illegal
engine that aren't being teched. The cheating goes deeper
the harder tech is. Scratch a liar find a thief someone said
once. It looks like we have scratched a few scabs on some
really rotten people in the industry.
Wagner Again at IKF!
Hayden Wagner backed up his big trophy win with a win at IKF
R7 with his Tornado. Tachovsky was second and wraps up the
championship in his Tornado. Hayden went on to take third on
Sunday and showed he's one of the favorites for next season.
Thanks for taking us to victory lane with you!
One race left in December at Santa Maria. Drivers thinking
of making a run at the title for next season will want to
try to make this race to test themselves against this
season's best.
Anthony Sawyer won on Sunday. Congratulations to him on his
run in Kid Karts.
big, Big, BIG Win For
Wagner
Hayden Wagner took his
Tornado to California Speedway to challenge the best for the
biggest trophies imaginable. It was big trophy weekend at
LAKC, one of the most prestigious clubs in Los Angeles. It's
great when clubs do these types of races for kids. In Davis
one year they made the mistake of ordering all first place
trophies for the kids. The children loved it so much they
did it all season. If they are going to get less laps then
they should get bigger trophies! There is little question this
was no lesser race and Hayden had to really work hard
against some successful teams. Hayden showed he's a force to
be reckoned with next season.
He had just received his
new stainless steel Tornado Pill set of adjusters so that
they could set the front to five different caster angles.
The Tornado has proven very effective at this track winning
the majority of club races and IKF regional races in the
last few years. It's a sealed parking lot track without much
grip and the Tornado can be adjusted to track well around
this facility. Hayden and his crew chief looks like they had
the set up down just right. This is the time of year the young
guns step up their game to challenge the old guard. No one
has a monopoly at the race track. Congratulations to Hayden
and thanks for taking us to victory lane with you!
Upgrades are available for older Tornados like Hayden drove.
You can purchase new pill sets like the 2010 comes with, a
2010 set of spindles, and the 2010 F4 or 2010 F5 engine
mount.
Cory and Preiser Win
Nicholas Cory won the
endurance race today in Springfield Illinois with Zach
Preiser only nine seconds back after a 15 minute race. It
was not an easy race but Nicholas kept his head and made the
correct pass on lapped traffic to get in a position to win
the race. Congratulations to our two Tornado drivers and
thanks for taking us to victory lane with you!
Michael's
Video
See Michael Schneider on his final lap in his road race win
in Texas. Rooster tails!
Hayden Wagner Wraps Up Titles
Central Valley Championship &
Kerman Kart Club Title
Hayden has one more year in kid kart
and is driving a 2007 Tornado. He's showing that with hard
work you don't have to have a new kart and that chromoly
tubing last a long time. He has won the Kerman Kart Club
title and also won the Central Valley Championship for 2009.
It will be interesting to see what he is able to do next
year. He also came in second in points at the Bakersfield
kart club right behind Jerett Tachovsky.
You can see Hayden race in these
youtube
videos.
Jerett Tachovsky May Have IKF R7 Championship
Congratulations to Team Tachovsky for
wrapping up the IKF R7 Saturday title this weekend at Lake
Perris. In a battle between the DQ'd driver and Tachovsky for a tight
points race Jerett won the championship and the other driver took a DQ
pushing him back several spots in the points. This confirmed
the title to Jerett. Unless the DQ is overturned.
Hayden Wagner ran his 2007 Tornado into
second place for one of his best finishes this season and
securing a great shot at a podium for the series. Wagner
has one more year in Kid Karts.
We had the good fortune to work with Team
Tachovsky as a Tornado Factory Team Driver last season and
congratulate them on the win. We worked with them in R11 but
didn't make any of the races in R7 this season as our focus
was on the Midwest and East coast.
They were early testers of our 2009 Tornado
prototype. Jerett ran a one off Tornado design built
specifically for him that served him well with a Duffy and
R7 title. He's such a good driver he could have driven
anything to the front and we are proud to have had him take
our kart to victory lane so many times.
Several teams are looking at R7 next season
and many are looking at the 2010 Tornado to give them the
flexibility to beat the 2009 models and any other kart that
wants to challenge for the title. The Tornado will most likely be the
only kart that can change wheelbase lengths and rear height.
It also has two other developments over last years kart. That makes two of the last three years that the Tornado has
won this region, that is if the DQ stands.
