Issued by Cartersport:

Dear All,

Myself, George and Ally along with Aaron and Connor would like to extend our most grateful thanks for the numerous cards, flowers, letters and messages of support that we have received since Steve’s tragic accident.

We have been truly touched by the great affection in which he was held by friends, fans and fellow competitors alike and this kindness has been simply overwhelming as indicated by the volume of people that were present at the funeral.

Not only will be remembered by us as a dear son, loving partner and dedicated father but as an inspiration to thousands who were touched by his presence.

We will always be so proud of him.

Thank you to you all.

Margaret Hislop



Editorial Guide To People Mentioned Above Or Otherwise Related To Steve Hislop: George (Hardie) is Steve’s stepfather as his own father (Sandy) died in 1979 of a heart attack, at age 43. Steve’s brother Garry was killed in a racing accident in 1982. Ally is Steve’s girlfriend, and not to be confused with Kelly who was the mother of his two kids. They split up a couple of years ago. Steve’s son Aaron is 5 and his son Connor is 3.


See related posts:

8/3/2003 Hislop To Be Buried Thursday

7/31/2003 The Team That Sacked Him After He Won The 2002 British Championship Remembers Steve Hislop

7/30/2003 Steve Hislop Dies In Copter Crash

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Thieves stole a trailer, racebike and spares from CRA racer Mark Dargis sometime last weekend.

Dargis told Roadracingworld.com that his 16-foot Continental enclosed trailer was stolen from 4303 12th Ave, Shakopee, Minnesota.

The trailer contained his 1999 Yamaha TZ250 racebike (frame number CG06C-000046); the bike is all white with Kimpex and Ipone stickers on it.

The trailer also contained all his racing spares and his 1985 Honda Aero scooter.

The trailer is black, with MN license plate number CBT 6809. The trailer’s VIN number is 4X4TSEV25WL001449.

Anyone with information regarding the stolen trailer can contact Dargis at:

Mark Dargis
15860 Fleet Trail
Apple Valley, MN 55124
612-867-8185
[email protected]

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A new rule restricting which riders can enter both the Superbike and Formula Xtreme races during an AMA National weekend has effectively banned Vincent Haskovec from competing in Formula Xtreme.

Haskovec has entered the class three times, finishing 10th, 11th and ninth.

The new ruling prevents riders who are in the top 10 in either Superbike or Formula Xtreme points from running in the other class, unless they are in the top 10 in points in both classes. Haskovec is ninth in Superbike points but is not in the top 10 in Formula Xtreme points.

AMA Pro Racing did not give affected racers a chance to comment on the rule before putting it into immediate effect.

Asked why he has been entering Formula Xtreme, Haskovec said “My purpose is to get more familiar with close racing, and of course, money. But more than that, I just want to fill up that space, the empty space on Sunday. I do two races in that one day, Saturday, and two races in that other day, Sunday.

“I got a great (Formula Xtreme) race with Roger Lee Hayden at Brainerd. I got a great (Formula Xtreme) race with Geoff May at Mid-Ohio.

“I don’t know what is the purpose of that rule. I thought it is better for the spectators for a few guys like me to enter.”

Another rider caught out by the new rule is Steve Rapp, who is sixth in Formula Xtreme points but is not in the top 10 in Superbike points. In the two Superbike races he finished this year, Rapp was sixth and 10th.

AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick did not answer his phone when called for comment.


See related post:

8/12/2003 Pick One: AMA Pro Racing Limits Superbike/FX And Supersport/Superstock Entries




And now some reaction from Suzuki/Kawasaki dealer Jeff Wilson, who used to run support team programs for American Suzuki:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

In regards to that immediate entry restriction: I can’t believe the AMA can arbitrarily limit who enters the classes. What if you want to try out an up-and-comer in Superbike or Supersport? You can’t! It seems the whiners got their way…

This clearly targets the Suzukis of Mladin and Yates in SB and Spies in FX. Hell, Spies is a relative newcomer to FX and, just like the 750 riders used to do, he is using SB for extra time on the track. What is wrong with that, Mr. AMA? And it penalizes several other racers who it is not even intended for. It kinda shows just how versatile the GSX-R1000 is I guess. It has its own rule.

If Honda really thinks that an hour or two more on the racetrack will make up for that 50 hp difference Mladin says he has on them, then the entries should be opened up and say “If you are way behind in the curve then we will let you have some extra practice in one of our other classes.”

Makes just as much sense to me.

This was a problem when I worked at Suzuki. The 600s would practice in 750 and leave open grids. The 750s would practice in SB and leave open grids. No one seemed to mind then. The AMA definitely liked the extra income from the entries. And the AMA wanted more 600s in 750 at the time even though they would clearly have an advantage at the tighter tracks. No “Top Ten” rule then.

