Hi Rolf, Why does it matter if a company, individual or club promotes a Superkart race meeting/s?
I am just thankful that someone is doing it in a consistent, methodical method so that the teams can plan their racing calendars each year. Other teams must also agree as they keep entering the meetings each year.
In a perfect world, everyone would be civil and work together for the common good - until that day, I appreciate what the SKA have done and are doing for our sport. :)
BTW - have you seen the Superkarting brochure that the SKA have been giving out at their meetings? it is worth a look: http://www.superkartsaustralia.org/uploads/SKA_Promotional%20Flyer_[2016][1].pdf
Its not about who is running the event (SKA). We just don't have the numbers anymore to run a 3 round series that attracts the prestige and admiration of a bygone era.
KISS KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.
Try this recipe: 1. Regroup (Single all in nationals) 2. KISS (Self explanatory) 3. Grow (If we don't, it's over) 4. Interest (Get new members and people talking) 5. Sponsorship (Enough people know about us now) 6. SKA type company to take us to the next level (Multi-round televised nationals - Support to major category)
I find it funny you have an opinion Allen, but seemingly no kart to support any event. Maybe if you actually competed at the two most recent 'events' at Phillip Island you would have a clearer picture of what a 'beneficial' for competitors event looks like. I certainly know which I'll be supporting in the future, and that's not an attack on the company/persons that stick a considerable amount of their own money into to make it viable.
Here's my thoughts on the future based on the last two events held at Phillip Island, the two day 'Festival of Superkarts' and three day Shannon's Nationals. Festival - 62 entries, 6 classes - 10.33 average karts per class, heaps of atmosphere, drivers lounge, mixed weather $450 entry 95 mins track time over 2 days
Shannon's - 25 entries, 3 classes - 8.33 average karts per class, zero atmosphere, treated like shit by promotors (Shannon's, not SKA) Food provided BBQ, mixed weather, $670 entry 105 mins track time over 3 days
There was 23 gearbox entries at the Festival. Now 10 of the gearbox drivers competed at both events. It should be noted that at the SKA first round there was 24 entries, six of those did not compete at the second round.
My belief is the future of the sport lies in a single Festival event. Look at the possibility of 62 entries combined with the 15 gearbox that were at the Shannon's round, plus 6 from the first round and that's 83 entries! Coupled with the fact that NSW had a club day on same weekend which prevented some NGB competitors running, then 85+ entries is attainable.
What it would take though would be that it be run at PI for the next two years to gauge growth, plus it's also proved to be viable. Then you have a proven product/competitor base that you can go to SMP/ARDC or Tetley/Qld Raceway, ASC/Mallala and ask for three slots with a proven track record and not be laughed at.
Yes I know there then needs to be unity between the clubs but it could work. Three options are percentage of profits split between clubs or cash back as a percentage of entrants as compensation. $50 per competitors entry rebated to his states club to encourage clubs to back the concept. Or even have a scaled system of Entries, $500 entry to Victorian drivers, $450 for NSW/SA, $400 to Qld/WA to help competitors.
Also one event is easier to gain sponsorship for, naming rights sponsorship with 80+ entrants looks way more attractive then 25. As I said, just my opinion but from where I sit it's the prefer erred option. Multiple rounds is too expensive, hence why only Jordie has raced SKA while we have run six karts at the Festival. It's sad when you have more 250's sitting in your workshop than running around a racetrack.
And my point was .... to highlight the fact that we tried a different format and it has not worked by any way or method with which you choose to measure the outcome.
I have not bagged the SKA at all, they were simply the vehicle chosen/created to take us down a different path, and my point was to show that that path failed to deliver a single benefit to the sport.
At what time do you say this is a failure , this is not working, we are not going anywhere , and then make a change ?? That's got to be now or we will go down an ever decreasing spiral.
Do you know how frustrating it is to be a Superkart manufacturer and general kart shop owner and have just lost complete faith in where we are heading. I have to explain the why's and wherefores to all manner of people that enquire about our sport - and part of that process is taking in the responses and gleaning from these prospective new members what they are looking for in a sport like ours. They are simply not looking for what we are offering , or the manner in which we are offering it.
Put simply, we are missing the marketplace's requirements.
The one faint hope I can hang onto for any improvement at this time is the new facility being built outside Adelaide will stand at least equal to either Philip Island or Eastern Creek, and then South Australia will have something that is not considered a goat track to which everyone will want to come and race.