Prieser Wins Four
Zach is making a strong push at the end of the season with
four wins. He's been nominated to be a Tornado Factory
driver for next season and is a prime candidate. Look at the
nice shot of him above. Looks like he should be racing Tony
Stewart in a a year or two! Way to go Zach and thanks for
taking your Tornado kart and engine to victory lane with you
over and over and over and over again!
Someone sent us a picture of this sign that was seen at the
entrance to a Midwest Track. It might be a warning to crew
chiefs that want to run Italian made kid karts and cadets
next season against our growing list of Tornado Factory
Drivers. Our 2010 chassis will be particularly damaging to
the mild mannered mild steel chassis shipped in from Europe.
Winslow Wraps Up KCKA Series Title
Jacob had a very nice run this year. On his
last race at Liberty he ran a 20.00 in his final lap as a
kid karter. It was his fastest ever this season and we think
maybe the fastest ever lap at Liberty. His Tornado Kart has
already been sold and so has his SuperStealth Engine. It's
all being traded in for a new Cadet and some gear for the
2010 season.
We are not only proud of the individual wins
and the titles that Jacob brought home this season but also
proud in how they represented the Tornado Factory Team of
drivers. They were good sports all season long, even after
suffering an extended wait on his chassis and engine.
Persistence paid off for all of us. Congratulations Winslows
on a fine season.
Cory Singing In The Rain at
R66
Nicholas Cory drove down
with his Dad to the final race of the season for the Route
66 series in Springfield Illinois. He wasn't there to
qualify so he'd have to start at the back. He had a
glitch in the pre-final and couldn't run it either. In the
main he'd start all the way in the back. It was raining just
a bit in the final and the track was really wet but Nicholas
had a Tornado, a set of rain tires and we all know how they
love the rain. He was able to make it to the front and win
the race.
Congratulations to our
Tornado Factory driver on winning in the rain and taking us
to victory lane with him. He's a talented young driver that
everyone has been whispering about this year. They say watch
this kid, watch him drive. He does look very good. His
teammate from Texas, Ryan Lewis, got the wrong jet in and
was not as fortunate but he too will be back next season.
There should be some very good racing between these two next
year.
Brave Preiser
Snatches Prize From Badger
Zach won
again today up in the soon to be fridged North at Badger
Raceway. He's been tearing up the tracks this season. He was
able to land the 2008 winning kid kart nat carb from one of
our Factory drivers and it helped power his Tornado to the
win. Congratulations Zach and thanks for powering us to
victory lane with you!
Rotax Championships Update
Mike will start mid field of the 42 karts in the pre final.
Even after having his kart destroyed he came back and
finished 8th in the final heat race. Chloe St. George was
within .2 of the second and third place karts in the third
heat. She showed she could run up front if she had qualified
better. Keith is working on an engine issue that's holding
back the low in power. We wish them both well on Saturday
for the Pre and Finals. Anything can happen in races that
are this big and this tight. The only one that will have
clean air is the 1st place kart in MicroMax that is a clean
2 seconds a lap faster than the top 5 drivers. If he clears
tech then Rotax should go looking for the factory parts that
were clearly out of spec.
Kid Kart Brochure
Take a look at the new
video
brochure for the Tornado Kid Kart we are working on.
SKUSA
Points
The year
end points are done and our drivers scored big on the SKUSA
Central States Championship series. We still aren't real
sure on the order and are waiting on the official standing
with drops but this may be it...
1) Jacob
Winslow - Tornado Factory Driver
2) Grant Griesbach - Tornado Factory Driver
3) Owen Leatherberry - Tornado Factory Driver
4) Nicholas
Cory -Tornado Factory Driver
You ask
where is Jaydon Biles? He won several races but didn't enter
the points race by purchasing the tires from the series. If
he had we could retire because it would have given us a
sweep of the top five spots. We've continued to say that
we'll go out on top if we sweep a series... Did we mention
that our mentor is Brett Favre?
Great job
drivers and crew chiefs! A big thank you to the family
members that came to the races and supported these guys with
food, fluids, entertainment and encouragement. You all
represented the Tornado factory with such style and grace
this season. It is a pleasure working with you. Thanks for
taking us to victory lane with you!
Each driver
has earned a $200 gift certificate for a new chassis
purchased this year.
One Championship Down Two To Go
The Winslows are not done yet, they have two club series
that are still possible championships as well. They have
worked very hard this season to win the SKUSA championship,
noticing every detail. We appreciate the trust they placed
in us to purchase a Tornado Storm Edition Kid Kart and a top engine. Karting
is a great sport for family bonding, unlike swimming and
other sports where the children are very much on their own,
this sport allows a close team work between family. Some of
the most touching moments are those before or after the race
when you can see all the hard work and prep realized on
their faces.
