After having won 8 times the Nations Cup, the American team could not qualify for the 2003 edition. Initially it was thought that team coach Paul Kassens was responsible for that. Further investigation, however, learnt that it were the two American kids - Matt Zenovitch and Neal Stewart - who were enterely responsible for the shame.  At the scrutineering for the Mello Yello they were found with cars with hidden magnets. They told the race direction that they were cheating, since Paul Kassens asked them to do so. Three weeks later we discovered that Kassens tried to convince them not to do what they did, but that they decided on their own to do so. Their only excuse was that they saw how Brazil's youngster, Antonio Texeira, did the same, and that they were afraid to be beaten if they didn't use hidden magnets. Eventually Texeira, Stewart and Zenovitch were disqualified. Later all three have been suspended from all IMCA racing during one year. Paul Kassens, from his side, missed the authority to forbid them cheating the rules. However, now it's for sure that the kids did it themselves, not on instruction of their team coach, the suspension of Kassens has been repealed. What they did with their team coach is beyond words: they came to Belgium without any money and obliged Kassens to pay everything, even their food. The end of the story was that Kassens used $ 2,350 to pay all their folies. He tried to undo that by giving back the IMCA 3 cheques of $ 500, alas all three uncovered. Meanwhile Kassens's debts have been decreased to $ 910. Zenovitch and Stewart will never more be invited at any Nations Cup.

TOP: Matt Zenovitch tried in vain to save the US Team after he and Neal Stewart were disqualified at the Mello Yello. Due to marshalling error at the Semis he missed the main at the IMCA Worlds and finished 9th overall, out of the points. Last year Matt won off-competition the Mello Yello with a brand new MoMo chassis. Since IMCA forgot to give him his trophy he now received it with 300 % interest: 4 trophies at once. BOTTOM: Neil Stewart after he won the global standings at the Seattle Slug Fest. He finished 6th at the Old-Timer Race and 5th at the Open G-12. Once he started cheating he was even no longer the shadow of himself. Pics: Bob Demeyer & OWH Kassens.