May have escalated quickly, but fell off the cliff soon after. However the chat needs to continue to see what more of the Superkart community think the sport needs.
Apart from enjoying themselves, they were seeing how it is done elsewhere ........... you only race at home all your life and never go interstate then all you know as normal is what happens on your own doorstep.
Of interest was firstly who are the NGB drivers, have they all got nosecones , are they all 16 or 60 years of age. To run our sport nationally we need to know what is required to cover all the bases, so although this information is at the fingertips of each club, they rarely communicate so we get no overview.
Next was to look at the mixing of classes, it is not something we do here in SA, and at each Nationals event they have attended the classes have been split. So just being on the track and understanding how it was arranged is useful information.
Brandon Stillwell and Jim Gorman have raced in Qld, NSW , Vic and SA this year, so their thoughts on how each state does its thing, how the different tracks and organisers do their thing, it is all information gathering. And Jim wants to move to a Stock Honda in 2017, so he has very few of them to study here at home but he has had that opportunity when he went away.
Here in SA we have one track and one man owns and runs it. We do as he tells us or we cannot race. What the boys learned from the NSW organisation was they ran the Superkarts at a 2 day event, but only went on track on Sunday. The Saturday spot was taken by the Radicals. So that's an idea when we get offered a 2 day meeting here at Mallala and another category also feels like they don't need to be out there for both days , we share the event with them and each of us gets what we want , without both of us missing out on a prime race meeting.
There are many little things we can all do to improve our sport, but the sharing of organisation skills and the like is one that 95% of competitors never think about, that's left to the 5% and they are just so busy "doing" that they have no time left to think about and make changes..
[quote]Apart from enjoying themselves, they were seeing how it is done elsewhere ........... you only race at home all your life and never go interstate then all you know as normal is what happens on your own doorstep[/quote]p.
[quote]There are many little things we can all do to improve our sport, but the sharing of organisation skills and the like is one that 95% of competitors never think about, that's left to the 5% and they are just so busy "doing" that they have no time left to think about and make changes.. [/quote]
Comments17
Re: Nationals
One sport One nationals, one event.
Read between the lines all you like, Who is not the question here.
It's about entry numbers. So it remains viable and competitive.
Please read my post again
All the best.
Re: Nationals
But that's none of my business and I don't wish to be accused of anything.
;)
Re: Nationals
I have read many of your posts over the years and I have not got the impression that you support the SKA at all; am I wrong about that?
Regards,
Allan.
Re: Nationals
I do not support any private entity dictating to our sport.
Dictating may be a bit harsh, please feel free to insert a softer word.
The "names" of private entities do not come into it. There is no personal agenda against any one or more persons.
It's the word "private"
But this is still driving the post away from it's intention about the sustainability of Multi rounds.
Re: Nationals
Why does it matter if a company, individual or club promotes a Superkart race meeting/s?
I am just thankful that someone is doing it in a consistent, methodical method so that the teams can plan their racing calendars each year. Other teams must also agree as they keep entering the meetings each year.
In a perfect world, everyone would be civil and work together for the common good - until that day, I appreciate what the SKA have done and are doing for our sport. :)
BTW - have you seen the Superkarting brochure that the SKA have been giving out at their meetings? it is worth a look: http://www.superkartsaustralia.org/uploads/SKA_Promotional%20Flyer_[2016][1].pdf
Re: Nationals
Re: Nationals
Alan; for fu@ks sake.
Its not about who is running the event (SKA). We just don't have the numbers anymore to run a 3 round series that attracts the prestige and admiration of a bygone era.
KISS
KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.
Try this recipe:
1. Regroup (Single all in nationals)
2. KISS (Self explanatory)
3. Grow (If we don't, it's over)
4. Interest (Get new members and people talking)
5. Sponsorship (Enough people know about us now)
6. SKA type company to take us to the next level (Multi-round televised nationals - Support to major category)
Re: Nationals
Please share with us your current nationals entry history.
(As a such a vocal and strong supporter of the current arrangement.)
My last recollection is of the AASA Nationals at Wakefield (2013)
But I'm happy to be proved wrong. I think you also ran at Malalla, but again not under the current arrangement.
One last question. What is your current Club standing. as in member of?
