October 19, 2009
Kevin York Reviews Grand Am Road Racing 2010 Season Options
Following his full-season participation in the 2008 Grand Am KONI Challenge Series, Kevin York is exploring options for his return to Grand Am competition.
Kevin is reviewing options with select teams relative to their 2010 Grand Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge endurance racing programs.
Those wishing to partner with or sponsor this endeavour are encouraged to initiate contact via email: kevin@york-group.net
© Wes Duenkel Motorsport Photography
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2008
An eventful - if not fun - season. Enzo would be proud.
The 2008 Grand Am KONI Challenge Series' season has come to a close.
We had a great run with Compass360 Racing (C360R) and thank Karl, Ray and the entire crew immensely!
A complete season wrap-up is forthcoming.
Posted by YORK Group at 10:42 AM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2008
KONI Challenge Series Season Ends With A Bang
Kevin York' 2008 season with C360R in the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series came to a premature end at VIRginia International Raceway today.
During his stint - after C360R team principal Karl Thomson started the six-hour race in the GoEnzo.com #73 Acura RSX-S - Kevin was engaged in spirited battles with competitors.
Suddenly the very powerful Skunk2-prepped motor lost power and Kevin coasted to the off-track area near VIR's famous Oak Tree corner.
Guest co-driver Scott Nicol - 2005 Ontario Touring GT Championship Touring Class Champion - was unable to hop in an drive his stint as a result.
More updates on the race and the entire season will be forthcoming.
Kevin and select C360R team members will next be at the 2008 Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series season-ending banquet Oct. 6 at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons in Greensboro, N.C.
Posted by YORK Group at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2008
Next up, VIRginia International Raceway - our home track!
Motorsports fans have access to exciting sportscar endurance racing at the Bosch Engineering Twin Six Hours October 3-5.
The weekend will be full of action featuring the season finales for both of the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series' classes.
With forty-five cars entered in the ST class alone, a proper endurance racing format, and racing into the night, true sportscar fans will be enthralled!
Although the Driver's Championship appears to be all but decided, the Team and Manufacturer's titles are up for grabs, and our Compass360 Racing team is right in the thick of the battle!
Posted by YORK Group at 04:23 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2008
York & Rowen Combine for Top-25 Finish in Utah
Kevin at speed through Miller Motorsport Park's "Bad Attitude" corner.
Kevin York and his co-driver for the Miller Motorsport Park round of the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series finished in twenty-third position today.
James Rowen qualified the car in the thirty-second spot on the grid and drove just over one hour from the start of the race.
With tutelage and coaching from Kevin, James made great strides during the course of the weekend, notching his best time of the weekend during the race in the #73 GoEnzo.com Acura RSX-S. "I had a great time and learned a lot," remarked Rowen of his first pro event. Rowen's sponsors were impressed with the Miller facility, the level of competition in Grand-Am's KONI series, and the professionalism of the Compass360 Racing team. "We'll be back for more races next year," promised Rowen.
During a green-flag pit stop and driver change, York got in and drove the #73 home to a solid, if not respectable, finish.
Both York and Rowen paid special thanks to Joe Cooley of Circuit Motorsports for this event.
Posted by YORK Group at 04:05 PM | Comments (0)
September 20, 2008
Speaking Freely from Miller Motorsports Park
"Hello, this is Kevin calling from Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.
Earlier today my co-driver for this event, James Rowen, drove the GoEnzo.com C360R Acura RSX in qualifying for the KONI Challenge Series race being held Sunday.
It will be the first time this season that I've driven the second stint - and not qualified the car and driven first.
We are looking forward to the race!
Additionally the race will be covered by Speed TV, the date of air will be October 12th.
Check back here for more details.
Cheers. Kevin"
spoken through SpinVox
#endPosted by YORK Group at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 09, 2008
Next up, Miller Motorsports Park in Utah
Kevin along with his C360R team will be racing soon at the expansive Miller Motorsports Park.
