PRESS RELEASE

Contact:
Justin Jackrel, Owner
352-376-6275
Justin@GatorMoto.com

 For immediate release, January 08, 2010

GatorMoto Seeks Person with Below Waist Disability for First Adapted Kart

GatorMoto has been manufacturing racing go karts since 2005. They have been adding new karts to the lineup ever since the first model – the Road Rat Racer XR – arrived. The company has added a bumper kart, kids kart, left turn only dirt track kart, electric start model, two-seater bumper kart and now a hands-only kart. To welcome the hands-only kart to the lineup, GatorMoto is giving one away in a race-ready starter package to a person over the age of 12 with a below the waist disability.

Owner Justin Jackrel spent many impressionable years near people with disabilities. His parents, Ted and Debra Jackrel, were the first in the country to offer an adaptive driving school and vehicle conversion shop for those with physical disabilities. Adaptive Mobility was opened in 1975 to customize vehicles for use by persons with varying disabilities and teach them how to drive those vehicles. The Jackrels moved their business to Florida in 1994 and resumed operations under the new name Transit Plus, Inc. Transit Plus sells buses, vans and other vehicles and specializes in those with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant floor plans including wheelchair lifts and ramps.

Justin Jackrel went on to further his knowledge of the needs of those with disabilities when he matriculated to the University of Florida. He enrolled in a course taught by Dr. Christine B. Stopka which focused on adapted physical activity for people with disabilities. Throughout the course Mr. Jackrel expanded his knowledge of the advancements made to enhance the lives of those living with disabilities.

All of these experiences have led Mr. Jackrel to add a hands-only kart to the expanding line of race-ready go karts GatorMoto offers. Theirs are the most affordable turn-key karts available in the United States. Their goal when creating the Road Rat Racing line was to offer affordable and competitive karts so that more racers would be capable of entering the sport. This vision has been applied in creating the new hands-only kart as well. Previously, if a person without the use of their legs wanted to get into competitive racing they would have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars trying to modify an existing kart to suit their needs or to build a custom unit. Now they will be able to enjoy turn-key karts thanks to the innovations GatorMoto has made available. The new kart will debut at the Kart Expo International 2010 in St. Charles, IL on February 27-28, 2010. GatorMoto has also recently provided the karts to Acelerate, a new karting facility in Guanajuato, Mexico which will offer these for riders in Mexico who are living with disabilities.

In celebration of this exciting new kart release, GatorMoto is holding a giveaway contest for the first of these retrofitted karts available in the United States. Also included will be racing apparel and other equipment needed to get on the race track, valuing the total package at well over $2,500! From now until April 30, 2010 GatorMoto is accepting entries for the giveaway. Please send an inspirational story to nominate a friend or family member without the use of their legs. Self-nominations will be accepted as well. Due to the size of the kart, this contest is open to anyone 13 years of age or older. GatorMoto will review all applications and choose one winner. Entries may be mailed to:

GatorMoto
Attn: Kart Giveaway
7065 NW 22^nd St. Ste. A
Gainesville, Florida 32653

Please include all necessary contact information with stories. Pictures may be included. For more information, visit http://www.GatorMoto.com

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Go Karting is a hobby that many of us try when we are young, as it is extremely fun and exhilarating for those under the legal driving age of regular cars. Kart racing is generally the stepping stone for racing other types of cars when a certain level of experience and age has been acquired. The next step after the go kart is things like the V8’s, rally cars and just general race built cars, then the peak is to move into formula 1.

Go karts were originally designed in 1956 in California by a veteran hot rodder Kurtis Kraft, and their popularity quickly spread to other countries around the world and currently has a very large following in Europe.

The engine in go karts is what separates them from their younger cousin, the soapbox car which is what the younger kids generally have a lot of fun with. There are many different sizes and types of engines which can push the go kart to quite incredible speeds for its small size. A 100cc formula A kart with a 2 stroke engine and overall weight of 150kg’s including the driver can reach a dizzying speed of 85mph (140km/h) and can accelerate from 0-60mph in under 4.5 seconds. A 125cc kart can do 0-60 in just a fraction over 3 seconds and reaches top speeds of 115mph (185km/h)!

