PIT NOTES-Race#10 & #11
It was a LONG, TIRING and EMOTIONAL day, but full of comradery, smiles and fantastic racing! For all those who suffered a lack of energy all week and kids who didn't want to get up for school, fear not...NO DOUBLE DAYS NEXT SEASON!! Lesson learned.
With that out of the way, let's get on to all the amazing things that happened on the day! How about that incredible BBQ put on by PARKER's PROPERTY MANAGEMENT? As the BBQ aroma filled the paddock, everyone was so excited that the Race#10 podium celebrations needed to be delayed because everyone was lined up for food. (There are worse issues to be faced with) Thanks also to PBM Construction who lent their trailer for the awning and power, adding to the overall atmosphere. Sponsors working together for the club. PARKER'S BBQ and 50/50 brought in $1800!! Tammy Smith won the 50/50, claiming $300! Thank you from ALL of us!
Race#11 was the Zach Grosse Memorial. With Zach's Parent's, Brother and Daughter in attendance, the club took time to honour his memory. Before the Cadet Feature, his Daughter Riley did two laps of the track to the applause of all in the stands. The Cadet drivers then lined up on the start/finish straight for introductions before their final race of the season.
What a day...what a season!
AMKA AWARDS LUNCHEON is November 9th at the LWF Community Hall in Fall River. More info to come.
PODIUM FINISHERS Race# 10
Cadet
1st- #123 Mathis Do
2nd- #10 Rafael Staszcyk
3rd- #14 Axl Whitehead
PODIUM FINISHERS Race# 11
Cadet
1st- #14 Axl Whitehead
2nd- #44 Ben Brady
3rd- #10 Rafael Staszcyk
Junior
1st- #222 Adam Riebetz
2nd- #19 Victoria Gietzen
3rd- #228 Brayden Isenor
Junior
1st- #222 Adam Riebetz
2nd- #19 Victoria Gietzen
3rd- #228 Brayden Isenor
Senior
1st place- #611 Malex Richard
2nd place-#13 Jack Smith
3rd place-#49 Andre Robichaud
Senior
1st place- #388 Cameron Nickerson
2nd place-#611 Malex Richard
3rd place-#86 Joe Green
Masters
1st place-#435 Eric Woolliscroft
2nd place- #42 Kevin Stoneman
3rd place- #410 Bob Doucette
Masters
1st place-#803 Barry Nickerson
2nd place- #18 Nick Roussakov
3rd place- #435 Eric Woolliscroft
DRIVER OF THE DAY
#14 Axl Whitehead (Cadet Division). After 4 plus races away from the track, Whitehead returned without missing a beat. Perhaps gaining a beat or two. He dropped back into the top three and captured a Feature win.
CADET DIVISION
By all accounts, it was another thrilling day of racing in the Cadet Division. Unfortunately, I did not receive any highlights from anyone. I would be thrilled to get late submissions and UPDATE this section. (directors@amka.ca SUBJECT: PIT NOTES)
#14 Axl Whitehead, Driver of the day, was competitive all day long capturing a 3rd place in Race#10 Feature and a win in the Race#11 Feature. Mathis Do was a threat all day with a Feature win in Race #10 but unfortunately got squeezed on lap one of Heat 3 of Race#11, finding the wall in turn 3 and bringing out the Red Flag. It was obvious very quickly that Mathis was in pain as he grabbed his left arm. There was a long delay as the medical team tended to Do. Mathis' Dad packed up and headed back to Moncton where Mathis was taken to Emergency. Sadly, X-rays showed a fracture and he left the hospital with a cast. His recovery will be 6+ weeks. We are happy to report that Dad sent a photo of Mathis with the cast and a smile. That's the spirit! Racer to the end!
CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of the Cadet Drivers! You are the present and the future of AMKA and Racing!
#49 Ivan Roussakov
#44 Ben Brady
#10 Rafael Stazczyk
#33 Russell Stanley
#14 Axl Whitehead
#12 Ayrton Kutcher
#42 Max Roussakov
#123 Mathis Do
#17 Cayson Meisner
#2 Jace Slaney
#26 Anna Patriquin
#15 Harlen MacNeil
#26 Eric Patriquin
#18 Jacob Rueben's
#53 Ben Turple
#99 Easton McBride
#44 Bentley Watson
JUNIOR DIVISION
Another strong weekend for #222 Adam Riebetz as he swept all races on the day and broke the Junior Lap record twice. First with 34.224...followed by a 34.092. Adams' confidence built all season long with help from racing in Mosport and Goodwood with Kartstars. This and his meticulous kart tuning at each week's Monday evening practices put him out of reach by season's end. A spectacular season for Riebetz! Congratulations!
#19 Victoria Gietzen had another solid day at the track finding the 2nd step of the podium all day. This super smooth and fast driver was frustrated by Riebetz all day, but is such a pleasure to watch on the track. She is often one defensive move away from the top step of the podium and is always very tough on herself. She makes laps look effortless and is always there to help the drivers around her improve, whether they are older or younger.
#228 Brayden Isenor has come a long way in his first season of racing. The passion is always overflowing and his confidence is soaring! It seems like yesterday he had his accident in Moncton at only his second event. He left there in a cast but was back for Race#3 where he got back on the horse and never looked back. On this day he found his way onto the podium in both Features, taking third place. Big points all day helped move him up in the final points standings.
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to # Jeremy Slaney who seems to have overcome his run of disastrous luck, had a strong day but, most importantly, had his Rookie 'X' removed. Jeremy's smile was brighter than Kai Riebetz's fluorescent shoes! Well done Jeremy!
SENIOR DIVISION DAY OF FIRSTS
Although #611 Malex Richard and #388 Cameron Nickerson pretty much dominated the day in Senior, there were two drivers that took full advantage when the two faltered. #13 Jack Smith continued his incredible form of late, capturing his first win since moving up to the Senior Division. Soon after, #237 Logan Hanninen took his first Senior Division win as well. What an incredible way for these two drivers to finish the season. Logan missed the majority of the season with a broken foot (NOT karting related) and has been a rocketship since returning three races ago.
Race#11 Feature saw a scary moment on the final lap of the race. Cameron Nickerson and Malex Richard battled hard all day long, dipping into the previously unheard of 33s. With Nickerson leading on the final lap, #338 Cashton Woolliscroft found the barrier just in front of the leading pair. The impact broke one of the barriers free and sent it onto the track coming down hard on Cameron. This sent him into a spin and into the barriers ahead, bringing out the Red flag. After the dust had settled, Nickerson was awarded the win and, after a trip to Emergency in Dartmouth, was lucky to escape with severe arm bruising. No fracture.
MASTERS DIVISION
Race #10 saw some super tight racing between #18 Nick Roussakov and #435 Eric Woolliscroft. There was very little separating the two and it almost ended up with the two in the wall in the Feature. About half way through the race and going through turn 3, Roussakov's rear right wheel failed, shearing off, sending him into a spin and backwards into the barriers. Woolliscroft, who was inches from his bumper, reacted quickly and just managed to avoid being collected in the carnage. Barry Nickerson, who was watching this race from the stands, later asked Woolliscroft "How big were your eyes?" when Nick went into the spin! "Huge!" replied Eric.
Fortunately Nick was ok and was able to get his kart repaired for the afternoon and Race#11.
Race#11 belonged to #803 Barry Nickerson. He strategically rested for the Zach Grosse memorial, determined to end the season strong and put a stamp on the day. He did not disappoint. Barry swept the day no matter where he started on the grid, holding off both Woolliscroft and Roussakov, never putting a wheel wrong. "He never makes a mistake," lammented Roussakov at the end of the day. "That was vintage Barry." remarked Woolliscroft. Interestingly, Nickerson bookended the 2025 season as he also swept Race#1 (Don Nickerson Memorial) as well. To add to that, the podium was an identical 1-2-3: Nickerson, Roussakov, Woolliscroft.
Another fine season in Masters. Truly a great group of racers and Friends!
MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS
SEASON NUMBERS
AMKA had 49 registered drivers for the 2025 season. It was one short of our goal and below where we would like to ultimately be. The next step is to get a bigger percentage of those drivers out to every race. We averaged about 35 racers per race. 40+ was the goal. Sickness, broken bones, work and National/International races contributed to some events being lower than others. Three did not make any races because they wanted practice time before entering an event. We are confident that, with the success of the weekly practices this fall, they will be available out of the gate in 2026 and we'll see an increase in race attendance.
THANK YOU TO AUSTIN RICHARDSON
This was the first season we had a track announcer and we think it's fair to say it was an overwhelming success. Austin got better every race and he truly changed the race day atmosphere. He finishes his Broadcasting course at NSCC in the spring but is already actively looking for his replacement within the first year students. There is a good chance we will all see him out for the first race of the season helping with the transition. Here's hoping! Thanks Austin.
