UK Karting - Notice Board (Combined Forum) : Re: John your ideas only have the base of an idea!

Notice Board (Combined Forum)

Re: John your ideas only have the base of an idea!
Posted by 'Marc' on 15 Dec 2008 @ 15:26

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MarcJoined: November 2008
Total Posts: 1
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Why would a fixed gearing only work for a new class and not an established one?

If everyone uses the same gearing then it levels the playing field;
-No longer is it necessary to spend time and money testing the optimum gearing (a big plus for anyone on a tight budget)
-If set at a sensible level can massively extend engine life reducing the cost of rebuilds.

Any of the reasons given in the posts above for how someone may be disadvanatged by fixed gearing are a non issue. We are talking about a fraction of a tenth if these people really are disadvantaged at all, compared to the potential gain of whole tenths that can be found by throwing time and money at testing gearing or revving the engine harder and shortening life.

Unfortunately it's usually the sports better funded that are also the most vocal and most influencial. The newbie who would love to give karting a go doesn't get heard. As a result, since when I first got involved in karting as a teenager back in the early 90s the sport has become increasingly complex and expensive.
I am stunned at the amount of permitted expensive options there are in certain "entry level" classes these days- numerous chassis adjustment, different material options for seats, wheels, floors etc.
I always understood that karting was sold as the purest form of motorsport - simple fast machinery where driving skill shines though. None of these do anything for this concept and yet make it far more expensive and prohibitive for new people to get involved in the sport.

I think it would be very wise in the current financial climate for the sport to take a close look at itself and trim off some of the excess to take a step back towards its roots. Unfortunately I can't see it happening when there are too many who will resist changes with blinkered aruments about tiny details while the big picture is completely forgotten.

I didn't get back into running my own kart until last year for exactly the reasons above. Now I race in a class where the gearing is fixed, you aren't allowed to use exotic materials and even the chassis adjusments are more limited. On a shoestring budget with barely any mechanical knowledge I can run near the front and I'm thoroughly enjoying my racing. I just wish that karting as a whole was as accessable - I probably would have been on a rotax or tkm grid for the last 7 or 8 years.

As good as things are, I'd still support anything else that reduced costs further without compromising the racing. As tyres are one of the biggest expenses I think it would be sensible for any class to look at the options of harder compounds or enforcing the use of the same tyres for multiple rounds. There is no reason it couldn't work if we all want it to.

Marc

Message Thread:

What worries me is! by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 8:21)

... this lot are disconnected from reality ? by 'DavyBoy' (12 Dec 2008 @ 9:03)

I agree with most of that! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:57)

Re: What worries me is! by 'AlanHarding' (12 Dec 2008 @ 9:21)

Re: What worries me is! by 'NJB' (12 Dec 2008 @ 9:37)

Re: What worries me is! by 'chriskasch' (12 Dec 2008 @ 9:50)

Re: What worries me is! by 'NikG' (12 Dec 2008 @ 10:28)

Re: What worries me is! by 'michaelg36' (12 Dec 2008 @ 10:37)

Re: What worries me is! by 'Crashlanding' (12 Dec 2008 @ 10:55)

My late pal Freddie Hunter always said...... by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:07)

Re: What worries me is! by 'SMoss31' (12 Dec 2008 @ 11:00)

Re: What worries me is! by 'KevinW' (12 Dec 2008 @ 11:02)

Re: What worries me is! by 'davidmc' (12 Dec 2008 @ 11:23)

I think that's an excellent post! by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:12)

But Steve..... by 'michaelg36' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:16)

It is optional, but many don't see it that way! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 10:58)

Steve C by 'KevinW' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:32)

Maybe! But as NJB says it's only racing..... by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:38)

Re: Maybe! But as NJB says it's only racing..... by 'davidmc' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:50)

Re: I think that's an excellent post! by 'davidmc' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:16)

Whilst your methods are a tadge draconian...... by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:09)

Kevin W by 'michaelg36' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:13)

Have you suggested anything at those meetings Nik? by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:06)

Re: Have you suggested anything at those meetings by 'NikG' (12 Dec 2008 @ 18:03)

