"pro" karting

mike clements · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:53 am Post subject:

A few weeks ago I attended the AMA flat track race in Tucson, Arizona. They ran 450cc 4 strokes in the first race and then 750 V Twins in the pro main. Although both classes were awesome, the 450's caught my attention.
The grand stands were packed and the spectator fee was $40 a ticket.
The reason karts can't attract this is because they are not fast enough ! Period !
When you sit a Watch a Pro flat track race you will see speeds of 120mph down the chutes. They toss the bikes into the corners and throw rooster tails halfway around the track. The element of FEAR is in the air. This is exciting to say the least.
99% of the people in the stands, viewing this race, know fully well they would NEVER try this themselves. THIS is what makes it worth paying to see.
Go to any kart race, on any surface, in any part of the country, and almost anyone spectating will say, "I would love to try that". Or, the dreaded, "I should put my kid in one of these".
Now, please don't shoot the messanger. This is human nature and it simply is what it is. Peace, MC
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Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.

John Matthews · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:58 am Post subject:

mike clements · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject:

I would like to run in a class for heart patients over 60 years old, the heavy over 60 heart patient class. Laughing

Pill draw for starting position. 1 lap heat race.
Then, we bench race for the main.
I've never lost a bench race !! Smile

_________________
Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.

David Cole · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject:

Tim Koyen · Advertiser Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 1556

John Matthews · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:46 pm Post subject:

mike clements · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject:

Too many classes will kill spectator appeal. That is one reason the old PKA was so successful. I went to PKA races where motorhomes lined the fences. People actually came out to spectate.
Pro Karting Assoc had only 3 classes.
Flat Track bikes have two classes.
This can be accomplished in karting. We just need to have racers willing to step up to the challenge.
_________________
Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.

Jean Stafford · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:58 am Post subject:

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Wm, Shakespeare
_________________
Jean Stafford
Stafford's Racing
Dayton, Ohio
ROTAX Repair station,
jean@sgandt.com
Started Karting in 1959
"Some people are like 'Slinkies', worthless, but they bring a smile to your faqce when you push them downstairs."

Britt Robinson · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:07 am Post subject:

mike clements · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject:

The people who really want to see paying spectators at a karting event must attend an AMA Flat Track race first. That is the only way they will understand the situation.
In road racing karts, those karts still look very slow in comparison to the bikes. The only ones that appear remotely fast are the 250 Super Karts.
Now, if we could put the 250 Super Karts on a 1/2 mile paved or dirt oval and put up big money for the purse, things would begin to happen.
_________________
Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.

John Matthews · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:28 pm Post subject:

Glen Mazzone · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:26 pm Post subject:

Although AMA Flat Track (Officially now known as Dirt Track due to the jumps in TT Races) races are almost always thrilling, not all of them are well attended by spectators.

Just review the schedules over the last 10 years or so.
It will reveal many events that are no longer on the schedule or worse yet, those having been cancelled after being announced.

Columbus Ohio, Kentucky Speedway, Du Quoin, Route 66...Even the famed Indy Mile has been cancelled or poorly attended numerous times over the years.

Having been a part of TV crews on and off since the early 1990's I have covered over a hundred of these events for Speed and other networks.

Some events such as the Springfield Mile and the Peoria TT are almost always packed...Other events have caused promoters (often successful motorcycle shop owners) to go bankrupt. (This happened in Syracuse NY)

All is far from utopia on this series by the way...If you think kart racers bitch and complain, just attend a riders meeting on this tour!!!

One reason karting does not attract spectators is it is NOT WELL PROMOTED as spectator sport...When was the last time you saw a billboard or heard/saw a TV ad promoting a kart race?

This may not have been the case years ago as looking at historical photos of kart events at Azuza and other venues show the tracks packed with fans.

Spectator friendly venues such as street races in Clyde Ohio and of course the Rock Island event often have lots of viewers they just don't pay.

As to a Pro Series that pays money...You know what I tried several years ago.

Glen Mazzone
_________________
Glen Mazzone
General Manager/Grand Vitesse Racing

mike clements · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject:

Seems to me that a true Pro series that pays enough $$ to make the travel worthwhile will require a bunch of money invested. Then it will need some Very Thick skin for the promoter. There are so many "Nay Sayers" and just plain rude people in the sport that it has become difficult to justify investing money into a pro series. Even if I personally won the $6 billion lottery, I don't think my skin is thick enough for promoting a kart race.
About a year ago I had serious investors lined up to do this. But the overload of negativity from kart racers on the internet turned off those investors. So, we took the money elsewhere.
_________________
Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.

mike clements · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:33 pm Post subject:

Seems to me that a true Pro series that pays enough $$ to make the travel worthwhile will require a bunch of money invested. Then it will need some Very Thick skin for the promoter. There are so many "Nay Sayers" and just plain rude people in the sport that it has become difficult to justify investing money into a pro series. Even if I personally won the $6 billion lottery, I don't think my skin is thick enough for promoting a kart race.
About a year ago I had serious investors lined up to do this. But the overload of negativity from kart racers on the internet turned off those investors. So, we took the money elsewhere.
_________________
Began kart racing 1959. Made many friends along the way.