Thanks to all who helped make our Event a success!

  The 4th Annual Memorial Go-Kart Event, which took place on September 10th at Slinger Super Speedway, was an outstanding experience for participants, spectators and families. Many members of our community united to make the event possible and to develop this unique opportunity. This year’s event included an evening of go-kart racing in 4 age groups, a wonderful Memorial Tribute Center, our traditional “Balloons to Heaven” at intermission, Silent Auction and raffles. A trophy presentation and music by DJ Steve Hanke concluded the evening.
  The Memorial Go-Kart Event provided youth with a positive, long-term educational experience, a team oriented opportunity and an exciting racing venture. Additionally, the event supported families who have experienced the loss of a child. It brought community members together to share and enjoy a family-oriented evening. Over 600 spectators attended this year’s event at Slinger Super Speedway. More than 70 youth, ages 10-18, participated on 17 teams and competed for racing championships in the 4 age divisions. We would like to thank all those that made this great opportunity possible.
     Memorial Go-Kart Inc. is the non-profit organization that planned and implemented the event. We would like to express deep appreciation to the dedicated members of Memorial Go-Kart Inc. that helped throughout the year to create this great opportunity and our racing season. The following committee members dedicated their time and talents to our event and racing season; Lisa Anderson, Juli Benedum, Teri Chatham, Mike Egan, Duane Farrand, Carol Garcia, Randy Gindt, Mike Held, Ron Hefter, Dan Jung, Ken and Betsy Klumb, Matt Kuehn, Jerry Neary, Tracy Oestreich, Bill Ostevich, Barb Peutz, Tom Schley, Dale Schmidt, Jeff Schwitz, Mark and Mary Wudtke, Mike and Jackie Wiedmeyer, Caroline and Jerry Wilkes and Cindy Zielinski.
     The Slinger Super Speedway donated their venue and was again one of the sponsors for this year’s event. We would like to thank all the Speedway staff and especially Wayne Erickson and Todd Thelen. Other event and racing season sponsors included: Allenton Area Advancement, Allenton Service, Association, Associated Bank, H&R Block, Habush, Habush and Rottier, Hartley Family Dentistry, HRF Electric, Lee Jeans, Luedtke and Associates, Netwurx, Russ Darrow Group, Slinger/Allenton Rotary, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company and Woodlands Senior Park. Their continued support is deeply appreciated and has helped this opportunity grow.
    The announcers kept our attention throughout the evening and made the evening exciting. Thanks to Mike Wiedemeyer, Jeff Schwitz and Mark Puetz for lending their voice. Thank you to Steve Hanke for donating DJ services and Cost Cutters of West Bend for putting lots of color in the event with hair painting services.
     Each go-kart team had a sponsor that also provided financial support to the team. I want to thank Allenton Lions Club, Allenton Area Advancement Association, Dale Anderson Masonry, Bonafide Security Solutions, Crystal Lake Landscaping, Custom Fleet Maintenance, Damage Inc., Emily’s Restaurant, Engineered Metal Products, Grafton Transit, Keith Meinhardt Racing, Ken and Betsy Klumb, Laserworks, Netwurx, Roskopf Towing, Sonya’s Rose, Tom Schley Subcontractors, Dale and Jill Schmidt, Paul Steinbach Construction, Wiedmeyer Express, Weld-Fab, Westbury Bank, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, Wilkes Plumbing and Wisconsin Johnson Racing for sponsoring go-kart teams. The team mentors and owners played a very active role in the construction and repair process of the go-karts throughout the year. Additionally, they developed positive relationships, and mentored the youth on each team. Thank you, Steve Apel, Kyle Bitante, John Daley, Joe Destefano, Mike Egan, Duane Farrand, Ryan Farrell, Randy Gindt, Craig Grudzinski, Chris Grudzinski, Art Hahn, Mike Held, John Heinen, Don and Karen Herman, Tommy Hromadka, Steve Johnson, Dan Jung, Tim Keith, Brad Keith, Mark Kissinger, Mark (Curly) Kissinger Jr.,  Austin Luedtke, Pete Maher, Dennis Prunty, Dale Prunty, Scott Schultz, Pete Wiedmeyer, Jerry Wilkes and Mark Wudtke for being great role models for the youth of our community. The start of each race was enhanced by a pace go-kart which ensured a safe commencement for the youth drivers in each race. We want to thank our pace kart drivers for guiding the go-kart teams safely to the track.
     An event of this magnitude could not have come together without the financial support and contribution of services from members of our community. We want to thank the following individuals and businesses for their contribution and assistance to ensure that we had a great event and racing season: 92.5 FM WBWI / AM 1470 WBKV, Able Distributing, Aiden O’Reiley’s Pub and Grill, Allenton Service, Sam Barbercheck, Bentfield Photography, Beverly Hills Nails, Bonafide Security Solutions, Jack Broas, C & R Ace Hardware, Carpenter Technologies, Cost Cutters of West Bend, Custom Aire, D & N Screen Printing, Dale Anderson Masonry, First Supply, Bob Fish, Green Bay Packers, Jen Hardy, Hartford Explorers, Held Auto Body, Heros Subs, Joe’s Slinger Service, Just Sew Sports, Dave Kedinger, Kettle Moraine Bowl, Ken and Betsy Klumb, Kohler Company, Mark Kissinger and The Driver’s Meeting Radio Show, Kruepke Printing, Krueger Custom Homes, Lifestar Ambulance Service, Little Red Inn, Mike’s Motorsports, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Mineshaft, Our Place, Misty Oelhafen, Plaques Plus, Bryan Pitrof, Richfield Service, Ricoh Business Solutions, Romies BP, Rummel Chiropractic, Russ Darrow Group, Silver Dollar Inn, Slinger Village Beverage, Slinger Fire Department, Smiley’s BP, Schaefer’s Service Station, Adam Schweitzer, Tally Ho Tavern, Technology USA, Wegner’s Cedar Lake Inn, West Bend Mutual Charitable fund, West Bend Mutual Employees, Wilkes Plumbing, Brock Wudtke, and Woodlands Senior Park.
     Volunteers were an essential component of this event. We live in a community that is enhanced and strengthened through volunteerism. We want to thank the numerous volunteers that assisted in many ways to ensure that the Memorial Go-Kart Event was a fun, yet safe event.
     The proceeds from the racing season and event will again be dedicated to the Memorial Go-Kart Scholarship which is given to local high school seniors. Our 2011 Scholarship recipients Troy Kuhn, Zach Schenk and Brock Wudtke started this year’ s race in the traditional manner. Through the support of this great community we were able to make a difference in the lives of many individuals and develop a great community event.

Thank you to all that contributed to our success.

Kathy Fies
Memorial Go-Kart Inc.
President