- This topic has 12 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Posts
Take a listen to this ekartingnews interview with Tom Kutscher and Jim Baltutis from SKUSA. There’s some pertainent information in there for our region. Whether you like what he says or not, it’s definitely food for thought.
Kurt, what exactly do you think is so ground breaking in those comments? Seriously, I know why they would want us, but exactly why would we want them? They seem to be growing and figuring out their own plan and direction, and is there something seriously broke within CSC that Pro Kart ?with the SKUSA backbone? needs to fix and/or resolve here?
Anyone who has read my drivel over the years, knows that I have always urged our regional series follow if not be sanctioned by a national organization. However, like any consumer, I want to know specifically what I’m going to get for my money. As a manufacturer, before I tell my customers that they should join ABC organization, I want to know what they will get for their money.
Outside of the Rodney King, “Why can’t we all get along” and go have a beer, there is nothing there.
Our series is bigger than PKC. We averaged more racers at our events then PKC did this last year. If anything, they should be asking us how did we get so sucessful. The CSC without a doubt, is the most sucessful regional series in the entire country. The only series that come close to ours is the MidWest Sprint series and the PKC. The CSC is bigger than all of them.
When we take our nasty glasses and really look at what we have, its very hard to believe that 4 track owners and a group of dedicated volunteers have created and given kart racers 5 distinctly different venues for a regional series to race these silly little go karts. When I tell dealers around the country that I have 3 kart tracks within 20 minutes of my shop, they just can’t believe it. Most areas of the country don’t have 1 kart track within a hours drive, let alone 3 within 20 minutes.
While an outsider reading our forums would think that we are a disfunctional family of over active keyboard fat heads, the reality is far different. We have a great community of karters, shop owners and track owners. Our community couldn’t be stronger. We should be extremely proud of what we have and realize that we don’t have to take a back seat to anyone.
Could our community be better, of course it can. Could it be stronger, yes it could. But lets not throw out the best, the strongest regional program in the country just because we are feeling inadquate today. Lets carefully examine the things we have done right and wrong. Lets fine tune this thing.
We all know what the problems are, its the same across the entire country. Too many classes, fragemented rules. Also, lets not confuse regional racing with club racing and we often do that in our discussions.
Kurt: Yes, we should listen to what SKUSA’s saying or any sanctioning body for that matter.
To all: Many of you know my position and I’ll say it once again, if someone’s going to be my PIMP then what are they providing ME. Doug’s nailed it on the head, why aren’t orgainizations coming HERE to look at US? Is the CSC perfect? No! But each and every year I’ve participated it’s only gotten better, wouldn’t you agree? The things I’d like to see tightened up: 1) parc ferme of Kid kart engines and numbered ping pong balls to pick and then distribute engines the morning of the race 2) if we’re going to combine a few classes (and I really think we will) then ENFORCE rear number plates and colours so you know if the racer ahead of you is actually in your class. Works at LeMans, it should work here 3) if we are combining classes then line them up in classes and not times. 4) Jr 1 engine issue
We had SKUSA before. New ownership is trying to work out the kinks of thier new SKUSA. Do y’all really want to be guinea pigs again? Is the Florida Winter Tour sanctioned by any karting body? Last time I looked they have NO sanctioning bodies on thier posters or press releases. Is this correct, can someone verify this? I meant to ask “the mouth from the south” (Bill) when we had a rain delay at the last CSC race but forgot.
And I’ll bring something up here and now since I’d like it put to rest now; No one is getting rich from the CSC! Here’s some numbers to throw out and if I’m inaccurate then I apologize in advance. 115 participating CSC memberships this year x 70 dollars per membership (I think) = $8,050
8050 minus decals, paper for rule books and other miscellaneous costs; say 500. Net 7,550. Now, divide that over the course of the racing season and that means approximately 1000 per month is being generated as income. AND I THINK I’M BEING GENEROUS SINCE TROPHIES AND BANQUET ROOMS FOR YEAR END AREN’T ADDED TO THAT NUMBER AS AN EXPENSE. Regaurdless, you have to love capatalism and entreprenuership. God bless America eh? Angie, et. al. aren’t doing this for free, thier time costs money doesn’t it?
Just something to think about. And by the way… last time I checked our cost to race in the form of fees, registration etc is on par or lower than other areas of the country.
