YNOT EUROPE – The first-ever YNOT Grand Prix sent more than 50 speed demons hurtling around the professional racetrack at El Vendrell in go-karts during The Barcelona Summit. The experience was pulse-pounding for both drivers and observers, according to YNOT Europe Director Jerry Halford.

“My God, those karts were so quick, the girls racing never had time to do their makeup on the way round and the boys had fun picking the flies from their teeth at the end of a thrilling session,” he said.

The karts were amazing machines, he added. The Honda 390s with 13.5-horsepower engines nearly left some of their drivers behind at the starting line.

Raphael Berkien, vice president of marketing for official race sponsor 2000Charge, said rain delayed the start of the race for about 90 minutes, but when the competitors took their positions in four groups, all were eager to go.

“The circuit is fantastic with several tricky corners and fast straight-aways, and it also has a lot of history,” Berkien said. “Many famous racers have paid this circuit a visit in the past.

“Sitting behind the wheel of a go-kart so low to the ground makes you feel you’re in a real racecar,” he continued. “After several laps of getting to know the track and having a feel of what the go-kart can do, we all got a chance with a second session to set our qualifying times. Weight, experience and a little bit of luck goes a long way on a racetrack. I ended up on pole position and left the front row at the start of the race in first place. I never looked back until I saw the checkered flag. What a rush!”

As it turned out, luck was with Berkien all day. He finished first, followed by Halford in second place and Chexx Inc./PacNet Europe Head of Sales Brian Weekes in third. All three men are among the “elder statesmen” in the adult industry.

Halford had something to say about that.

“The first- and third-place winners are 47 years old, and No. 2 is 50,” he revealed. “The old guys stuck it to the young guns!”

Berkien chuckled about that, as well. He said the YNOT Grand Prix brought webmasters together across geographical borders and age groups and resulted in some uncommon networking opportunities.

“I made some friends for life at the event, because we share the passion for racing,” he said. “Obviously, events like these are great to get to know people, but it also fosters a relationship that will express itself eventually in the possibility to do business together. It’s a win-win situation.”

In fact, Berkien noted, that’s one of the reasons 2000Charge signed on to sponsor the race. The event suits the company’s corporate culture and public image: powerful and professional, but with a fun-loving edge.

“2000Charge was proud to sponsor the YNOT Grand Prix in Barcelona,” he said. “We sponsored the race because 2000Charge has a lot in common with racing. Just like a champion racecar, 2000Charge gives you the handling and controls you need to drive your sales to the top. Our processing engine is exactly like an engine in a racecar: It’s fast and powerful and will put you in first place.

“Looking for the start button? We have one of those, too,” Bierken added. “2000Charge provides merchants with their own smart button, so clients can start their transactions by simply pressing one button on your website. We suggest our merchants to power themselves up with a 2000Charge engine and then let their customers drive them to the bank. Sponsoring the race was a natural match.”

The first YNOT Grand Prix will not be the last, according to YNOT Group LLC Director of Business Development Moreno “MO” Aguiari. He and Berkien both said plans already are underway to turn the successful first outing into the starting point for what they called “the Formula 1 Championship of Adult.”

“My goal is to put together a championship that will travel to each show so people can race in more than one event,” Aguiari said.

After all, he noted, since previous obligations kept him from attending The Barcelona Summit, he wants an opportunity to show the others how seriously he and his fellow Italians take their racing.

“The only reason Raphael won,” Aguiari said with a grin, “is that Wolf [Kring, of 2000Charge] and I were not there.”

Photo: (left to right) Jerry Halford, Raphael Berkien, Brian Weekes