GRAND NATIONALS
Although we missed Jack Simpson for several AMKA races this season, he was off honing his skills and speed at the National level with Cup Karts where he fared extremely well, capturing the podium in the third round of the Canadian series. He travelled to Indiana last weekend to compete in the Grand Nationals where he was up against the best of the best! From what we've been told, he was not out of place although he did suffer some setbacks and bad luck. However, we all know that's part of the game and it just made Jack better and stronger. As for the 'Outta the Box Challenge', Jack posted the fastest lap which was a huge highlight for the event! Way to go, Jack!!
MISSING KAI'S SHOES
Ok, I feel like a Bully! I teased Kai Riebetz about his bright shoes a few PIT NOTES ago and he has refused to wear them since. Yes, I did it again in this issue as well. I am bad. I can't help myself.
You might as well wear them Kai...I mention them either way. (If you aren't going to wear them, what size are they? I take a 9 1/2 or 10. Just sayin'!)
ON SITE SURGERY?
In the 'never a dull moment' departement, Did anyone else notice the medical services going on down in the Isenor trailer? Brayden's MUCH older Brother, Mathieu aka Fernando Alonso, was getting stitches removed in the trailer. Turns out we have a number of medical types in the club, as Nurse Ashley (Jeremy Slaney's Mom) was apparently on duty. Do we need our Medical card? hahaha!
PIT NOTE ADDITIONS
I know everyone was tired and ready for a break, but if you have anything you want to submit for this issue, please do it. I will add and update!
See you at the Awards Luncheon on November 9th!
FUNDRAISING BBQ REMINDER
Hello Teams!
A quick reminder that Parkers Property Services will be holding a fundraising BBQ in between races of our double race day on September 28th. Please bring cash, Friends, Family and your appetite.
Let's fill the stands and celebrate the end of a wonderful season of racing!!
See you at the track!
PIT NOTES-Race#9
It was a relief to see a few more trailers in the paddock for this event. Our returning Cup Kart Drivers were back with smiles and stories to tell. They were also eager to get back on the Kartbahn track with their AMKA and CEKS Friends. The weather was great and the racing did not disappoint.
PODIUM FINISHERS
Cadet
1st- #12 Ayrton Kutcher
2nd- #14 Axl Whitehead
3rd- #44 Ben Brady
Junior
1st- #222 Adam Riebetz
2nd- #224 Jack Simpson
3rd- #19 Victoria Gietzen
Senior
1st place- #611 Malex Richard
2nd place-#388 Cameron Nickerson
3rd place-#13 Jack Smith
Masters
1st place-#435 Eric Woolliscroft
2nd place- #803 Barry Nickerson
3rd place- #42 Kevin Stoneman
DRIVER OF THE DAY
#611 Malex Richard (Senior Division). Malex earned the Driver of the day in his first Senior Division Race with AMKA. He ran strong and fast all day, capturing the Feature win and claiming the fast lap and setting a new track record at 33.90 seconds.
CADET DIVISION EXCITEMENT AND DETERMINATION
What a day in the Cadet Division. Anyone who doubts the racing excitement with these young drivers has not taken the time to watch. #12 Ayrton Kutcher was on the pace right from first practice. He dominated qualification and races, sweeping the day. It was not without challenge, though. #14 Axl Whitehead did not make things easy and took chase, hanging with Kutcher as long as he could. Meanwhile, 3rd through 5th place saw some incredibly tight, hard racing that kept Parents and fans on their seats. #44 Ben Brady had an amazing feature, working his way from 6th place to a 3rd place podium finish.
Outside pole continued to be a curse as Championship leader #49 Ivan Roussakov was hung out at the start and was not able to recover despite a spirited drive , finishing in 4th place. His brother, #42 Max Roussakov, a Rookie, continued to work on his pace and all could see the confidence continue to grow lap-after-lap.
The Cadet Division drivers showed incredible respect on the track, something they should be very proud of. There were also moments of incredible resilience and determination. Turns 3 and 4 saw some incidents as the pack tangled early in races. Heat 1 saw the biggest incident. #26 Anna Patriquin, a Rookie in only her 2nd race weekend, found herself upside down in turn 3, bringing out the red flag. Nobody ever likes to see this and this can be very unsettling, especially for a new, young driver. Not today! Anna got up, brushed herself off, got checked by Medical and got back in her kart in time for the race restart. She was the talk of the day. Although she is new, it's hard not to notice her constant smile in the paddock and when the visor comes up at the end of a race. It was noted that the smile was still present as she got back in her kart to resume the race. This was beyond impressive!
JUNIOR DIVISION REPORT
The Junior Division welcomed back front runners Jack Simpson and Victoria Gietzen after a successful Cup Karts round. Championship leader Adam Riebetz knew he would have his hands full with their return. The three drivers were bumper to bumper all day, but Riebetz put on a masterful display of confidence, defence and speed, holding the two drivers off to capture his 4th Feature win in a row as well as his 2nd sweep. His focus was incredibly sharp all day and he also set a new Junior lap record at 34.231. Well done!
Behind the top 3, another epic battle between Brayden Isenor and Jackson Reiner was fun to watch. Although they missed out on the podium this week, they were both thrilled to have finished the races without incident.
A BIG shoutout to #11 Marcus Wilson who is shining brightly under the radar in his rookie season. He is improving every race, showing keen awareness of his fellow competitors and surroundings, his enthusiasm and relentless love for racing, as well as genuine sportsmanship. Bravo!
Finally, a sincere congratulations to #207 Jeremy Slaney for his incredible spirit and determination after a truly frustrating Race#8. He overcame his perpetual chain throwing issues this week, although he did suffer a bumper issue in the feature. That said, his times are constantly improving and his laps are looking great! Keep that smile lit Jeremy!
SENIOR DIVISION SPEED AND CHAOS
There is never a dull moment in the Senior Division. The Drivers are fast, talented and, sometimes, full of too much testosterone! Wheel-to-wheel action, bumps, spins, warnings and penalties ruled the day. (Also a few bent axles) Luckily, it was speed that took center stage as #611 Malex Richard picked up where he left off at Cup Karts in Quebec last weekend, finding the top step of the podium and setting a new track record of 33.9 seconds.
#338 Cashton Woolliscroft has experienced the worst season of his 13 year AMKA career. The multi-time Sportsmanship award winner can't seem to buy a break but is buoyed by the support that his fellow Senior Drivers and other AMKA members in the paddock have shown him. Words of encouragement have come from everywhere. On this day it looked that he may have shaken the season curse with some super competitive lap times and a win in heat#2. Sadly he found the barrier in Heat #3 ending another race day prematurely with another bent axle. A HUGE Thank you to Arnold Huber who wandered over to help him pry out the damaged axle and ready the new one for installation. The season is not quite done yet. Here's hoping for a positive finish on the 28th. Everyone is cheering for you Cashton, no one more than your Teammate (Dad)!
MASTERS DIVISION
#435 Eric Woolliscroft was not thrilled with yet another poor draw going into Race#9. The Masters Championship leader went into the second half of the season knowing that the remaining races favoured his closest challenger, #803 Barry Nickerson. Nickerson is the Master of the Masters for getting through traffic...and getting good draws for the Heats. Eric started Heat 1 on the outside pole and Barry in P3. Nickerson couldn't help but chuckle at Woolliscroft's continued poor luck with the draw. However, anything can happen once the race starts and so it was on this day.
Heat 1 went as expected with the 803 taking the win and 435 holding on for 4th place after the expected fall back in the field at the start. After the Heat, a Cadet Driver was overheard saying to Woolliscroft "Eric, your magic is gone!" Hahaha!
Heat 2 was the turning point of the day, though. The 'anything can happen' moment. #410 Bob Doucette was on pole, two spots ahead of Woolliscroft. Sources say that Eric had a chat with Bob on the grid and encouraged him to "be as determined as you have ever been in your Life" on the start. Doucette seemed to take that to heart as he had possibly the best start of his career, easily leading the pack into turn 3. #42 Kevin Stoneman was 2nd, Nickerson 3rd and Woolliscroft 4th. As Doucette stretched his lead each lap, Stoneman was frustrating Nickerson who could not find a way by. However, in the closing laps, Stoneman ran wide in turn 5 giving Nickerson a big opening. It actually looked like he would take Woolliscroft through with him. Stoneman, desperate to close the door, made contact with the 803 collecting the two karts and allowing Woolliscroft through to a 2nd place finish. "You got lucky Eric" joked another cadet driver at the end. "That's part of racing" Eric responded with a wink. It's so great that the cadets are watching the other races!
With the 'luck' of the day turning Woolliscroft's direction, he went on to win the pre-final and the feature, dashing Nickerson's hope for a second half comeback. "Barry made some setup changes on his kart for today" Eric remarked. "He was super fast today. A really big shame for him, but it was really good luck for me."
MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS
GRAND NATIONALS
Good luck to our Maritime drivers who are travelling to Indiana for the Cup Kart Grand Nationals:
#17 Cayson Meisner (Cadet Division)
#224 Jack Simpson Jr (Junior Division)
Jack was also chosen to compete in the 'Outta the box' challenge. That story can be found in an earlier post on our. Facebook page and on our AMKA website.
RIEBETZ KARTSTARS
#222 Adam Riebetz takes his speed to round#5 of KartStars series being held at Goodwood Kartways in Uxbridge, Ontario! Burn Rubber Adam! We are cheering you on!!!
FUNDRAISING BBQ REMINDER
This is also on another post, but we want to remind everyone to invite as many people as you can to come out and enjoy the final races of the season and take in the Fundraising BBQ between races. Parkers Property Services is hosting this and we thank them, and all our sponsors, for their passion and support for karting and AMKA. Let's fill the stands!
See you at the track!
DOUBLE RACE DAY SCHEDULE RELEASED - RACES #10 & 11
Please check out the race day schedule for our double race day (races 10 & 11) on September 28th!
The morning race will follow our regular schedule (gates open at 7am) and will be followed by a BBQ and awards ceremony. The afternoon race will kick-off with a driver’s meeting starting at 2pm.
See you at the track!
PIT NOTES - RACE #8
There was a lot of forecast watching leading up to round 8 of the AMKA season. Rain? showers? Overcast? Partly sunny? All of the above? Depending on the day, or the hour, all were forecast at some point leading up to Sunday morning. What to do? Some teams toyed with having a full wet setup before arriving, most came prepared to make the switch and several decided they were believing the wet forecast and would take the event as a drop. All were a roll of the dice. The winners? Everyone who showed up because the track was mostly dry by Heat#1. Slicks ruled the day, but not before several tried rains in practice and a handful in the first heat. Nova Scotia weather produces setup stress like no other!
PODIUM FINISHERS
Cadet
1st- #33 Russell Stanley
2nd- #44 Ben Brady
3rd- #49 Ivan Roussakov
Junior
1st- #222 Adam Riebetz
2nd- #228 Brayden Isenor
3rd- #98 Jackson Reiner
Senior
1st place- #96 Addison Rayner
2nd place-#49 Andre Robichaud
3rd place-#13 Jack Smith
Masters
1st place-#435 Eric Woolliscroft
2nd place- #42 Kevin Stoneman
3rd place- #18 Nick Roussakov
DRIVER OF THE DAY
#228 Brayden Isenor (Junior Division)
Rookie Brayden Isenor has been improving in leaps and bounds every race as he finds more confidence. He battled hard all day and was rewarded for his efforts as the field suffered huge attrition in the feature. He found the podium even though his kart broke down before the end (thrown chain). On a day where there were a number of worthy recipients of this award, the Race Director pointed to the fact that Brayden was clapping as the winner took the checkered despite his own misfortune. Sportsmanship and perseverance won the day!! Congratulations!
'X removals
Having your 'X' removed is a VERY big deal! A reminder that Rookies can request the removal after 3 race days, but it's up to the Race Director to determine if a rookie is ready. When it comes off it means it has been determined that you can lead a race start from pole position safely. This should be celebrated! Obviously I am behind on this, so I will try to make up for that now.
Race#8 saw Driver of the Day, #228 Brayden Isenor have his 'X' removed. What an incredibly special day for this young driver!
Other drivers who have had theirs removed this season:
#49 Andre Robichaud (Senior Division)
#27 DJ Hanninen (Masters Division)
CADET DIVISION FIRSTS
This division always delivers thrilling racing and this day was not lacking. This event saw the first race for #26 Anna Patriquin who did not look out of place in her debut. She held a solid line all day and got faster as the day progressed. She put some of the veteran cadets (kind of an oxymoron don't-you-think?!) on notice with her confident driving. Welcome to kart racing Anna!
#33 Russell Stanley was absolutely in the zone all day long. There has never been any doubt about his ability and determination, but this was a breakthrough event for the 2nd year driver. It was a three way battle throughout the day. Russ, Ben Brady and Ivan Roussakov were consistently nose-to-tail. Ben and Russ came together in a heat race, spinning Russ and allowing Ivan to push through for a win. Ivan suffered a thrown chain in another heat hurting his starting position in the Feature. However, the feature was incredibly dramatic as the three pushed each other hard every lap. Everyone watching was on the edge of their seats in the closing laps. Ben made a pass on Russ for the lead but Russ was having none of that, quickly regaining the lead at the next corner. Russell withstood the pressure the rest of the way and took the top step for his long overdue first win! The smiles on Mom and Dad were infectious as Russell did his first ever victory lap with the checkered flag. Bravo!!
JUNIOR DIVISION UPS AND DOWNS
With top drivers Jack Simpson jr, Victoria Gietzen and Malex Richard in Quebec racing the final Cup Karts event, one would expect a pretty boring day in this division. That was far from the case. It did make for a relatively easy day for #222 Adam Riebetz who swept the day with some incredibly smooth laps. On a day that started wet, remained foggy and misty, Adam drove with swagger, dropping his lap times into the 34s. His best lap on the day being a 34.745. Impressive on this day.
The real excitement was the battling happening behind Riebetz. Rookie #228 Brayden Isenor (yes, him again! haha!) and #98 Jackson Reiner took the spotlight with some breathtaking racing all day long. It wasn't hard to tell they relished the attention because they didn't look out of place at any point. They did come together in the feature, having to get out of their karts to get going again. This just added to the drama. Sadly for Jackson, his race came to end just before Brayden threw his chain and retired as well. Only Adam Riebitz took the checkered flag in the end, but Brayden and Jackson got to celebrate their battle and stand on the podium, being the last two to drop out.
The Hard Luck Award of the day had to go to Rookie Jeremy Slaney who could not buy a break all day long. He started every race and failed to finish any of them. His Pit Crew just could not get his chain to stay on. You could feel hearts breaking in the stands each time he pulled off the track. However, the sportsmanship never fell away with this driver. When Isenor and Reiner tangled, he was right there ready to help them untangle their karts and get going again. You have to Love the AMKA 'Family'. Well done!
NICKERSON'S HEARTBREAK AND RAYNER'S CELEBRATION
The Championship battle is heating up between #388 Cameron Nickerson and #96 Addison Rayner. With 4 events left, every point is critical. Nickerson always seems in control but bad luck and crashes along with Rayner's consistency has kept this one a bit of a nailbiter. Race#8 was no different. Nickerson seemed to control every heat and pass karts at will. Unfortunately, a couple of meetings with barriers ruined an otherwise impressive day. The second one was in the feature while chasing down Rayner in the early laps. Whether he was pushing a little too hard, the precipitation got a little heavier and made the track a bit more slick, or a combination, it was not what the #388 needed as he limped his bent axled kart off the track.
With Cam out of the race, Addison kept it smooth and steady to the end, finishing 7.6 seconds ahead of #49 Andre Robichaud, who is looking more like a veteran racer than a Rookie. #13 Jack Smith had a very strong day, finally finding the podium in 2025.
The Senior Division is one to watch in the closing 3 rounds.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY GRID
The Masters Division was missing a number of drivers for round 8. Most notably, #803 Barry Nickerson. His absence always opens up the possibilities for other drivers in the field. Also expected but not making the lineup was #4 Matthrew Kervin who has been showing some confidence, speed and looking like he could play spoiler this season. Rookie #78 John Skanes also did not turn up meaning the grid was unusually small. However, #18 Nick Roussakov, #42 Kevin Stoneman and #410 Bob Doucette were all raring to give Championship leader #435 Eric Woolliscroft a run for his money.
The heat races featured some close, clean, wheel-to-wheel racing; Masters Division at it's finest. Sadly, the Feature race was pretty much decided on the opening lap with a pilleup in turn 4 (first 180) that allowed Woolliscroft to gain a massive lead he would not relinquish. The highlight of this race may have been Cadet driver Russell Stanley requesting the microphone to announce Woolliscroft taking the win. Priceless!
Inside sources have revealed that #803 Barry Nickerson is gunning for redemption in the remaining 3 races. The Wily veteran had a twinkle in his eye and sly grin as he alluded to some gearing and setup changes for Race#9.
MARITIME PRIDE AT ROUND 3 OF CUP KARTS
Maritime racers from CEKS and AMKA were prominent during the final CKNA Canada Division at SH Karting in Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The weekend event saw significant weather changes as drivers abandoned their dry setups for wet as the skies opened up. Our drivers did us proud and we send a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to them all.
Cadet Drivers
#100 Rafael Staszczyk
#117 Cayson Meisner
#123 Mathis Do
#12 Ayrton Kutcher
#15 Harlen MacNeil
#44 Bentley Watson
Junior Drivers
#224 Jack Simpson jr
#319 Victoria Gietzen
Senior Medium
#611 Malex Richard
Our top finishers were Jack Simpson and Malex Richard who both took 3rd place in their Divisions! Woot Woot!! Yes, you saw that correctly...Malex made the bold jump to the Senior Division with amazing success!!
MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS
Scale help needed
A BIG thank you to Matt Nickerson who came out to the track last minute to run scales on Sunday. Our regular guy, Alex, is back in school and is not available for the final two dates on our calendar. Anyone willing to jump in would be appreciated. Let us know, please.
Roussakov's on time!!
I am not sure there was a person in the paddock that didn't comment on the Roussakov's being early/on time for this event! haha! Normally everyone is safely up by the timing trailer getting ready for the Driver's meeting when Nick comes flying into the parking lot. Not on Sunday. It appears they had a leisurely drive to the track. We have never seen Nick so calm.
The brightest spot of the day
The day was overcast but every once in a while it felt like the sun was out in it's full glory. However, when people looked skyward it was still overcast and foggy. What was the glare that was causing squinting all over the paddock and left many running for their sunglasses in confusion? Turns out it was Kai Riebetz walking by in his new, super fluorescent sneakers! Take the batteries out Kai!
CEKS MOVING RACE TO ACCOMMODATE AMKA SCHEDULE CHANGE
In what can only be described as an incredibly generous and supportive gesture, Gerald Caseley and CEKS have offered to move their club race scheduled for September 14th to September. 21st. Obviously, this move allows the drivers competing in both series to attend both races.
As everyone is aware, this situation is due to AMKA's need to move the scheduled 'night race' from September 13th to a morning race on September 14th. This is due to lighting issues that could not be sorted in time.
Thank you from all of us at AMKA and the dedicated drivers racing both provincial series. This is what Interclub cooperation looks like and it will not be forgotten.
VOTING REMINDER
Hello Teams!
A quick reminder about voting. All members who attended Race#7 were given an envelope with ballots. Please fill them out and return them by Race #11. (Sooner would be better, of course) Those who haven't received ballots yet will get them at the next race you attend. If you want to get them before then, please email directors@amka.ca and we will arrange something.
We always get asked about volunteer voting. There are many people working diligently behind the scenes that nobody thinks of. Most of you are aware of the obvious ones that are in your face all the time. At the risk of missing anyone, here is a list of a few people who may be flying under the radar. If we have missed anyone you think should be listed, please let us know:
**It should be noted that we are only listing people here who do not receive an honorarium for their work**
Website (Has taken the website to a new level. It is the source of information it should be. Always quick with updates) -Addison Rayner
Social Media/Graphic template design (Has brought a professional and fun look to AMKA. All the Driver 'cards', Race Winner templates, etc are this guys doing) - Jack Simpson Jr
Director assistant (often herds the cats haha! Dorothy works tirelessly with the Directors between races and in the off season. She is also at the track by 6am every race getting timing setup)) -Dorothy Williamson
Assistant Treasurer and early track setup guy (Also at the track by 6am. He opens the gates and sets up the scales. Also the guys who puts them away at the end of the day) - Bob Doucette
Your Team of Directors are a true team effort, but it should be noted that each person steps up in different ways. Arnold Huber and Brandon Smith stand out as our track infrastructure and maintenance Team. Arnold has done work on the trailer, added the power, hung the sponsor signs and worked on the timing line. Brandon has volunteered his time and his tractor to help with track modifications and moving gravel around. Brandon has also volunteered his time on Race day to Manage the Grid and supply additional power to run the sound system.
We are so fortunate to have so many dedicated people who care deeply about AMKA. The above people are just a few that have made a difference this season. Whether they get a vote or not, they should be recognized and appreciated for their time, effort and talents.
The award will be handed out at our Awards Luncheon in November. Date tba.
Happy voting!
Your Directors,
Barry Nickerson
Eric Woolliscroft
Cashton Woolliscroft
Brandon Smith
Arnold Huber
DJ Hanninen
Charles Grosse
**Race Schedule Change** - Race #9
Race#9 will move to Sunday, September 14th. (Originally scheduled for Saturday September 13th)
We will work towards an evening race under the lights for the 2026 season.
PIT NOTES-Race#7
The season is past the halfway point and the battles are heating up and the fun is at maximum. Four races and three race dates remain. The season has gone by nearly as fast as our drivers on the track! Too bad I wasn't as fast getting this together and posted. I have been VERY busy. Better late than never.
THANK YOU FOR SUBMISSIONS
Thank you to those who submitted your hi-lites! Again, I don't get to watch everything because I am getting ready to race so I need your help. However, I will take late submissions and update this post.
This is all for fun so get your 'moments' in to me.
directors@amka.ca
Subject: ATTENTION PIT NOTES
PODIUM FINISHERS
Cadet
1st- #49 Ivan Roussakov
2nd- #18 Jacob Ruelens
3rd- #44 Ben Brady
Junior
1st- #222 Adam Riebetz
2nd- #30 Austin Tucker
3rd- #12 Luke Tucker
Senior
1st- #388 Cameron Nickerson
2nd- #96 Addison Rayner
3rd- #86 Joseph Green
Masters
1st- #435 Eric Woolliscroft
2nd- #303 Barry Nickerson
3rd- #42 Kevin Stoneman
DRIVER(S) OF THE DAY
We are going to go back a few races and catch up on these announcements:
Race#5-#12 Ayrton Kutcher
Race#6-#222 Adam Riebetz
Race#7- #435 Eric Woolliscroft
ARMS CHAMPIONSHIP
This race also concluded the ARMS Series Championship. The results will be posted separately from this because I know Jack Simpson has worked hard on his graphic templates. He has done an absolute spectacular job with these all season and has made the club so much more professional looking! Thank you Jack!
CADET NEWCOMER and VISITING DRIVER
The Cadet field has been a little smaller than we'd like to see the past few races. It was great to see #33 Russell Stanely back on the track this weekend. We also have a visiting driver from Ontario joining us for a couple races. #18 Jacob Ruelens wasted no time getting up to speed on the tight Kartbahn 'The Track'. It was wonderful to see his smile around the paddock all day and then further beaming as he took the 2nd step of the podium at the end of the day. Congratulations!!
Welcome to #2 Rookie Jase Slaney! Great to see AMKA teams expanding. Happy Drivers...exhausted Pit Crew! Haha!!
**I REALLY need input from Cadet Parents, PLEASE. I want to include stuff from EVERYONE!**
JUNIOR DIVISION BATTLE
The Junior Division has been close and exciting all season. It's a large field with many fast and capable drivers. Fast charging Jack Simpson was notably absent from this race as he battled hard on the streets of Riviere-du-loup. Reports say he was in contention all weekend and deserved a better fate if not for being unceremoniously taken out from behind while leading. From all accounts, it was overall a great experience and he has put competitors on notice.
While all this was happening in Quebec, things didn't slow down at the Kartbahn track. The battle that most were glued to all day was between #19, Victoria Gietzen and #222, Adam Riebetz. These two were locked nose-to-tail all day long. Riebetz was confident with his setup after practice, determined to dominate the day. However, Gietzen had other plans. Victoria was unbeatable with lap times all day long dipping to an insanely quick 34.361 in the Feature. Unfortunately for her, and fortunately for Riebetz, those times were not going to translate into the successful day she hoped for. Adam pulled off some well timed passes when needed and then defended expertly to bring Home the win. This was his 2nd Feature victory of the season and earned him some valuable overall points. To add insult to injury for Gietzen, she suffered a tram line violation at the start of the Feature which dropped her from a nail biting 2nd to 4th place. The good news for her on the day was that she secured good overall points towards the ARMS Championship.
Great driving by all drivers in the Division and Congratulations to Austin and Luke Tucker who stood on the podium together in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
A 'shout out' to Rookie Brayden Isenor and his Team for doing the 'AMKA Family' thing and lending a tie rod to fellow Rookie Jeremy Slaney who suffered an incident in the day. That's what it's all about!! Wonderful!!
SENIOR NUMBERS TAKE A HIT
The usually super competitive Senior Division was down in numbers for the final ARMS round. #13 Jack Smith was a late scratch due to illness. (Get better soon buddy!) #237 Logan Hanninen still recovering from a broken foot (NOT karting related!), #331 Evan Huber...studying for an exam. #338 Cashton Woolliscroft suffered kart issues that saw him pull out after Practice 1 and spend the day wrenching on his kart.
On a positive note, it was wonderful to have #26 Raphi Barnes back on the grid after some Family globe trotting. (You decide if his priorities are in check!? haha!)
It was disappointing to see recent first time race winner # 49 Andre Robichaud's day finish early with kart issues. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. So glad you don't lose that smile!
On the track, #96 Addison Rayner did his best to challenge #388 Cameron Nickerson, but Nickerson was just too strong, cruising to a sweep of the day. It was an unusually spread out day for this group. Calm before the storm perhaps? 4 races to go!