Championships Sweep For Tornado Kid Karts Drivers?
With Donnie
Bell wrapping up the SWRC title and Jacob Winslow taking the
SKUSA championship all that is left is the IKF R7 and IKF
R11 titles. We didn't have anyone running in R11 this year
after Chloe St. George won it last season for the Tornado
Team, but two 2009 Tornado karts lead both days of the R7
title. If one of them wins the title then that will mean
that the 2009 Tornado Kid Kart chassis will have wrapped up
100% of the regional titles it competed in and two national
races.
For a
company that has only 2% market share that is certainly
conclusive proof that we ended up with the best and luckiest
drivers in the USA and or we have very competitive mixed
steel chassis in our 2009 Tornado Kid Kart that has an
advantage on all the European karts.
The 2010
Kid Kart is out now and will have the advantage over our
2009 karts because of it's ability to change ride height and
ride length. This is something that no other kid kart that
we know of has
today. It allows you to set up for short tracks and long
sweeping tracks with just one chassis. If the track rubbers
up you can change rear ride height to loosen the rear. A new level of
competition is available for the fall races and into next
season as the Europeans go back to the drawing board to play
catch up.
Pevely, Mo One, Two Three at CSC for Tornado
Factory Drivers
Winslow, Leatherberry and Cory Lead
Jacob Winslow took the pole with a 50.9 with an old style
engine in top shape. Jacob led three factory drivers in the
time trials as Leatherberry was second a .5 back and Cory in
the low 52's. For Winslow it's a last chance to feel the air
up front, even though he's wrapped up the championship he
wanted to run the last race and not take it as a drop.
Leatherberry will most likely run his last race as a kid
karter and challenge for the win with up and comer Cory
watching and learning. Nicolas Cory is set to be the new
favorite with his excellent season this year and could
surprise if anything happens up front.
Donnie Bell Wins Southwest
Regional Cup
Donnie had some pent up energy after his
experience in St. Louis. He hopped in his Tornado prototype
and took it to the front of the pack at the last SWRC
weekend in Oklahoma. He won the heat and exploded into
celebration.
On Sunday Donnie took the pole again, won the
heat race and then broke a clutch spring in the final
causing him to finish in fourth right behind Ryan Lewis.
Points should be calculated by the end of the week but it
looks like Donnie may have won the season championship. If
that happens and it will mean that three of the four major
regional series that run kid karts competitively will be won
by Tornado drivers. Thank you Donnie for taking us to
victory lane with you!
St. George
Back In The Seat
Chloe St. George did battle at the
Gatorz cup at Apex this weekend. She had taken much of the
summer off and Keith St. George thought she'd be a bit
rusty. "It shows just how good she really is", commented
Keith, "she drove it is as deep if not deeper than anyone.
At one point Jake tried to pull off a pass at the end of the
long straight and the two went through the corner side by
side and Chloe held the lead and stayed ahead when exiting
the corner on the outside."
Jake Drew ended up winning the race.
His family is one of the absolute best chassis tuning
families and Jake can drive. The difference between Chloe
and Jake is seat time and hopefully she'll get more of that
this fall and next year. Chloe ended up third in the race
after missing one corner and losing the draft. She hopes to
be ready to race for the national title next month in
Oklahoma. I won't be able to be there as I'll take much of
September as travel month but will be cheering from an
international location.
Winslow Wins CSC
Jacob Winslow traveled from
Kansas City to Iowa to face off with the dominant Biles team
in their own back yard. Jaydon knew the track well but they
had made some improvements to the track and it was anyone's
game. Owen Leatherberry, Nicholas Cory and Grant Griesbach
would hope to get to the front for the win but it was Jacob
that combined a fast old style Super Stealth and the new
2009 chassis to distance himself from the rest of the
Tornado Drivers in Iowa.
Jacob takes a commanding
points lead in the series now but has chosen to race the
final race of the season and risk losing the championship if
he has a part break or if he fails tech. Real racers never
want to take a drop at the end of the season so all you can
do is put new muffler bolts and a muffler on and hope that
everything else stays together during the final. Jaydon
Biles has won most of the races for the season but opted out
of the points race according to the rules so it's up to
Winslow and Griesbach to decide whom will get the title in
the final race. These factory drivers have shown great class
all season and supported each other no matter who won. It's
nice to be associated with such wonderful families and their
racers. Congratulations Jacob.
