JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While many teams around the country have already begun preparations for Daytona KartWeek Dec. 27-30 at Daytona International Speedway, the World Karting Association has one more race before its annual three-ring holiday classic for dirt, sprint and road racers, coming with this weekend’s Vega Tire Gold Cup Series presented by Summit Racing Equipment season closer at 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville.
A strong crowd of 4-cycle sprint racers is expected for the Gold Cup Grand National. WKA reported 180 race entries had been collected by the close of pre-registration Sunday night, easily surpassing total entry numbers at each of the series’ opening rounds at Charlotte in June and Barnesville, Ga., in September.
The 206 Senior 360# led the way with just shy of 20 pre-entrants and double-digit fields were also shaping up for nearly every LO206 division among the cadets, juniors, seniors and masters categories.
Vintage Briggs Stock Medium and Heavy divisions are also on the card and WKA has added a Comer Kid Kart class.
For possibly the first time in the organization’s history, WKA will run 103rd Street’s 0.7-mile course in the reverse clockwise direction with the chicane, located at what’s normally the end of the 1,000’ straightaway. All other touring series that have visited 103rd Street in recent decades have run the course in its traditional counter-clockwise direction with the exception of CKNA, which ran the reverse course with chicane in January at their inaugural Winter Nationals.
Racers will have the chance to run for at least two Grand National trophies between Saturday and Sunday’s programs. Each day will consist of a morning practice, qualifying round, pre-final and final for all divisions. Five rounds of practice are scheduled for Friday.
Click here to view the WKA Jacksonville timeline.
To view the series page with class rules and more, go to worldkarting.com/series/gold-cup.
Walk-up entries are welcomed beginning Friday morning.
Kart Lounge will be in attendance to cover all of this weekend’s WKA Jacksonville action! Below is this weekend’s schedule.
Jacksonville Gold Cup Info:
Thursday Nov. 3 (Overnite Camping Begins)
2:00pm to 7:00pm Arm Band Sales
2:00pm to 8:00pm Event Parking and Move In
Anyone coming after 8:00 can enter and park you must text with your name to 609-326-3741 the day of and you must get your arm band first thing Friday morning.
Friday Nov. 4 (Everyone must have an arm band or you wont be admitted)
7:00am Arm Band Sales
7:30am Event Parking and Move In
7:30am to 5:00pm Registration and WKA Purchased Tire Pick Up
7:30am Tech Opens
10:00am to 5:00pm Tire Scanning
9:30am Practice Begins
Saturday Nov. 5 (Everyone must have an arm band or you wont be admitted)
7:00am Arm Band Sales
7:15am Registration and WKA Purchased Tire Pickup
7:15am Tire Scanning Opens & Helmet Inspection in Tech
8:00am Practice, Qualifying, Pre Final, Finals and Podiums
Sunday Nov. 6 (Everyone must have an arm band or you wont be admitted) No Overnite Camping
7:00am Arm Band Sales
7:15am Registration
7:15am Tire Scanning Opens & Helmet Inspection in Tech
8:00am Practice, Qualifying, Pre Final, Finals and Podiums
Fuel Stop
Circle K
8820 W 103rd Street
Jacksonville, FL 32210
Event Arm Bands $40.00 (Cash Only, No Checks)
Walkup Entries Open Friday Morning (Cash or Credit Card, No Checks)