Re: Nationals
Re: Nationals
Festival - 62 entries, 6 classes - 10.33 average karts per class, heaps of atmosphere, drivers lounge, mixed weather $450 entry 95 mins track time over 2 days
Shannon's - 25 entries, 3 classes - 8.33 average karts per class, zero atmosphere, treated like shit by promotors (Shannon's, not SKA) Food provided BBQ, mixed weather, $670 entry 105 mins track time over 3 days
There was 23 gearbox entries at the Festival. Now 10 of the gearbox drivers competed at both events. It should be noted that at the SKA first round there was 24 entries, six of those did not compete at the second round.
My belief is the future of the sport lies in a single Festival event. Look at the possibility of 62 entries combined with the 15 gearbox that were at the Shannon's round, plus 6 from the first round and that's 83 entries!
Coupled with the fact that NSW had a club day on same weekend which prevented some NGB competitors running, then 85+ entries is attainable.
What it would take though would be that it be run at PI for the next two years to gauge growth, plus it's also proved to be viable. Then you have a proven product/competitor base that you can go to SMP/ARDC or Tetley/Qld Raceway, ASC/Mallala and ask for three slots with a proven track record and not be laughed at.
Yes I know there then needs to be unity between the clubs but it could work. Three options are percentage of profits split between clubs or cash back as a percentage of entrants as compensation. $50 per competitors entry rebated to his states club to encourage clubs to back the concept. Or even have a scaled system of Entries, $500 entry to Victorian drivers, $450 for NSW/SA, $400 to Qld/WA to help competitors.
Also one event is easier to gain sponsorship for, naming rights sponsorship with 80+ entrants looks way more attractive then 25. As I said, just my opinion but from where I sit it's the prefer erred option. Multiple rounds is too expensive, hence why only Jordie has raced SKA while we have run six karts at the Festival. It's sad when you have more 250's sitting in your workshop than running around a racetrack.
Re: Nationals
I have not bagged the SKA at all, they were simply the vehicle chosen/created to take us down a different path, and my point was to show that that path failed to deliver a single benefit to the sport.
At what time do you say this is a failure , this is not working, we are not going anywhere , and then make a change ?? That's got to be now or we will go down an ever decreasing spiral.
Do you know how frustrating it is to be a Superkart manufacturer and general kart shop owner and have just lost complete faith in where we are heading. I have to explain the why's and wherefores to all manner of people that enquire about our sport - and part of that process is taking in the responses and gleaning from these prospective new members what they are looking for in a sport like ours. They are simply not looking for what we are offering , or the manner in which we are offering it.
Put simply, we are missing the marketplace's requirements.
The one faint hope I can hang onto for any improvement at this time is the new facility being built outside Adelaide will stand at least equal to either Philip Island or Eastern Creek, and then South Australia will have something that is not considered a goat track to which everyone will want to come and race.
Re: Nationals
Re: Nationals
Oh please
Re: Nationals
Re: Nationals
Re: Nationals
Of interest was firstly who are the NGB drivers, have they all got nosecones , are they all 16 or 60 years of age. To run our sport nationally we need to know what is required to cover all the bases, so although this information is at the fingertips of each club, they rarely communicate so we get no overview.
Next was to look at the mixing of classes, it is not something we do here in SA, and at each Nationals event they have attended the classes have been split. So just being on the track and understanding how it was arranged is useful information.
Brandon Stillwell and Jim Gorman have raced in Qld, NSW , Vic and SA this year, so their thoughts on how each state does its thing, how the different tracks and organisers do their thing, it is all information gathering. And Jim wants to move to a Stock Honda in 2017, so he has very few of them to study here at home but he has had that opportunity when he went away.
Here in SA we have one track and one man owns and runs it. We do as he tells us or we cannot race. What the boys learned from the NSW organisation was they ran the Superkarts at a 2 day event, but only went on track on Sunday. The Saturday spot was taken by the Radicals. So that's an idea when we get offered a 2 day meeting here at Mallala and another category also feels like they don't need to be out there for both days , we share the event with them and each of us gets what we want , without both of us missing out on a prime race meeting.
There are many little things we can all do to improve our sport, but the sharing of organisation skills and the like is one that 95% of competitors never think about, that's left to the 5% and they are just so busy "doing" that they have no time left to think about and make changes..
Re: Nationals
[quote]There are many little things we can all do to improve our sport, but the sharing of organisation skills and the like is one that 95% of competitors never think about, that's left to the 5% and they are just so busy "doing" that they have no time left to think about and make changes.. [/quote]
Truer words have never been spoken