Whangarei event starts new year karting programme with a roar

The premier event of Kartsport Whangarei's calendar is about to take off this weekend at the Business Coaching New Zealand Raceway at Anderson Park in Maunu.
The bumper three-day Whangarei Brick and Tile Summer Slam of 2011 club event starts today with practice. Racing begins tomorrow and concludes on Sunday. The event attracts drivers from around Northland, Auckland and from as far afield as Whakatane.
A regular contingent of visitors make the trip north to compete against the locals on their home turf at the meeting, traditionally held every January and the first karting event on the national calendar.
This provides an excellent opportunity for motorsport fans to witness racing action in their own backyard and support local drivers as they go head to head against others from out of the region. From 6-year-old cadets through to senior citizens, novice drivers to the young up-and-coming professionals of tomorrow, the on-track competition remains fast paced and tough as contestants race to be first past the chequered flag.
Today's practice rounds allows drivers to familiarise themselves with the track at Anderson Park and to tune their karts to the conditions, but it is tomorrow when the action really gets under way with over 70 drivers expected to hit the track competing within 10 separate classes. Each of the those classes will run five heats adding up to a busy schedule of racing.
And Sunday will provide further hot action as the karters get closer to the final showdown. With just four heats per class on this day, the drivers will all be battling for high placings with all points from tomorrow and Sunday's races to be added together to determine the winners after nine gruelling races.
Practice and racing begins at approximately 10am each day. There is no entry fee, refreshments are available at the Kartsport Whangarei clubrooms and there is plenty of room around the circuit for families to watch the motorsport action in safety.
Kartsport Whangarei normally conduct 12 meetings throughout the season at Anderson Park and are currently halfway through their Club Championship. The club's next event, round three of the championship, will be held on February 13.