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Hello Everyone.
As we all take the annual step to rehabilitating the “olden days”. A few things must be considered:
To those who don’t race in any of the series and are posting, your input it is greatly appreciated, but bench racing has never gotten anybody anywhere.
I have been racing Karts for over 13 years in Colorado and all over the country and come to learn many values and characteristics of our sport. Karting costs money. The reason we don’t have 150+ racers anymore is because of that….the economy went south…and people moved on. There’s no magic voodoo on why it failed. We aren’t gonna find some magic answer to getting more entries either.
The Track has raised it’s entries by nothing purely more that providing a venue for the sport to grow, by doing what? Not changing anything. Consistent classes, series and rules. New drivers know what to race, what they can and the rules they need to follow. Grand ideas of having a “stadewide series” and having 6,876 classes, with rules from IKF, SKUSA, Rotax, and the East India Trading company, are destined for failure.
SKUSA, failed this year because of the lack of entries, and lack of support from Utah. I don’t mean to be harsh, but numbers don’t lie.
I believe that if something is going good, don’t change it. The Track at Centennial, has the best entries in the state, and are Top five in the country for registered Rotax racers….and yes I said the country. (look it up)
I am not counting out other tracks, especially Stacey Cook and his support. Lets be serious, Stacey runs a high dollar karting import company, with a full blown national race team. To compete at high levels of national racing, it is un-naturally hard to support local racing. But they still do.
Sorry, there never was or will be a “middle ground” in karting. You practice at your local series or club race. And then go get your ass kicked at a national and learn more than ever. Those who won’t or can’t do national level racing, is why local series exist. (Obvious)
Continue to support the current series. Keep the same classes, to provide a stepping stone for the national racers, and keep strong support for local drivers. Build up average entries. and then maybe IF we have enough racers, a state series will be a consideration. Spreading it thin now with hundreds of classes, and rules, and other phenomenon, will result in failure.
Ben
Driving is one thing at a club event. To be competitive at a national event…..money for the right motors, cylinders, and just becomes a bigger part of the equation. In Supernats of 2008, after a practice session I got to try a PSL Karting ICC, with no other changes, the data showed 4 mph increase and we gained 1.2 seconds…..Thats one of the graces of motorsports. Those that participate in the higher levels of karting bring that experience and equipment to the club race and while it does create a big gap, it also makes club racers better.
I do remember the CSC days where we would have a 140 a race. The economy hit hard and everyone left, and disposable income became rare. Recently, I have seen a trend. People view the low numbers at club races and respectively state there is no competition to race against. So they stop doing club races and save for just national races. This has been exponentially increasing, its a big spiral, not just our state. Why do you think every pro tour has almost increased 50% in entries since last year?
We have a lot of pro racers in Colorado, they just don’t do club races because of the stated reason.. Heck I am not racing club races because I have no one to race against, there is 2 shifters at a race. I If Schuerman, Schimmel, and other pro shifters locally raced I would as well.
Thats my reason for lack of entries.
Costs between local and regional races is big….but they are justifiable…. flown in staff, bigger tire inventories, and different track requirements. Would a regional series survive at $50 an entry? 50 entries got paid for at one race at RMPKC. Costs are always trying to be lowered and The Track at Centennial and RMPKC have done so. I honestly don’t believe that solely lowering costs will bring back the glory days. There are many, many other factors.
Stop by at the Track at Centennial, and we would be happy to talk to you about a Birel! Full stocked Birel parts, and Rotax Parts.
Ben
Rest in Peace Rich. It was memorable pitting with you over the years! Thoughts and prayers to the Vito family.
The Schermerhorns.
Well, it was a great event. I understimated 24 hrs in a rental kart. I give Jim and Ironman Roger a lot more credit! Congrats to the all the teams who made it!
Batman and Robin.
Thanks guys. It was great way to start the season. It was good to see you back behind the wheel Brian! Good job this weekend Anthony.
Ben