Five Tornados In a Row In Iowa
Winslow, Biles, Griesbach, Leatherberry and Cory All Factory
Drivers
Tachovsky
Wins Duffy
Jerett Tachovsky took down
the win in Kid Kart Heavy on Thursday in Reno at the third
Grand Nationals. The team of
Tornado drivers that have worked with him and raced with him
were very happy to see the news. He's got the gift, ever
since I was sitting in the cement corner at Davis and he
came down the hill at full speed and tried to stuff it in
under another kart that was wide and tentative I knew this
young man had what it takes. Congratulations Jerett and
Tachovsky family.
Update : Team Tachovsky
sent a note that Jerett was very happy and was sleeping with
his Duffy right next to his pillow each night.
Congratulations Jerett!
Championship Series - Trip to Italy!
We've been working on an Easykart engine for
someone that was competitive but not the front runner. In
his first race with our engine he won the Florida state
race. Congratulations and thanks for taking us to victory
lane with you.
Tornado Factory Driver
Ryan Lewis Towers Over KKN National Restricted Field
Ryan Lewis learned the track quickly and won the Heat race
and final in Kid Kart Restricted at the Kid Kart Nationals
in St. Louis. He submitted to a full tech and was the only
major competitor to be fully teched and cleared with an
undisputed win. He gets a chance to come back next year and
try the Unrestricted class. Zach Whaley drove his Tornado superbly into
second place but his engine builder probably didn't get a
chance to check cc's and they missed out on the podium
because they were under the limit. Thank you Ryan and Steve
Lewis, that makes four of the last five years we've won the
KKN championships.
In Kid Kart Unrestricted Five of our drivers crossed the
finish line in the top eight, Donnie Bell of Texas, Factory
Driver Grant Greisbach, Zach Preiser and Jacob Winslow
(Factory Driver) and Jaydon Biles(Factory Driver).
Jaydon Biles was fastest for the team drivers and was in
third when lapped traffic got together in front of him
causing him to spin while avoiding them, he recovered to
finish in the top 8. In post race inspection 1st to finish
took a seal DQ and second took a port timing DQ and left
tech with their engines surrendering their rights to protest. At that point Tornado drivers had 1st, 2nd and
5th. But after phone calls and some very interesting
decision making, everything was reversed leaving Donnie in
3rd and Grant in 4th and Zach off the podium. We are
awaiting a ruling by the full board of SLKA on the reversal
of the DQ's. Jacob Winslow
and Biles were close behind in 7th 8th and Leatherberry
fought chassis issues after a terrible early practice wreck
to finish somewhere mid pack. Shankleton ran a 51.8, twice
working his way up near the front in his Tornado only to get
knocked off the track and come back on.
While some were very upset about protest rulings and
unprecedented changes
in DQ's, I'm a little more calm about this and hope that
in coming days officials will have chance to review the
letters presented, the witnesses and what happened, in an
air conditioned room without the heat of the crews and the
Missouri Sun on them. The unfortunate thing is that because
the engines left tech we will never know what happened,
that's why you have a controlled tech area and rules against
leaving it.
Unrestricted Pole Sitter Donnie Bell Of Texas
KKN All Tornado Front Row
Bell vs
Greisbach and Whaley vs Lewis
In Unrestricted it is the Cheese heads of Wisconsin against
the Texans with Bell taking the pole in his unpainted 2009
prototype Tornado at a 51.8 and Grant Greisbach from up north at a 52.3. It's a 2009 against a
Used 2008.
In restricted it's a reverse with the 2008 setting the pole
with local favorite running his home town track Zach Whaley
against another Texas Ryan Lewis a Tornado Factory driver.
Someone ripped down the qualifying sheets before we saw
where everyone qualified. Where were Biles and Leatherberry,
Biles was 53.4 and Leatherberry 54.0, probably 8th and 14th.
Both have elected to tear motors completely apart to find
the gremlins. Leatherberry found his and is up and running
as of 1am. Biles may have discovered his after a 2am
conference call with the wizard of the desert Keith
St.George. We were just too tired to think straight and
Keith gave us some good food for thought. Jon Biles will not
surrender and he's got a great back up engine ready.
Other drivers of note were the Schankleton brothers who were
just so smooth and drove the track masterfully. They are
ready to pounce on Sunday. Nicholas Cory had an issue in
qualifying but was getting fast quickly, watch for him to
move up. Winslow of KC is really learning the track now and
may just challenge on Sunday. So much can happen in 35 laps.