MASTERS CARNAGE
Our Race Announcer, Austin Richardson, wasn't quite sure what he was calling in Masters on this day? The Masters are competitive, but you can usually count on a pretty clean race with little contact. The Feature race saw contact, spins and dust rising as karts found the barriers. I checked and there was NOT a full moon, so it remains unexplainable. Maybe a sudden burst of testosterone in some of the 'old fellas'? haha!
#4 Matthew Kervin made some noise with some impressive lap times in qualifying making the usual front runners sit up and take notice.
#303 Barry Nickerson lamented some setup decisions as he found himself out of his usual position after qualifying. The Wily veteran still found a way to overcome that and "end-of-life front tires to find the 2nd step in the Feature.
#42 Kevin Stoneman had his best race of the season. He dipped into the 34s for the first time and found himself on the podium. Welcome back Kevin!
#435 Eric Woolliscroft was grateful to have qualified at the front all day and avoid the drama going on behind him.
IMPORTANT SCHEDULE INFORMATION
If anyone missed this, Race#9 may move from Saturday September 13th to Sunday September 14th. It is supposed to be an evening race under the lights but we are not sure we are going to be able to pull that together. We obviously have to take safety into account more than ever and there are lights we are hoping can be hooked up so we can properly assess what we would need for rental lighting. We will make an announcement asap.If it does not come together, we will work toward it happening in 2026.
BBQ FUNDRAISER BETWEEN RACES
Our final Race weekend is September 28th, which is a double race day. The 2nd race of the day (Race#11) is the Zachery Grosse Memorial trophy race and is sponsored by Regroup. We are happy to announce that Parker's Property Management will be holding a BBQ during our break into between races. All proceeds will go back to AMKA.
Thank you!
Please mark that on your calendar and bring Friends and Family to the track that day! What a fantastic way to wrap up the season!!
MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS
Marshal stand
As you would have noticed, the club had scaffolding erected for a marshal stand for the Race Director. We are discussing and trying things to help our officials. The elevation changes on the track are challenging for the drivers but likely even more so for the Race Director trying to make calls. We have this for the remainder of the season and will be getting feedback from the RD at the end of the season.
Thank you to Ralf Gietzen and PBM Construction and Renovation for further upping their support of the club by paying for this trial.
Practices
A reminder that setup for Monday evening practices are now in the HEC parking lot where we normally park for race day. We would also encourage you to be there and ready for 6pm. There are no guarantees, but if rentals finish early, we get on the track early. With the light disappearing earlier everyday, every minute counts.
New Shoes
Apologies to Sonia Langille. She was disappointed that a version of Pit News earlier in the season failed to report that she was wearing new shoes at the race. A true failure on our part.
See you at the track for Race#8!
PIT NEWS HELP NEEDED!
Hello everyone!
I would like to thank those who reached out asking what happened to the PIT NEWS the last couple of races. I am glad people enjoy them. I started doing them just to add some fun to the season. I have been travelling and otherwise busy which is the biggest reason they have not happened. The other is that it was pointed out that I have missed some things that should have been included and drivers that have felt overlooked after amazing days. I do apologize for this. In my defence, I am racing and do not catch all the racing in all the divisions. I also understand people feeling left out or ignored. That was never the intent. Again, this was supposed to be enjoyable reading and fun.
So, to try to fix this situation and get this back on track (pun intended), I have a request:
I know I do not have time to run around researching everything that happened during a race day. I need your help! If people from each Division, specifically Cadet and Junior, can send race day hi-lites to me, I will attempt to put something more thorough together. You can do this by sending to:
Subject: 'ATTENTION PIT NOTES'
I would appreciate getting the information as soon as possible after the race. Send it while it is fresh in your mind.
Let's see how this works and I will do my best to include more.
Thanks in advance,
Eric
REMINDER: RACE#7 REGISTRATION DEADLINE APPROACHING
A friendly reminder that the Race #7 Registration deadline is 7pm tonight (August 14th).
*IMPORTANT* - POTENTIAL SCHEDULE CHANGE
Hello Teams!
We just want to flag everyone to a potential change to Race# 9 presently scheduled for Saturday, September 13th. We are hoping this will be our evening race under the lights.
At this point we cannot confirm that we will have the lights required. In the event that things do not coordinate as hoped, we will move the race to the following day, Sunday, September 14th, and follow our normal race schedule. Please keep this option open if possible.
We will confirm final details when things come together or we have exhausted all options.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
AMKA Directors
July 23, 2025 - Important Updates
Hello AMKA Members,
We have had a couple meetings which included parents of Cadet racers and some concerns were raised. We are immediately implementing some changes we believe are the best for the club.
- Consistent format for Cadet Division. We have been asked to simplify the Cadet format and make it the same every event. Done! Going forward, lap times from the last practice will set the starting grid order for Heat #1, with the fastest times to the front. For safety reasons the karts will not be sent out in the three second intervals as the faster karts quickly catch the slower drivers that are released last. Heat #1 will now be a race, not qualifying. Finishing order will determine the starting positions for Heat #2. The finishing order of Heat #2 will determine the starting order for Heat #3. Starting positions for Feature will be determined by total points of the three heats. This format will also be used in the final ARMS Race.
- Race Order. We are moving the Cadet class to the second group of the day to remove the added confusion prior to their track activities. Classes will now rotate in the following order Junior, Cadet, Senior and Masters.
This obviously affects the Junior class so please be aware and prepared. Thank you for your understanding.
- Carburetor slide check. Cadet slides will be teched and carbs painted/sealed before hitting the track next race. A Cadet volunteer will check in the subsequent races to see if anyone needs a re-tech and seal. Cadet Teams can also ask for a re-tech and seal if they have done any work/cleaning on their carb between race events.
- AMKA Director to watch Cadet Races. We will make every attempt to have a Director monitor Cadet Division Races. It was felt that this would make it easier for parents to voice concerns that could be passed along if/when required.
Brandon Smith and/or Arnold Huber will be the Directors most likely in the best position to monitor these races.
- Cadet Parent liaison(s). We have identified the lack of a Cadet voice in our meetings and the Misener family have volunteered to participate on our weekly Director’s meetings. We would be interested if another parent would like to attend as well. Any other Cadet parents should coordinate with one of the Directors assigned to the Cadet Division who can bring concerns/feedback to the table.
- More penalties/warnings. We will encourage our Race Director to assess more warnings and follow up with a talk to the driver to open up more of a teaching moment. More penalties don't always equate to happier members, but no calls certainly don't either. That said, we do speak regularly with our Race Director with feedback. We will continue to work with him and his crew to help them better police and teach our drivers.
Sincerely,
Barry Nickerson
Eric Woolliscroft
Cashton Woolliscroft
DJ Hanninen
Brandon Smith
Charles Grosse
Arnold Huber
World Champion
Remember way back to Race #2? One of our Junior Drivers was missing that day. It was strange because Adam Riebetz is not one to miss a chance to be at the track let alone miss a race! There was a VERY good reason and one worth celebrating.
It turns out Adam has some serious talents beyond the steering wheel! He was one of only 3 athletes from Nova Scotia to be selected for Team Canada in Taekwon-Do. He travelled to Toronto at the beginning of June for the ICTF OPEN WORLD Team sparring competition.
Adam won Silver in sparring and Gold in Pattern!!
A much overdue CONGRATULATIONS, Adam!!!
July 12th - Registration Penalties for Sunday July 13th
Hello Teams,
Sadly, we had a significant number of late registration and payments for Race#5. We take no pleasure in enforcing this penalty. Again, it is in place to encourage early registration and protect our Registrar/Treasurer, Bob Doucette. He appreciated that the majority of you understood this and were respectful. Thank you.
Obviously Race #5 is a different format than usual for Junior, Senior and Masters so we have been asked how this penalty will work in this case? The rule in the sub regulations is simple; late entrants will start the first two Heats from the back.
Being a qualifying race, this is ultimately still the case with a few of details that should be clarified.
1) Practice #2 times determine Heat #1 starting order. The late entries will start at the back of Heat #1. In the Divisions where there are multiple late entries, they will line up in the back based on their Practice #2 times.
2) Heat #1 is also a qualifying session and is scored based on lap times. In this case, a penalized driver still has the ability to score VERY well in this race. (The registration penalty is meant as a deterrent, it's NOT designed to destroy your day.)
3) Penalized drivers start Heat #2 at the back again. Divisions with multiple late entries will again line up based on previous heat lap times behind regular entries. A reminder that Heat #2 is 'scored' by finishing position but lap time determines starting position of Heat #3. Again, another chance to do extremely well going forward.
4) Heat #3 and Feature you are 'out of jail'.
We hope that this answers the questions of our late entries.
Finally, we again encourage all Teams to early register for races. Bob is very good at getting the registration up early to give everyone several days. The goal is to make everyone's lives easier, our teams and our volunteers.