Components

Chassis

The chassis in a go kart is made of steel tubing and has to be quite flexible because there is no suspension in karts because of the lack of space and weight reduction needs.

Engine

2 Strokes – These engines were originally extracted from motorcycles, but because of the increasing popularity of go karts, specialized manufacturers of kart only engines have emerged, creating even more specific engines to power the karts.

4 Strokes – These engines are usually the same as those used in lawn mowers, with air cooling. They generally provide between 5 and 20 horse power, however there are some specialized 4 stroke engines for karting that create between 15 and 40 horse power and around 11,000rmp.

Tires

The tires on go karts are commonly made of the same materials as the tires on normal race cars, and go karts use different tires for different track conditions, however they are a lot smaller because of the low profile of the kart, and are still quite wide to enhance grip and control on the track at high speeds.

So as you can see, go karts are a very enjoyable hobby, but can also be taken as far as the enthusiast wishes, with racing and modifications. It seems very simple to the unaware spectator, but is actually quite complex when research is taken to a deeper level.

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Fox go karts are known for the brand name that they have become however very few know about the Fox go karts history. Most go kart fans and followers know that Go-Kart is a brand name of the little machines that were made in the early 1900s. It was generally known as a dune buggy as they were made to drive over sand dunes and be able to rip around with little consequence.

The Go-Kart company manufactured these dune buggies under the company name of go kart but that was not the original intention of the name and as many things, the brand name kind of stuck on and from that point on, these little dune buggies are now called go karts synonymously everywhere throughout the world. Funny what one little company can do for a small relatively simple machine and Fox has done nothing except grow into a huge conglomerate that today still manufactures and sells these fine machines.

In 1962 the company that manufactured these filed for chapter six and went out of business and no one knew for sure what would come of the Go-Kart or the dune buggy interests. However, soon Fox emerged out of the ruins of the bankrupt company and are still thriving today and selling more Fox go karts than ever before. Today Fox still outsells any other manufacturing company of go karts hands down.

Fox Go Karts and Vintage Go Karts

Fox go karts, since taking over the Go-Kart Manufacturing company has built older vintage models and they sell like hotcakes at breakfast time. They are beautifully restored or duplicated to resemble the vintage except with better parts and better quality so that they last a lot longer than the original ones did.

If you are wondering if you can obtain one of the many Fox go karts you most certainly can and they have over a hundred types of go karts as well as they custom design and build them to your specifications. The Fox line up is quite expensive so you’ll have to dig deep in order to purchase one but once you do, you’ll never go back to karting any other way except in the Fox way, due to the smooth riding and easy handling that they offer as well as they are generally pretty comfortable.

If you decide to go out and buy yourself a Fox Go Kart, then you should know you are in good hands and your going to have a lot of enjoyment out of riding your new go kart.

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Karting is one of the most popular motor sports in United Kingdom that can be enjoyed by whole family. Karting is fast paced exciting motor sport which is raced on scaled – down circuits in a safe and fun environment. It has many variations and regarded as first step on the motor racing ladder which can lead to professional racing or a lifetime hobby.  It tests the skills of the driver, both physical and mental. It can be enjoyed by kids from 8 to old age people up to 80 years. It is an active sport which requires good vision, quick reflexes and a good physical condition.

Among other varieties indoor karting is most preferred and popular form of karting in UK One of the biggest advantages of indoor karting over other categories is that it is more accessible in urban areas and can be raced throughout the year. It is significant as many areas have short summer racing season. Often indoor karting facilities have pay per leap programs which allow racers to run the no. of as they desire. Many indoor karting facilities in UK provide race nights where drives go through practice, qualifying and racing.

In UK Motor Sports Association is the sole governing body of motor sports. NatSKA (National Schools Karting Association) and other associations organize race meeting throughout the country under the authority of MSA. NatSKA was set up to provide budget karting facilities for schools and youth groups in the UK, with 13 classes. National Karting Series, also known as Super 1 is the most celebrated Karting series in UK. MSA series, Rotax series and TKM series are the three type of Super 1 championship in UK.

