For many, especially those who are self employed like myself there will be a chain reaction at somepoint in 09. Where companies go bust, all their suppliers and associated vendors get impacted and this WILL impact karting.
Others that normally rely on performance bonuses to pay for their karting will have second thoughts as bonuses unless you are lucky will be a thing of the past due to vast reductions.
Just look around any paddock and you will see many vans are parents everyday work transport in trades that rely on bigger companies or groups of companies to provide work, including the building trade that is going through the floor at the moment.
Those who are not yet impacted should start praying. Unless you have a substantial amount of money in the bank already, things will hurt at somepoint and dreaming otherwise is somewhat stupid.
No parent will opt not to pay the mortgage in order to send their child to a cadet race and if they do they are MAD.
I can see teams suffering along with national championships. Those currently paying a team to run them and already stretching things will probably opt to run themselves. Those who were already running themselves and stretching to be in S1 etc, will end up cutting back by mid year and go back to clubbies and regionals.
Parts from Europe, which unfortunately 70%+ of all kart parts do, will go up in price....already seen TK and others push prices based on exchange rates already. So consumables like tyres, hubs, chains, sprockets etc will go up 25% plus if not more.
There is no way karting wont be impacted. However hopefully it will show that you dont have to spend a fortune to race and be competitive.
Karting suppliers and teams have had a good 10-15 year run of massive profit margins....I think we will see a number reduce costs and/or go bust.
Good luck to everyone we will all need it.
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