Karting to the General public

Justin Martin · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 328

I just got into an argument with some coworkers. These are the kind of guys that just got a GSXR 600 and act like they have been riding for years. They base someone knowledge and experience on who has the "coolest" bike, it seems like. I personally do not ride on the road, but I have used to ride track days on my track specific Zx-6R, and can pick out every bit of BS these guys spit out their mouth. It seems as if all they care about is straight line speed, and couldn't hold a corner for the life of them.

Anyhow, you all know SOMEONE like this, they dont know a piston from a cylinder... Well this group of fellas and I got in an argument. They seem to think "karting" is going out to an amusement park and racing 8 year olds... I have tried and tried to inform them that Kart racing, and shifter karts are nothing like that, they dont believe me that a shifter kart can do 0-60-0 in 6 seconds...

HOW THE HELL DO YOU DEAL WITH THEM?

When it comes down to it I truely don't care what they think, it would just be nice to shut them up once in a while....

John Matthews · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:27 am Post subject:

Bring your new Aixro kart to work and let them ride it around the parking lot Wink

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Ryan Leger · Joined: 19 Jul 2012 Posts: 133

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZStTJ7W7A80

just show them thise video they will shut up

David Cole · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

Show them these videos:

http://youtu.be/TV2lybdqLdo

http://youtu.be/wToJTfNxApo

http://youtu.be/lAnXp_L6RjI

https://vimeo.com/49420275
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Justin Martin · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 328

Lol thanks guys... Howver these fella's are worthless.... I guess they just have that mental block and don't understand what a contact patch, or power to weight ratio means, and how it can be compared to speed.

Super douche tool bag answer: yeah but on a longer tack the motorcycle (or ferrari) would smoke it....

Lol... People seem to not understand that you have to turn eventually, and when you do, your hyabusa, Ferrari, Bugatti, wont stand a chance to something designed for more than a straight line.

Ps John Matthews, I dont have an Aixro. If the racing scene were bigger I would. As for now I am running Rotax Sr. I grew up racing Shifters, however can only afford one kart and one class at the moment Sad

lol

John Matthews · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:34 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately karting will probably always be looked down at by folks who don't know what it's about. There have been so many discussions on here about how to get more people involved but the reality seems to be that unless they get into a kart and turn a few laps they'll never understand.

BRP (Rotax) is one of the biggest powersports companies in the world and if they (and Yamaha a generation ago) can't convince the unwashed masses how cool karting is then I doubt we'll be able to do it.

Best bet is to just put a picture of you making a victory lap with the checkered flag up in your cube and let them know you're actually involved in racing rather than just talking smack.

Cheers,
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Ken Schilling · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 1344

I remember a TV series a couple of years ago that was based in Canada that covered a selection process for a sponsored Star Mazda ride. Lorenzo Mandarino was one of the finalists. About half of the contestants were karters and the other half were from a variety of motorsports (cars, motorcycles, etc...). In one of the episodes where the non-karters were introduced to the karters, the non-karters were totally downplaying the karters abilities and actually made fun of them. In the end, the karters kicked butt and the non-karters were very quickly eliminated.

This being said, I don't know how much of the non-karters reactions were real or exaggerated for the cameras... (obviously editing had a lot to do with it too).

So, even in the motorsports world (at least in this case), karting isn't viewed very highly.

But we know how difficult and competitive karting is and how it's essential in the motorsports ladder, especially in open wheel racing (all the way to F1).
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Justin Martin · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 328

Truthfully I think in any open wheel, such as SCCA etc they know karting is where it is at, I think is the guys in their Subaru's and Evo's that downplay it.... It doesn't matter though cause almost every F1 driver came from karting, that means something....

Still. Just wish these Tools would at least realize... but if its not a 1200cc sport bike they think it is trash, oh well.

Roger Miller · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 4:03 pm Post subject:

Well, there isn't any real way to demonstrate this to them, but it was a great experience back in 2005, whcn the Superkarts went to Miller Motorsports Park for the first time, and ran as a group during a weekend of motorcycle racing. All was just winks and "hi"s to the karters spread around the pits and garages until we went out to Qualify on the 2nd day.

As the announcer was reporting fast times, the garages and pits emptied as all the motorcycles guys were freaking out at the times being announced for the Superkarts out on track and when we came in and cleared the scales and headed back to our pits around the facility, there were groups of guys checking out the karts and drivers and asking questions and generally suddenly very interested in what the heck a go-kart could do.

Jim Derrig · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject:

Clark Gaynor · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9EGmp3Yo4U&feature=youtu.be

Here's an in kart video from 2011 at NJMP Lightning course, Stock Honda lead group, WKA National Road Race event. Neat gauge display.

Pretty cool--- let's see the bike guys do those turns that fast!

Benn Herr · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1580

I explain it to them this way:

You know how fast a dirt bike is, right? (most of them have ridden one).

They nod their heads and say yes.

And when you go from the dirt to the pavement the front end heads for the sky?

They say "Oh yeah!"

I say, "That's how shifter karts are all the time."

They usually talk about something else after that. Cool

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Clark Gaynor · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:13 pm Post subject:

Benn, very cool!! I'll keep that one in mind. Cool

Spencer Uzri · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 798

Pearls to squids. Don't waste your time.

Honestly - do you really want that caliber of individuals to get involved in karting? Part of the draw this sport has for me is the quality of the people in it. I don't want that spoiled by transplants from the squid ranks. Idiots on 2 wheels = natural selection in progress. Let Darwin do his thing.

Justin Martin · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 328

I do have to agree. I grew up racing moto's and karts as a kid. I was never that tool that many imagine... not the been riding for a year but act like I've been riding for 10 kinda guy... I have never rode on the road, and kept strictly to the track. Even from a moto perspective I hate these guys! Now as a more serious karter, I hate them even more.