See you at the track!
AMKA Directors
Barry Nickerson
Eric Woolliscroft
Brandon Smith
Charles Grosse
DJ Hanninen
Cashton Woolliscroft
Arnold Huber
July 08, 2025 - PIT NOTES/Race #4-(Interclub Race#2)
The New Brunswick Teams started rolling through the gates Friday late afternoon. Kartbahn had graciously opened up an evening practice. This was welcomed by many drivers after several weeks away from the track. Nobody was glued to the hourly weather forecast for this race. Temperatures were reasonable and there was no threat of any significant precipitation.
Race day was not without some hiccups. Some transponder issues and a couple unrealistic lap times caused some early delays, but once the event got going the racing was intense. The CEKS drivers who were new to Kartbahn 'the Track' were not out of place, quickly showing the 'Home' drivers they meant business.
Here are the podium finishers:
Cadet**
1st- #12 Ayrton Kutcher (CEKS)
2nd- #10 Rafael Staszyczyk (AMKA)
3rd- #15 Harlen MacNeil (CEKS)
Junior
1st- #224 Jack Simpson (AMKA)
2nd- #222 Adam Riebetz (AMKA)
3rd- #611 Malex Richard (AMKA/CEKS)
Senior
1st- #727 Isaac Teed (CEKS)
2nd- #96 Addison Rayner (AMKA)
3rd- #331 Evan Huber (AMKA)
Masters
1st- #803 Barry Nickerson (AMKA)
2nd- #435 Eric Woolliscroft (AMKA)
3rd-#42 Kevin Stoneman (AMKA)
**Apologies to the Cadet Drivers for the podium confusion on Sunday. (specifically Harlen who was initially left off after a hard fought battle on track) That is always embarrassing for us and a disappointment for drivers caught in the mistake. Sorry.**
Thumbs up from Gerald
It was great to see Gerald Caseley in town for this event. The man who has spent a career building karting in the region and brought Cup Karts North America to Canada was all smiles on Sunday.
"I Loved the track. Past my expectations. Great club."
High praise and welcome comments from Mr Caseley who, incidentally, is being inducted into the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame this Fall in the builders category. Much deserved! Congratulations.
Cadet Division Lap Record
On a day of some intense Cadet battles, one Driver made an extra impact on the day. Cayson Misenor broke the Cadet lap record not once, but twice. The new time to beat in the Cadet Division is 37.918! Woot woot!!
The 'next generation' drivers are getting faster with every race and every lap. There is so much for these Drivers and their Parents to be proud of!! This Division definitely needs to be celebrated more! So awesome!
Isaac Teed was all about speed
CEKS driver Isaac Teed drove the track like he owned it most of the day. He consistently turned in laps in the 34.1 range. Outstanding!!
Exciting Junior Battle
There were some terrific wheel-to-wheel battles everywhere, but the duel between #224 - Jack Simpson and #222 - Adam Riebetz is worth singling out. These two slugged it out every lap all day. It was back-and-forth and a razor's edge separating them. Terrific driving! Way to go guys!!
Masters Division drama
The usually competitive Masters Division racing looked promising going into Sunday, but numbers fell away quickly. DJ Hanninen ended up not making it, Kai Reibitz made the call to concentrate on Son Adam's day and title contender Nick Roussssakov suffered brake issues before practice even began, forcing him to abandon the day. This severely thinned the field. Eric Woolliscroft pushed Barry Nickerson hard all day, but the day was Nickerson's as he swept wins in every race.
Masters Driver, Bob Doucette, brought a hush over the crowd with a nasty accident during the feature which brought out the red flag. Bob made a mistake in turn 6, caught a tire which catapulted him over. Obviously a bit shaken, he walked away with medics and was soon helping with end of day tear down. Monday he reported being a bit sore, but posted photos of the work he was doing on his Daughter's house. He added, "I will see you at the track this Sunday...Remember to keep the shiny side up."
Driver of the Day
Driver of the Day, as chosen by Race Director Jeff Martin, was AMKA Senior Driver, #96-Addison Rayner. Incredible driving all day, determination, sportsmanship and overcoming setbacks won him accolades on the day! Congratulations and well deserved!!
Thank Yous
First, Thanks to our NB Friends for making the trip and for the great racing. We look forward to seeing you again this coming weekend for Interclub Race#3.
A BIG Thank you to our Race Director, Jeff Martin, for persevering through the day. Jeff was recently in a motorcycle racing accident and was not in the best of shape on Sunday. He was hurting pretty bad by the end of the event. Thanks for your dedication to the sport and the club, Jeff.
See you at the track Sunday!
June 12th, 2025 - PIT NOTES/Race #3-Interclub Race
Hello Teams!
It was an eventful weekend for all those who made the trek to New Brunswick for round 3 of the 2025 season. An ominous weather forecast kept many Home, but a decent number took a chance on the forever changing Maritime hourlies. For this they were ultimately rewarded.
Saturday Evening Practice
For those who travelled to New Brunswick on Saturday, it was a pretty decent drive. Trailers started arriving at East Coast Karting at about 3pm. For a while it appeared that teams would get some dry laps in before the heavens opened up. It was not to be the case. The rain started at about 5pm and was coming down pretty good by the time the first AMKA karts took to the track at about 6pm. As always, it was wonderful to see our club members working together, discussing setup, helping each other getting karts ready and lending canopies to keep the crews dry.
Most teams wrapped up their testing around 8pm and an impromptu dinner happened at St Louis Bar and Grill around 8:30 and lasted much longer than expected. There were many laughs, lots of conversation and some all-you-can-eat wings competitions between a couple drivers! (Apologies to the members we were not able to reach. I can assure you that attempts were made and there was no intent to leave anyone out. Next year we will preplan a club dinner the night before)
Race Morning
Everybody woke up early to heavy rain. Hourly forecasts showed clearing and the potential of sun around 9am. Wet practice? Dry races? Will the track be too wet for slicks but too dry for rain tires? Racer dilemas.
The rain was done by 6am. The track was wet with streaming water down towards turn 1. (We were running counter clockwise) Promptly at 7:30am, Gerald announced practice sessions open. There was no movement in the pits. Gerald got back on the PA and reminded everyone that the track would dry quicker if there were karts out there doing laps. Moments later engines roared to life and the day had truly begun.
As final practice approached, several drivers had ventured out with slicks. The track was drying but rain tires were still faster, although the gap was closing. With AMKA drivers in the mix, the format was for Heat #1 to be time qualifying. TIre choice stress was at maximum. The majority of drivers went out with rains but it was quickly evident that the track was drying at a significant rate now. By the time the Senior/Masters group hit the track for qualifying, it favoured the brave drivers on slicks. Well done to those who made that call. There is no doubt that the changing weather added to the early excitement and taxed many a nerve. Then the sun came out in it's full glory!!
Races
The competition was fantastic! Lots of wheel-to-wheel action and plenty of passing in all divisions. It was great to see a couple of our rookies make the trip. I am happy to say that nobody looked out of place and everyone should be proud of their performances.
We did have one unfortunate incident that brought out a red flag and a trip to the local Hospital. We are happy to report that Brayden Isenor is doing well. He has a precautionary cast on his foot but is in great spirits and eager to get back on the track soon!
Here are the podium results from the Feature races:
Cadet
1st- #12 Ayrton Kutcher (CEKS)
2nd- #15 Harlen MacNeil (CEKS)
3rd- #10 Rafael Staszyczyk (AMKA)
Junior
1st- #224 Jack Simpson (AMKA)
2nd- #611 Malex Richard (AMKA)
3rd- #19Victoria Geitzen (AMKA)
Senior
1st- #727 Isaac Teed (CEKS)
2nd- #96 Addison Rayner (AMKA)
3rd- #49 Andre Robichaud (AMKA)
Masters
1st- #435 Eric Woolliscroft (AMKA)
2nd- #77 Lin Vinh Do (CEKS)
3rd-#18 Nickoli Roussakov (AMKA)
The next Interclub race will be held in Halifax at Kartbahn on July 6th. This is AMKA Race #4. We look forward to seeing our CEKS Friends at our Home track next month. Remember, you are always welcome!
AMKA Fastest Lap
There was no beating veteran CEKS Driver Isaac Teed's best lap time on Sunday. However, AMKA Senior Division Driver, Addison Rayner, put pressure on him all day and posted the best AMKA driver lap time of 25.751. Way to go Addison!!
As always, any questions or concerns: directors@amka.ca
June 5th, 2025 - PIT NOTES, Race #2 and More!
Hello Teams!
What was looking like a wet race day turned out to be dry but cool and windy. Cool air means more power and the drivers were taking advantage of that all day. A fantastic turnout translated into some incredible wheel-to-wheel action on the track. Congratulations to ALL of our racers.