As part of the third annual SunRichGourmet.com Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 weekend, the KONI Challenge Series will have it's penultimate race.
At this writing, Kevin is scheduled to be driving the #73 GoEnzo.com, C360R, Acura RSX that he drove with team principal, Karl Thomson, to a respectable top-20 finish at the recent round at Thunderbolt Raceway in New Jersey. Kevin's co-driver for Utah is in the final stages of negotiations with C360R's managing directors.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Posted by YORK Group at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
August 31, 2008
York and Thomson Combine for Top Twenty Finish at Thunderbolt Raceway
Kevin driving the #73 GoEnzo.com C360R Acura RSX on Thunderbolt's main straight.
Kevin York and Karl Thomson drove a clean and smart race today during what was for many others, massive carnage at the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series' inaugural professional race at New Jersey Motorsports Park's Thunderbolt Raceway.
Starting from the thirty-sixth position in class, Kevin drove an aggressive, but measured first stint.
When Kevin handed the car over to Karl in seventh position in class, it coincided with a series of extended caution periods.
Once back to green flag racing, Karl battled with several ST drivers, ultimately passing under the checkered flag in nineteenth position of the ST class.
All in all, a very respectable run and finish by the grinning duo!
More details and photos to follow during the upcoming week!
Posted by YORK Group at 07:37 PM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2008
Dust and dilemma at NJMP
After missing an entire day of pre-event testing at NJMP's Thunderbolt Raceway (due to track closure after Scott Pruett's horrific crash), all the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series competitors were anxious to get on track to practice.
It's quite unique to have virtually the entire field of drivers have no prior experience of a racing venue such as we find this weekend.
One word: DUSTY!
For various reasons, the area off the track surface is not yet grassed in and the present dirt is a silt-clay combination that is NASTY.
The track surface, while brand new with it's own decent grip, is compromised with shifting dust and gravel each lap.
We at C360R worked hard to learn the track and deal with mechanical adversity with some of the cars.
The team members at C360R performed stellar work and got all the mechanical issues handled!
Saturday has us qualifying in order to form a line up for Sunday's (early!) morning race.
Posted by YORK Group at 08:14 AM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2008
Next up, New Jersey Motorsport Park's Thunderbolt Raceway!
Labor Day weekend will find us at Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park in the greater New York Metropolitan area.
The Aug. 30-31 event is the crown jewel on the NJMP inaugural schedule and will feature both the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and our series, the Grand-Am KONI Challenge.
Kevin York, looking forward to the event stated, "As a track owned and operated by our friends at Virginia International Raceway, I feel like it is a bit of a homecoming."
The Millville, N.J. facility, featuring the 2.3-mile Thunderbolt Raceway, is a $150 million world class Motorsports complex located on 700 acres of land adjacent to the Millville Airport. NJMP will feature road, oval and off-road racing venues, as well as luxurious spectator and participant facilities including VIP suites, shade tree garages, event garages and trackside villas.
Like its sister property, Virginia International Raceway, NJMP will mix world-class racing facilities with high-end hospitality venues. NJMP, however, will include multiple hotels and restaurants at varying price points, educational and research facilities in conjunction with Rowan University, classic car galleries and a clubhouse with pool, fitness and tennis facilities. In a nod to one of the seminal characters in the racing world, NJMP christened the media center and scoring tower the "Chris Economaki Tower" in honor of the New Jersey native.
The New Jersey Motorsports weekend event was added at the request of a number of KONI Challenge teams and participants to create exposure for the series in the greater New York and Philadelphia markets and continue to diversify the tracks that the series races on.
More information on New Jersey Motorsports Park is available at www.njmotorsportspark.com.*
*Some of this article's information courtesy of Grand Am.
Posted by YORK Group at 02:12 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2008
York and Johnson shafted at Trois-Rivieres
After suffering adversity in event practice and qualifying sessions, Kevin York and Billy Johnson combined to show strength of performance in Saturday's Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series Street Tuner Race at Le Circuit de Trois-Rivieres.