Re: Nik, I know how you feel ! by 'John' (13 Dec 2008 @ 5:06)

How does that work John! by 'SteveC' (16 Dec 2008 @ 8:07)

Re: How does that work John! by 'John' (16 Dec 2008 @ 11:23)

They'll do the sensible thing John! by 'SteveC' (17 Dec 2008 @ 10:08)

What was your suggestion Nik? nt by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:00)

Re: One last time! by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 11:11)

Re: One last time! by 'DavyBoy' (12 Dec 2008 @ 11:28)

Re: One last time! - DavyBoy by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 11:55)

Re: One last time! - DavyBoy by 'DavyBoy' (12 Dec 2008 @ 12:10)

Re: One last time! - DavyBoy by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 12:19)

Re: One last time! - DavyBoy by 'MarkW' (12 Dec 2008 @ 12:37)

Re: One last time! - DavyBoy by 'DavyBoy' (12 Dec 2008 @ 12:38)

Re: One last time! - DavyBoy by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 12:59)

Re: One last time! by 'SimonS' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:22)

I was hoping you'd have a realistic and workable.. by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:14)

Re: One last time! by 'sinky' (12 Dec 2008 @ 23:02)

So suggest something Chris? nt by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:05)

Re: So suggest something Chris? nt by 'chriskasch' (12 Dec 2008 @ 15:51)

Not quite true! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:08)

Re: Not quite true! by 'chriskasch' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:26)

Will it though? by 'SteveC' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:03)

Re: Steve, you really are testing my patience by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 13:28)

Re: Steve, you really are testing my patience by 'speedyman' (12 Dec 2008 @ 14:42)

I agree! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:25)

Re: Steve, you really are testing my patience by 'colin' (12 Dec 2008 @ 14:43)

Re: Colin by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 15:10)

Re: Colin - tyres may not need changing by 'John' (12 Dec 2008 @ 15:18)

Re: Colin - tyres may not need changing by 'gez65' (12 Dec 2008 @ 19:08)

Re: Tyres by 'pccsystems' (12 Dec 2008 @ 22:19)

Re: Tyres by 'JENK' (12 Dec 2008 @ 23:56)

Re: Tyres by 'dth07' (14 Dec 2008 @ 9:35)

Not well enough to catch on! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:39)

What would happen to the tyres in between meetings by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:32)

Easy Kart and Club 100 started off doing it! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:30)

You're right Colin and I think John knows...... by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:28)

John your ideas only have the base of an idea! by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:19)

Re: John your ideas only have the base of an idea! by 'Marc' << You are here!

Re: John your ideas only have the base of an idea! by 'rotaxmxr' (15 Dec 2008 @ 17:23)

Re: John your ideas only have the base of an idea! by 'davidmc' (15 Dec 2008 @ 18:55)

Re: John your ideas only have the base of an idea! by 'Marc' (15 Dec 2008 @ 22:00)

Rotax Max caters for too wide an audience by 'SteveC' (16 Dec 2008 @ 8:14)

ps When are you proposing your ideas to....... by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:21)

Re: What worries me is! by 'Jasper' (15 Dec 2008 @ 10:34)

Re: What worries me is! by 'Inter61' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:39)

Mmm, I think some of those ideas could be..... by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:46)

Re: Mmm, I think some of those ideas could be..... by 'davidmc' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:58)

How do the MSA raise funds? by 'SteveC' (15 Dec 2008 @ 11:43)

Re: How do the MSA raise funds? by 'Jasper' (15 Dec 2008 @ 12:15)

In defence of the MSA........... by 'alanrr' (15 Dec 2008 @ 15:07)

Re: In defence of the MSA........... by 'Jasper' (16 Dec 2008 @ 9:52)

Re: What worries me is! ... reflection and ideas by 'BennICC06' (15 Dec 2008 @ 13:28)

Re: What worries me is! ... ALTERATION by 'BennICC06' (15 Dec 2008 @ 13:36)

Re: What worries me is! ... ALTERATION by 'colin' (15 Dec 2008 @ 14:20)

Re: What worries me is! by 'andy140770' (02 Jan 2009 @ 3:38)

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