It is anyone's game. Only one DQ so far. We've got about 40
kids, 24 and 16 in the two classes. Really exciting. It's
2:30 Am here time for sleep. Look to our facebook or twitter
pages for updates during the day, search Tornadodriver.
Steve Lewis Watches Nicolas Cory Us All The Track At KKN
Tachovsky On Pole, Wins
Screaming Eagle, 2nd By A Hair At Grand Nationals in Reno
Jerett Tachovsky is on pole for the final at
the IKF Grand Nationals in Reno. Kid Kart Heavy is tomorrow.
Jerett impressed the world last year as a young Tornado
Factory Driver when he placed third at the IKF Grand
Nationals as a 6 year old. Go Jerret! One of the nicest
families you'll ever meet at the track and one talented
driver.
Update: Jerett missed winning by .056 of a
second in a head to head race to the finish. He does take
home the coveted Screaming Eagle for fast qualifier.
Tornados took half of the top four spots, set fast time in
qualifying, the heat race and the main but Gilmer of
Northern California made it happen in the final and deserves
the accolades for the win. Tornados have a perfect record
for the 3 Screaming Eagles ever awarde 3 for 3, thanks
Jerett! He joins Chris Trickle who has two in his trophy
case from last year.
Video Testimonials
We have had several good
notes about our new set of instructional videos for the kid
kart engine and chassis.
"We
really learned a bunch in a short amount time, this helped
us to understand all the things we didn't know and wouldn't
have thought about. You guys have seen a lot and tested many
small things that all add up to a fast engine and kart."
Over the last seven years
we have had over a hundred nice notes from crew chiefs that
invested in our video series. It's several hours of tips,
tricks and things not to do that encompass thousands of
hours at the track.
In talking with someone
that had purchased the videos we learned that he'd been
running too lean. He'd been winning but was looking for a
little bit more. Now that he knows he's been running too
lean and ruined his ring he'll be much faster once he gets
the top end rebuilt.
Look at the
How To Videos Section in the upper
right of this page to see the videos.
Biles Wins
SKUSA CSC
Tornado
Drivers Sweep
Jaydon
Biles was able to work his way to the front for the win and
the trophy but he didn't buy the tires so he doesn't get the
points. Tornado drivers took the top five positions at the
Springfield Illinois race. Jaydon Biles won and loaned an
engine to the very fast Shankleton's that finished second.
Grant Griesbach finished third and Owen Leatherberry was
still breaking in his engine and got fourth with Winslow
Fifth. There is a talented group of drivers and tuners in
the Midwest and any one of them can win on any given
weekend. Thanks for taking us to victory lane with you!
Preparations for the Kid Kart Nationals continues and it
should be the best shootout in years as both former national
champions will try to repeat alongside favorites like Jaydon
Biles and the Shankletons.
Length Matters
Secrets of our 2010 Karts
Leak Out
After secret spy photos of
your new Tornado Kid Kart and Cadet start to show up on
Italian websites (www.americankartenvy.com) we thought we'd
go ahead and make the announcement of more details of your
next kart. We can confirm that length matters. On some
tracks you want the shortest chassis you can get so it can
make the corners quicker, however on big tracks you might
want a longer sleeker chassis so you have less scrub. For
some clients we have built a custom second chassis that they
used on longer tracks, but now you can have all in one.
Now you can have more
options all in one chassis. The 2010 Cadet and Kid Kart both
have adjustable length and adjustable height. This give you
the ability to change the characteristics of the kart based
on the track you are running at.
Now we become the only Kid
Kart in the world with adjustable length. In keeping with
the tradition of rolling out new capabilities to stay ahead
of the competition we are making more changes to give you
the advantage on the competition.
Next week we'll give you a
sneak peak of the new bodylines of the 2010 Tornado Cadet.
It is sleek and really great looking, best of all it's
faster!
Kings In
The Castle
Tornado
Factory Drivers Sweep Top 5 At New Castle SKUSA CSC Race #2
Five young
men that represented the Tornado Factory Team held court on
the podium after a weekend of hard fought
racing. Jaydon
Biles was the fastest all weekend long and took home the
title at New Castle Indiana this weekend. We loaned an old
style C50 to new factory driver Jacob Winslow and he challenged Biles during the race. Fast on their heels was Wisconsin
Factory driver Grant Griesbach that fattened up and was
closing fast with our new style C51! Owen Leatherberry
fought engine gremlins and came in fourth. Nicholas Cory
spun on the track after avoiding a baby goose and was able
to get back up to make it on the podium. At the end 2nd
through 5th were nose to tail with Biles 5 kart lengths
ahead holding out against the drafting train trying to catch
him. Watch the video by clicking
here.