Starting from 30th position, the York/Johnson Compass360 Racing #73 Acura RSX was well within the top-ten as the race's conclusion neared.
Sadly, a mechanical failure of a front axle shaft joint put an end to the strong run.
Compass360 Racing had a great overall team result however with Adam Burrows bringing home his and Trevor Hopwood's #76 Acura TSX with an event win!
Next up, New Jersey Motorsport Park during the Labor Day weekend.
Posted by YORK Group at 06:51 AM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2008
Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres weekend!
For one weekend each August since 1967, the streets of Trois-Rivieres turn into a racing circuit for the city's Grand Prix.
This international racing event takes place on a temporary course that many racing greats - like Gilles Villeneuve - have raced on.
This year's series are: Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, NASCAR Canadian Tire, Star Mazda, Mazda Pro MX-5, Canadian Touring Championship, Atlantic Championship.
Our Toronto-based Compass360 Racing team - with a series-high four cars entered for this weekend - was second and third in the final overall rundown, with our top two cars in practice separated by only one thousandth of a second.
ST qualifying begins at 8:20 a.m. Saturday with the race start following at 1:30 p.m.
Posted by YORK Group at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2008
York and Radisic Repeat Top-15 Result at Iowa Speedway
Kevin York once again paired with Marko Radisic for a respectable KONI Challenge Series finish of fifteenth in the ST class at Iowa Speedway last weekend.
Driving - for the final time of a temporary three-race deal- the Fountain Motorsports/Next Gen BMW 330i, Kevin qualified the reluctantly-handling car in the early Sunday morning qualifying session.
At the start of the race Kevin kept pace with the KONI field of both GS and ST classed cars as they sorted themselves out.
He engaged in a spirited battle with the "Queen of the 'Ring", Sabine Schmitz as she attempted to come to grips with the short-track length of Iowa Speedway's 1.3 mile "roval" road course.
After suffering an overheating engine - requiring Kevin to slow the pace - and a right front tire that was cut down due to track debris, a yellow caution period at approximately the one-hour mark allowed the team to call in Kevin for a fuel stop and driver change.
Marko continued in the race and ran a conservative and consistent pace to the race's conclusion.
Next up - this very weekend! - is the next KONI Series' race in Quebec Canada's Trois-Rivieres.
There, Kevin will rejoin his regular team, Compass360 Racing and be racing an Acura RSX!
Check back to this site for more details of the weekend as it draws near!
Posted by YORK Group at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)
August 01, 2008
Iowa bound!
After a short break in the KONI Challenge Series action of early July, Kevin is eager to return to racing.
August is a busy month for the KONI Challenge Series' teams with three races in four weeks!
First up is a popular event at the Iowa Speedway.
Once again, Kevin will be paired with Marko Radisic in a Fountain Motorsport/Next Generation Motorsports BMW 330i.
Fountain's past experiences at this track have been very positive and the intent is to build on that history for this exciting event.
Kevin is also eager to return to his regular team's Acura/Honda race cars. Compass360 Racing (C360R) is working hard at getting brand new race cars ready!
Stay tuned here for more updates as the racing action gets hot!
Posted by YORK Group at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
July 07, 2008
York and Radisic Combine for Top-15 at Watkins Glen
7 July 2008 | Danville, VA
Kevin York and Marko Radisic co-drove the No. 75 GoEnzo.com BMW 330i for Compass360 Racing (C360R) to a 15th-place class finish in Saturday’s Watkins Glen Grand Prix Grand Am KONI Series race at Watkins Glen (NY) International.
York started the race from the thirty-fifth position in the Street Tuner (ST) class (Sixty-third overall, including the Grand Sport (GS) class.)
The race was interrupted by multiple full-course cautions due to on-track incidents.
After more than an hour driving, Kevin brought the car in on the twenty-second lap for a fuel stop and driver change.
With the car then in twentieth position overall, Kevin had provided a car well situated for Marko to continue the charge through the field.