Team-Sport Indoor Karting is UK’s largest indoor karting Company. It runs regular leagues in addition to the lap programs and race nights. Team-Sport company have eight tracks namely in Andover, Camberley, Cambridge, Cardiff, Crawley, Gosport, London and Southampton. Their London track is the biggest and exceptionally fast wide track which provides enough space for overtaking. All of their tracks are often booked for entire seasons by karters to hone their skills and develop their interest in karting.

For more information visit http://www.team-sport.co.uk/

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If you are a go kart fanatic you are probably already aware of such a thing called armored go karts and likely, you even have always wanted one and maybe even you’ve already driven one. The go kart has been adapted into armored go karts so that you can experience the ultimate in the 4×4 sport without the regular damage to your go kart and as well to provide safety to the driver as well. After all, if you don’t save the driver of the armored go karts then likely you haven’t done a very good job!

Using Armored Karts

Many people use armored go karts for a variety of different reasons such as what was mentioned above regarding off road sports that are extremely treacherous in terrain. It is to provide protection to the go kart itself so that it may go time and again over trails that are steep, rocky with water crossings as well as trees that sometimes need to be driven over. Armored go karts offer the ultimate in off road experience because they are made to withstand the beatings of trees and rocks while providing that protection to the driver as well as surviving the harsh terrain that the armored go karts usually go through.

Armored go karts are becoming increasingly more popular also in the go kart racing venues because it offers the drivers a bit more protection against high speeds and the potential for being severely injured on a race track. Some are created with armored go kart doors as well as the roof to prevent head injury from a roll over or accident while racing go karts. It is as dangerous as race car driving as the go karts go at very high speeds and are subject to the same laws of gravity and speed that race cars are subject to.

It is easy to see why the rise of popularity of armored go karts might have arisen from and how they are increasing in popularity. The armored go karts actually provides a much safer environment for the driver in the aspect that it can prevent fire from spreading into the go kart in the event of a bad wreck and fire ignition as burns are one of the most common injuries next to broken bones for racing drivers. The armored go karts can offer the driver many safer aspects of go kart riding and racing and will continue to grow in popularity as they continue to evolve the go kart racing circuits.

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Both adults and children enjoy go kart racing or kart racing as most people prefer to call it. Children from eight years old can enjoy this sport which is regulated by the the Motor Sports association in Europe where organisations such as the National Schools Karting Association organise meetings. In the US kart racing is regulated by a variety of onrganisations such the World Karting Association, Karter’s of America and the International Racing association. The Australian Karting Association organises karting events in Australia.

Karters are divided into classes which usually start at 8 years old and are in 3 year age divisions until a senior class at about 16 years old.

The World Karting Association organises kart racing at more than 120 tracks throughout the nation. The largest body regulating karting in the US, it was established in 1971 and is also one of the largest bodies for sanctioning kart racing in the world.

Kart racing has grown in popularity since the very beginning in the 1950’s when karters used parking lots for their racing circuits. It grew rapidly into a much more organised sport as purpose built circuits were built until today when over 100,000 people in the US enjoy this recreational activity. The Association of British Kart Clubs In Britain, regulated by the MTA consists of over thirty associations which each hold meetings regularly.

Some Different Types of Kart Racing

Sprint kart racing uses specially built circuits of between 400 and 1600 meters. A typical race lasts about 14 minutes with the emphasis on overtaking and speed. Sprint races are usually short races with only a few laps that qualify for a final. Championships held by the FIA and the Karting World Championship are sprint races.

Endurance races are for long periods, sometimes up to 24 hours with drivers taking turns. Emphasis is on pit strategy and reliability rather than speed. One of the most famous endurance races takes place on th kart circuit in France at Le Mans owned by Alain Prost, the Formula 1 racing driver. In this 24 hour race past winners have been Toro Rosso, a Formula 1 driver and Sébastien Bourdais, a Car Champ winner. Endurance races usually take place on one mile to four mile circuits.

In the US endurance racing is called Enduro and takes place on circuits from between 1 1/2 miles to 4 miles long. races are typically 30 to 45 minutes without any pit stops.

