The way our winter was going, I never thought I would see the return of the Canadian karting season. But with the turn of the calendar, it is finally the month of May and that means it’s time to go racing!
Personally, I am very excited about this month for a number of reasons. First and foremost is my chance to return to kart tracks across Ontario and Quebec after a long off-season and some serious time on the college campus. May also marks the second anniversary of CKN version 2.0, as I relaunched the website just in time for the first ECKC race of the season is the middle of May in 2012. Wow time flies! Finally, I am amped up for what is possibly the busiest schedule I have ever seen; I am set to attend so many events across Canada this year and I cannot wait to bring the news to you at each and every one of these races.
So I will admit I did get away to the three Florida Winter Tour Rotax events this winter, but in all honesty they just don’t compare to my love and support for Canadian karting. It is great to see some of the best international talents compete, but that is also what the SKUSA SuperNationals and Rotax Grand Finals are for me. I would much rather hit up SRA Karting, Greg Moore Raceway or Point Pelee Karting some support my Canadians.
It’s May, Lets Go Racing!
May also marks a very busy start to the season. Things get going very quickly for us here at CKN. I have deemed it the CKN Summer Tour (T-Shirts coming very soon), as I feel I’ll need a tour bus since I’ll be away from home so much. I kick things off this weekend in Mirabel, Quebec for the debut of the ROK Cup Quebec at PSL Montreal. It is an interesting concept brought on by LP Gelinas, but with his good nature for the sport I wish him all the best and success for his new series.
Staying put in Quebec for the weekend, I will make my way across Montreal on route to SH Karting in Mont St-Hilaire for the first round of the Coupe du Quebec. Although the championship isn’t quite what is has been in years past, they did have quite possibly the best Briggs & Stratton racing with huge fields all of last season and I’m excited to see even more growth there. The following week I return to my home province of Ontario for the kickoff of the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship at Mosport International Karting before returning to Quebec for Coupe du Quebec #2 at KCR Karting. And just like that, the month of May is complete.
CKN Version 2.0
Can you believe it’s been two years since I relaunched CKN? I feel like it was yesterday that I was discussing what to do with my business partner on how to attack this new project. But I am very happy to report that it has been successful and I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon, except to go-kart tracks and events. The first race I attended was the WCC event in Chilliwack, BC, before the website was even ready to launch. As much of a roller coaster of a week that was, I cannot wait to get back out there this summer for the double-header in August.
This year I am very excited to push forward and introduce some new features. My plan is to include more video’s from each race we attend along with continuing our trackside coverage at all the major events this year. Neelan Nadesan is back at my side supporting the social media and live updates on the site and I’m excited to see what Graci Young and Coltin McCaughan have to say in each of their driver blogs.
The 2014 CKN Summer Tour
Finally, with so much on tap this summer and so many high profile events coast to coast it is going to be busy for the CKN Nation. Whether it be the Coupe du Quebec/ECKC double-header at Le Monaco on the streets Trois-Rivieres, Quebec or the Western Canadian Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan. Or the Rotax Can-Am ProKart Challenge in Chilliwack, British Columbia, or the new ROK Cup Quebec Championship at PSL Montreal. There is also the Point Pelee Karting Club Memorial Race Weekend, where there is some huge cash up for grabs for Briggs & Stratton racers, or the highlight of the season for most of us, the ASN Canadian National Karting Championships! With so much going on this summer, I need to remember to breathe a little more so I make it to the end.
In closing, I just want to thank everyone for their support over the past two years. Whether you visit the site daily, share an article on Facebook, bought a t-shirt or simply just sported a CKN sticker on your kart, your support means so much to me. This website has been a truly incredible opportunity and I’m loving every minute of it.
See you at the track!
-Cody Schindel
