Why J1 Speed Series

     The goal of J1 Speed is to create a safe working environment specifically for younger drivers and to support parents and teams to develop their drivers’ talents.  This series is a safe haven for competitive spirit devoid of excessive cost and the unhealthy and unacceptable unsportsmanlike conduct exhibited by both drivers and parents. Because we all recognize that costs need to be controlled at this level of racing, J1 Speed Series intends to remove the perceived edge of excessive wallet size or trick tuning secrets.  Rules and programs are designed to alleviate those problems that previously have been allowed to spiral out of control.  The development of young drivers more quickly and safely resulting in a level playing field is our goal.  Although one of the glaring realities of Motorsports is that cash is king and more dollars yields more success, it is our philosophy that excessive spending is neither required nor encouraged in the J1 Speed Junior Series.  By providing this “level” playing field, those youngsters with the greatest God given ability will eventually rise to the top.  J1 Speed feels seat time and close competition is the formula not only for having the most fun, but also the safest and quickest development of our youngsters.

     Practice, Practice, Practice…..Seat time is the key.  Turning lap after lap with seasoned drivers who create a fertile environment for our newer and less experienced younger drivers to pick up on the skills to be fast and competent.  Increased track time with this type of talent is the key.  Teams and drivers will better hone their skills and ultimately raising the bar not only for themselves, but also for the entire series.  Over time, it is our goal that all these young drivers will be able to compete safely and successfully at any level of karting and beyond.

     As drivers develop and graduate up through the J1 Speed Ladder based on experience and age, they will have developed the necessary skills, habits, and connections to make the move to advanced Motorsports.  When drivers turn 16, we want to be able to hand them over with recommendation to the IRL Development Series, Formula Programs, SCCA, ARCA, ASA, USAC, and NASCAR or whatever their driving aspirations are.  We want our graduates to be the best they can be, both mentally and physically, and be prepared to accept success, failures, and all that lies in between graciously and professionally.  We want our graduates to move on having developed the Winners Edge Mentality and a work ethic that is second to none.  Hard nosed yet compassionate, and a consummate professional both on and off the track.  A role model for other kids coming behind them chasing the same dream.  Just imagine 10 years down the road, clean cut, well spoken, highly talented J1 Speed Graduates conspicuous at the front of every major racing series across the country.  This dream can be a reality! 

     In the end, will we produce Professional Drivers?  We believe that answer is "Yes".  But, we promise you; every participant that succeeds in this series is a Winner!  They will have been exposed to the basic habits and principles of success that they will draw from as they move on in their careers, businesses, churches, and their families.  A blueprint for success, downloaded through association and organization, and perfected on the platform of Racing……..who would of thought!

For a more detailed explanation of why J1 Speed Developmental Series was created, see below for the full story.  

We look forward to working with all of you and having your support as we develop and fine-tune the best Juniors Drivers in the United States.

Thank You, 

J1 Speed Founders 

Chuck Maranto & Anthony Levy

Full Story Below

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The Full Story

or

Everything you thought Karting was supposed to be, but you were afraid to speak up

  Where did the concept of J1 Speed come from?

This is a tough question to answer, politically correct anyways.  So I think we will start with the truth.

History:

     When the Levy family first purchased a kid kart and entered the sport of Karting in 2001, there was no informational red carpet, so to speak, to be rolled out.  No support system, no network of people who really cared.  Don’t get me wrong, some did help, but for the most part people just ignored us along with several other families that started at the same time.  As I look back at those early days, not only do I consider this to be a gross negligence on the part of the club, but also a terrible shame and an unacceptable mistake.  Because of this lack of structure, these same parents formed a club within a club of just Kid Karts. This group practiced, talked, shared, and traveled together with the intent of having fun, developing their drivers, and solidifying a bond/team that all new comers were welcomed, helping make the transition into karting less painful.  This led to the development of extensive rules and a well-organized program.  These efforts eventually grew into a program unique within the karting community consisting of 2 classes of Kid Karts.  Within a year it became the largest Kid Kart program in the country with attendance of some 30 entrants per week and growing.       

     Growing from the success of our Kid Kart program in 2002, running under the banner of Chainbreakers Kart Club, we expanded this thought process into the Junior 1 classes as well as the Kid Karts in 2003.  I will not go into the reasons for the eventual meltdown of the program and our club, however I will say it was not from within, and before its end it was working and in a big way!  So left with few choices or places to run, we decided to look into the development of a specific series for young drivers. 

The Idea!

     The idea for the J1 Speed Series came when I was near a baseball & softball complex.  On one side were about 10 fields of adults playing softball and having a blast.  On the other side was about 15 diamonds of nothing but little league teams.  As I watched them I couldn’t help but notice that the adults had little instruction, few fundamentals, limited spectators, and were there to have a good time, and most definitely not there to improve their game. 

     On the other side were the little league teams.  As I watched, I saw coaches coaching in the dugouts, on the fields, and just about everywhere there was grass.  Stands were packed with cheering fans, and the players & non-players grabbing at every little tip and instruction from their coaches.  They hung on their every word, these kids truly wanted to learn. 

