In the racing world you either lead, follow or get out of the way. In the case of Glover Brothers Racing, now be branded as GBR Karting, this group definitely wants to lead the way. The well-known Chilliwack, British Columbia-based karting operation has seen it's share of changes over the years, but none as significant as 2011. Well, the story actually begins a couple of years ago and as so often is the case, when passionate, like-minded individuals get together good things can happen. In 2009 Burkett Racing Enterprises of Winnipeg, Manitoba began working with GBR Karting as businessman and BRE team owner Murray Burkett looked for an outlet to expand his kart racing program. In 2008 BRE purchased the Extreme Karting business run by Brian Campbell, the new ASN Canada Technical Director. For the past two seasons BRE has been working in close partnership with GBR Karting through driver trackside support programs, making this next step the logic choice. And a new partnership was only part of the plan as taking on a new chassis program was a key ingredient to putting all the pieces together for this pair of racing enthusiasts.

There is no doubt that a shared passion for racing is what brought Burkett and Glover together. Burkett had been a part of the auto slalom scene in Canada, competing across the western provinces and taking a national title in 1988, before moving on to road racing sports cars and Formula cars. This love of speed was passed on onto Burkett's son Daniel and daughter Dana at a very early age. As the family dove into karting and began to race throughout the western region, they soon crossed paths with Kevin Glover and GBR Karting. Glover was not stranger to the national karting scene having competed since the age of nine. Glover built a solid resume in several karting categories throughout North America including wins in the ultra competitive Stars of Karting direct drive ICA class. As Glover moved into the operations side of karting, leaving the competition side to brother Chris, it was inevitable the duo of Glover and Burkett would work together. Sharing a passion for racing and a philosophy that puts customer service first, the two had common ground to build a partnership going forward.

With Burkett Racing Enterprises renamed GBR Manitoba commencing immediately, the two Western Canadian karting operations and race teams have already begun to integrate their trackside and support programs. The duo will be working together in supporting their direct clients and racers in general at club races in BC and Manitoba as well as the national events like the Western Canadian Championship, Eastern Canadian Karting Championship and the 2011 ASN Canada FIA National Championships. The Lewis Hamilton Kart will be sold through both locations and enjoy the full trackside support that has come to define both BRE and GBR. GBR will be sending staff to Manitoba to assist with the Manitoba operations from time to time as both Burkett and Glover are looking forward to building the GBR brand as a national kart racing entity and these key strategic moves are just the beginning.

"This renaming and expansion is part of our 2011 sales and marketing plan. Murray (Burkett) and I have been working closely together for a last couple of years," comments Kevin Glover, President of GBR. "We added the Lewis Hamilton chassis line, beefed up our trackside support program and now will have coverage across Canada."

Part of the business plan includes a new website and online store to support customers from across the country with 24/7 web-based access on a state-of-the-art fulfillment system. The online store will be managed and serviced by GBR with shipments being sent from both locations depending on logistics to service their online community effectively and efficiently across the country.

Early this year GBR announced their new chassis program as they became the North American distributor of the Lewis Hamilton chassis built by CRG of Italy. The Lewis Hamilton kart is a key collaboration between Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton and CRG Karting of Italy. GBR will continue to sell, support and service the Arrow line of racing karts that have been so strong in Canada. Adding the Lewis Hamilton chassis line to an already successful karting program will give GBR customers the latest in Italian and European design and engineering.

"Reworking the program across Canada to align GBR and BRE is a big step for us," continues Glover from his home base in Chilliwack, BC. "This will give us great coverage and further increase our trackside support program. We have lots of Arrow customers we will continue to support with the same level of enthusiasm we have in the past."

The GBR crew is back on Canadian soil after a successful launch of the Lewis Hamilton chassis at the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. With momentum in 2011 already underway, racers from across western Canada now have new options to build their programs. Leading the way for western racers is GBR Karting.