EKN Editorial: The Bottom Line w/Rob Howden - 10.22.08

[David Cole]

Hello EKN viewers,

A new EKN Editorial from Rob Howden looks at making karting affordable again.

To view the article, click http://www.ekartingnews.com/news_info.php?n=11106

To discuss the topic, please post below and remember to follow the EKN Forum guidelines.
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David Cole
News Desk Manager
eKartingNews.com
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[Chris Livengood]

Woot for a licensing system and MXK chassis (also my first chassis).
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[Keith Bridgeman]

Good Article.

I think getting more low cost karting options is very do-able. I also think karting has gotten to complicated and that has had an effect on cost.

When I started Karting in 99, I started in a shifter with SKUSA. Back then there weren't near as many classes. There where the briggs classes, Yamaha variations and then 80cc and 125 shifter. It seemed like back then karters in general had a better idea how to spend their money and what the true progression in cost really was. They would race Briggs for many years, then maybe Yamaha and then if they wanted to continue they would get an 80cc shifter and then by that point they where up to a 125 shifter and ready for the higher levels of SKUSA. Even SKUSA had a license system which was brilliant.

This might sound bad but I blame TAG as a major part of Kartings problems. Added to many more classes and way to many engines. All with the illusion that they where cheap. They are not. I think many people see the TAG combo as easy so they jump into it to quick and find themselves over their heads. I always felt that many people then and now understood the costs of a shifter kart but where prepared by the time they got their.

Back in my first stint of Karting from 99-02 things where much simpler then they are now. Hell you could show up at a Promoto tour event with your small trailer and 2 year old chassis and feel ok about it.
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Merlin / Maxter KZ

[Rick Crist]

This should be very interesting .......

[gregg boyce]

Rob's article is spot on IMHO.

Keith,

I agree. I think TaG/RMax just might turn out to be a bad thing for karting...and I have one.

I have found myself longing for the simpler days. I've been poking around at World Formula because I'm just not convinced that I'm getting the bang for the buck out of the TaG. And its not a question of being able to afford it or not. I just look at what I'm spending and think "Am I getting a propotional amount of fun out of this compared to the money and time I'm putting in?" The answer lately is not really. I know oppinions will vary, but its really a question each individual has to answer for themselves.

GB
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My imaginary friend says your crazy.

[Micah Rianna]

This topic sounds like what a few guys were discussing almost a year and a half ago!...

http://ekartingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=59745&highlight=Stock+Honda&sid=323f59a5a4a9b249efe29710b99f3760

[Max Wood]

Good article Rob. Unfortunately, the national orgs have ignored the club-only racers for so long many local tracks are already implementing their version of an entry-level classes. This has caused inconsistency for this demographic.

I have multiple tracks within an hour of home, and they each have very different approaches to the entry-level class. One has a sealed Briggs, one went to Honda, and the other uses a KT100 with 3-hole can. When I started karting, I could go to any of these tracks and race a decent field of flathead racers.

The grass-roots circle track folks are going cheap chinese engines. Basically history began to repeat itself once the flathead got killed off.

At this point, I think it's going to be hard to drive down a entry-level class spec. To do this, we'll need to get the karting trilogy (Tracks, Orgs, Shops) together to drive this home. We'll need to be patient and consistent with the approach, as it'll take a few years to take root. Basically waiting for new customers to buy into it. It probably will require a seed program.

The good news is that this is the time to prepare for when the market improves, and new customers start coming into the sport. It's also a perfect opportunity for the American kart companies to make a come-back.

[Rick Crist]

[Rob Howden]

[Keith Bridgeman]

Every topic has been discussed before in some form.
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http://bridgemanbroskarting.blogspot.com/
Merlin / Maxter KZ

[Jerry Clayton]

SUPPLY and DEMAND

People aren't demanding the basic stuff needed

Euros are supplying what no one wants

Maybe the Chinese will straighten it out

Dirt circle racing shows that the basics are still in the majority

It needs to get away from all Euro 3 letter things---TAG, CIK, ICC, KR-


The engine manufacturers aren't following a standard of port heights,etc like the old PP and reed/rotary classes---everyone of them wants to run a totally different engine package and because of that there isn't any class where different engines can race each other

anything that the size is speced in mm should be outlawed----

OK now really----if you set up a line where on the left end you had TAG, ICC, CIK and you then progressed across the board with say Briggs flathead on the far right, with rotaries, reed, PP, Yamaha, HPV,820s, etc all located at some spot on the line according to there status---then over shadowing that with some different direction lines that represented club, regional series,special events,special tracks(Road America, Daytona,Vegas), circle, oval,dirt,pavement,long track, heat/main event,age groups,tropht/cash, you would see many angles that would maybe enlighten the organizers/clubs/promoters----

But all efforts at round tables previously has been controlled by the Euro manufacters/importers and it has went nowhere

Jerry

[Doug Welch]

It can be done. A basic 2 bearing kart, 40mm axle, simple Wilwood brake system, Douglas spun wheels. Scribner plastic. No CIK but who cares!
Here's the engine.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96549

For an additional $25, you can get a 1 year warranty. Blow it up, get another one.
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Doug

[Greg Johnson]

TIRES TIRES TIRES. Way to pricey. This is the single biggest $ killer .

[Sanford Mitz]

Gee Rob, about time you put your head in clear air. Four years ago at Badger we started the TAG Masters Series. Ten race series, 35 and older.
Last year we had 35 racers registered and had fields ranging from 16 to 24 karts. We sent press releases in after every race to Ekartingnews, and not once was I contacted to find out more about this very successful local series. It was always Stars, WKA, blah blah. Granted, TAG karts are a bit more pricey, but the concept of our series would work with anything. We visualized what the racer wanted, based on time involved, number or races, etc. I'm sure there are other local programs with equal success. Let's start building this sport back up by very strong, well organized, affordable local programs. Forming some regional type series, with club vs, club also makes sense. The national events will enjoy the success of strong club and regional programs, since there will always be some that want to go to the next level. This could be the training ground and feeder.

Sandy Mitz
Badger TAG Masters

[Rob Howden]