UK Karting - Notice Board (2-Stroke Karting) : Re: The future of karting in the UK

Notice Board (2-Stroke Karting)

Re: The future of karting in the UK
Posted by 'PennilessFather' on 01 Nov 2012 @ 01:02

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PennilessFatherJoined: July 2012
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My suggestion to encourage growth in karting would be to encourage more of a 'club' atmosphere at the tracks.

As a new dad/lad enterprise, it has been somewhat daunting turning up at some locations for testing / practice, to be faced with the large cadet teams strutting around like they own the place and turning their noses up at any newcomers just starting out.

This is where Hooton park wins by a mile - the paddock is pretty friendly and most people are more than happy to help each other out with technical advice or support if asked. Bob is also very approachable and seems to encourage suggestions to develop the series. It make both financial sense for him and also lets the people who go to the meetings feel more part of the whole experience.

The majority of the cadet grid are all in the same boat - we want our kids to enjoy their karting by engaging in competitive but fair and clean racing, without investing stupid amounts of money just to get them to the front of the grid. Race days do tend to be fairly hectic affairs and time tends to be precious between heats if changes need to be made to setup etc. However, the majority of incidents on the track seem to be settled in an amicable fashion and I am impressed as to how supportive and encouraging the majority of the drivers in the more senior classes have been - setting a good example to the younger drivers.

If the circuits / clubs were to foster a more club like approach with training days at all levels, or weekends for club activities, more people would feel 'at home' on the full race days and probably less likely to drift away due to sheer frustration. A good comparison is with sailing clubs (my background as a kid) where the club is the main priority and racing a part of it rather than the sole reason for its existance.

The problem is that a large number of the circuits are predominantly commercial enterprises rather than clubs being run for or by the members. In sailing, most clubs require that the safety and general duties are shared out amongst the members on a rota basis. This means that members get to see issues from both sides (ie running races / marshalling etc) and there is no doubt that this helps to give a good rounded perspective to the participants.

A governing body is necessary to regulate and develop safety and driving standards, but should be sympathetic to its members and communicate its decisions and the process as to how they have arrived at these decisions clearly. It also needs to implement them in a consistent manner.

Perhaps the MSA should take a step backwards away from the day to day running of club level meetings, but issue 'gold standard' guidelines for all its member clubs to implement in a fashion and approach that suits their particular needs. However, I do feel that they should remain 'in charge' at a national level (eg Super1) and set a standard that others would wish to aspire to, rather than ridicule or constantly moan about.

Indikart racing, whilst great fun, is not the panacea that some make it out to be. It has its restrictions - particularly when no real control over the engines is undertaken. Perhaps there should be two divisions within each class. One to cater for those who want to compete with standard equipment and another for those who want to wring every last bit out of their gear and spend a huge mountain of cash doing so.

At the end of the day, however, it is up to us as participants to do something about how we want the sport to be run and become actively engaged in the process, rather than sit around bitching the whole time !!

Is karting expensive ? -Yes.
Could costs be contained more ? - Probably.
Is Karting going to dwindle away ? - Not if I can help it.

It is up to us - I'd much prefer my son to be karting rather than kicking a pig's bladder around a muddy pitch, listening to other parents hurling abuse at the referee and each other every Sunday !!

Message Thread:

The future of karting in the UK by 'deangwigan' (29 Oct 2012 @ 22:05)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'simog' (29 Oct 2012 @ 22:38)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Dunny' (29 Oct 2012 @ 22:42)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Chris34' (29 Oct 2012 @ 23:10)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Racing393' (30 Oct 2012 @ 12:44)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'davidmc' (30 Oct 2012 @ 12:54)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Racing393' (30 Oct 2012 @ 13:09)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'stemorton46' (31 Oct 2012 @ 17:21)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'buzzinrussell' (01 Nov 2012 @ 12:06)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Phitzy2' (03 Nov 2012 @ 9:34)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'PennilessFather' (29 Oct 2012 @ 23:26)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Mullac' (30 Oct 2012 @ 0:40)

Re: Mullac by 'Chris34' (30 Oct 2012 @ 2:11)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'jamydonut' (31 Oct 2012 @ 21:13)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Phitzy2' (03 Nov 2012 @ 9:37)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Birel' (30 Oct 2012 @ 7:24)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Bucky' (30 Oct 2012 @ 8:26)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'kai' (30 Oct 2012 @ 8:37)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'sciroccokarter' (30 Oct 2012 @ 9:34)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'buzzinrussell' (30 Oct 2012 @ 12:11)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'RocketMan46' (30 Oct 2012 @ 12:42)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Racing393' (30 Oct 2012 @ 13:04)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'kai' (30 Oct 2012 @ 12:57)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'davidmc' (30 Oct 2012 @ 13:02)

Re: The future of karting in the UK - Clarity by 'deangwigan' (30 Oct 2012 @ 14:26)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Iwan' (31 Oct 2012 @ 13:46)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Jasper' (30 Oct 2012 @ 13:59)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'BombHead' (30 Oct 2012 @ 15:05)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Jasper' (30 Oct 2012 @ 16:40)