Driving smartly and in conjunction with other team cars, Marko moved up to fifteenth place in class by the race's conclusion.
That position allowed Kevin to have his first points-paying finish in the last three KONI races. As such, he now stands twenty-sixth in the overall driver rankings.
Next up the KONI Series moves to the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on August 9 - 10, 2008.
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
July 05, 2008
Moving to the front at The Glen
Of seventy-five entries in today's Grand Am KONI Challenge Series race at Watkins Glen we'll be starting from thirty-fifty position amongst the ST class.
Needless to say, we'll have a lot of fun work to do as we work our way forward!
Grand Am's Live Timing and Scoring can be found here.
Race time is 4:45 EST, 5 July 2008.
Kevin
Posted by YORK Group at 08:11 AM | Comments (0)
June 27, 2008
Next up, Watkins Glen
27 June 2008 | Montour Falls, NY
Looking forward to Watkins Glen, we once again will be partnering with Fountain Motorsports to enter the fifth round of the KONI Challenge Series.
The crew from that team will seek to emulate the preparation level our Compass360 Racing team brings to each event.
With a reliable car that we can tune to the fast and sweeping corners of Watkins Glen International, we will have a good run.
Once again we'll also have for this event Grand Am newcomer Marko Radisic as our interim co-driver.
Watkins Glen International
As ever, updates via
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2008
No green flag. Disappointment at Mid-Ohio
22 June 2008 | Charlotte, NC
After the adversity of Mosport, Kevin was determined to have a good performance at Mid-Ohio.
Along with interim co-driver, Marko Radisic, Kevin worked hard in the practice sessions to tame the reluctant handling of the BMW at the tricky Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
With each change came small improvements. When it was time for qualifying, the plan was to get the car into the show and prepare for race conditions.
On race day, Marko Radisic was to drive the car briefly in the morning warm-up session.
Unfortunately, Marko was unable to select any gears within the BMW's gearbox.
This problem found the Fountain Motorsports crew faced with the tough task of diagnosis and repair prior to race time.
The crew removed the transmission and clutch assembly along with other related components in an effort to hopefully replace a culprit part.
Finishing the repair just as the cars were forming for the grid, the crew then buckled Kevin in for the reconnaissance laps.
Immediately - even before getting on track - Kevin noticed a very unusual vibration and noise.
Radioing in to the crew for recommendations, he was instructed to take the recon. laps and report back.
The vibration and noise remained.
The crew opted to have Kevin line up on the grid and take the formation laps in preparation for the race start.
Kevin never got to the green flag...
Just before the tracks famous "Carousel" corner, there was a tremendous explosion-like sound from the center of the car - the shifter assembly moved up into the car and its linkage fell down through a new, large torn hole in the floor(!)
The car no longer had any forward motion.
Kevin pulled safely off to the track's side and his day was concluded - before it really began.
On to Watkins Glen!
Posted by YORK Group at 02:29 AM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2008
The Art of Overcoming Adversity
"...like Denny Swift in THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, we'll continue to fight (here at) Mid-Ohio. We'll once again have four cars, having drafted a BMW 330i from our friends at Fountain Motorsport, for Kevin and newcomer Marko Radisic to run, alongside our usual Acuras."- Karl Thomson, C360R Team Principal
Posted by YORK Group at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2008
Misfortune at Mosport
This will be a short entry for the moment...
We crashed the 75 car in Friday's practice.
A hard hit to the concrete wall on exit of Mosport's Turn One rendered the car not able to be used for the rest of the weekend.
Teammate Christian Miller took over the seat vacated by C360R team principal, Karl Thomson (what a guy!). Christian therefore joined team hot-shoe Travis Walker in the C360R 76 Acura RSX for the race. They finished in a strong sixth place - great job guys.
We'll be evaluating options for car replacement this week as we convalesce from our aches and pains.
Stay tuned here for more information as it presents.
