An idea to make kart racing more inviting and accessible

[Cory Ross]

We all know to get into kart racing it is not what you would call cheap. Then when you look at racing you have to be at the track at a specific time and wait around for your time on the track. These are both things that are not very appealing to newcomers. Having to be at the track at certain times for limited track time is a turn off to even some current kart owners. So I was thinking what would be a good way to get these people to race? So the idea came to me to make everyday the track is open a potential race day. Most tracks have their timing systems ready to go anyways so why not put them to use.

The idea is have an open race that runs the entire month. You can come to the track anytime during that month rent a kart or pay for track time and use your own kart. Then if you want for an extra couple dollars do a 5 lap timed run, your fastest run of the month will be used for the month end results. This will just be a live timing loop, someone that has a rental kart for 10 laps let them know on the third lap the clock for their timed run will start. People that rent karts could do this during their session. The guy that just shows up to run laps starts feeling good and decides for a few dollars why not do a timed run. People would be allowed to do as many timed runs a month as they wanted or the track could limit the amount of tries you get. I could see myself easily doing 10 timed runs in a month. This program should be focused on the kart renters and those that do not like current organized racing. I am not sure what kind of software MyLaps has if it would allow something like this or if new software would have to be developed.

If a track did this right I think it would bring in more returning renters and more people using track days. Make a big deal about the month long races. Have a large board or even a big flat screen TV with all the current results broken up by category(type of kart, age, etc.). Once you have the info the ways you could divide up and categorize the results is endless. The more info you give people access to the more it will encourage them to try another run. If they see there total time and the individual laps compared to the guy in front of them they might see something that says they could easily beat that guy and want to make another run, it is only a couple buck why not. I know at my local track a renter could get two timed runs in the normal rental package most people get. With the large board showing current results where renters are getting their gear on it is going to spark that competitive side in people and they will want to fork over that extra few bucks to put in a timed run. Get all the results up online where people can check and see how their time is holding up. Let the results be shown by different criteria, age, type of kart, hometown, etc. This could bring them back to the track when they see someone has beat them. Hell If my friends that do not have karts do a track day and a timed run or two there is a good chance I just might rent(maybe club members get a rental discount for this) a kart and put a time in against them with the rental kart.

For the rental kart category have some decent prizes, 10% off a rental, get local restaurants to chip in(I know Qdoba gives out cards for free burritos very easily). The other categories make it more of a bragging rights kind of thing. If you get a group of locals that want a 50+ TAG class and police the rules themselves you can offer more prizes to them. You have to be careful with the prizes since you could get guys complaining someone had a unfair advantage since you will not tech this. It will be more of an honor system. Hence the reason it is only a couple dollars to make a run.

The track is not really going to make money off the couple dollar entry fee. That money should be put back directly into promoting and organizing the race. The new revenue for the track is going to come from increased rentals, more frequent returning renters, and club members putting in more track days trying to improve their time for the month.

If someone can get involved in racing this way it is a more baby steps approach to racing. Once they see they can put in competitive times they might decided it is worth the investment of time or money to start going to the more organized races.

[Paul Makarucha]

At the risk of sounding negative, No.
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[John Matthews]

Hi Cory,

I assume your local track is outdoors and they rent TaG karts?

Indoor tracks usually have lots of leagues, time trials, and other things to keep people coming back, but they have a lot more control over the karts.

Back when I started out it was on a rental track that had KT100's but that was a very long time ago

It also might be hard getting tracks that could do this kind of thing since many local tracks are operated by clubs without dedicated staff. Even privately owned tracks with rentals have a tough time keeping staff going during the week days.

Don't get me wrong, I think your concept could work at your local track and possibly many others around the country. I just know that there's a reason why most kart tracks are only open certain days and times. Also, most rental facilities I've been to depend on birthday parties and corporate team building events. Unfortunately from what I've heard from rental track owners individual racers don't really pay the bills, they need to sell more pizza and drinks to be profitable....

