IRON RIDGE - 
Dan Jung is an experienced race car driver, but he's never worked with a crew like this.

Painted nails, giggles and squeals of excitement emanate from his garage, courtesy of his five-girl crew, Sarah Herman, Rachael Griffin, Sabrina Gutjahr, Lindsey Retzer and Lilli Clark, members of the Orange Mango Tangos.

When Jung says "righty-tighty," the team sings back, "lefty loosey."

The girls spent Wednesday working on their go-kart, using air wrenches and other tools to prepare for racing season, which starts Sunday at Slinger Super Speedway.

Last September's Memorial Go-Kart Event at the Speedway spawned its own racing season for youth go-kart teams.

The idea for the September event came from Kathy Fies after she was approached by friends of Parker Klumb at his funeral. Klumb died in 2007 after a driver struck the 13-year-old and two friends as they rode their bicycles on the shoulder of Highway K.

The idea of building a go-kart - a dream of Klumb's - blossomed into an event that paid tribute to Klumb and other area children whose lives ended too soon.

Sarah Herman was a member of a team Jung worked with last year, sponsored by SJJ Wholesale and Salvage. When her parents approached Jung, asking if he would mentor the all-girl team this year, he readily agreed.

"That is sweet," said Jung as kart owners Don and Karen Herman arrived with the bright orange chassis. Girls and their parents helped unload the frame and bring it into Jung's garage.

Jung modified his way up from racing street stocks in 1995 but finds that with go-kart racing, precision takes the place of invention.

"You have to pay attention to all the details. Everything has a spec in this class," said Jung.

Jung feels a sense of accomplishment in mentoring and believes the girls share that sentiment.

"The all-girl team seems to be more focused. They just want to work, just want to learn," he said.

Girl power is an advantage this year, said Herman, of her team, which is sponsored by Engineered Metal Products in Jackson.

"With all girls, you can goof around more," said Herman, who was a good friend of Parker Klumb.

Another friend of Parker's, Rachael Griffin, said their color choice and team name came from their "goofing around."

"We thought Wango Tango sounded cool - it came from tangerine, tango, wango," she giggled.

Karen Herman said the concept of the build-to-race team is good for the community, and others in the racing world agree.

"This is a true racing experience for these kids. Where else can you go to get that," said Fies, board president of Memorial Go Kart Inc.

Another well-known driver at the Speedway, Mike Egan, decided to devote some time and attention to the Memorial Go Kart event last year. He now serves as a mentor, owns a team and is on the Memorial Go Kart board of directors.

"It's a great thing for the Slinger Allenton community," Egan said.

While the girls and other teams may be having a good time, Egan said it also takes work and dedication to race.

"Kids learn teamwork - how to be a member of a team - at all different levels," said Egan.

"Seeing the kids succeed - I don't mean winning or losing, that's not what we're teaching - but to take an 11-year-old girl or 13-year-old boy and have them learn to how to weld, how to grind - it's pretty rewarding," Egan said.

Retzer enjoyed the welding.

"Its fun - to be a part of making it instead of having someone else make it for you," said Retzer.

Lilli Clark had some tips after learning how to use a grinder.

"You have to focus on keeping control of it and keep focused on (the grinder) instead of all the sparks flying," said Clark.

"These kids are not just buying a kart. It's the use of tools, the knowledge they use - that's what interested me," said mentor Dennis Prunty, who mentored Parker's Dream team last year.

"I enjoy working with the kids," said Prunty, who added that teamwork and discipline also teach good life choices. "Kids need to do something else - to get away from the TV and the video. This keeps them focused on something positive."