As a side - but important - note, we had a great time entertaining friend and author Garth Stein on the weekend. With us not being in the race Saturday, we had a rare opportunity to relax with sponsors and VIPS from many of Canada's bigger booksellers and the folks from Harper Collins Canada. Additionally, Garth and Kevin had a good broadcast interview. Interest in the book, The Art of Racing in the Rain was very high!
Posted by YORK Group at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
June 09, 2008
Mosport's this weekend!
This upcoming weekend is the beginning of a busy time for our team - in fact all the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series' teams - as we begin a whirlwind tour of North America's best sports-car road courses!
The #75 GoEnzo.com, 034 Motorsport, C360R.com ACURA TSX as seen in the Distillery District of Toronto during a Mosport media day. Photo Wes Duenkel.
Round three of the Series will be at Mosport International Raceway when Grand Am and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series return to co-headline the popular Father's Day Doubleheader event, June 13-15.
It's especially exciting for us as book publisher Harper Collins Canada will be using the event to promote our sponsor, the newly-released book The Art of Racing In the Rain, written by our friend, Garth Stein.
Already it is is one of the top fiction books on the New York Time Bestseller list (plus it's Starbuck's Book of the Month and currently No. 1 on the Taiwan charts!!).
We're glad that Garth and his peers will be able to join us and share in the excitement that is road racing at its finest!
Image - courtesy Mosport.com - hyperlinked to track's website.
Posted by YORK Group at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2008
YORK, MILLER LEAD COMPASS360 AT LIME ROCK
Teammates record second consecutive sixth-place finish in KONI Challenge Series
Kevin York and Christian Miller finished in sixth place driving the No. 75 GoEnzo.com, 034 Motorsport, C360R.com ACURA TSX in the Grand Am KONI Challenge Series ST-class race at Lime Rock Park. The race result is the pair’s second such finish of the 2008 season.
York qualified the car in eighteenth position of the forty-six car grid – first amongst the Compass360 team.
York started the race and maintained position while fending off other competitors. At the one-hour mark of the two and one-half hour race, York pitted during a caution period. During the stop, York and Miller swapped spots as planned. With fresh tires and a full fuel tank, Miller took off on his charge to the front of the pack.
At the one-hour mark – of the two and one-half hour race – York pitted during a caution period. During the stop, York and Miller swapped spots as planned. With fresh tires and a full fuel tank, Miller took off on his charge to the front of the pack.
Moving up as high as the top-five, Miller finally settled on sixth place at the finish – again, first amongst the Compass360 team. Of note was that the No. 75 car was relatively unscathed; unique in an event that saw much car-to-car contact with resultant damage.
"Kevin did really well in qualifying," cited Miller before the race. "Lime Rock is a difficult place and with so many cars on-track, finding a clean lap to put down a decent time is challenging. Kevin did a great job."
After the race York said, “I could not ask for a better effort from my teammate, Christian. He fought many battles but kept his composure while moving us up into the top-ten for the second race event in a row. I’m very pleased.”
Announced at Lime Rock, Grand Am has instituted the MESCO Building for the Future Rookie of the Year Award for certain KONI Series drivers. Even though York is a seasoned competitor, by the guidelines of the program he will be eligible to run for Rookie of the Year honors. The winner will be determined by finishing position in the final championship standings. The MESCO Building for the Future Rookie of the Year will be honored at the season-ending KONI Challenge Series awards banquet.
Kevin York has been a motorsport competitor, instructor and coach for nearly two decades. He rejoined the Grand American Road Racing’s KONI Challenge Series in 2008, Partnering with the 2007 championship-leading team, Compass360 Racing. In 2007, C360R helped to bring Acura its second consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship. In addition to being the Chief Instructor at Camp Motorsport, York’s resume of high-performance instructional experience includes working with Speed Secrets Race and Performance Driver Coaching, Hooked on Driving, ProFormance Racing School, International Race Drivers Club, BMW CCA foundation’s Street Survival Teen Driving Safety Program, as well as for several chapters of the BMW Car club of America. Additionally, he owns and operates a motorsport-industry consultancy. York is sponsored by the new, best-selling book, The Art of Racing in the Rain. For more information about the book, visit the website: GoEnzo.com.
