IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 11, 2006 John Berti - A New Face In the Media Crowd KARNAC STAFF REPORT Last year Florida race fans began to see, and hear, a new face in the crowd and a new voice at the track and on the Internet. Bill Green, co-creator of Short Track America, dubbed him "Mr. Excitement", a bit of satire directed at the dry humor that comes across from his on-air interviews. We are talking of course about John Berti, the announcer for the Sunbelt Series and Crash-a-Rama, and the writer who helps make KARNAC work. John Berti has been involved in auto racing at many levels, which has included just about every aspect of auto racing: competitor, track announcer, promoter, public relations man, talk show host, and writer. John’s track announcing credentials included being the voice of Monadnock Speedway (Winchester, NH), Claremont Speedway (Claremont, NH) and special events announcer at the now defunct Riverside Park Speedway (Agawam, MA) in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Presently he is the announcer for both the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series and Crash-A-Rama. While working at Monadnock Speedway, Claremont Speedway and Riverside Park Speedway he was instrumental in working in public relations and with the media as well. He was the successful promoter of the Whitcomb 100, an invitational NASCAR tour type modified event, held at Monadnock Speedway and handled all the public relations, press relations and announcing duties for a national championship enduro that was independently run at New Smyrna Speedway by his close friend, Ron Karto. Both these events were back in the early ‘80s. The experts said he’d be lucky to get 20 competitors to participate in that enduro event which was held on the night of the Daytona 500. At that time John was living in Massachusetts and only came down to Florida on a few weekends. He proved then all wrong when 78 cars came through the gates. Drivers from as far away as Maine, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, and North Dakota trailered enduro cars to New Smyrna. It turned out to be an extremely entertaining race. Click Here To Listen to Berti's Outspoken Views on Race Promotion!. He hosted "Motorsports Talk", a very popular, auto racing talk show, for over a decade on radio stations in the Springfield, MA area. Such superstars as Darrell Waltrip, Buddy Baker, Geoff and Brett Bodine, Tim Richmond, Ron and Ken Bouchard, Jimmy Spencer, Greg Sacks, Richie Evans and even jet funny car driver Al Hanna are just a few among the many prominent racing people who have been on his show. Many local drivers and promoters from race tracks throughout the Northeast were also a part of the award winning show. When the cost of radio time became too prohibitive he began to center his attention on writing for Speedway Scene and National Speed Sport News. John retired from teaching and moved to Florida in July, 2003. Once down here he began writing for two internet websites: Motorsports News Network and Karnac.com. He is currently editor for the KARNAC.com Southern Short Track racing news web site. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!