Challenge of the Americas Drops OK-N Class in 2024

Challenge of the Americas has confirmed the OK-N category has been dropped from the program due to lack of ‘competitor commitment’.

The class averaged 9 entries over the three events in 2023, and as of today only had 2 pre-entries.

The Challenge kicks off on February 2-4 at the Musselman Honda Circuit, nearing the 80-entry mark for the remaining 6 classes. Three more days remaining for pre-registration.

Challenge of the Americas Moves to Vega Tires

TS Racing owner Tod Spaude, Challenge of the Americas promoter Andy Seesemann and TS Racing General Manager Raymond Seaman locked in the Vega Tires partnership for 2024 and beyond

nternational winter west coast series shifts to world championship brand

The 2024 season for Challenge of the Americas marks a new era for the international winter west coast series. The 17th season for the Challenge will expand to a more open format moving forward, welcoming a new tire manufacturer into the series.

The Challenge of the Americas has signed on with Vega Tires for the 2024 season and beyond. The Vega Green XH4 tire will be utilized in all categories except for Cadet, which will compete on the Red VAH compound. Rain racing will utilize the Vega W6 rain tire. Full Throttle Karting, owned by FTK Promotions’ Andy Seesemann, has been named the Western United States Distributor for Vega Tires.

“To say this is an exciting time for the Challenge would be an understatement,” stated Andy Seesemann of FTK Promotions and Challenge of the Americas. “Over the last 17 years, we’ve had to adjust and move forward with the Challenge based on the current status of the sport. 2024 is one of those transition years as we move to welcome multiple engine formats and bring on Vega Tires as our spec tire. Bringing Vega to the Challenge puts the program on par with elite events around the globe and provides our racers with amazing products. Now with Vega under the Full Throttle Karting operation, it opens the door for us to work with many tracks, clubs and series here in the western half of the country to expand the Vega brand, including the best 4-cycle tire on the market with the Red VAH, now available to those on the west coast.” Continue reading

ROK the PARC 2023 Cancelled

The following is a statement from Andy Seesemann of FTK Promotions, providing information on ROK the PARC event originally scheduled for July 14-16 at the Pat’s Acres Racing Complex in Canby, Oregon.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of ROK the PARC event due to lack of participation. This is an event that I look forward to every year, in fact, it’s probably my favorite event of all the events that I promote and attend. Unfortunately, with the low participation numbers, the financial loss would have been too much to continue for the 2023 edition.

One-off events in the summer months are always a risk, but Pat’s Acres is such a special place that I have taken that risk the past couple of years. After looking at the pre-entry numbers and speaking to several of the teams that have supported us the past few years, it was obvious that the very packed summer schedule was impacting the entry numbers and would not allow us to reach an acceptable level for the event.

As a race organizer, I control many things; the venue, the classes, the personnel, the rules, and more but I do not control the participation. That is the one thing that the racers control. All pre-entrants have been refunded in full and I contacted each of them personally to tell them the news. They were obviously disappointed, but they all understood.

Zero late fees to register at the track for OK-N

OK-N Class Debuts in Tucson for COTA 2023

Our 2023 Challenge of the Americas Tucson event will be the very first OK-N race in history, and we realize we will have to adapt and make a few concessions. We understand that some potential racers are still procuring engines to be able to race. Therefore, we are suspending the late fee for OK-N entries. If you are waiting for an engine and will be a last-minute entry, it is OK. We recognize that supply is growing and sometimes lagging. So, you may enter at the event with no penalty. Yes, zero $250 late fee for all OK-N entries who register at the event in Tucson.

In addition, we understand that the OK-N class will grow exponentially over the course of the Challenge of the Americas, with more drivers entering as the series progresses. Therefore, this first weekend will be treated as a stand-alone event, outside of any championship per se. Should the engine situation become more stable, we will start a “championship” in Phoenix. Continue reading

CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS ADDS OK-N AND ROK SHIFTER JUNIOR FOR 2023

West coast winter series evolves class line-up with exciting new offerings

NAMPA, ID (October 13, 2022) – The kick-off to the 16th season for Challenge of the Americas action is just over three months away and series promoter Andy Seesemann is excited to announce a planned evolution to the program’s class structure, highlighted by the introduction of the OK-N category, the FIA Karting’s newest formula. In addition, one of the West’s longest-running series will be offering the ROK Shifter Junior class in 2023. In the past, Junior gearbox racing has developed many professional drivers, but it is not currently offered anywhere in the United States. The Junior shifter class will utilize the ROK Shifter engine with a restricted header as more class specifics will be announced at a later time. These two categories will be part of a condensed eight-class program as a four of weakly-supported classes from 2022 will be dropped from the line-up. Continue reading