We ended up
with a sweep in the engine department and tech wisely tore
the heads off of the top five since they were all from the
same builder. Everyone passed as they are all spec engines
with no modifications outside of the rules. We have two more
old style C50 engines if someone wants to purchase one. Congratulations
to all the young men racing for the Tornado Team! Thanks for
taking us to victory lane with you. I've ordered new shirts
for all of you on behalf of your victory.
New Pins & Pills!
The new pills and king pins have arrived. You can see the
difference in the king pin on the left and the old one on
the right. Pill kits include 0, 1 and 2 degree offsets. The
pills have a set screw so they are less likely to move once
you align your kart. The fit between the pill and pin is
perfect so the spindle fit and movement is greatly improved.
This has been the single biggest area that we see wear out
and get missed by teams. You can order a set of these if you
are a factory team now. The kit will be available to the
public in a couple months.
Route 66 A Success For Tornado Drivers
The long awaited open to the Route 66 Regional series has
finally arrived. Drivers have waited through months of snow,
windy days and torrential spring rains for this weekend.
Tornado Drivers from the Midwest ascended on Springfield
Illinois. Qualifying took place Saturday and the race was
Sunday.
Alanmykael Polley ran second all day to last years winner
and former Tornado Factory Driver Kaleb Allison in the Tag
60 class. Kaleb had been offered a sweet deal to move teams.
Alanmykael was fast and clearly earned second. It was a
great job since he'd never raced at this track before. In the Kid
Kart class it was pretty similar to last years Kid Kart
Nationals finish. With Fourth place Jaydon Biles a Tornado
Factory Driver holding down first all weekend. Jon Biles
said, " I've never seen him drive this good before". Teresa
Biles felt it might be the racing video games he used to
stay fresh over the winter. Jon chose an old style engine
for this race and it was the ticket to the front row for Jaydon and Egan
Shankleton, also on a Tornado and old style engine. They
were one and two only a second apart at the checkered.
Jaydon Biles Looking Cool and Confident In The #95 Tornado
Mason Mitchell move up the pack into third place for the
Tornado Factory Team and Nicholas Cory took 6th after a
great run from 10th to almost podium. Mason was last years Kid
Kart National Champion in the restricted class and a driver
that can put it on the front row in this series. That gave
four
of the top six spots to Tornado Team drivers or Tornado
Chassis drivers. Thanks for taking us to victory lane Jaydon
and thanks for filling up the podium Mason, Eagan and
Nicholas. Ryan Lewis ran up near the front but got knocked
off the track and had to take a DNF for this one, but he'll
be back and challenging for the lead soon at the next race.
The next race will be in Norway, Il at the Concept Haulers
Speedway. Drivers wishing to compete will need to pull out
the old style engine to run up front in this series. We have
one left if someone needs one. Or if you have one we can
make it quicker if you'll send it out for a rebuild. It's
tough to run old style vs. new style unless they let the new
style's tap off so they can heat up. Out West here they
haven't let old style C50's race for three years now.
Congratulations to all our drivers on a great weekend of
racing.
TNT In The Rain In Cadet
Here's the
video
to watch and see for yourself how good Alanmykael Polley
drives. He's very confident as you'll see and he shows that
the Tornado Cadet loves the rain. Drivers report a feeling
of confidence in the grip and predictability. When you have
drivers this good it all comes together for a nice run up
front unchallenged.
Thanks Alanmykael and team
for taking us to Victory Lane with you! We are all smiles
out here in sunny California. ;)
Want To Go Road Racing?
Here is a
video of Michael Schneider's helmet cam. Be careful the
first part is very scary. Close your eyes and wait until you
hear the engine!
St George Wins First Tornado Cadet Outing in
Vegas
Chloe put together Michael Schneider's older Tornado Cadet
and outran a Minimax with her much less powerful Micromax as
well as a Jr 1 to win her class and final with all MicroMax
and Jr1 Comer 80 drivers at the local LVMS club race. Fellow
Tornado driver Tanner McKee also won again in the Kid Kart
class.
Tornado Factory Drivers Lewis Down And Dirty
Winning In Texas Mud Too!