I think the proper thing would be to modify the entry rules. If you enter the class then you have to race it or face a stiff penalty, regardless of where you are in points. Probably would take care of itself and not screw anybody out of opportunity. Exceptions could be made for crashed out bikes, failed engines, etc.

Right now it seems that someone who doesn’t really understand the racing world made this decision and not Mr. Barrick.

Maybe someone at the almighty Honda made a call…

Still a fan,

Jeff Wilson
Yuma, Arizona

From a press release issued by Brainerd International Raceway:

Cellular One signs sponsorship deal with BIR

BRAINERD, Minn. ­ Brainerd International Raceway and Cellular One officials today announced a sponsorship package for the remainder of the 2003 racing season.

According to the deal, Cellular One will be the title sponsor of BIR’s annual Muscle Car Shootout, which will now be called the Cellular One Muscle Car Shootout. Scheduled for Sept. 5-7, the Shootout features some 400 classic cars that slug it out on the quarter-mile drag strip in a number of drag racing categories, such as King Street, Real Street and Outlaw. The event, which has been a BIR mainstay for 14 years, also includes a classic car show.

Cellular One also will have a significant presence at BIR, including signage and a display on the BIR grounds during public events, with the opportunity to sell services and products.

“We’re very pleased that Cellular One has agreed to a sponsorship this year,” BIR General Manager Scott Quick said. “We’re expecting this relationship to continue growing in the coming years, with Cellular One’s presence at BIR becoming increasingly more visible.”

“We’re excited to enter this relationship with the Brainerd International Raceway organization,” said Monica Hendrickson, Cellular One Regional Marketing Manager. “It is encouraging to become a corporate partner with a group that has historically taken the steps necessary to improve its product and to expand its presence as one of the Upper Midwest’s premier attractions. We are looking forward to participating in the continued growth and success of BIR and its events.”

Cellular One is a licensed trade name of Dobson Cellular Systems, an Oklahoma City-based wireless communications provider operating in 16 states. For more information on Dobson Communications Corporation (NasdaqSC: DCEL), visit the company’s website at www.dobson.net or www.celloneusa.com.

BIR is a subsidiary of Michigan-based Sports Resorts International Inc., a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange (SPRI). Now in its 34th season, BIR is one of North America’s largest racetracks, featuring 800 acres of rustic camping, 159 full-service RV sites and on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities, and it now has a new concrete drag strip that is one of the flattest and fastest in the country. Visit www.brainerdraceway.com.

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Infineon Raceway Names New Senior Marketing Manager

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) — Marla Kowalski has been named Senior Marketing Manager at Infineon Raceway, it was announced by raceway officials.

Kowalski will be responsible for event marketing, including pre-event promotions, trade shows and special events. She will also help execute sponsorship and advertising commitments and organize pre-race activities.

“Marla’s expertise and background from being associated with some the world’s strongest consumer brands and their sponsorship programs adds necessary depth and is a great complement to our team,” said Tim Schuldt, vice president of marketing and sales for Infineon Raceway. “We look forward to her contributions as we strive to continue to amaze our customers.”

Prior to coming to Infineon Raceway, Kowalski worked in the Global Events department at E*TRADE Financial, including work on such programs as the “Rolling Stones Licks World Tour.” She has also worked at Microsoft Web TV Networks in the Marketing and Communications department as a marketing events contractor. At Microsoft, Kowalski worked with a team to start Ultimate TV’s NASCAR program and managed product trade shows, promotions & special events.

“After working at Microsoft doing NASCAR marketing promotions, I knew I had to get back to motor sports marketing and Infineon Raceway is a perfect match,” said Kowalski. “I equate it to the starting position of each race – it is a new challenge. I am so happy to be a part of the Infineon Raceway team and my goal is to continue to expose motor sports to the people who live in the Bay Area.”

Kowalski graduated from the University of California at Davis with degrees in History and Spanish. She currently resides in San Francisco.

From a Competition Bulletin issued by AMA Pro Racing:

TO: All Licensed Road Racers and Season Credential Holders
FROM: Ron Barrick, Road Race Manager
DATE: August 6, 2003
SUBJECT: Entry Restrictions

In order to maintain the integrity of grids in Superbike, Formula Xtreme and Superstock, the following entry restrictions are effective immediately:

The top ten riders in Superbike and Formula Xtreme championship points are restricted from entry in both classes unless they are in the top ten in championship points in both classes.

The top ten riders in Supersport championship points are restricted from entry in Superstock with a Supersport motorcycle, unless they are in the top ten in championship points in both classes.