Speedway races take place on clay or asphalt tracks that are one sixth to one quarter miles long. Asymetric tracks are usually used with four left turns and two straight lengths. Because of the left turns karts with off set chassis have been specially developed for these types of tracks. Races consist of four to twenty laps.

Formats Used for Kart Racing

The International Kart Federation uses heat races which consist of heats of two laps, the winners entering the final which is usually twenty laps.

The World Karting Association uses timed laps where karters compete in groups for the fastest lap time. A twenty lap final is then the featured event.

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Karting enthusiasts emblazon the image of the perfect chassis in their minds: lightweight, yet powerfully durable material capable of launching a kart forward without the slightest wear or tear. Rare material that comes with the likes of professionally built popular race-cars like the illustrious McLaren. What about karts that could rip through side turns at speeding bullet speeds without raising a wheel a centimeter above the ground, gliding swiftly like a falco such as the futuristic cars in I, Robot? And along with perfect frames comes perfect tires, tires “grooven” to perfection providing the finest traction and downright freakish controls when running the curve.

Let’s discuss the intricacies and place a perspective on frames for your go-kart. The chassis as it is called in professional and enthusiast circles, is by far the most important piece of this machine. The construction is paramount in maintaining a solid go-kart. What constitutes a frame? Think of a frame simply as parts holding a component together. In the case of these speedsters, the frame is welded together by torsion bars. Stiff frames are a result of shorter bars crossed together, and more flexible frames are associated with longer bars.

Stiff frames that do not provide flexibility were the backbone of earlier go-karts and broke down easily. First off, simpler go-karts do not have the specifications needed (most important, suspension and tire traction) to ease the punishment frames go through while turning, accelerating, and stopping. Running on 2 or 4 cycle engines does not help compensate the health of a frame. A lack of traction on your tires will cause uneven weight transfer and stability on your frame, ripping one or both sides loose at the same time. In essence, the frame is responsible for determining how well your vehicle moves zipping on asphalt, concrete, or dirt – dictating your performance on wide turns and shorter turns.

A sturdy, well-built frame is the key to manoeuvring well on the track, especially when turning. Wait, isn’t a frame supposed to be resistant to the rigors and demands of punishing your go-kart as it explodes forward? Of course – but the most important criteria for an excellent frame is to negotiate turns well. Frames are directly responsible for how well go-karts turn left and right. Weaker go-karts with cheap components are known to slide and drift along turns – in some instances, flipping to its side entirely with careless driving. “Side bite” is referred to keeping a go-kart planted to the track without sliding. Without the proper frame, go-karts will manoeuvre out of control, even shutting off in some cases due to over pressure to the engine.

The design of the go-kart chassis has everything to do with how well it moves on turns and maintaining side bite. If the width of the rear rails (go-kart frames constitute front rails and rear rails) is narrow, with measurements ranging from 24¨ to 25¨ – from “kingpin” to “kingpin”, the ends of the rail – it will have less side bite. Wider rails barely ever exceed 30¨ on standard go-karts. The dynamics of the front and rear rails can be effectively pictured using this example: suppose you had two bottles – a two-gallon jug and a 16 oz. Water bottle. Giving it a swift, hard poke to its side – which container has the best chance of tipping to its side? If you guessed the water bottle, you guessed right! Wider rails provide stability and “foundation” while turning, reducing the side bite overall.

Choosing the right frame for your go-kart can largely depend on the surface you are riding on. Whether it is asphalt, concrete, or dirt – different types of frames behave differently according to surface. For example, dirt track frames should consist of a short front rail and a longer back rail. Dirt tracks place a lot of stress and challenge on the front rail and stiff back rails zipping through dirt can cut power to the engine while cutting a turn. The best frame for riding dirt tracks are ones with narrow fronts and longer backs, vice versa to asphalt and concrete.