From my experience there are two main groups at rental tracks and the chances of them transitioning to racing is very different. The first group is kids who's parents are seeking a sport that they will enjoy. The second group are grown men who like the challenge of performance driving and can afford the diversion. The first group is far more likely than the second to transition to racing, I think mostly because there's a real pay-off for the parent in having their kid participate in something physical and as I've said before they get to be "on the team". For adults it's a different story, most like the convenience of just showing up and driving like you said. That's pretty hard to compete with for any racing org.

Hopefully some track operators will chime in here and give feedback since I'm just going on what I've heard from the ones I know. Certainly anything we can do to get the competitive juices flowing among novices will be great but it's gonna be hard getting around SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY

Cheers,
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[Michael Milanovich]

I have to kind of agree with the other guys here that I think the timed setup would be tough for an outdoor track but would probably work with large amounts of success with an indoor venue.


Now I have spent sometime as a promoter on the dirt oval side of karting and a team owner/driver on the sprint racing side of things. I have always felt strongly that sprint racing would and always will be kartings best way to reach a large group of people and attract people to the sport. As someone who has promoted a regional karting series (dirt oval), I found myself going to a few venues for the first time last year and asking myself the question, "why does it feel like I am going to race in someones backyard"? Now I know that would seem to throw some people off right there. However, I feel that getting people who unfamilar with karting to come to a karting venue maybe very difficult. So my thoughts were take karting to the people. The karting communtiy has had events such as Rock Island Grand Prix, Streets of Lancaster, SKUSA Super Nationals, Indy Karting Classic, etc. where it enables people who may not know anything about karting to get to a venue where its something unique, different, and normally a temporary race venue where the public will seemingly have some knowledge of the event. An idea I had was to something in conjunction with either a vintage grand prix, auto show, and even stand alone shows and have something where people can physically look, feel, and experience karting in person. As a marketing/sales person, nothing works better than being able to see a product in person and speak to someone who is knowledgable and passionate about something.


When I first got into karting back in late 2009/early 2010, I had seen karts and did a few different racing venues such as Victory Lane Karting in Charlotte and really wanted to get into it. Well I was at the local World of Wheels show and just happened to be discussing how I wanted to look into karting with my girlfriend at the time (now fiance) and she said well if you want to try to talk to a few people and see what you would need to do. Well needless to say Dan from Turn 1 Pro Sports was there with karts on display and information and after talking to Dan for about 40 minutes and gathering information I went home. Well the rest was kind of history and I purchased my first kart a few weeks later and got into the sport of karting. The point I am trying to make if it wasnt for someone in a neutral environment (i.e. the car show), I may not have got involved in karting.



Sorry for the long rant but just some thoughts and personal experiences I have had.

[jeff grose]

Orlando kart center has a pretty nice setup for the owners practice on Sat/Sun where we (owners) share track time with the rentals, owners get 10 mins. then the rentals run their 10 mins.. we have a good share of the rentals driver's oohs and aahs while we're out doing our practice. they (renters) stop by our tents and ask questions and so on about what we're doing and why, we take our time to explain the reasons why we're there.

My hats off to Andre Martins on the OKC setup.
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[Cory Ross]

[Jason Ewers]

I know lap times at tracks like new castle can change dramatically through out the day. I like the enthusiasm but I personally like racing head to head

[Cory Ross]

[Michael Boone]

[Brian Degulis]

Cory what you described is exactly what our local track does http://www.andersenracepark.com/Home.aspx And they're busy Tuesday thru sat 9-5 bring your kart and $50 and run all day. Or pay the monthly fee $200 and come whenever you like. That place is halfway between my home and work. I pay the monthly fee and on a nice days when I'm not busy at work I go over for lunch and laps. Without that track I wouldn't have goten back into karting.


Brian

[Cory Ross]

[Michael Boone]

[Brian Degulis]

Yes anytime you like. Your lucky to have 3 tracks with good acces and reasonable fees. From what I've learned on here many don't. If I had only weekends or maybe 2 days a month to practice like some do I don't think I would be doing it. Your point about time trials is a good one but I think to promote the sport easy acess is the key.

Of course everyone has they're own ideas about how things should be done and it's always much easier to say than actually do. I think if you could combine an internet supply house with a full blown kart shop and track with rentals both tag and normal rental karts consolidating it all into one place would be a winner.


Brian

[Brian Degulis]

[Michael Boone]