I started racing karts eight years ago and won my first race on the second day of racing. Since then, I’ve won four state championships and last year won the TaG Junior class in the SKUSA California ProKart Challenge, which I backed up by winning again in 2012. I also won a pair of IKF Grand National titles this summer.

This year, I added SKUSA Junior Stock Moto, or S5, to my schedule. My S5 Tony Kart is powered by a restricted 125cc Honda engine. It’s essentially the same engine the older drivers use, but with restrictors on the intake and exhaust to reduce power. I have done well in that class, winning the California ProKart Challenge for 2012. Now, I’m looking forward to attempting to win a national championship in both S5 and TaG Junior at the SKUSA Supernats in Las Vegas in November.

I think we’ve got a really good shot at winning. We’re third in both championships, and we keep learning more and more every race. I race with the Phil Giebler Racing team, and they’ve been a big help. Not only is Phil an excellent kart racer, but he has a lot of open-wheel car experience as well, and that’s what I’m aiming for. Formula 1 is my ultimate goal.

I’m happy we added the S5 class this year, although my father made me promise that my performance in TaG Junior wouldn’t suffer if we did. My first Honda-powered kart was an 80cc shifter. I loved it and it was a really fun class. When they shut it down, I was disappointed.

When we moved to SKUSA and saw the S5 class, we worked for about a year to try and get an effort together and it’s been really fun. And the competition is only getting better. The drivers in S5 are really good. That’s pushing me to up my game and improve.

While I can’t let my effort in one class of karting take away from another, I also can’t let karting take away from the rest of my life. It’s been tough to be a good racer, play water polo and maintain a 4.0 GPA but, at 14, school has to be my main focus. That’s meant a lot of late nights and a lot of hard work. I’ve been studying on the road and doing homework in whatever time I can find.

Fortunately, we don’t have to do much with the S5 kart. The Honda engine has been so reliable that we haven’t even been able to take advantage of everything that HPD and the Honda Racing Line have to offer.

Perhaps we’ll make use of it more in the off-season. But I hope my biggest improvement will be attaching a No. 1 plate to my karts for the National races!

Look for Carter Williams and the rest of the Honda-powered racers at the SKUSA Supernats in Las Vegas November 14 - 18, 2012 and at California and national SKUSA events in 2013.

What/who is HPD? Honda Performance Development (HPD) is Honda’s racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for American Honda’s high-performance racing cars and engines. In addition to its grassroots motorsports business, HPD is the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series and spearheaded Acura’s championship-winning efforts in the American Le Mans Series.

Why is HPD entering the karting market? We are continuing to expand our outreach to individual grassroots competitors who are running Honda products. In the past, the CR125 engine kit was only available through Honda Motorcycle dealers. HPD is now making this kit available to individual competitors.

Does HPD’s market entry mean that individuals can no longer purchase parts from their current source? No. If a competitor has a current relationship with a parts shop or engine builder, that’s great. HPD’s involvement in the sport will not affect existing relationships.

Does HPD’s participation mean that dealers or engine rebuild shops must now buy their parts from HPD? No. Independent shops can continue to purchase parts from Honda Motorcycle dealers. These shops can also purchase parts from HPD through the Honda Racing Line as an alternative source.

Why should I as an individual competitor buy CR125 kits/parts from HPD? The Honda Racing Line can offer door/door part delivery through our website sales portal. Our sales staff can also offer technical support, providing racer support for racers, by racers!

What engine models/parts are available from HPD? The CR125, which is sanctioned for use in Spec Honda (Stock Moto) classes.

Is HPD offering the CR125 as a crate engine? No. HPD is offering a parts kit, which the customer will need to assemble.

Will HPD offer any other karting products in the future? HPD will consider expansion of the product line as market needs dictate.