The A-1 performance of a frame largely depends on tire traction as well. Low traction tires (tires that do not “stick” well to the ground) are not grooved enough to withstand the rigors of the surface, rattling the stiff frame to oblivion. It also causes uneven weight transfer throughout the go-kart, and that is a no-no for maintaining optimum control of your money maker. Consider this scenario: you have two pairs of roller skates. One has wheels half-an-inch in width and the other has 3-inch-wide wheels. Which pair would provide better balance as you roller skate? If you love mathematics, treat traction as a formula with the equation: traction = stability. Go ahead, transform yourself into a karting aficionado with this valuable piece of knowledge!

A major issue among karting enthusiasts is the durability and longevity of flexible frames. Exposure to punishing breaks and turns, along with the gruelling hits to track walls every now and then, can distort the frame which cannot be “popped” back to its original condition. Experts recommend replacing frames every year. There are many maintenance techniques you could practice on your kart to keep flexibility intact like running your kart through a course backwards. Racing a kart using the finish line as your starting point and your starting point as the finish line will have a “reverse effect” on the frame, shaping it opposite of what it would be shaped if you were racing the course normally. It’s like turning back the hands of time on your speedster!

The question over choosing the right go-kart chassis boils down to flexibility. High traction tires and a stiff frame is a recipe for disaster, causing your machine to turn stiffly and generate strenuous effort on the curves. Low traction tires will cause uneven weight transfer and break apart your frame like bread crumbs. Options for frames mainly depend on what type of go-kart you’re riding, as each go-kart and their engine work best under certain scenarios. Stiff frames are a staple of 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines and flexible frames are found with higher horsepower engines. Remember, the more rigorous the circuit, the more flexible a chassis should be!

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Go karts were first created in the United States in the 1950s with the majority of historians crediting Art Ingels as the inventor. He built his first go kart in California in 1956 and it was during this post-war period where airmen raced these go karts as a way to pass the time.

They are referred to as go karts, go carts, go-karts, shifter karts, gokarts and many other differently spelled variations. Go karts are related to open-wheel racing such as Formula One and Indy Car. In fact, many top professional race car drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty, got their start on the go kart racing circuit.

Go kart enthusiasts can easily become addicted to the thrill of racing. Once you’ve experienced the excitement it’s hard to let it go. There are ATV all terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, mini bikes and motorcycles, but none give a driver any more of an adrenaline-rush than the popular go kart. They are simple 4-wheeled vehicles with no suspension (relying on chassis flex). They are basically just a smaller version of the professional open wheel cars and race on similar, but smaller, racing tracks.

Go karting can be a stepping stone for drivers desiring to work their way up to professional Formula One or Indy Car racing. It’s a cheaper way to get involved with racing. If a driver shows talent on the go kart circuit he can then move up to the more expensive divisions of motor racing including Formula One and Indy Car.

But go karting is not just for the professionally-minded. Most of the time go karts are raced by non-professionals, people just out for a little fun. Go karts have become popular all over the world and are found in most larger cities. For the faint of heart there are extremely tame tracks located in many family fun centers and amusement parks.

So what is a go kart? Go karts are made up of a chassis, motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires. Since go karts have no suspension the chassis must provide flexibility and yet retain enough stiffness to allow the kart good grip around the track and through the turns. The chassis can be either open or closed. Simply put, the closed, or caged chassis, allows protection for the driver in the event of a rollover. The open chassis does not.

Engines used in karting are typically either 2-stroke or 4-stroke. The 2-stroke engine is generally more of a specialized engine that is made by companies such as Honda or Briggs and Stratton (who also make lawnmower engines). In fact, 4-stroke engines are usually the standard type used in lawn mowers. The 2-stroke is usually more powerful than the 4-stroke and can attain up to 30 horsepower or more.

Sprint karts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the more powerful enduro karts can reach a top speed of up to 90 mph. Shifter karts use a manual transmission and a clutch to bring out all the engine has to offer and can reach speeds of 160 mph or more. These are not toys.

As with Formula One racing the kart tires can be either slicks or rain tires. Slicks have no tread and are used for best traction on a dry track. Rain tires have tread and are used during wet weather. And in icy conditions there are specially-made spiked tires that give good grip on the slippery ice.

