01/11/2002
CHAMPIONS
OF LIKA
by J.A. Ackley
Felicia Leon
2001 LIKA Senior Novice Champion
Before this year, Felicia Leon never stepped into a kart before. However, after this year, Felicia would find herself and her
Keller Motorsports kart atop the LIKA totem pole, as she would be crowned 2001
LIKA Senior Novice Champion.
As a characteristic with most champions, Felicia would have to overcome
adversity to meet her goal of championship gold.
One of her shining moments would come when she would start from the
back of the field and battle her way to the win.
One of her favorite racers to watch would be none other than her own
mother, Marie Leon. “I look up to my mom, because
she is the only other girl racer I know that races road courses,” Felicia
commented.
However, females in racing is not a total rarity, and in fact in recent
years has become a more common occurrence with Shawna Robinson and Patty Moise
in the 90’s providing inspiration for many females around the country to
participate along with their male brethren in racing.
In addition to her sponsor of Keller Motorsports, Felicia would like to
thank “My mom (Marie Leon), Rick Keller, Mark [Rignola], and my competitors."
In 2002, Felicia Leon will have a lot on her plate for the upcoming
racing season. “I am going to
race Senior Sportsman and also race in the new Rotax Junior class. We are
[also] going to travel around to other racetracks for some races also,”
Felicia remarked.
Felicia Leon has accomplished quite a bit in a very short time frame,
and should be one to watch next season with her new ventures into racing.
Jesse Falco
2001 LIKA 2-cycle Junior I Champion, 2001 Long Island
Championship Series 2-cycle Junior I Champion…
Jesse Falco, at the age of 11, is already an auto racing veteran,
racing since 1998. Many of
today’s successful up and coming racers started out just as Jesse did, by
learning the ropes at a very young age in a go-kart.
Jesse Falco and his Keller Motorsports/Woltjter Racing Engines entry
2001 championship didn’t come easy as there were many hard fought battles. One of Jesse’s memorable moments was “Just having to try
so hard” in the Long Island Championship Series.
Jesse Falco and fellow competitor Matthew Lee would put on quite a show
in the second round of the Long Island Championship Series, as the two would
battle it out down to the last lap, with Jesse edging out Lee at the checkers.
Jesse’s inspiration for racing isn’t a mystery as it’s his father
Frank, a former go-karter and current LIKA official.
“[I always looked up to] my dad, because I always wanted to race like
him and win like him.”
Jesse would like to thank “Rick Keller, Woljter Racing Engines, and
my dad for working on the kart and showing me how it works.”
Jesse’s 2002 plans is to defend his 2001 LIKA 2-cycle Junior I title
where if the past is any indication of the future, Jesse and his competitors
will provide a show to watch once again in 2002.
Jim Tears
2001 LIKA Senior Sportsman Champion, 2001 Long Island
Championship Series Senior Sportsman Champion…
Jim Tears is a reminder to the general populous that karts aren’t for
kids only, as this lets say, older gentleman has been involved in racing since
the 1970’s, beginning his racing career in the ranks of the SCCA at the now
defunct Bridgehampton. Tears
along with other older racers such as Frank Falco, Rick Keller, Marie Leon,
and many others, create an interesting scene, as youth and age are together,
both having fun and teaching each other along the way.
In addition, many of these aforementioned drivers have sons and
daughters racing as well, creating an environment well suited very well for
the family.
Jim Tears started in kart racing two and a half years ago, after a big
wreck at Lime Rock in SCCA competition totaled his kart.
While searching for a new racer, Tears looked for a cheaper
alternative, to continue to have fun, and be competitive at the same time.
This cheaper alternative was kart racing and ever since, he’s been
turning left and right on the sprint track of Westhampton.
In 2001, Jim Tears appeared to get a grip on the tricky Westhampton
circuit, as he took down the 2001 championship in he Senior Sportsman class.
Although competition died out at the end of the season, Jim still
earned his trophy, as his dedication to the sport throughout the years and
close calls to a trophy in the past all adds up to deserving the Senior
Sportsman Champion title.
Jim Tears would like to thanks Keller’s Motorsports for their help,
assistance, and advice which contributed to his 2001 success.
“Rick really is one who’s always willing to provide help to any
racer,” Jim commented, “he’s helped many novices especially with
entering the sport and showing them the ropes.”
For 2002, Jim Tears is going to defend his 2001 Senior Sportsman crown
and will have some competition moving up from the Senior Novice ranks. The 2002 battle for the championship gold and glory should be
an interesting one and expect Jim Tears to be in the thick of it once again.
