The Bottom Line - Reading a Positive Trend into the Numbers

David Cole

A new column from EKN Publisher Rob Howden was posted this morning. If you have a chance, give it a read and we would love to hear your feedback and comments on the subject.

http://www.ekartingnews.com/news_info.php?n=19722
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jim rogero · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:10 pm Post subject:

I think it is great. Good read.

Thom Andresen · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject:

Having participated in many of the events mentioned, I too think it is a great positive read. Wink

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Jerry Brown · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject: very nice read

A positive and informative read. I really enjoyed it.

Thank You

Jerry

Augie Lerch · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:40 pm Post subject:

The question to this is what is happenning to the clubs that feed the racers to these series?

Club participation and new driver growth has sufferred in our area. Without healthy clubs, the pool will run dry at the regional and national level.

josh Garwood · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:58 pm Post subject:

Definitely a nicely written article.
I feel like we are our own poison as far as club participation goes. As a stated on a forum started on Facebook, we need to get back to helping out the new folks. Talking to them. Make them feel welcome at the tracks and So on.
Karting can be intimidating when you first start out. You show up and see these huge trailers and sometimes big rigs. We've got to do a better job of keeping these new folks coming back and not scare them off. Lets make them want to come back to hang out with their new friends while their learning the ropes. Think customer service
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Mike Sirochman · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:23 am Post subject:

Good to hear.
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Rob Howden · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:36 am Post subject:

Brian Wilhelm · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:04 am Post subject: !

Nicely done Rob!
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Jeff Wesell · Advertiser Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 128

Fantastic article Rob!
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Don Guilbeault · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:43 am Post subject: karting

Rob-very well written. This past year DRT Racing has had the opportunity to run a wide variety of events. We have run road race,sprint and street races. I would agree with you karting is heading in a positive direction despite the economic challenges facing many.
Of all the karting orgs we were part of last year, one orginization has impressed me- SKUSA. Tom Kutcher and his staff run the best event of any we have raced.
The entry numbers for WKA/ Daytona this year were very good in sprint/road race and dirt. Unfortunatly there was no info of any kind coming from Daytona which hurts. I personally would like to see EKN be part of the Daytona event each year. It will only help interest in karting going forward for the new year.
I would encourage kart shops to get involved in their local karting scene. I firmly beleive the kart shops are key to racer numbers at all events from local grassroot events to regional to national shows. Racers that go to events that struggle or break often get frustrated and interest drops off. A good shop will help anyone and should never look to overcharge or take advantage of racers because they think they have them at an event- help the racer and in turn he will remember who and where to buy. The cheapest place to buy is not always the best.
Help your fellow racer, road racers are the perfect example of racers helping each other. I am not saying give them all your setups so they go out and kick your ass, help them put their kart up on a stand, help someone struggling to mount a tire etc-etc
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Ray Mcik · Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 531

Jean Stafford · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:26 am Post subject:

Ray and Don,

You are avsolutely correct. Unfortunately, there's EBay. Here an individual can sell items at almost 0 margin.

Karters should deal with those who are supportive of them at the track.

Another issued is those who are flush with money purchase in quanity, at Dealer price, then unload what they don't need, or open a "One light bulb" shop" and sell at zero profit just so they can buy at the best cost. Seen it happen too manu times.

This process will, in time, eliminate kart shops from the scene alltogether. See if you can get support then at the track.
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Andrew M. Coulter · Joined: 11 Jul 2002 Posts: 147 Location: Quincy IL

From my experience, it is not hard to get newbies into our sport. The hard part is sustaining them once they get into karting. I would say the average career of karter is two to four years. The question I would ask is why? Is it the cost? Is it the maintenance? Is it because track owners are not giving back to the racers? Is it because guys (and girls) do not think karting is for them because they are getting beat? Is it because there is no feeder system?

In my opinion, a true feeder system from the club level up would help sustain participation numbers. Let juniors be juniors as is. Create a “beginner” (clone) and “experienced” (Shifter/TAG) class at the local level. Give newbies something to aim for. Create a system that money cannot buy its way through. Give the newbies experienced drivers to look up to. Once you have mastered your local club, represent your club at regionals. If you are a top regional driver, you can move onto the national series. What the hell is a kid kart national champion? Or a jr. sportsman national champion? This makes our sport look like a joke, in my opinion. What is left for your child after winning a karting national championship before the senior ranks? Other forms of racing. This is what happens to the majority of the young kids in our sport that are successful.

The problem is money. Drivers that have the most money (usually kids that have unlimited funds from mom and dad) are the drivers that will be successful in our sport. WKA, SKUSA and any other organization want quantities of drivers (entries), not quality drivers. A guy just starting out can go run a national race against guys with 10+ years of experience. This cannot be good for our sport. Maybe an organization that is not so greedy can change things around? I don’t know.

Off my soapbox now… Laughing

Bill Cox · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:03 pm Post subject:

Rob: You gave us a well-written piece. Thank you.

If the region and national series required new drivers to spend three full racing seasons competing at the club level before moving up, all validated, it just might be the boost that clubs need. Club racing is the place to learn race-craft; not at the region or national series.

Just my opinion from having watched the club numbers dry up in our area.
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