Just puting the question out there, We have all seen karting numbers decrease in recent years and im asking, what do you think should be done with the sport to move forward....
IE: Have less classes for more numbers, phase out motors, allign ourselfs with world formula....its a tough one but i know nationals and state titles are still healthy but its at the club level and open meetings that the numbers have really dropped off.....
I think the $$$$$$$ has alot to do with it!
any ideas?
IE: Have less classes for more numbers, phase out motors, allign ourselfs with world formula....its a tough one but i know nationals and state titles are still healthy but its at the club level and open meetings that the numbers have really dropped off.....
I think the $$$$$$$ has alot to do with it!
any ideas?
Comments12
the $$$ have a huge part in it.
i think all we can do for a quick fix is more advertising to the outside world. demos at v8 rounds etc... something to show what were all about
briggs and stratton have now AKA homologated their "animal" engine... which is about as quick as a J, from my understanding. imagine a junior class that required this engine, a 30mm solid axle, hubs between 65 and 75mm long only, and alloy wheels (no bolt ons).
i can't understand why we can't make a class like this, especially for juniors. it's been talked about for YEARS! and before anyone says "the junior classes have good numbers" - who says the junior classes have ALL the people that want to race karting in them already...? if a class allowed you to race for 30% less than you can now, surely more dads would be up for it.
cowley, i reckon if you want to improve karting, you start at the bottom, and work your way up. a cheap kids class, that's my opinion.
Phase out SNR j's and bring in a CONTROLLED CIK series (which qualifies you for world finals etc).............. like what was meant to happen in 2008 UNTIL a certain australian kart manufacturer didnt have a kart which was eligable to run front brakes and decided to try and change the australian rules AWAY from the world formula (similar to what the same person did to rotax (got any idea who it is yet?? hahahaha)) to suit his kart and team.... This ultimately screwed over the whole concept of re-introducing the most elite level of karting to australia
We have too many classes now! Look at the history. Every time someone tries to intrduce a new engine, the effected classes fall apart....clubman/ARC........J Rotax........Midgits Comer/KT100J
Col Fink said:briggs and stratton have now AKA homologated their "animal" engine... which is about as quick as a J, from my understanding. imagine a junior class that required this engine, a 30mm solid axle, hubs between 65 and 75mm long only, and alloy wheels (no bolt ons).i can't understand why we can't make a class like this, especially for juniors. it's been talked about for YEARS! and before anyone says "the junior classes have good numbers" - who says the junior classes have ALL the people that want to race karting in them already...? if a class allowed you to race for 30% less than you can now, surely more dads would be up for it.cowley, i reckon if you want to improve karting, you start at the bottom, and work your way up. a cheap kids class, that's my opinion.
What can we do? Easy - get out there and advertise to the masses. Obviously there are people out there who love karting - it's shown by the new members clubs get through their gates each month. The AKA are paying a "media company" to promote the sport yet quite frankly the copies of press releases that I get in my inbox I am yet to see in print - anywhere.
how to advertise? Each state has a royal show - melbourne in september, sydney at easter, etc. Last year at the Melbourne one, I saw, BMX assosications, Litlte Athletics, Baton Twirlers, Skateboarding Associations, Dance Associations, for goodness sake there was even a HOT WHEELS club there touting for members!!! Where oh where was the AKA and their promotions people????
How many festivals / country shows / sporting events are held each weekend????? Get out there - whether it be each club doing their own promo or the AKA doing it in conjunction - it cannot be that hard, can it?
The Nationals are coming up in April (yay!) - have you seen any media coverage in the general media? I certainly haven't. There's more coverage for a 100m race in Switzerland.
Get out there and talk about our sport to anyone and everyone who will listen. Encourage people to come to club days, come and try days, and, of course, opens.
Hi All
Great discussion..... I agree with the general concensus of starting at the junior level first so here it goes ...... Introduce the Rotax Micro/Mini Max classes to replace all Midget/Rookie & Nat J's .... the great thing for this is a race team (father/son) can now use the engine right thru out their Junior career as well a senior career.... the rotax is a proven reliable low cost powerful 125 engine (yes I know some of you are ready to throw something at the screen) but after 5 years running rotax's I fully defend my opinion on this statement !!! so then for the 14-15yr olds we maintain JMAX (possibly split between light & heavy) then Seniors Rotax Max only,Masters & DD2 ...... then we have the 2 elite classes which would be KF (Junior & Senior) so this would have a race order at Open/State/National meets of 8-10 classes .... Club level racing should maintain only Midgets/Rookies,National J, Club Light,Heavy etc..... Sorry all the Leopard guys (and Remo) but I believe that this class has really impacted karting over the last 5 years..... only now are the powers to be trying to real in the costs associated with being competitive in this class and for reliability.... maybe Leopard can replace KT100S as the Clubman class at Club level because we need all classes to be TAG asap.... this push start business is just not on for me.... it looks amateur and is down right dangerous please a turn off for the average dad let alone a mum trying offer her son/daughter karting !!!!! so before anyone fires back please don't take anything personal it just my vision for the sport and to make it affordable ... as I have a 6 six year who I am hoping to start karting in the next year or two but I am concerned if I can afford to start his passion or should I never show him our great sport..... (p.s) I hate golf,tennis & athletics...... they are lame !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Southwell said:We have too many classes now! Look at the history. Every time someone tries to intrduce a new engine, the effected classes fall apart....clubman/ARC........J Rotax........Midgits Comer/KT100JCol Fink said:briggs and stratton have now AKA homologated their "animal" engine... which is about as quick as a J, from my understanding. imagine a junior class that required this engine, a 30mm solid axle, hubs between 65 and 75mm long only, and alloy wheels (no bolt ons).i can't understand why we can't make a class like this, especially for juniors. it's been talked about for YEARS! and before anyone says "the junior classes have good numbers" - who says the junior classes have ALL the people that want to race karting in them already...? if a class allowed you to race for 30% less than you can now, surely more dads would be up for it.cowley, i reckon if you want to improve karting, you start at the bottom, and work your way up. a cheap kids class, that's my opinion.