Bill Valet
2001 LIKA 80cc Shifter Co-Champion, 2001 Long Island
Championship Series 80cc Shifter Champion…
Bill Valet is a 7-year racing veteran, and he has yet to even graduate
high school. Bill Valet and his
family owned and operated team would go head to head with fellow competitor
Keith Rotzi race in and race out. However,
with the heated battles the two would encounter, many would expect a bitter
rivalry between them but they remain close friends as is attributed by
Bill reflecting on one of his memorable moments of 2001.
“[My] most memorable moment of 2001 was
with about 2 races to go. I
seized my motor, and my competitors; Keith Rotzi and Eddie Ortiz both came
over and helped me rebuild my motor for the next heat. If they didn't Keith
could have won the Long Island championship and the club year-end
championship. I really appreciate them for helping me out,” Bill
commented.
Bill Valet would like to thank his dad, Rick Keller, and the Rotzi
family for his success in the 2001 season.
For 2002, Bill plans on racing icc or 125 moto, but his season will be
cut short due to attending his first year of college.
Either way, if 2001 is any indication of what’s in store for next
year, Bill will be sure to make an impact once again, even with his
abbreviated schedule.
Keith Rotzi
2001 LIKA 80cc Shifter Co-Champion
Keith Rotzi and his #2ny PHR Construction/Fun Wheels entry would do
battle with his friend and rival Bill Valet throughout the 2001 season. However, these two seasoned veterans neck and neck battle
would result in a tie at the end of the year, thus the two would become 2001
LIKA 80cc Shifter co-champions.
Keith’s most memorable moment was the race where he, his brother and
Bill Valet would did battle. “Me
and my friend Bill [Valet] had a battle to the end and with me and my brother
going at it also,” Keith commented, “Bill did win but not by much.”
Keith would like to thank his mom, his dad, his brother, Bill Valet,
Rick Keller, and the Fun Wheels Racing team for their support in his
successful 2001 campaign.
For 2002, Keith Rotzi plans on moving up to the stock car ranks at
Riverhead Raceway to run a team car to his father Peter in the Late Model
division. Along with his Late
Model campaign, Keith plans to run a limited schedule once again in the
go-kart ranks as well. The jump
from the go-kart to the Late Model may be a steep one, but Keith Rotzi’s
talent should shine through once he learns the ropes of stock car competition.
Mark Rignola
2001 LIKA Rotax Champion, 2001 Long Island Championship
Series Rotax Champion…
Mark Rignola came into 2001 on a mission to turn his life around.
After some problems in 2000, Mark lost his desire to race, and was
going to hang up his helmet and park his kart for good.
However, in January of 2001 Mark unexpectedly got the racing bug once
again and started working on the kart, on a mission to turn his ways around.
Quite a few had their doubts, but Mark was on a mission to turn his
life around.
Mark Rignola and his #27 Keller’s Motorsports entry would go farther
than anyone else would think. Mark’s
hard work and dedication paid off, as he would win countless times in LIKA.
In late October, Mark’s life would come full circle as he would
clinch the 2001 LIKA Rotax Championship on the same day he won the Long Island
Championship Series championship as well.
At the end of the season, Mark Rignola would travel out to Las Vegas
for the Rotax Max Challenge Nationals and would finish 5th to cap off a year
to remember.
One of his favorite drivers is Mark Martin, driver of the #6 Pfizer
Ford on the Winston Cup circuit. “I
really respect Mark Martin,” Mark commented, “He’s someone I always
looked up to.”
However, maybe Mark Rignola saw a little of himself in Martin as well.
Martin had many personal problems during his career but turned himself
around and became on of the leading racers in the country.
Rignola in addition to becoming focused on racing, has quit smoking,
quit associating with friends who were probably not the best to be around
with, and taken up a fitness regime, all of which Mark Martin did to turn his
life around as well.
Mark Rignola has a lot to be thankful for and would like to thank those
that helped him achieve his success, including his mother, his girlfriend, his
father’s fiancé, Marie Leon, Felicia Leon, and perhaps the two that helped
fuel his 2001 campaign the most, Rick Keller and his father Mark Sr.
“[Rick and my father] are two most important people and kept me
going,” Mark commented, “especially my father, for I can trust him so much
in racing.”
Mark’s 2002 plans are to race in the National circuit in the Rotax
karts, and possibly move up to shifters.
However, Mark has really only one goal in 2002, and he said it best,
“[My goal] is to just to move forward.”
