STRATOTECH BECOMES POPULAR PARK FOR RACERS

JOHN KOROBANIK, Journal Sports Writer EDMONTON

Like any sport, the cost of karting depends on the individual. Stefan Rzadzinski says its depends on what you're driving and where you're racing.

"You can buy a used Honda four-stroke equipment for $1,500 and go racing. Or you could go into the DD2 class, which is 125-centimetre, two-speed karts, a huge class at Stratotech. There you can get fully outfitted in their program, you don't have to work on the karts, they do all that for you, and it's $11,000. Then there are travel expenses."

Rzadzinski began his karting in Warburg, but now races out of Stratotech. Google Karting Edmonton and you'll get a lot of links to recreational go-karts and a few to top international tracks around the world. But the main one in Edmonton is Stra-totech Park, off the Manning Freeway near Fort Saskatchewan. Built by owner Dan Beith, Stratotech has a 1,782-metre asphalt track, 500-seat grandstand and a fully-furnished garage. The racing dub there, Wild Rose Karters Association, doubled its membership its first year and continues to grow, now including a 35-and-over age class.

This year the club awarded $1,000 each to help cover expenses for Rzadzinski, Sean MacDonell, the senior Rok champion who is also going to Italy and Las Vegas, and Chris Beith, the Rotax champion headed for Dubai.

jkorobanik@thejournal.canwest.com