Bartz offers kart rental program at Road America complex

By Jeff Pederson – Pedal Down Promotions

(PEDAL DOWN PROMOTIONS) May 25, 2023 – Formula One world champions, IndyCar and NASCAR Stock Car stars, local weekend short track racing standouts and racers in many forms of motorsports at all levels in between typically share a common bond in how they got their initial start in racing – karting.

By definition, karting or kart racing is a road racing variant form of motorsports utilizing open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles commonly known as go-karts or shifter karts raced on scaled-down circuits of varying lengths.

Karting has become commonly perceived as the most popular and beneficial stepping stone for young racers looking to move into the higher ranks of motorsports, as well as a highly enjoyable way for those with less lofty racing aspirations to actively experience and embrace the thrill of motorsports.

As a way to assist racers of all ages in getting their feet wet in the sport of karting at a reasonable cost, Tom Bartz of Plymouth has been operating the Pure Energy Kart Rental Program since 2018.

Through his Pure Energy Kart Rental Program, Bartz has four karts available to rent for regular karting competition throughout the summer months at the world-class, multi-use, multi-configuration one-mile Briggs & Stratton Motorplex, located at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

“My goal is to make folks aware that they can get into wheel-to-wheel racing without breaking the bank through kart racing at Road America,” Bartz said. “The Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America is one of the finest kart tracks in the country.

“Kids can start in kart racing as young as age 5,” he said. “For the World Formula karts, the minimum age is 15 and there are no minimum number of races required to rent a kart. However, if someone wants to compete in a race, some practice time is required before they start wheel-to-wheel racing. In addition, a driver needs to supply their own helmet and safety gear. Although I may have a driver’s suit that might fit, a driver’s suit is also recommended.”

The Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America offers a weekly summer Tuesday evening karting series, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day and a weekend summer series featuring 10 Saturday races scheduled from May 6 to Sept. 30. Spectators are welcome to watch kart racing events at Road America’s Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at an admission cost of $5 per person or $15 per car load.

“I think there are a lot of adults and kids out there that have the desire to race, but don’t think they can afford it or have the expertise to do it,” Bartz said. “That is one of the reasons I started my Pure Energy Kart Rental Program. It’s a way to introduce the sport of racing to someone at an entry level with limited investment.

“The sport of racing can be a lot of fun with the opportunity to build some great friendships,” he said. “However, not everyone can afford their own racecar. My rental fee includes a race-prepared kart. If damage occurs, it is the driver’s responsibility to cover the repair cost.”

One young racer who became involved in kart racing through Bartz’s Pure Energy Kart Rental Program is Canyon Koehler, a 15-year-old old high school freshman from Elkhart Lake, Wis.

“Canyon’s twin brother loves basketball and Canyon not so much,” Bartz said. “He loves cars, motorsports and racing. His mother Missy approached me last fall and asked for my help in getting Canyon involved in the world of wheel-to-wheel racing through the sport of kart racing.

“I explained to her the equipment and the different classes of racing, the safety gear that is required and how the two summer series work at Road America,” he said. “Missy was somewhat familiar with Road America due to her role as the executive director of the Elkhart Lake Chamber of Commerce. However, her knowledge of racing is very limited and her husband, Mike, isn’t a car guy either. Through Missy’s and my efforts, Canyon is now going to run the Tuesday evening series in one of my World Formula karts. These karts have about 13 horsepower, weigh 370 pounds with the driver and have a top speed over 50 miles per hour. What makes it so exciting and such a thrill is that the driver sits only a couple of inches off of the pavement and it’s very close racing.”

As a former racer himself, Bartz is enthusiastic in giving back to the sport and helping it thrive through his kart rental program and assisting new racers as a driver coach.

“A very famous world-renowned Formula One champion, Ayrton Senna, once said in an interview that, ‘kart racing is the purest form of racing,’” Bartz said. “I believe what he meant by that is that it’s affordable and there are not a lot of politics. People do it for fun and it’s not about who has the deepest pockets.”

For more information on the Pure Energy Kart Rental Program and/or driving coaching services, contact Tom Bartz via email at tbartz33@gmail.com and by phone at 920-980-3904.

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