The Western Pennsylvania  R-Max Challenge

Results
Fast Time- Rick Buttle, Heat Winner - Rick Buttle, Final Finish - Chuck Kelly, J.J. Seiler, Gener Cunanan, Rick Buttle.

August 15, 2004

Chuck Kelly, of Murraysville, PA, capitalized on a driving error made by Jim Feniello, to win in the Rotax division at Beaverun on August 15.  This is Chuck's first feature win.  To keep the record straight, Chuck was the highest finisher with a Rotax engine. The Rotax karts run within the TAG class and are scored separately by B.R.E. for the BRE Rotax Championship series.
Jim Feniello (left) and Gener Cunanan (right) share the "podium" with Chuck Kelly.
 
 
 
 

Gener Cunanan competed in his first race in a Rotax powered kart on August 15.  Gener is from Annandale, Virginia and is taking advantage of the B.R.E. Arrive and Drive program.  (By the way, the events in October at Beaverun have not yet been booked for the arrive and drive as of 8-16.)

The point standings for the BRE Rotax Championship as of August 15, 2004 are as follows;
Jim Feniello 358, Chuck Kelly 234, Rick Buttle 190, Don Tharp 138, JJ Seiler 96, Dwight Kennedy 46, Gener Cunanan 46, Ron Yarab 42, Aaron Meister.

 Jim Feniello is also leading in the Official Western Pennsylvania RMAX series.  He will qualify for the Nationals in Las Vegas, but has reported that he will probably not attend the nationals.

B.R.E. Season Celebration Party    The B.R.E. First Annual Season Celebration party and Bench Racing Session, slated for Saturday Novembe 13 is coming together nicely.  B.R.E. has been activly soliciting door prize donations and so far at least three companies have stepped forward with contributions.  R.L.V. and Azusa Engineering have both contributed gift certificates.  R.L.V. is a leader in exhaust products for karting and supplies other items to the industry as well.  Azusa is one of the oldest and most established manufacturers of components in the sport.  Bender's Auto Service, in Beaver Falls will be coming forward with certificates that can be used for automotive service.  Anyone who would like to make a contribution should contact Mark Bergfelt @ (724) 847-3677, or mark@bergfeltracing.com
Tickets for the Party are $25 per person and will be available soon.
 

Aaron Meister, of Youngstown, Ohio is showing off his brand new Rotax powered CRG Rebel.  Aaron made his debut on July 11.

Dwight Kennedy from Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania made his first trip to Beaverun with his Rotax powered kart on July 11.

JJ Seiler Competed in his first Rotax Race on June 27 at Beaverun.  JJ was on board his brand new CRG Kali chassis.  We took his picture but as they say  #%&% happens.  We'll get a picture the next time we see him at the track.
 

Thursday, June 24

The Western Pennsylvania Unlimited All-Stars/Rotax Max and Friends of Bergfelt Racing Enterprises first annual Party and awards banquet is coming together nicely.  It will take place on Saturday, November 13.  We have secured the banquet hall at Mount Olive Lutheran Church  in Chippewa, Pennsylvania.  There will be a hot buffet, beer and pop will be included, and anything else that you would like is BYOB.  We are in the process of lining up a DJ...
    The banquet is open to any kart racing enthusiast in the area.  Call 724-847-3677  or email; info@bergfeltracing.com for more information.
     If you would like to contribute door prizes or know someone who would, please let us know.  We will give them all of the publicity that we can.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Rick Buttle (left) and Chuck Kelly (right) pose with Jim Finello in the winner's circle at Beaverun.  The feature race winner's placque was presented by B.R.E. Small Engines.
 

It was all Jim finello for Race #2 or the Western Pennsylvania R-Max Series (Race #4 for the BRE Rotax Series).  Not only did he finish ahead of all of the other Rotax competitors, he finished first overall in TAG as well.  B.R.E. Rotax Points; Fienello 154, Rick Buttle 142, Don Tharp 94, Chuck Kelly 92.

We will be soon welcoming two more Rotax competitors, Joe Seiler and Aaron Meister in the very near future.

Sunday May 30, 2004

Although the races this day were not part of the Western Pennsylvania R-Max Series, they did count toward the B.R.E. Small Engines Rotax Championship Sereis.  This series includes all of the TAG races at Beaverun for competitors with Rotax engines, including the official R-Max Series races.
  Chuck Kelly, of Murrysville, Pennsylvania, made his Rotax debut.

Rotax driver Rick Buttle leads a pack of TAG karts.
 
 
 

The TAG field lining up.  See anyone that you know?
 
 
 

The Beaverun front straight.
 
 
 

Rotax Driver, Don Tharp, of Hudson, Ohio, blasting down the front straight.

Don't be fooled by the humble appearance of this trailer. It will be found at all of the Rotax races at Beaverun, and all of the Pennsylvania Unlimited All-Stars races.  It serves as a remote headquarters for these two series, and with-in this trailer, B.R.E. strives to keep on hand whatever the racer needs in parts and service, to keep his/her kart on the track.  B.R.E. is proud of over 32 years of karting experience.
This full service kart and small engine shop is only about 7 miles from Beaverun.

Sunday, May 16, 2004

     The chase for the 2004 Western Pennsylvania R-Max challenge is now under way.  Atmospheric conditions were right for good performance at Beaverun on May 16.  The day started off on the cool side, and became very comfortable by the afternoon.  Lap times of most competitors improved as the day wore on.  Presently, there are not enough Rotax competitors at Beaverun to warrent a separate sessions on the track on race day, so the Rotax class is presently combined with TAG and ICA.  The track scores ICA and TAG separately.  The Rotax competitors must register with Mark Bergfelt, of B.R.E. Small Engines, to earn points in the Rotax divisions.  Pennsylvania Rotaxians who are registered with R-Max, through rmaxchallenge.com, will earn points to qualify for the R-Max Nationals to be held this fall in Las Vegas.  Six Beaverun race dates have been designated Western Pennsylvania R-Max Challenge events.  Those competitors who are not registered with Rotax at the national level may still compete in these events, and the other Beaverun sprint series events, to earn points toward the B.R.E. Small Engines W. PA. Rotax championship.   This is in addition to the points that they earn at the track toward the TAG championship.  SSC Northeast has commited to help with awards for this local Rotax championship.  Other contributors are presently being sought.  Bergfelt Racing Enterprises is currently seeking a location to hold a banquet for the Western Pennsylvania Rotaxians and also the Western Pennsylvanai Unlimited All-Stars.  The Unlimited All-Stars has been in existance and under the direction of Bergfelt Racing Enterprises for over 14 years.  Teresa Bergfelt is in charge of planning the event and has put together FUN events in the past.  This promises to be no different.

Three competitors signed up to compete in the Rotax division on May 16.  Jim Feniello (4) looked to be the man to beat for the day, early on, as he won both of the preliminary heat races.  This earned him the highest overall Rotax starting spot for the Final.  Rick Buttle put on a mid race charge to take over the Rotax lead from Jim.  Rick powered on to take the checkers first.  Following the front pair was Don Tharp (3) in his Rotax karting debut.

Jim Feniello is the only one of the drivers who is registered at the national level, so he is presently leading in the chase to qualify for the Nationals.

In the local, Bergfelt Racing Enterprises, Western Pennsylvania Rotax Championship, Buttle and Feniello are tied for the lead, Buttle got 50 points for his finish in the final, Finello got 48 points for the final but his two preliminary wins earned him two additional points.   The Unlimited All-Stars point system has been adopted for the Rotax series as well.  Don Tharp is second with 46 points.