Race #2 Podiums:
Cadet Division
1st-#49 Ivan Roussakov
2nd-#17 Cayson Misenor
3rd-# Rafael Staszcyk
Junior Division
1st-#224 Jack Simpson
2nd-#611 Malex Richard
3rd-#19 Victoria Gietzen
Senior Division
1st-#388 Cameron Nickerson
2nd-#96 Addison Rayner
3rd-#237 Logan Hanninen
Masters Division
1st- #435 Eric Woolliscroft
2nd- #18 Nickoli Roussakov
3rd- #803 Barry Nickerson
Podium EVERY week
Reminder that there will be podium celebrations after EVERY race event. Our Promotions committee suggested this in the off season and Full Circle Wood Products sponsored, and created, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards that podium placing drivers can pose with for photos and cheering at the end of the day. In the spirit of sportsmanship and the family atmosphere of AMKA, we strongly encourage you to stick around and participate.
DRIVER OF THE DAY
Thanks again to our Promotions Team and Full Circle Wood Products for this award. The Driver of the Day will be awarded at the end of each race day and will be chosen by the person who watches every race, our Race Director. It could be awarded for a number of reasons; an amazing win, an amazing pass, incredible sportsmanship...there are many ways to earn this award.
Race #1 winner was Cameron Nickerson
Race #2 winner was Logan Hanninen
Again, stick around and celebrate. Imagine if you pack up and head Home and YOU were the winner?
Format confusion
There were a handful of teams that expressed some confusion on, and after, thgis past race day. We would like to address what was conveyed to us.
1) Formats. There are still some teams struggling to understand the different formats and when they happen.
- Lap time based qualifying. This format is used by the Cadet Division on EVERY race day and for ALL Divisions during the three Atlantic Region Motorsports (ARMS) races.
- Random draw. This format is used by the Junior, Senior and Masters Division for the seven non-ARMS races. (This is the standard format.)
It should also be noted that there was a very productive discussion regarding our formats during the AMKA AGM in January. This discussion prompted a member survey that all members had the opportunity to participate in. We were very encouraged by the responses.
**Further information on these formats can always be found in the AMKA Sub Regulations on our website (www.amka.ca) We encourage you to take the time to read them over and refer to them when needed.**
2) Race types. The club has actively tried to make the season more interesting with our races. We can assure you it was not our intention to make it more confusing.
Here are the race types we have:
-Trophy Races. We have traditionally held three trophy races each season. This season they are Race#1, Race#6 & Race#11
-ARMS Races. We have three ARMS races that were introduced about a decade ago. It was proposed by our Regional governing body (ARMS) who supply and present the trophies at the Regional banquet. This season they are Race#2, Race#5 & Race#7
-Inter-club Races. This is relatively new and actually more difficult to coordinate than you might imagine. There are three Interclub races this season. They are Race #3 (in NB), Race #4 & Race# 5 (at Kartbahn). We think it's important for the clubs to support each other and fantastic for drivers to race on different tracks.
Race Day Schedule confusion
We have been told that there was confusion near the end of the race day. There were two teams that left before the Feature Race thinking that Heat #3 was the Feature Race. A couple others were packing up but were caught before they left. We are not exactly sure why this happened?
Again, the Race Day schedule is in the AMKA Sub Regulations found on the website.
The number of 'Races' per event has not changed. There was a change during Race#1 on May 11th due to time constraints (we had to drop a Heat Race) but that is NEVER what we strive for as addressed in posts and emails to the members leading up to Race #2. We will always announce if there is a change. We would also encourage Teams to check with a Director if you are getting second hand information and have not heard an official announcement of a change yourself. This is the only way we can correct misinformation.
To further avoid any confusion, as a courtesy, we will be posting the race day schedule and format sections from the Sub Regs in printable form on the website. (It should be up and available in the coming days.) We encourage you to print it and post it in your trailer for reference.
From the Race Director
There were many delays on Sunday that were the result of stranded drivers leaving their karts in precarious places and walking away from them. A reminder that Junior, Senior and Masters drivers are required to move their karts to a safe position when it is possible and safe to do. Track Marshals are NOT required to move a kart. There were a couple karts that hit barriers in the upper infield and the karts were left against the barrier creating a yellow flag situation in that corner for the remainder of the race. The karts should/could have been pulled across the track to the infield so green flag racing could resume.
A reminder that race restarts (after a red flag) are single file as per the rule set. In the event that the field comes around in a side-by-side formation on their own, they will be given the green flag. This happened on Sunday. This is a much tougher way to learn a rule. ;-)
Note: If a red flag happens on the first lap (before the field completes a full lap) a proper restart will take place.
Race #3 in New Brunswick (June 8th)
A reminder that Race #3 is an Interclub race and is being hosted by CEKS at East Coast Karting track in Dieppe, NB. Registration is open and payment must be received for the registration to be valid.
There will be practice available from 6pm to dusk on Saturday, June 7th. Track opens at 7am on Sunday...race day practice starts at 7:30am. (Judging by the forecast, be prepared for a wet race)
Anyone planning to go Saturday and stay overnight, there is a deal for $119 per night at the Quality Inn Dieppe. Call the front desk directly and say you are with Championship Kart Racing Association event for the price.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at directors@amka.ca
**IMPORTANT REMINDER: RACE #3-Interclub in Moncton**
Please ensure that you make payment after you register for the race. Failing to pay will result in your registration being void.
Thank you for your understanding.
May 28th, 2025 - Information for Races 2 and 3
Race #2 - Sunday, June 1st
Registration has been open for this race for a few days. As per the Sub regulations, there is a penalty for late registration:
"Entry fees must be paid by 7:00 pm the Thursday prior to the race or the driver will be penalized, will be sent to the rear for both heat races."
Obviously we do not want to see anyone get a penalty so please stay on top of this. We do our best to send out reminders as a courtesy, but the responsibility ultimately rests with the teams.
On the topic of sub regulations, another reminder that they have been updated and team members should take the time to go over them. WARNING: Driver's meeting is officially at 7:30am on the schedule now. Drivers failing to attend, or arriving late, will incur a penalty. Set your alarm!
Atlantic Region Motorsports (ARMS) Race
Race #2 is an ARMS Regional Race so qualifying for ALL divisions is based on fast times from 2nd practice. Check Sub Regs for more information.
Race #3 - Sunday June 8th (East Coast Karting, Dieppe, NB)
This is an AMKA points race and part of our two race Inter-club series promoting club/regional racing. We would like to see as many of our drivers there as possible supporting our NB Racing Friends.
For planning purposes, you should know that the track will open at 7am, practices start by 7:30 and races around 10am.
Any questions, email: directors@amka.ca
See you at the track!
May 26th, 2025 - IMPORTANT REMINDERS and UPDATES
Hello Teams!
We just want to pass along some important information before Race#2 on June 1st.
**TIMING and SCORING**
It is really important that our timing and scoring folks are not bothered during races. They really need to concentrate on what they are doing. When they are distracted with questions, mistakes are more possible. Also, it can slow down the day as they get behind setting up the next heat/race.
We ask that you find an AMKA Director and explain the situation or your query. If the Director cannot answer it, they will find the answer or pass along the information when appropriate. This includes any questions or concerns to the Race Director.
We will make a point of identifying the AMKA Directors present on race day during the Driver's meeting.
The 2025 AMKA Directors are:
Barry Nickerson
Eric Woolliscroft
Cashton Woolliscroft
Arnold Huber
Charles Grosse
Brandon Smith
DJ Hanninen
Jack Simpson Sr
UPDATES
There were more positive takeaways than negative ones after Race#1, but the biggest negative is one we absolutely need to solve. We never want to drop races to make up time.
We looked closely at our race day and had a lengthy meeting with our Race Director, trying to identify the main culprits. Obviously, red flags, broken down karts and sweeping gravel between races are issues. We also calculated the time it takes to run each race based on 'out laps' and 'average lap time' for each division. That was eye opening for us.
A few upcoming changes:
-We are having a couple of kart stands built that will be placed strategically around the track to quicken kart removal. We hope to have these in place by Race#4.
-Gravel was not as big an issue as it has been, but we still need drivers to focus on not cutting corners over the gravel.
-The Race day schedule has been 'fine tuned' in the updated sub regulations. One of the obvious changes is the Driver's meeting will be held at 7:30am. We did that at Race#1 but that will be permanent now and should be more efficient. The 'updated' sub regs are now up on the website.
-We will be moving to two 5 minute practice sessions per class instead of 3.
*We are actively working with Kartbahn to secure regular practice sessions. Lucas will be sending us a proposal shortly*
The Race Director (Jeff) will control the pace of the day, but that requires karts to be in position in the gridding area, on time and ready to go. We do not want to be militant, but we NEED to be efficient and that will require cooperation from our members. We have a track announcer now, so please be aware of any announcements that may affect your division.
See you at the track!
AMKA Licence Requests
To all of those drivers who are planning to travel to events this summer, we have a very small window to get these made up.
