Young Guns Team Up to
Top New England's Finest
in Indoor Competition

Braintree, MA:   With winter weather coming unseasonably early, the Kart Klash II presented by Wirtgen was just what the doctor ordered.   NEMA Midget competitor Bobby Seymour teamed with ISMA Supermodified Owner/Driver J. Scott Martel to host a day of indoor go-kart racing at F1 Boston in Braintree, MA. After an action-packed afternoon on the road course of Track #1 a star-studded team of young lions found themselves with winner's trophies.

ISMA competitor Justin Belfoire, Joseph Doucette, Buck Viera, Billy Evans, Busch North competitor Eddie MacDonald, former Pro Stock ace Eric Hudson, NEMA young gun Tim Bertrand, three-time American Race Truck-Northeast Champion, Shawn Parker, and Quarter Midget Association Race Director Steve Frissora worked together to run consistent laps to take down the win.  Eight of the team's 10 drivers recorded laps in the 19-second bracket during the feature event. 

The 100-name roster looked like a who's who of New England racing, with drivers representative of nearly all forms of racing.  From touring series to weekly racing competitors; from dirt to asphalt; from open wheels to full-fenders, they were all there at the Kart Klash II on Saturday, December 14, 2002.

The competition consisted of practice, time trials, and a feature event.  The activities kicked off with 10 laps of practice and qualifying.  The fastest lap in the first segment determined the qualifying time for each driver.

Buddy Savary, of the famed Pro-Four Savary racing family was the fast qualifier with a lap of 19.60 seconds.  Scott Martel was just a tick of the pole with a lap of 19.61 seconds.  Pro Stock competitor Robbie Dole was third fast qualifier with a lap of 19.66 seconds.  Bobby Ambroceo and P.A.S.S. racer Steve Knowlton rounded out the top five with laps of 19.68 and 19.77 seconds, respectively. 

Teams of ten racers were then established by staggering qualifying times to ensure an equal mix of "talent" levels per team.   The feature event consisted of two five-minute segments (which allows for approx. 14 to 15 laps).  All members of each team would take to the track at once in the first round and then compete again in the same fashion in the second round.   

The team to complete the most total laps would be declared the winner.  The winning team completed a total of 293 laps in the feature segments.  The second team headed by third generation driver Erica Santos also completed 293 laps, however, Steve Frissora turned the win-clinching lap.  In case of a tie, the team with the quickest single lap would be declared the winner.  Frissora turned a lap of 19.546 vs. the quick lap of E. Santos of 19.604. 
 
Other notables in contention during the Kart Klash II included ISMA's Chris Perley, NEMA regulars Bobby Seymour, Ben Seitz, Kyle Carpenter, Glen Cabral, Larry Cheetham, Mark Buonomo, Tommy Spada, and Howie Bumpus. From the asphalt Modified ranks it was Waterford brothers Joey & James Civalli and crew chief Jimmy Fuller in action.  Temporarily swapping Pro-Four Modifieds for go-karts were George Sherman and Richard Savary.   Practicing for their 2003 return to racing were NEMA racer Gary Sherman and Mini Sprint competitor Dave Igo. 

The overall fastest lap of the day was posted by NEMA ace Randy Cabral, who turned a lap at 19.19 seconds.