"Karting is about racing and not the latest fashion show."
Yes and no.
Yes, karting is about racing, but karting is also about the continuation of the sport.
I know several people who have enjoyed karting but not continued past their first taster because of the 'crude' nature of the sport.
It matters because the same mindset that doesn't care whether the kart looks tidy is also the same mindset that fouls the toilets or is satisfied with facilities that are inadequate 'because we are karters'.
No, this isn't a plea for immaculate karts, gentleman drivers, big pit tents and huge motor homes but it is a recognition that appearance helps sell the sport.
I once brought some PR people to a kart meet, because their clients spend millions in corporate advertising and sport. They took one look and said that there was no point, the image is so downmarket that there was no incentive.
Recently they came back to me and suggested that karts and circuits have now moved upscale far enough to attract some 'social responsibility' money.
So image does matter to some degree, though we have to be careful, otherwise we will have championships that demand that competitors all have vehicles of a certain size and are all parked in blocks to impress, like Formula 1.
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