Here are a couple shots from Ryan Lewis' recent win at a
dirt race down south in Texas - What's next Ice racing? Congratulations Ryan. Our
hopes and prayers go out to his tuner Steve who is facing
some difficult choices with surgery coming up. The team will
do all they can to help keep Ryan on the track. Thanks for
sending us the pictures. Ryan is currently second in points
in IKF R7 Sunday series, as an out of state driver. That's
doing very good against the local drivers.
2009 Tornado Factory
Drivers Announcements Continue
Shocking
New Accessories To Adult Tornado Lightning Chassis
Check the
Lightning chassis section out for more details on how to
stay cool at the nationals this summer.
Tornado Kid Kart Drivers
Rule Again at IKF
1st, 2nd
and 4th Sat: 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday
The 2009 Tornado chassis
proves itself again as the drivers with them were up front
and owned the majority of the podium including the top spot
each day. Jerett Tachovsky won on Sunday setting fast time
for the weekend with a 108.4 with a 16 second lead over 2nd, and Ryan Lewis got
third. That time was over 2 seconds slower than when the
track is run the opposite direction, but if you're going to
claim a track record it would go to Jerett Tachovsky.
Fastest time run the other way we've seen was 1:05.9 at the
Grand Nationals two years ago by our RJ Lantz.
Ryan has done very well
considering he's got to fly in from Texas, get a kart and
engine set up for a track he's never seen before. It's a
tough task against the local and regional drivers that get
to practice. After the race we found what was slowing Ryan's
kart and hopefully Keith St. George will get it ironed out
before the next race. Keith's agreed to help out since the
kart stays in Vegas.
Ryan is in striking
distance of the championship with a second and third in the
first two races. We are happy to announce Ryan as a member
of the Tornado Factory Team for 2009. Remember Ryan, that
two years ago Braden Johnson won the series for the Tornado
Team without every winning a race, sometimes its the
consistent driver that wins the championship by following
the rules and showing up to compete. It is a long season and
anything can happen. Congratulations to all the Tornado
drivers that finished in the top 5 this weekend.
Sunday's Winner Jerett Tachovsky - One Cool Racer!
Michael Schneider
Michael Schneider "The Ice
Man" has been part our history for some time. He ran one of
our Kid Karts into a KART national title a few years back
with Coldstone Creamery sponsorship. Then he went into
Cadet's. He came back to us and picked up a Tornado Cadet
and moved up to the front again winning the KART Regional
Title in Gazelles.
He just finished the
2009 Winter Outlaw series in second place with two wins, a
second and broken engine last. Had the engine not cracked
with freezing temperatures The Ice Man would have brought us
the first title of 2009.
Michael in 2005 with his first Tornado Chassis
Michael is a valued test
driver and his crew chief Jeff is one of the most tenacious
engineers around. He's got the newest version of the 2009
Cadet with some changes specifically requested by Jeff
Schneider. Those changes will become standard in the 2010
model. In the powerful Minimax class the Chromoly Tornado
has proven to be the option for drivers that want
performance and longevity. The attention to aerodynamics
also has paid off as Michael has met with success in the
road racing arena as well. He dropped 4 seconds a lap from
last season and was 5 seconds quicker than any other Minimax.
Watch him at work by clicking below. Wow, is that fast!
Check
Out Mike Road Racing
Thank you Michael and Jeff
for taking us to victory lane with you so many times and for
pushing us to be better every week.
Chloe St. George - Las Vegas Nevada
Chloe
is driving up to San Jose to pick up her IKF R11
Championship award. It is her day to be recognized as a
returning driver moving up to Cadets. She has already
adapted many of the skills required to drive a Cadet
successfully.
She won most of the R11 races, a R7 race and
a R4 race. She lead most of the Kid Kart Nationals, took the
pole in time qualifying for the race and also got 3rd at the
IKF Grand Nationals. She had more regional and
national podiums than any other Kid Kart driver and deserves
to be recognized as the top female kart racer in her age
group and possibly the top Kid Kart racer of 2008. We have
high hopes for her as she moves into the MicroMax class and
possibly a couple more.
She had her trusty crew chief at her side.
She regularly had to bail him out of the hospital to make
the race. Hopefully Keith (Dad) will get his chassis fixed
and so he can focus on our Cadet. The two make a dynamic duo
that are hard to match. Soon little sister Heather will join
the team and start practicing. Congratulations Chloe on
making the team again and thank you for taking us to victory
lane so many times in 2008!
Hannah Williams - Texas
Hannah is on the far right, we'll need to grow into that
shirt!