To move karting forward in australia, some classes should be taken out, example, all j classes, but the problem is, if the AKA take out those Yamaha j classes, what does everyone do with there j engines, the aka isn't going to buy them, so who will!
In times like these I really doubt CIK is going to work. There are too many people with visions for CIK for it to get off the ground. Some want to run the European equivalent here in Australia and others want to make it affordable, both having there arguments for and against.
CIK by itself will do nothing to move karting here in Australia anywhere but allow an avenue for drivers to move overseas. I'd like to see CIK here in Australia but I don't see it happening anytime soon.
The whole class structure really needs to be over hauled. Sitting at an open meeting on a Thursday trying to practice and getting 4 runs on the track is pathetic. I hate to use rotax as an example, but I will anyway. They are a perfect example of a motor that can be used throughout any age group. All you need to do is change barrel. Image this, turning up at your City of Melbourne Titles. First Pracice: Mini Max, Second: Junior Max, Third: Senior Max Restricted, Fourth: Senior Max Unrestricted, Fifth: DD2. I'd much rather race in a field of 50-60 karts in A v B v C format. For all of you rotax haters it was just an example, but the most obvious choice as it's what is used in Europe. This could of easily been achieved with the ARC motor, but again too many people wanted their finger in the pie.
Regarding the old motors, there should be a phase out period, then that's it. No arguing, once it's done it's done. I say this with 4 Clubman motors sitting in the shed that I would be more than happy to be devalued to paddock bashes in return for a decent class structure. Everyone is in the same boat, and in 3 years down the track no one will remember the clubman or J's. Once you try to phase them in slowly we will end up with more classes and it never getting off the ground.
Just my opinion.
Brett makes a great point about practice with some many classes.... at the Nationals we hardly at time to have a drink and you were on the grid again.... the real benefit of reduced classes is that these open meetings could be condensed down to Sat/Sun with heaps of laps covered !!! Brett's on the money regarding CIK in OZ it's either all out or why bother might as well stay with controlled 125cc we have ....... and as Brett says classes of 50-60 karts awesome.... now the 1st prioirty is to qualify for Sunday and this would make an great spectacle across the nation with fields of 30+ karts on the track every minute of the weekend NOW THAT"S MARKETABLE..................great debate .....
I guess from your comments that you don't pay any bills.
Luke Rochford said:To move karting forward in australia, some classes should be taken out, example, all j classes, but the problem is, if the AKA take out those Yamaha j classes, what does everyone do with there j engines, the aka isn't going to buy them, so who will!
I agree, and also with CIK. It's supposed to be the pinnacle of kart racing, but it was a reason why it failed last time. Costs were going up and people bailed out. That and it just became a big political pissing competition.
Steve Johnson said:Brett makes a great point about practice with some many classes.... at the Nationals we hardly at time to have a drink and you were on the grid again.... the real benefit of reduced classes is that these open meetings could be condensed down to Sat/Sun with heaps of laps covered !!! Brett's on the money regarding CIK in OZ it's either all out or why bother might as well stay with controlled 125cc we have ....... and as Brett says classes of 50-60 karts awesome.... now the 1st prioirty is to qualify for Sunday and this would make an great spectacle across the nation with fields of 30+ karts on the track every minute of the weekend NOW THAT"S MARKETABLE..................great debate .....
Steve, the fact of the matter is that classes need to be removed. It's going to cost everyone money.
Steve Southwell said:I guess from your comments that you don't pay any bills.
Luke Rochford said:To move karting forward in australia, some classes should be taken out, example, all j classes, but the problem is, if the AKA take out those Yamaha j classes, what does everyone do with there j engines, the aka isn't going to buy them, so who will!
i reckon advertising at the grand prix or motor show.
all the car nuts turn up there, and I'm sure a TONNE would love to give karting a go.
i remember when i first started we had to go looking for karting.
if we put stands with information, videos, simulators running kartsim! (What happened to that btw?)
karting will find the carnuts rather than the other way round