Please forward your request with an accompanying 'head shot' photo to treasurer@amka.ca by this Friday, May 23rd.
Thank you,
AMKA Directors
SPONSORSHIP
Hello Teams!
We just want to remind you how important Sponsors are to the health of our club. They help with infrastructure, upgrading equipment (radios, timing software, etc) and keeping member costs in check. When we lack sponsors we are forced to up member fees. Never an enjoyable decision.
If you know a company that might be interested, please approach them and find out. The sponsorship opportunities can be found on our website:
BONUS: 10% of the sponsorship you bring to the club goes directly back to supporting your team!
Thank you in advance,
2025 AMKA Directors
directors@amka.ca
Help Wanted: 'DRIVEN' show at HEC - May 24th from 1pm-7pm
Hi Teams!
AMKA has been invited to have a kart display at the upcoming 'DRIVEN' show at HEC. This is a great opportunity to sell our sport to motorsport minded people.
NEEDED:
- We need two karts for the day. (Senior/Junior and a Cadet) Karts would arrive in the morning and put in place. This is a one day event that is well attended.
- We need a couple more volunteers to chat with people about our sport. Once we have some volunteers we can divide up the day.
Please let us know ASAP if you are interested.
May 13th 2025 - Race #1 Report
Hello Teams!
Race#1 is in the books and the season is underway! Overall, it was a successful day. There were some amazing battles on track. CONGRATULATIONS to ALL the drivers and especially to those who made the podium. Here are your top 3 finishers for Race 1:
CADET DIVISION
1st- Cayson Misener
2nd- Rafal Staszczyk
3rd- Axl Whitehead
JUNIOR DIVISION
1st- Jack Simpson
2nd- Adam Riebetz
3rd- Malex Richard
SENIOR DIVISION
1st- Cameron Nickerson
2nd- Evan Huber
3rd- Addison Rayner
MASTERS DIVISION
1st- Barry Nickerson
2nd- Nick Roussakov
3rd- Eric Woolliscroft
Thanks!
Thanks to Brandon Smith for jumping in and volunteering to manage the grid. Also to Staci McBride and Phil MacBeth for their help on the scales. Tammy Smith for rounding up the last of the waivers to make sure our insurance would be valid.
Track Announcer
Huge shout out to Austin Richardson, our track announcer! You took our race day to another level and it is exciting to think that it will just get better and better as you get into a rhythm. Wow! Just Wow! Thank you! The comments from members were overwhelmingly positive.
Austin mentioned this yesterday; if he gets information wrong or mispronounces your name, just let him know and he will correct it going forward.
Race Day schedule
Obviously we were not thrilled to have to drop a heat race to make time. The Directors are actively working with the Race Director to find solutions to avoid this going forward. Also, we will be addressing the schedule in the sub regulations to reflect any changes. We will inform you all when that happens.
Registration Cut off
A reminder that Race registration needs to be completed by the Thursday, 7pm before a race weekend. This is NOT a new rule. If you miss the deadline you will start at the back of the heat races. The Registrar/Treasurer is a volunteer position and last minute registrations became VERY time consuming. This was the solution to encourage prompt registration and payment. It has been successful.
Suggestion: If you are concerned you may not make a race, register and pay anyway. If you don't make it your payment will be credited and used for the next race you register for.
Race# 2 is June 1st.
Change your oil...clean your clutch...see you at the race!
May 9th 2025 - RACE 1 - Waivers and Details
Hello teams!
With Race #1 this weekend we wanted to remind you of the required waivers and outline some important details:
WAIVERS:
Another reminder that there are two electronic waivers that are required before your kart can go on the track. There are links to both waivers below:
1) 'Waiver for Kartbahn' - This is the waiver to be at, or on, the Kartbahn track.
2) '2025 Ewaiver' - This is the waiver needed to participate in AMKA events.
IMPORTANT: These BOTH need to be filled out by ALL AMKA participants. Driver, crew, Family, Friends. Anyone who is at the track.
So far we have 40 drivers registered but only 18 have done the waiver. In some cases the Parents have done their waiver but not done their driver who is a minor. These need to be done for Sunday and available to show when asked. Once completed, they are both good for the season.
If you have questions, please email: directors@amka.ca
Smoking/Vaping at the Track:
This is just a friendly reminder that there is no smoking/vaping in the pit/paddock and bleacher areas. The pit and paddock area is primarily a safety reason as there is gasoline in these areas. The bleachers is courtesy to those around you.
We would ask anyone smoking or vaping to move a suitable distance away from these areas. If required, we will designate a smoking/vaping area.
Thank you for your cooperation and see you at the track!
2025 AMKA Directors
May 7th 2025 - Race #1 Registration Reminder
Hello Teams!
A friendly reminder that we are just a few days away from Race #1 of the 2025 season! This first race is the Don Nickerson memorial trophy race.
Cutoff for registration is Friday May 9th at 9pm, so please act soon and register here.
Also, be sure to fill out BOTH waiver forms (AMKA and Kartbahn) which are also on the website. This is for ALL team members, not just drivers. Once filled out, they are valid for the entire season.
Any questions, please contact directors@amka.ca
See you at the track!
May 7th, 2025 - ***URGENT*** - Race Day help Needed!
We have two positions that require bodies starting with Race#1:
1. Grid Marshal: Coordinating with timing to set grid for each race. Pushing each division to get ready for the next race.
2. Scaling: Working the scales after each race to make sure each racer is at, or above, minimum allowed weight.
These positions pay $15 per hour. This can be filled by a Parent, a Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle...Friend. Please give this some consideration. Your help is needed to produce successful race days!
Please email directors@amka.ca if interested.
Thank you!
Correction/Update: May 4th Rookie School & Testing
Sunday May 4th Rookie School/Practice is 8am-noon as stated in the registration. Apologies for any confusion!
SCALING OPPORTUNITY BEFORE RACE #1:
Scales will be set up for anyone who is concerned about their driver/kart weight. You do not need to register if you just want to show up for weigh in purposes.
-AMKA Directors
May 3rd, 2025 - UPDATE: May 4th Rookie School & Testing
As of Saturday afternoon, Sunday’s event looks to be a go. It’s a bit hit-or-miss with the weather, but we can only control so much!
8am-noon is the time we have. Rookie school will take priority of the track so anyone coming for practice time will have to work around that.
We will update you by 9pm tonight (Saturday) if there are any changes or new details for tomorrow’s event.
If you have not registered, please do that here: Register for May 4th rookie school/testing
Thank you for your patience,
AMKA Directors
April 27th 2025 - April 27th ROOKIE SCHOOL & TESTING CANCELLED
Due to the amount of rain and the predicted hourly forecast, we have decided to cancel today's session. We do not think it prudent to run the Rookie school in these conditions. Due to the lack of registration for testing today, that will also be cancelled.
We will look at potential alternatives for a Rookie school, but a reminder that there is one scheduled for May 4th.
AMKA DIRECTORS
April 17th, 2025 - Testing Waiver Available
**IMPORTANT**
https://kartbahnracing.speedwaiver.com/olcxj
Here is the waiver specifically for testing in April at Kartbahn. This needs to be submitted by driver and anyone else attending at the track. You cannot get on the track until this is done so please try to have it done before arriving at the track to avoid delays.
NOTE: This is NOT the AMKA Season waiver.
March 21st, 2025 - AMKA 2025 Membership Application Release
Hello AMKA!
Here is the 2025 Membership Application. Please fill out the required information, sign, and return to treasurer@amka.ca. If you need assistance or have any questions please contact us!
March 20th, 2025 - AMKA 2025 Schedule Release
Hello Teams!
Here is the long awaited schedule for the 2025 season. As always, we have done our best to avoid long weekends and we have succeeded.
You will notice the lack of race dates in June. This is simply a track availability issue that cannot be avoided. We also tried very hard to add some dates at Scotia Speedworld in June but it was not available due to the Prostock series schedule. We would like to eventually include a couple of races at SSW to add challenge and variety. We will continue to pursue that for the 2026 season.
2025 AMKA Schedule
Early/mid April TBA - Practice (weather dependent)
April 27th - AMKA Practice/Race School
May 4th - AMKA Practice/Race School
May 11th - Race #1 Don Nickerson Memorial
June 1st - Race#2 ARMS Race 1
June 8 - Race #3 Inter-club race in Moncton
July 6th - Race#4 Inter-club race at Kartbahn
July 13th - Race#5 ARMS 2 race and Inter-club race at Kartbahn
July 27th - Race#6 Deke Cameron Memorial
August 17th - Race#7 ARMS Race 3
September 7th - Race#8
September 13th - Race#9 **Evening race under the lights**
September 28th - Race#10 & Race#11 **Double race day** Zachery Grosse Memorial
NOTE: We are confident that we will be able to work with Kartbahn to arrange practice days throughout the season.