Re: Jasper by 'buzzinrussell' (30 Oct 2012 @ 15:09)

Re: Jasper by 'Jasper' (30 Oct 2012 @ 16:49)

Re: Jasper by 'buzzinrussell' (31 Oct 2012 @ 13:35)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Mullac' (30 Oct 2012 @ 15:37)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'kai' (30 Oct 2012 @ 16:07)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'bodger' (30 Oct 2012 @ 19:49)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'racingjase' (30 Oct 2012 @ 21:55)

The future of karting in the UK by 'positivekarter' (30 Oct 2012 @ 23:41)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Reg' (31 Oct 2012 @ 0:26)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Jasper' (31 Oct 2012 @ 8:51)

jasper The future of karting in the UK by 'positivekarter' (31 Oct 2012 @ 14:26)

Re: jasper The future of karting in the UK by 'Jasper' (31 Oct 2012 @ 14:39)

Re: jasper The future of karting in the UK by 'Discobob' (31 Oct 2012 @ 16:46)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Jasper' (31 Oct 2012 @ 8:53)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'PennilessFather' << You are here!

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'richydehav' (01 Nov 2012 @ 9:48)

Re: anybody know how to set up an E-Petition ? by 'buzzinrussell' (01 Nov 2012 @ 15:36)

Re: anybody know how to set up an E-Petition ? by 'richydehav' (01 Nov 2012 @ 16:16)

Re: anybody know how to set up an E-Petition ? by 'buzzinrussell' (01 Nov 2012 @ 16:32)

Re: anybody know how to set up an E-Petition ? by 'SimonS' (01 Nov 2012 @ 22:35)

Re: anybody know how to set up an E-Petition ? by 'Tricky12' (05 Nov 2012 @ 15:37)

Apathy perhaps? by 'colin' (31 Oct 2012 @ 9:40)

Indikart association? by 'BanzaiBoy' (31 Oct 2012 @ 9:55)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'Jasper' (31 Oct 2012 @ 10:17)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'Jasper' (31 Oct 2012 @ 10:22)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'kai' (31 Oct 2012 @ 10:28)

What were the best years by 'RocketMan46' (31 Oct 2012 @ 10:51)

Re: What were the best years by 'Iwan' (31 Oct 2012 @ 13:47)

Re: What were the best years by 'mccarro' (31 Oct 2012 @ 16:57)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'cjm2009' (31 Oct 2012 @ 11:04)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'dynamax' (31 Oct 2012 @ 11:24)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'VanDiemen' (31 Oct 2012 @ 12:11)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'michaelg36' (31 Oct 2012 @ 14:40)

Re: Apathy perhaps? by 'Traxtar' (31 Oct 2012 @ 15:28)

OK OK So lets discuss how to fix it... by 'deangwigan' (31 Oct 2012 @ 15:54)

Re: OK OK So lets discuss how to fix it... by 'Berniewade' (31 Oct 2012 @ 16:47)

Re: OK OK So lets discuss how to fix it... by 'richydehav' (31 Oct 2012 @ 18:40)

Re: OK OK So lets discuss how to fix it... by 'Chris34' (01 Nov 2012 @ 1:04)

Re: OK OK So lets discuss how to fix it... by 'SimonS' (01 Nov 2012 @ 2:12)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'TCL' (01 Nov 2012 @ 6:49)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'NJB' (01 Nov 2012 @ 8:35)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'Jasper' (01 Nov 2012 @ 10:12)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'Aquila' (01 Nov 2012 @ 10:19)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'richardmcculloch69' (09 Nov 2012 @ 12:10)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'SimonS' (01 Nov 2012 @ 13:28)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'Racing393' (01 Nov 2012 @ 13:56)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'davidmc' (01 Nov 2012 @ 14:33)

Re: Information by 'Graham S' (01 Nov 2012 @ 15:37)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'Jasper' (02 Nov 2012 @ 9:15)

Re: Whinge, whinge, whinge by 'racingjase' (01 Nov 2012 @ 18:57)

Re: No trace by 'Graham S' (03 Nov 2012 @ 10:25)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'RichardB' (01 Nov 2012 @ 16:23)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Racing393' (01 Nov 2012 @ 16:43)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'colin' (01 Nov 2012 @ 17:32)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'davidmc' (01 Nov 2012 @ 17:59)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Traxtar' (01 Nov 2012 @ 19:41)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'stemorton46' (01 Nov 2012 @ 21:36)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Traxtar' (02 Nov 2012 @ 15:21)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'buzzinrussell' (02 Nov 2012 @ 16:20)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'davidmc' (02 Nov 2012 @ 16:58)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'SimonS' (01 Nov 2012 @ 22:19)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'Chris34' (02 Nov 2012 @ 0:36)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'mickypea' (01 Nov 2012 @ 17:40)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'buzzinrussell' (01 Nov 2012 @ 19:21)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'NickyW' (01 Nov 2012 @ 19:32)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'stemorton46' (01 Nov 2012 @ 19:44)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'buzzinrussell' (01 Nov 2012 @ 20:08)

Re: The future of karting in the UK by 'stevehf2' (02 Nov 2012 @ 16:31)

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