With a very successful 2014 still underway, the Florida Pro Kart Series (FPKS) is already working towards the 2015 season. The Series is pleased to announce their winter program for 2015. Dubbed the Florida Pro Kart Winter Series and with support from Bridgestone, IAME East and more, a three race winter series is now set to kick off the 2015 karting calendar.

Commencing January 2015 for the first two rounds of the series, the Winter Series will begin a premiere program at the Palm Beach Kart Center (PBKC) located at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) in Jupiter, Florida January 17 – 18th.  Expect some exciting changes at PBKC to the track layout and surface as new ownership moves forward to enhance this ultimate South Florida racing destination. Rounds three and four will also take place at the PBKC facility over the February 7 – 8th weekend before rounds five and six will close out the series and crown the champions.

"We are very excited to have the Florida Pro Kart Winter Series here at Palm Beach Kart Center.  Since we took over this track in May, our number one goal has been to bring a National level event back to PBKC and we are confident that this event will be a big success. What impressed us the most about the series is the commitment of every partner involved to give back to the racers in so many ways.  We are really looking forward to the event," stated Kurt Mathewson, COO, Palm Beach Kart Center.

With the location yet to be finalized for the final event, it will take place over the March 14 – 15th weekend. Host tracks will operate and control practice the week leading up to the FPKWS program including the Fridays prior to the events.

“The concept for the Florida Pro Kart Winter Series began a while back and we are now finally able to solidify enough details to formally announce the program,” expressed Glenn Biggs, owner and promoter of the program. “I am excited and can’t wait to get back on track. This is going to be some FUN.”

Focused on competition that is enjoyable for the whole family as well as giving back to the competitors, the Florida Pro Kart Series Winter Series will be offering unprecedented prizes that will attract teams and racers from around the world.  An initial teaser for the awards packages include: personalized FPKWS trophies, weekend cash payouts & Bridgestone tires.  Year-end champions in some of the classes will receive engines, parts vouchers & more tires.

Now, who wants to race in Europe? That’s right, the winner of IAME Junior & IAME Senior will be awarded an all-inclusive entry to the IAME International Final in 2015 with a $2000 travel credit and a FPKWS Team USA Racing suit.  A third fully funded trip will also be offered to the IAME International Final in 2015.  Stay tuned to hear more about this and more series awards to be announced shortly that will not just include class winners and champions but prizes for some loyal series participants as well. 

“Grand Products and Margay are the distributors of the Bridgestone tire. We have known Glenn Biggs for many years and we believe in what he is doing for the karting community. We share the same beliefs and we are committed in giving back to the racers and are very proud to be in partnership with Florida Pro Kart Series to start off the 2015 season,” stated Grand Products’ Mike Tetreault.

Bridgestone will be the official tire of the program and most competitors will utilize the Bridgestone YLC for dry conditions. The YLC has a proven track record and is used in the WKA Man-Cup series, WKA Divisional Series, Florida Championship Series and at many clubs like KRA, OVKA and Badger, just to name a few. The shifter classes will run the slightly softer YLB compound. The Bridgestone YLP will be the spec tire for all wet weather action. 

Biggs continued, “With Bridgestone and IAME USA East stepping up and offering unprecedented prizes, competitors will realize how committed that Bridgestone and IAME USA East are to the karting community, not just in the state of Florida, but all over the world. I wanted to take time to thank Bridgestone, IAME USA East, Grand Products, Margay and all our future sponsors for stepping up and making such a generous offer and supporting the Florida Pro Kart Winter Series.”

IAME USA East Distributor Eric Jones added, “IAME USA East will be a very big supporter of Glenn Biggs’s program that has been created to assist and grow the karting community. The Florida Pro Kart Series is dedicated to putting on race events. This is what Glenn and his staff does to make an honest living and help support the sport that we make our business in. We will be bringing our IAME support vehicle with parts and accessories to all the Florida Pro Kart Winter events; it was a very easy decision for us to be associated in the Florida Pro Kart Winter Series.”

“At this time, the Florida Pro Kart Series is in the process of putting together a remarkable team of technical inspectors as well as track and off-track officials,” continued Biggs. “The Florida Pro Kart Series will have what we call the “A” team of people keeping the integrity of customer service, track officiating and tech inspection as our top priority. We will be flying in some of the nation's best officials as well as hiring locally to put on these events.”

A new website for the FPKWS is also in the works. The new website will be dedicated to the winter program that will proudly represent sponsors, event schedules, track information, host hotel information and navigate to the rules and easy to manage registration process. 

Tentative Classes to be offered at the 2015 Florida Pro Kart Winter Series
Micro ROK
Mini ROK
IAME Junior
IAME Senior
*Open TaG Senior / *Open TaG Masters
*ROK/IAME Shifter with Masters included
Open Shifter / Honda Moto

*Open TaG Senior & Open TaG Masters will invite Rotax, IAME & ROK Engines. The FPKWS will form a committee of some the best technical people in the industry to study this, as well work with the manufacturers to bring parity for these packages so no engine is left out in the series. 

With a current rules package still being finalized, each race weekend will be a double race with two separate race days. Consisting of qualifying, two heat races and a main event, the starting grid for the final will be determined on the finishing position (total points) of the heat races. Counting towards the end of the series championship points chase, the top-ten in each heat race will receive points towards their daily total to be added to the point total from the competitor’s main event results. Bonus points will also be awarded for the pole position and the fastest race lap in the main event.

For more information on the Florida Pro Kart Series including information on events, registration and rules, please visit them online at www.FloridaProKartSeries.com or contact Glenn Biggs rdglennbiggs@yahoo.com.

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