Hannah is returning for a
second year as a Cadet Tornado Team Factory Driver. She won
two Southwest Regional Series races last year and lead the
series in points for a while. A kart that lost control ahead
of her and almost destroyed her chassis and engine set her
season on end or she could have challenged for the title in
her first of three years of eligibility.
Hannah's Father Chris has
raced before and is a great tuner and coach for Hannah.
"Hannah enjoyed being part of the team last season and wants
to continue again this season" said Chris and we are more
than happy to continue to support any female driver as
talented and hard working as this young lady.
"With the new axle changes
we made the kart is really working nicely. Once we fix the
issues with the engine after the crank was bent in that bad
wreck last year we should be back up front".
Kid Kart Nationals In HD?
Yes!
Click Here To See Chloe win the heat race. The file was
700 mb and takes a couple hours to load but youtube is
allowing much bigger files now. When watching make sure to
click on the HD in the bottom right.
Tornado Factory Team Suits
Stitched
If you want to have your race
suit stitched up with the Tornado Team Logos you can send
them to
Ink Monkey In Davis, Ca. While you can just send them to
us our travel schedule could add a week or so to the
timeline.
http://www.inkmonkeygraphics.com Explain that you are a
Tornado Factory Driver and they'll get you set up. Depending
on how many logos you select it can be between $40 and $140
for the embroidery. They can also produce patches for you
and send them to you to sew on the suit if you want.
2008 Kid
Kart National Video
We found a
way to get the whole Kid Kart National Video to show on the
web at once.
Click here to watch it.
Cadet
Driver Tribute Video Up
Click
Here!
Tornado's
Destroy Italian Competition in IKF R7 Rain Races At Calspeed
Tornado's
Take 4 of 5 Top Spots Both Days!
Saturday
All last
year we trained and worked with young Jerett Tachovsky and
his crew as part of our Tornado Factory Driver Team. He's
picture below talking with Chris Trickle another former
Tornado Factory Driver.
These two
are a couple of the most talented drivers we've seen and
Jerett proved it Saturday in his opening performance in R7.
Chris Trickle holds the only two Screaming Eagles ever
awarded to Kid Karts last year when he took two poles on the
Tornado Kid Kart at the Grand Nationals. The Tornado chassis
won last season's opening race at Calspeed with Cruz Fiore
at the helm and the same design won again on the super slick
track at Fontana California with Jerett driving. Ryan Lewis
of Texas had to start last after a coil failed in the heat,
but the racer from Lone star state wouldn't give up and made
it to the podium. Ryan made it from last to fourth, a great
run for anyone in R7! Tornado Karts took four of the top
five positions Saturday. Hayden Wagoner took 5th place both
days in his Used Tornado (thanks you Charles for the nice
note).
Pictures complements of Rob Tachovsky
Sunday
Ryan Lewis
#65 improved in day two as this was his first ever rain race
experience and first time to Calspeed. A lose muffler in the
qualifying sent Tachovsky and Lewis to the back. Lewis threw
a chain and Tachovsky lost an air filter in the heat race.
In the final the two started dead last. By the end of the
first lap Ryan had made it to the front and lead all laps
until lap 6 when he got loose in the rain. Tachovsky took
the opportunity to get in front and held the lead to the
checkered flag. The two finished 1st and second on the 2009
Tornado Chassis. The number 88 running a 2009 Tornado as
well got third, Anthony Sawyer got fourth and fifth
was a Tornado as well. Leading to an all American Chassis
sweep in the final. Both days Tornado karts took four of the
top five spots. Thanks for taking us to victory lane!
Tanner
McKee Wins Las Vegas Opener Cowen Second As Tornados Roll
Through
Tornado's
took first and second in the desert of Las Vegas this
Sunday. Tanner is the younger brother of the first ever Kid
Kart IKF Grand National Champion. Tanner's more into girls
than practice but he's got the some great racing genes, a
top notch crew chief and tire cleaner and the race was on.
Rumor has it that Katie Fiore, his secret cheerleader was
wearing a pink shirt with his number on it in the stands and
blowing him kisses. Tanner would come around the track and
give her a thumbs up sign as he fended of a hard charging
Sport Cowen that was running Chloe St. Georges Tornado.
Congratulations to both drivers and thanks for taking us to
victory lane with you.
If ever in Vegas stay at the Terrible Herbst Hotel, they
sponsor Tanner and we should pay them back as often as we
can!
|
Thermodynamics, Metallurgy,
Chemistry and then application of a testing process on the
dynamometer.
.jpg)