What is the Honda Racing Line? Launched in July 2009, the Honda Racing Line is a program targeted at licensed participants in sanctioned amateur and entry-level professional racing. The Honda Racing Line was formed to provide its members with a direct connection to Honda Performance Development and its unparalleled record of success at the highest levels of motorsport. Competitors may register for the Honda Racing Line through HondaRacingLine.com.

Do I need to be a Honda Racing Line member to buy parts from HPD? Yes. Currently, we are accepting Honda Racing Line applications in preparation for parts sales. Applications will help HPD to forecast product demand, and ensure timely customer delivery.


What is required for kart racers to join the Honda Racing Line? To be eligible for membership you must:

• Be able to prove current membership in a nationally recognized sanctioning body.
• Demonstrate that you’re a racer; able to provide official race results for two event finishes within the last year.
• Complete and submit the Honda Racing Line registration form.
  Be a resident of the United States.

When CR125 parts go on sale, how much will they be? Price lists will be available in early 2011.

Will HPD provide other parts for karters? For now, we are focused on ensuring adequate supply of the CR125 engine/parts to individuals. HPD will consider expansion of the product line as market needs dictate.

Who should I contact at the Honda Racing Line in order to obtain more information? Please contact HPD for sales and product information. HPD can be reached via email at grmsadmin@hra.com, or by calling (661) 702-7777.

Does Honda offer any contingency money for karters? Not at this time.

Does Honda sponsor a particular series at this time? We sponsored the S2 class at the 2010 SuperNats. No sponsorship plans for 2011 have been made at this time.

Does Honda have a driver ‘ladder’ development program? Honda’s range of products offers competitors the opportunity to matriculate into more advanced levels of the sport. HPD’s Honda Racing Line staff can be called upon to offer product insight and support.

Honda Performance Development to Provide
Build Kits and Rebuild Parts for CR125 ‘Spec Honda’ Class Engine

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (November 4, 2010) – Continuing its mission to meet the needs of grassroots competitors who are racing Honda products, Honda Performance Development, Inc., will begin offering Honda CR125 parts and engine-rebuild kits within the United States for competition in karting’s ‘Spec Honda’ class.

The rebuild kits and service parts will be available through the Honda Racing Line, HPD’s parts and service program for licensed amateur and entry-level professional racers. Licensed kart competitors may now register for the Honda Racing Line through HondaRacingLine.com.

The Honda Racing Line provides its members with a direct connection to Honda Performance Development and its unparalleled record of success at the pinnacle levels of motorsport, including the IZOD IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series. This channel to factory support provides Honda Racing Line members the opportunity to purchase racing-performance parts via convenient web-based ordering, with expedited, door-to-door delivery.

“The Honda Racing Line was founded in 2009 with the goals of supporting existing Honda racers and helping to grow the sport at the ‘grassroots’ level,” said HPD General Manager Marc Sours. “From the start, incorporating a karting component has been an integral part of our plan. Honda’s 125cc engine has been very popular in the karting community. Through this program, we hope to make it easier and quicker for the competitor to obtain parts.”

'Spec Honda' class competitors will be able to purchase a CR125 engine ‘kit’, containing all of the required parts to assemble a complete engine. The engine kit will include a six-speed transmission for the appropriate engine model, with ‘top end’ parts available for 1999-2002 engines, the most popular for karting applications. All parts will be SKUSA, Spec Honda-compliant. HPD will begin taking kit and part orders commencing with the start of the 2011 season.

The Honda Racing Line karting program will be formally launched at the 2010 SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas November 17-21, where Honda/HPD will be a sponsor of the Spec Honda S2 class. Representatives of HPD will attend the event to explain details of the new program and introduce the karting community to the Honda Racing Line. A complete Spec Honda CR125 engine also will be on display.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines.

In addition to its grassroots motorsports business, HPD is the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For more information on the Honda Racing Line, interested racers can explore the HPD website, http://hondaracing.com/hpd, or contact the company at:

Honda Performance Development, Inc.
661-702-7777
grmsadmin@hra.com