     Did those little leaguers think they were going to the Majors?  You bet they did!  When I was that age, that’s all I wanted to do; play Pro Ball of any kind and most kids were like me, Kids want to play in the NFL, NBA, Majors, etc etc.  We worked our butts off learning the correct fundamentals, the plays, the rules, and the little ins and outs the game threw at us!  Regardless of the sport, we worked, learned, played hard, and did more of the same as soon as we got home and rounded up the neighborhood players.  24/7 if our parents would have let us play ball  Remember the many situations:  5,4,3,2,1 shot is off.......SWISH,,,  Boston Wins!  Last play of the Super Bowl, QB from the shotgun, throws to the end zone.........he drags his feet........TOUCHDOWN!  We all dreamed of making it someday, and we really believed we could.  And I bet you were no different.

     I remember those thousands of pickup games and organized games like it was yesterday, you parents probably can to.  But what I never remember was any coach or adult in any sport ever tell me that I could not make it to the Pros.  I never remember any coach telling me that I had a one in a million chance of making it so I need to stop dreaming and face reality.  Never!  What I do remember is my coaches telling me that if I worked hard in practice and at home, if I kept a good attitude, if I kept my grades up, listened to my parents, and, with a little luck, I could get a chance!  As I got older and moved into school sports my coaches told us that we could get scholarships and play college sports and even maybe the Pros if.......we work hard, practice hard, think right, eat right, lift weights, learn our assignments, make the grades, don't be a jerk in class, and carry our selves as Champions.  They said we must train first in order to earn the opportunity, and then be ready when the opportunities present themselves.  My High School football coach, the Great Dick Dullaghan, always said to us, Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness!  And that Success is a by-product of doing things right, the first time!  What we all learned was Success Principles that we carry as tools later on in life.  Funny thing, we didn’t learn this in class or home, instead it was learned in little league, school sports, band, and other extracurricular activities such as Karting. 

     As I sat there I got it!  J1 Speed Series needed to be Junior’s only.  Why?  As I sat there looking at the 2 different sets of diamonds I started seeing the different grids and races on race day.  The softball diamonds, loaded with adult players, having a beer, pursuing their hobby, and having a great time.  Very cool!  But by no means, in anyway shape or form was there one future major league baseball player out there on those fields.  Not one diamond in the rough, not one player actively pursuing his dream of playing in the majors.

     Now on the other set of diamonds were the little league baseball players.  Bubbling with enthusiasm and spilling over with the dreams of playing in the BIGs!  Diving head first in the dirt, standing glove open without hesitation in front of an 80 mph line drive, and at the plate taking one in the leg in order to load the bases giving his team a chance to win.  Kids filled with excitement and heart, jumping up and down and high fives around after a great play or a homer!  Here, right before my very eyes, was the future of Major League Baseball, right there on those fields.  All the elements that it takes, right there in action working together.  No one knew which one if any it was going to be, but that is where the stars of tomorrow come from.  Fields full of 4-13 year olds striving and dreaming of making it someday!

     J1 Speed Series was created to not host softball for adults but the develop future stars.  Translation.......we help junior drivers reach their potential and possibly someday, turn into Racing Super Stars.  We believe Juniors have different needs than adults.  They require the best that Karting has to offer:  Seat time, instruction, attention, recognition, and role models, RESPECT! On race day, Junior classes need more practice time and more laps rather than being the first class shortened so the adults may not lose any of their time.  They need to be written about, talked about, held up, and boasted about across the racing community while they still have a chance.  What they don't need is people telling them they will never make it, or your dad is re-living his childhood through you,  if you practice you are overzealous, if you don't practice it is irresponsible?  Kids and teams don't need to hear this stuff. They need to be helped and supported, not criticized and condemned.  

The solution:

     In Karting, Juniors rarely receive any recognition; adults receive all of the coverage.  Why does most of the print go to the adults?  TV time, articles, pictures everywhere, recognition.  Let’s face it, 30 year olds do not go in the draft, do not make the Olympics, do not earn seats in the premier racing series, period.  There are exceptions to everything, I admit, but the facts are that next years stars will come from the 15-21 age group.  When a player is picked-up by a Pro Team, or an athlete wins a medal, or a spark plug like Brian Vickers gets an opportunity like Hendricks, listen to what they say.  They thank their support system that helped them get there; Their parents, friends, little league and school coaches, teachers, instructors, sponsors and so on.  Athletes are the first to recognize that they are the product of an intricate support system.  There is an old saying: “Two turtles on a fence post”?  All we all know from this is that they didn’t get up there by them selves!  Clubs need not ignore the adults, but……the future of any sport requires an exceptional investment in time and energy in the future of that sport…..the kids! 

     The future of Professional Motorsports exists not in the adult classes of karting, but in the foundation of the sport:  Kid Karts, J1 J2 & J3 classes!   They are upfront, in the middle, and at the rear on every grid.  No one knows them yet, no one sees them coming, but they are there, on starting grids all across America.   Question is, how many do we run off or let drift away from racing before we create a safety net to help them develop.  This is our solution.  

So......the next time someone sees your kid practicing and makes remarks like:  “Does he or she think he is the next Jeff Gordon, Newman, Stewart, Tracy, or Juan Pablo Montoya, they just might want to hold their tongue.  It may be true! 

It is up to you, Dad.  How good do your kids want to be?  How hard are they willing to work?  How far do they want to go? 

J1 Speed can and will help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!