Go karts are generally considered a safer and cheaper way to get into racing. With the many different levels available drivers can move up the line until they reach the professional level. With the right mixture of talent and practice racing alongside the top pros is certainly a possibility.

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Go karts come in many different sizes, but to the beginner or average Joe who doesn’t know anything about karting, they usually all seem like small go karts. The fact is that they are small when compared to other vehicles they are actually the smallest vehicle that can be driven apart from a motorize scooter, but they aren’t nearly as powerful. In the go kart world, small go karts are made for smaller drivers, usually meaning those who are younger. The small go karts cater to their short limbs and obviously are very much the same as a regular or large, just scaled down a fraction with a bit less power.

Small go karts can often beat the bigger karts because of their lightweight frames and also because they usually carry a lightweight driver. These two things allow a small go kart with a smaller engine to beat a bigger go kart with a bigger engine because the power to weight ratio may be better for speed in the small go karts favor. For this reason, in professional go karting, the drivers are usually on the small side, like jockey’s, the lighter they are, the faster their vehicle can travel around the track therefore they can win more races. Modifications from the first go karts have included things like light weight parts, carbon fiber panels, lightweight steel frames and much more to save on weight but still keep performance. This has shaved seconds of quarter mile times and new technologies keep adding to this impressive record. Every place a pound can be saved, it is.

However small go karts aren’t just useful for professional drivers. They allow young drivers to partake in the exhilarating sport at ages a low as 3 and 4. Obviously they do not drive powerful karts, but it goes give them the urge to race in the coming years, and as we all know, go karting is a stepping stone for youngsters into professional race car driving all the way up to formula1.

Many parents, especially protective mothers do not want their precious little darlings to race go karts, but having such a variety of karts like small go karts that only have limited power allows them to ease into the sport with next to no chance of incurring any sort of injury. Go karting is a recreational sport for all ages and small go karts allow even the youngest child to have a great day in a kart!

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Indoor karting is a popular motor sports in United Kingdom. It is type of open- wheel motor sport usually raced on scaled-down circuits. The vehicles are four wheeled, small sized, of various designs and are called as karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts. They are basically of two types: those with gearboxes (which race on both the long and short circuits) and those with direct drive (which race only on short circuits).

To a newcomer all karts appear same, but they vary in speed; are available in many classes to satisfy wide range of needs and abilities. There are superkarts which can go up to speed of 250km/h in comparison to go-karts with maximum speed of 25 km/h. The major components of a kart are: chassis, engines, transmission and tires.

Chassis is made of steel tube and has no suspension. So it has to be stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn and flexible enough to work as a suspension. The stiffness of chassis allows different usage characteristics for different circumstances. As for dry conditions a stiffer chassis is preferred in comparison to a more flexible chassis for wet or other poor traction conditions. Some to the finest chassis permits for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed as per the race conditions.

For an amusement park go-karts are driven by either a 4-stroke engine or an electric motor but for racing karts, small 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines are used. A KF1 kart with a 125 cc two stroke engine and a total weight including the driver of 150 kilograms has a top speed of 140 km/h. It takes slightly more than 3 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h with a 125 cc shifter kart (6 gears) and with a top speed of 185 km/h on long circuits.

In a kart meant for indoor karting, power is transmitted from the rear axle by way of a chain. The ratio between engine and sprockets is adapted according to track configuration so as to get the most of the engine. Wheel and tires are much smaller as compared to the normal car ones and rims are made up of either magnesium or aluminum.

There is ample no. of indoor kart tracks in UK. They are often visited by karters and their families to enjoy karting and racing. These tracks are often short and offer a great level of safety. Karts are rented for a session of 15 to 20 minutes and use sturdy chassis completed with dedicated bodywork providing safety to the driver. They are powered by both small 4-stroke engines and electric motors. Motor Sport Association, sole governing body of motor sports in UK, organizes four major British Championships for all level of racers. They are MSA British Short Circuit Championship, MSA British Long Circuit (Superkart) Championship, MSA British Junior Kart Championship and MSA British Cadet Kart Championship.

For more information visit http://www.team-sport.co.uk/

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