Compass360 Racing is the motorsports division of Compass360 Design + Advertising, a firm offering branding expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America.
034Motorsport is one of the premier fuel injection and engine management developers in the Audi/Volkswagen market and beyond.
Next KONI Challenge Race:
Mosport International Raceway
June 14, 1:00 PM ET.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION
Kevin YORK
Website: www.yorkmotorsport.com
Email: kevin.york at ygmllc dot com
Christian MILLER
Website: www.034motorsport.com
Email: cmiller at 034efi dot com
COMPASS360 RACING
Website: www.C360R.com
Email: racing at compass360 dot com
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Website: www.GoEnzo.com
Email: leslie.cohen at harpercollins dot com
Posted by YORK Group at 09:05 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2008
Testing at Mosport
9 May 2008 | Bowmanville, Ontario Canada
Kevin (lead car in picture) pulling out of pitlane to begin a test session.
Compass360 Racing took two TSX's and its brand new Honda Civic Si to Mosport for testing today.
With KarlT's help, we learned the new-to-us track in Mosport while Willard and Wilden got up to speed and Walker shook down the new Civic.
Overall a very successful day.
In two weeks' time we race at Lime Rock!
Kevin (lead TSX in foreground) entering Mosport's Turn 1 with a fellow C360R team car in tow - while passing a CASCAR!!
Photography courtesy P.Thomson
Posted by YORK Group at 10:48 PM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2008
Great review by Road & Track's Peter Egan of Enzo's story!
"Author (Garth) Stein clearly has a deep knowledge of cars and racing... It's beautifully written, insightful, heartbreaking at times and quite moving. If the premise seems a little unusual, never mind. Just read it." - Peter Egan
The Art of Racing in the Rain is capturing many hearts, minds and imaginations indeed!
P.42 of the June issue of Road & Track Magazine.
Copyright Peter Egan and Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
Image shown for reference only.
Posted by YORK Group at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
C360R to add a new brand and car at Lime Rock!
2 May 2008 | C360R shops in Toronto, ON
The new ride for Karl and Travis being handcrafted by C360R's gurus!!
Our next KONI Challenge Series race (at Lime Rock) is rapidly approaching!
Not only does C360R have a debut of an additional driver pairing in Wilden and Willard, we also have a new car!
A Honda Civic Si sedan will be piloted by Karl and Travis from Lime Rock onwards.
Exciting times at C360R and in the KONI Challenge Series!
Posted by YORK Group at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
April 30, 2008
Kevin's teammate does well at Long Beach Grand Prix Time Attack!
Christian Miller, who co-drives the #75 C360R Acura TSX with Kevin, narrowly missed the top spot in class at last weekend's Time Attack at Long Beach. Held as part of the last-ever Champ Car race, the event was by invitation only and delighted the huge crowd at the famous street circuit.
Miller was on form with his 034 Motorsport Audi A4, and in the end was just 8/10th behind the class-leading Evasive Motors Mitsubisi Evo IX. Great job by Christian and his team at 034. Visit the 034 site for details on his ride.
Christian's 034 Audi used in Time Attack competition
Posted by YORK Group at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2008
And now, a word from our sponsor.
Posted by YORK Group at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2008
Welcome to C360R Jeremy and Kenny!
17 April 2008 | Toronto, Canada
After a very successful test at Lime Rock Park earlier this week, Compass360 Racing today announced that Kenny Wilden and Jeremy Willard have been signed to drive the team's #73 Acura TSX for the 2008 season. The car will feature sponsorship from Pure, a new player in the shampoo, hair care and body wash market.
Jeremy Willard (l) and Kenny Wilden (R) at the C360R shop.
The addition of Wilden and Willard brings yet another driver pairing capable of race-winning results to the C360R fold. "These guys are an amazing addition to our team," remarked Crew Chief Ray Lee. "We've got four cars that can run up front in every race, with drivers that can finish on the podium and battle for championships."