(For once) Doug’s right! 😆 We Coloradoans are fortunate! Now, let’s tighten things up a little more to make our racing series better! I’ve gotta practice for 20 lap mains that the TaG Masters spectators demand, out…
The FWT is a stand alone, not sanctioned by anyone or anything. NKA provides insurance. Bill has gotten the group B on the CIK calander so that international drivers can attend.
He uses Don Moormeister (some of you may remember him from the SuperNats and the Miller Summer Shootout) in tech, Chris E. from Oregon will be race director (he did the SuperNats). Bill will have many of the orginal SKUSA A team in place so the races are very well run.
For rules he uses CIK for the CIK classes. Stars for K80 cadet. Rotax for Rotax classes, TaG USA for Tag classes and for moto his rules are the IRA rules we use in stock moto and built moto. All of his rules are open source. You don’t have to join an org to use them.
My reason for drawing attention to this webcast is that it’s a chance to hear what Tom Kutscher is saying directly. It contradicts many of the 3rd hand interpretations of what I’ve heard that he has said.
The significant points for us, as I heard it, were: 1) he’s not out for world dominance, 2) he’s open to Junior programs where it makes sense, 3) his idea is to assist regional programs, not run them, and 4) he emphasized the term “cost effectively”. That attitude is different than the old SKUSA.
Any sane business looks at outsourcing when it makes financial sense. My own conclusion is let’s get details and prices, and see if it fits our needs.
I certainly agree that we have the best region in the country. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t spend a huge chunk of my discretional time putting us on the national map.
Mike, your figures are a bit off, as the CSC also gets $10/entry at each race. You can redo the math from there. I don’t have a problem with that either.
I also wonder who in Colorado Mr. Kutscher is referring to :idn: .
Kurt, thanks for the correction. Like I said my figures were semi “pie in the sky. I also agree with the “hearing it directly from the horses mouth” comment too. We can all take out of that what we want!
Doug, thanks for the FWT information. I thought they ran their own rules.
Doug,
The WKA is the only CIK/FIA affiliate to the ACCUS in the United States so the FWT would have to be WKA sanctioned for the series to be put on the CIK International Calendar. WKA also sanctions the Snap On Stars of Karting Tour, the Stars Race of America’s, the Rock Island Grand Prix and the Kartsport Grand Prix.Several of the FWT events last year were on the CIK calender. Bill did it because one of the drivers from England was threatened by CIK with a 6 month suspension for doing the first event. Randy did help them get approval for WKA is the US rep for CIK but WKA DID NOT sanction any of his events nor provide insurance. He did not run their rules, he did not require WKA membership.
Last year the Kart Sport Challenge was on the CIK calender with the help of Randy and $800. WKA did not sanction the event, they did not run their rules and did not use WKA insurance.
George, you’re wrong.
Some of us on the west side of the hill wish we had what you guys have. A great series that is opperated in a pro manner. Very competitive with good attendence. Several tracks to race at. This is why we will be coming back next spring. Very possibley 5 or 6 karts for the entire series. We have a great facility at Miller Motorsports park but we like the way your series is ran. MG yellows,several different tracks.good people,great track owners. See you in the spring. Jack :sun:
Thanks for the kind words Jack. I welcome the competition and the comaradary afterwards!
At this time I want to point out something that’s been overlooked. And that is that we really do have a GREAT series here in Colorado! Sure, maybe perhaps we had too many CSC races this season and they siphoned attendance from the club races and perhaps we do have a few loopholes in the rules book. But hey gang, you never know unless you try something! And I have yet to see the attitude change to “well it’s fine right now we’re going to leave it as it is.” The fact that we’re having a meeting is proof enough that this isn’t the case.
I know it’s a long time till next season but the ship is moving forward and along the right path. Looking forward to seeing y’all this Saturday and Sunday. Let’s hoist a few, laugh a little and recognize the winners Saturday. Sunday we can tighten things up via the loopholes in the rulebook, get a better direction as to what to do with the jump from Kid kart to Jr 1’s. And make racing as safe as we can make it. This is going to be a productive and fun weekend!
:cheers:
Doug,
Bill Wright or for that matter Tom Kutscher of the Pro Kart Challenge/SKUSA do not have the right to go directly to CIK/FIA for CIK Calendar approval because WKA is the only authorized sanctioning body and conduit in the United States for that approval and explains the reason why European racers were warned for participating in a non sanctioned and non CIK calendar event. WKA is the only United Staes affiliate to CIK/FIA through its affilation with ACCUS. It is my understanding that the issue was still being dealt with by WKA and the FWT as late as this afternoon.
European racers can lose their international license for participating in non approved events.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.