If you have a pre-entry in any of the affected classes and are un-able to participate please notify the AMA Pro Racing office at (614) 856-1900 and we will refund your entry.

Should you have any questions concerning this change, please contact Road Race Manager Ron Barrick at (703) 250-3034.

From a press release issued by Spectrum Motorsports:

SPECTRUM MOTORSPORTS AUGUST BIKE NIGHT

Spectrum Motorsports in Irvine, California will stage its monthly Bike Night on Tuesday, August 12th, starting at 6:00 p.m. and lasting until 8:00 p.m.

The theme for the night is 50-cent hot dogs and 10-cent sodas.

There will be demonstration rides on Vego electric scooters in the parking lot.

More information is available from Spectrum Motorsports, (949)859-3186, www.spectrumotorsports.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ray Irwin, the new owner of Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas, wants to make several improvements to the worn and bumpy race surface at the 14-year-old road course but getting the venue back in the black financially must come first.

“It’ll take a good stream of revenue, as you might imagine,” said Irwin, who also owns Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Illinois. “We made a pretty big expenditure on March 31 to buy the place. We’re not Texas oil men where we have unlimited funds. We’re going to do this in a good, business-like manner. We’re going to be profitable.”

Irwin, who has moved to Topeka to serve as the track’s full-time manager, and members of the Heartland Park staff he has kept on have made several improvements to the facility in the few short months since the change of ownership. “There were over 100 cracks on the road race portion alone in addition to what was on the big end of the drag strip,” said Irwin. “We didn’t just fill them in with tar. We cut them out and put in a wedge of asphalt in two different layers in there. Most people don’t know how bad it really was.

“We knew we couldn’t time-wise or money-wise re-surface it right now until we get the revenue stream for next year, but we went ahead and did that right away because it was just unsafe. We wouldn’t have even invited the bikes over here if we hadn’t done at least that portion of it.”

Irwin would like to incorporate some course changes into the re-surfacing project. “We’re taking the road course off the drag strip. Pit lane will become the front straightaway and re-join the course at the big end of the drag strip where you’re away from the VHT and the chemicals,” said Irwin. “It isn’t really terrible when it’s warm and dry, but when it rains it’s treacherous. Having had that experience myself as a racer at IRP (Indy Raceway Park) and Brainerd, I know how treacherous that can be and I don’t want racers to have to undergo that.”

Another change will be to reconfigure the turn 1-2 chicane for the 2.5-mile Grand Prix course to make it less severe. “It’s not any fun to stop the bike and have to walk it around the corner. It’s no fun as a rider or in a car racer. I think it’ll make the course more fun. Plus, the big banked corner down there at the far end, it’ll make that corner a lot of fun,” said Irwin.

Irwin has already repaved the drag strip staging area, which made NHRA officials happy. Heartland Park’s NHRA Nationals have been the track’s constant money-makers since the facility was built in 1989. The track has also hosted the Winston Cup Craftsman truck series on its 1.7-mile road course and some major sports car races.

But according to Irwin, trying to make those other large events work led to the previous owners accumulating over $1 million in debt and the resulting sale of the facility to him. “They were always going for the long ball,” said Irwin. “No business can work that way. If you run a hardware store, you can’t assume you’re going to sell lawnmowers all day long. You’ve gotta assume you’re gonna sell some nuts and bolts. So we’re going to sell a few bags of ice and a few days on the course – whether it’s the drag course or the dirt track over here. Every little piece of that is part of the puzzle. Then at the end of the year you’re in the black. Control your costs and maximize your income, just like with any other business. That’s what you have to do.”

Irwin says he would like to bring back large spectator events, like the AMA Superbike series which ran at Heartland Park in 1989 and 1990, “but we need to get this place back up on its feet again. It’s not going to happen today or tomorrow. It’s going to take a while to build up to that.

“I think anything is possible in this facility. There’s nothing (no type of racing discipline) that we can’t do on the (750-acre) property. It just has to make good fiscal sense.”

Irwin also plans to investigate why K-rail concrete barriers are placed where they are in run-off areas that have more, unused room behind them.

Most of the top racers who came to Heartland Park with the Formula USA National series this past weekend enjoyed the layout, the track’s facilities and nearby Topeka but not the extremely bumpy road course. “Yeah, it’s rough,” agreed Irwin, who has run the Heartland Park road course in his own 800-horsepower Trans-Am racecar. “Like (CCS official) Larry Miner said, ‘Give these new owners a chance. They’ve only been on the property 131 days.’ Those that have been to Blackhawk Farms over the years know what my attitude is. I try to put on a safe racetrack and a fast racetrack, because I’m a racer myself.”