Wilden's experience is extensive: he recently drove with Mike Shank's DP team, along with a number of KONI Challenge GS and ST programs, notching solid results (usually top-five) along the way. Kenny won Firehawk and Players championships in 1992, and Motorola Cup in 1994, and was a fixture in Champ Car Atlantics, finishing second in the 1999 championship (again with Mike Shank).
Willard brings the focus of a pro to the table, having been Canadian Windsurfing Champion, and an internationally seeded competitor. "The drive and discipline that took Jeremy to championships on the water give him an advantage on the track," noted Wilden. "He's got amazing natural talent and a competitive instinct that will deliver results."
Willard and Wilden join 2007 KONI ST-class Champions Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood, along with 2007 ST runner-up Karl Thomson on the team. "We've got amazing talent in each of our four cars." said Thomson. "I've got Travis Walker, who was Inside Track's Up-and-coming Road Racer of the Year, as my co-driver. Plus, perennial podium-finisher Christian Miller is paired with former Speed Secrets coach Kevin York. Top that off with a high-profile sponsor for the new #73, and you know we are stoked!"
Willard and Wilden were equally excited . "The test went really well, and we were pleased with how fast we clicked with the guys," noted Willard. Added Wilden, "It went exactly as I had hoped and, frankly, expected it to. Ray and Karl have put together a great team."
Compass360 Racing is the motorsports division of Compass360 Design + Advertising, a firm offering branding expertise to clients in diverse industries around the globe. The team has competed in Grand American Road Racing since 2004. For details visit http://www.C360R.com or email racing at compass360 dot com.
Posted by YORK Group at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2008
Lime Rock Park
15 April | Lakeville, CT
*
Springtime testing by the C360R team will pay dividends at Lime Rock!
At the end of May - on Memorial Day weekend - we'll compete in the second round of the KONI Challenge Series at Lime Rock Park.
With fifty years of legacy, and not a single seat in the house, Lime Rock Park is unlike any other track in the world.
There is a reason Lime Rock Park has the word “Park” in its name, as over three hundred acres of natural Northwest Connecticut beauty surround the 1.53-mile track.
Petr, technician for C360R, works diligently at a recent test session.
* Track graphic and logo for reference only; courtesy Grand Am and Lime Rock Park
Posted by YORK Group at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2008
News "filtering" in from C360R!!
27 March 2008 | Riverside CA
Compass360 Racing and K&N Filters today released details of their partnership for the 2008 racing season. K&N, a leading provider of race and street filter systems, will join Honda of America and Skunk2 as team partners this year."We were looking for a partner that understood our market," explained James Yim, Business Manager at K&N. "Karl Thomson and the guys at Compass360 are in tune with the Street Tuner marketplace, and have competed successfully in Grand-Am for many seasons. They are an ideal fit for us."
K&N will provide technical development for the C360R team, highlighting the improvements they can make in air and oil filtering, while featuring the team's KONI Challenge cars in their advertising. An extensive, multimedia campaign is already underway, and includes ad placement in import tuner magazines like DSport, Sport Compact Car, Modified and others, as well as a number of on-line Tuner enthusiast publications.
"We've been using K&N products since I started racing," noted Team Principal Karl Thomson. "We're really excited to officially add another manufacturer of their calibre to our racing arsenal! From our early forays into club racing, we always used K&N products, and they definitely helped our performance. Now, as a professional championship-winning team, we're proud to make use of K&N's technical resources to help us keep ahead of the competition."
Look for Compass360's Acuras featured in K&N ads in current issues of DSport and Sport Compact Car!
Posted by YORK Group at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2008
Compass360 Races to Record Finish at Daytona
See detail on the Grand Am website here!
