shifter Karting indoors on a temp track

Darren Swisher

Hey fellow ekarters, i was talking to a friend the other day about the state of shifter kart racing in America. He has the idea of using the indoor stadiums around the country to put on shifter kart races. What do you feel would be the large hurdles to over come?

Darren

P.S. I nominate the word "EKARTER" as our official community member name.

Todd Stoffer

I think the toughest thing would be racing on Astroturf.

But seriously - this is a great idea. If they can dump 15 tons of dirt for a supercross race and have it all cleaned up for a football game a week later, I see no reason why they couldn't put down some kind of temporary surface to race karts on.

What about other venues? I've always wanted to open up a shifter kart in NYC's Central Park... Or Cleveland's Rocky River Reservation...

Tim Blaney · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1127

Darren,

What does it cost to rent the facillity? I am guees that is the major hurdle.

dperlick · Joined: 22 Jul 2001 Posts: 30

quote:
Originally posted by Tim Blaney:
What does it cost to rent the facillity? I am guees that is the major hurdle.

Rental seems like it would be expensive, but I've seen stadiums rented out for ProSolos and other seemingly small events. I'll bet that it's pretty reasonable to rent a stadium on a weekend it's not booked for some big event! Besides, the US is filling up with old, idle stadiums these days! Let's go racing in the Silverdome! How about the 8th wonder of the world, the Astrodome? We'll scratch the Kingdome...!

Of course, I fear that the concrete on the floors of these places is pretty polished & slick...?

Tony Gaylord

Like Tim mentioned, I could see were that would be a hurdle, no doubt. BUT, if it could happen, WOW, that would be a lot of fun! I've always wanted to perform/race whatever in front of people in a stadium, just don't put ice skates on me

-

PS: It was nice meeting ya Tim this past weekend! I kinda felt like a maron when we were sitting in Ronnie's motorhome and I said ,"Wheres Blaney at?" and your sitting right damn in front of me. Hehheh heheh.... Katie thought I had to many beers, but I had to explain to her that I never met ya before so I didn't know what ya looked like

Race on-

*TG*

Tim Blaney · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1127

Tony,

That was pretty funny. Hope your ribs are feeling better.

TB

ddroger · Joined: 22 Jul 2001 Posts: 28

They race 2-strokes like Rotax Max indoors in the Paris (France)Bercy complex. It is also used for indoor Moto-trials and a BIG flashy motocross event. I'd say it is do-able 'tho the track would be pretty tight.

Don

Darren Swisher

Roger, Exactly were the idea really came from.

Darren

Nick Weil

Riddle me this...

Let's say someone were able to procure an venue for such a storied event. I have some questions...

How much would anyone be willing to pay to participate in a 1 day event? What about 2 day? 3 day?

Would anyone want to do an Arrive and Drive endurance event as well? And what would you be willing to pay?

If anyone wants to be in one of these events or organinze one of these events these would be the biggest questions to start with I think. I anxiously await as many responses as possible.

Enough of the talk let's see some action...hehe

Nick

Nick Weil

Did everyone lose interest all of a sudden?

Geez...

Nick

Darren Swisher

Nick, to my knowledge this is just an idea. I do not think anyone is actively persuing it.

But maybe if we mash through ifs, ands and buts we can determine if it is venue worth persuing.

so

things we will need: (not in order)

1. Event Sponsorship (ie.Pepsi, Coke, Nike, ect)
2. Sanctioning body for rules, timing and scoring, race direction ect.

3. Stadiums (basically same one as they use for arena cross)

4. Marketing and promotion company

5. Shifter karters (Similar classes as
SKUSA)
6. Fans lots of Fans

I am sure there are more

Tom Argy where are you when you are needed!!!

DArren

Stephen Buckley · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 861

All,
You all have some great ideas. It seems to me that kart "supercross" events are, in a sense, already happening. Aren't Rock Island, Barrie, Chemainus, Port Alberni and all the rest of the many street-type races across the continent doing exactly what you have been describing? Bringing karting to the people? The locale may not be a stadium, however the street race venue sure brings people to watch.

I don't think we can look to the sanctioning bodies for help... it's just not their forte. What this idea need is a promoter(s) with vision, funds, knowledge, experience and a love for karting. They should also be able to profit from the event. I really don't think supercross or arenacross promoters do it for goodness sake.

The other thing that the promoter needs to do is look at karting from the spectators view, NOT the karter's. A spectator wants to see EXCITING, RIVETING action... not a parade. The promoter would need to make it a show! In addition to regular class racing, a "celebrity" race of local media, sports, or business leaders would be great. From a "out of the box" viewpoint, here's what I would run:

1. Kidkarts- everybody loves to watch the little tykes.
2. A 4-cycle class
3. A 100cc class
4. RotaxMax- for obvious reasons
5. 80cc shifter class
6. 125cc shifter class

I would keep the number of classes DOWN, and RAISE the number of entries in each class. Lot's of action, lot's of show, lot's of "extreme-type" announcing, lot's of pazzazz! It would also help the cause if the racing venue was coordinated with a larger event, such as Seattle's SeaFair, or a town celebration.

You must capture the imagination of that little boy or girl, or the adult that is on the brink of a new sport venture. You must also have an information booth just brimming with brochures, posters, pictures of the racers, maybe even a racing celeb or two. Karters would have to understand that an event like this is not about them, but for the spectators and the promotion of kart racing. Anything else???
S

Jake Thompson

I agree, we need a race in an arena, it would be awesome for drawing spectators, although the fumes may kill everyone. Then afterwords we can put the ice back in and all play hockey, canadians vs everyone else

ronnie simpson · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 4 Location: atlanta, ga, us of a

Stephen has the right idea. if this were to happen, it needs to be promoted from a spectator's standpoint. everyone in the kart industry should be there with tons of brochures, posters, memorabalia, souvenirs, merchandise, etc. maybe even set up a small track with a demo ride in a rotax, or something like that. i think that, if marketed correctly, karting could be a big spectator sport.

Gary Kozuma1 · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 386

Judging by all the postings on this subject, this is a great idea! I believe it would really require one of the larger stadiums if you wanted to include shifters. The basketball stadiums are really only like 120' long so that's pretty short. A football/baseball stadium is more like 420' long so that would be a lot better.

Now if we can just develop a temporary racing surface we can put down in an outdoor stadium...

Gary K.