This past year, Mark Rignola has proven through confidence and
determination, you can rise to rise to the top, and through the aforementioned
attributes, it will assuredly take him to whatever and wherever he wants in
2002 and the future.
Other Notables
Wes Henderson
2001 LIKA Junior Sportsman Champion, 2001 Long Island
Championship Series Junior Sportsman Champion…
Wes Henderson began his karting career in SCCA Solo II
ranks in 1999, but recently ventured over to the permanent road course
facility of Westhampton for LIKA. Wes’
Empire Ventilation Equipment Co./Back Bay Motorsports backed Team Cobra
Motorsports racer would be a force to be reckoned with in Junior Sportsman
competition, but it didn’t come easy, as many troubles were overcome during
the season.
One of those trying moments would be one of Wes’ memorable moments,
“[One of] my most memorable moments would be in
the LIC (Long Island Championship Series), was seizing a clutch in practice
and having to get a new clutch and set it up and still did good in the
race.”
Wes’ would like to thank the following for his 2001 success, “I
definitely want to thank my mom and dad for letting me go racing in the first
place,” Wes commented, “I would also like to thank my two sponsors (Empire
Ventilation Equipment Co. and Back Bay Motorsports) and both series organizers
(LIKA and LICS).”
When Wes was asked about his favorite racer, Wes didn’t hesitate one
bit on who it was, “Definitely Andy Lally!! In a way he started me in kart racing. He gave me my first kart chassis and parts,” Wes remarked,
“Andy started racing karts here on Long Island and worked his way up the
ladder into the pros.
In 2002, Wes Henderson is planning on repeating his success and plans
to defend his Junior Sportsman Championship.
In addition, he is contemplating about trying another division in
another organization as well as a move into the new Junior Rotax division. Whichever path Wes will chose in 2002, be sure to remember
his name, as it is certain you’ll be hearing it once again in the future.
Kyle Harvell
2001 Long Island Championship Series Medium Champion…
Kyle Harvell and his Fragalla Sign Corp./P&P Speed Shop/Seigler
Motorsports entry would have to work hard overcome adversity to win the Long
Island Championship honors.
An example of this would be in the second race of the series, as Kyle
would come from the back after a penalty to the front to go on to take down
the win. Kyle’s never die
attitude would take him to victory at the end of the series, as he would be
crowned 2001 Long Island Championship Series Medium Champion.
A racer Kyle looks up to is 2001 Busch Series champion, and #29 Winston
Cup driver, Kevin Harvick. “[My
favorite racer is] Kevin Harvick, because he stepped it up this year in Winston Cup and I
kind of did the same moving into Medium,” Kyle Harvell comments but quickly
adds, “and we both had great success.”
Kyle Harvell would like to thank a couple people who helped him
contribute to his 2001 success, “Chris from Fragalla for putting new decals
on the karts almost every week, but most of all my dad for the countless
nights outside working on the karts and thinking of how to go faster.”
For 2002, Kyle will be looking to continue his success by running in
the North East Pavement Divisionals, possibly a couple of nationals, and in
his travels every weekend.
Luke Ferland
2001 Long Island Championship Series Senior Champ
Champion…
Luke Ferland began racing in 1998, in the Junior Champ class of LIKA
and EKRA. Last season Luke took
down Junior Champ Championship honors at LIKA and this year, in the Ferland
Racing entry, Luke would claim the title of champion of the Long Island
Championship Series.
Luke’s favorite racer and influence is the late Dale Earnhardt, who
drove the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet and was respected by all and feared by
many on the track. “Dale
Earnhardt Sr. was and still is my favorite racecar driver,” Luke commented,
“[he’s my favorite because of] his racing style and attitude.”
As with any great success in racing, the driver has quite a few to
thank, as it’s a sport of teamwork and camaraderie in the pits.
With his family-owned and operated team, Luke would like to thank his
mom and his dad, along with engine builder Billy Fischer.
In 2002, Luke Ferland will be moving into the stock car ranks of
Riverhead Raceway in the Super Pro Truck division with a truck built by LMS
Engineering and engines provided by Billy Fischer.
“We are hoping to do good in that and we
are looking for a sponsor,” Luke commented.
Luke Ferland will not be the only rookie in the Super Pro Trucks next
year, as Troy Ferdinando, Dan Grennan, Mike Jurkowski, former kart racer Frank
Dumicich, Jr., along with many other newcomers will be trying to make a name
for themselves in this booming division.
If the past is any indicator, Luke Ferland should have no problem
making a name for himself in his new division once again.
Sources:
J.A. Ackley/LongIslandJam.com
Posted: January 11, 2002