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
February 01, 2008
KONI Daytona race, Saturday on SPEED TV
Tune in to SPEED Channel this Saturday, February 2nd at 8:00pm (EST) to see the KONI Challenge race from Daytona. Our Acura TSXs finished third, sixth and ninth, and hopefully SPEED will cover Karl's dramatic first-corner, where he went from sixth place to second, as well as Travis' battle with Peter Cunningham (yes, THAT PD Cunningham) in the closing laps.
Posted by YORK Group at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
Thursday's day-end debrief
75 car after prep. by the C360R team - before qualifying.
After suffering and working through the frustrations of both practice sessions, the whole team of C360R sat down to discuss qualifying.
For our car (#75) it was decided that I would qualify - and thereby be the starting-driver for the race as Grand Am's rules dictate.
With fifty cars on-track, it was certain to be thrilling!!
With rain threatening - and indeed starting to fall near session's end - it was time to find a spot for a "clear lap" and go quickly.
Ultimately we qualified three point two seconds away from pole position. Our PR time of 2:12.582 finds us starting in the middle of the ST grid in twenty-seventh position.
One thing to remember as I prepare for rest tonite can be found in the words of Australian V8 SuperCar driver, Russell Ingall:
"I'm a racer, not a qualifier!" :-)
Cheers and goodnite - we'll update more later.
Tomorrow, we race!
Posted by YORK Group at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2008
Final preparations underway at C360R's shop!
#75 on the lift at the C360R shop. Final graphics and car prep. in full action. Friday, we race!
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2008
We're taking part in another type of race at Daytona too...
19 January 2008 | Daytona International Speedway
After our KONI Challenge Series race on Friday the 25th, join us the next morning, Saturday, January 26.
The 4th Annual Daytona 5K Run & Crocs Walk is where we'll be!
It's a unique opportunity to run/walk the historic Daytona International Speedway- it's not just for cars!
The 5K Run is a flat, certified course (#FL0505DL) and ChampionChip timed event.
We'll be there with some of the C360R crew and other friends and supporters.
Join us!
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2008
Up next! 2008 KONI - Fresh From Florida 200
*
As of 11 January 2008, ninety-five race cars are entered in round one of the KONI Challenge Series!
From the Daytona International Speedway's website:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2007) - "Fresh from Florida" will return as the title sponsor of the 2008 Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series at Daytona International Speedway, DIS officials announced today. The "Fresh from Florida 200 at Daytona" will run at "The World Center of Racing" on January 25, 2008 prior to the prestigious twice-around-the-clock 46th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 26-27.
"Fresh from Florida" is the logo of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' worldwide marketing campaign, a program that promotes Florida's 280 commercial crops to consumers throughout the United States and around the world.
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner, Charles Bronson says, "We couldn't be more excited about sponsoring this year's race at Daytona. Last year was a great success and it just makes good sense to build on what we've started."
"We're proud to have Fresh From Florida return as title sponsor for one of the most exciting weekends here at DIS," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "The Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Fresh From Florida 200 will offer fans some of the most competitive road-racing on the Grand-Am circuit."
The Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series is sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association, the premier road racing organization in North America.
Tickets for the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend are available online at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
*Photo courtesy DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com. For reference only.
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
KEVIN YORK ON PACE WITH NEW TEAM AT DAYTONA TESTING
Things went very well with our new team, Compass360/Racing! See entry here.
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2007
Welcome to my KONI Notes Blog
We'll be using this area of the 'site to keep readers up to date relative to the on-track and behind-the-scenes activity of the 2008 KONI Challenge Series.
As we progress through the year with our team, Compass360/Racing, we will take the time to provide our (sometimes uncensored) thoughts about the goings-on.
While it might sound trite, we're very excited to see what the ensuing season presents us.
Rest assured it will be competitive, educational, humbling perhaps - and fun!
Best,
Kevin York
Too, we'll be introducing a revolutionary way to update our blog verbally using SpinVox techology - stay tuned!
Full KONI Challenge Series schedule can be seen here:
http://www.grand-am.com/Events/Default.asp?SeriesID=18
Posted by YORK Group at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)