I agree with Karterella's comments.
I'm glad I was not the only one to come away with the same thoughts and I have been in this business for 26 years !
This was the first MSA club race we have competed in with a driver for 18 months.I have to agree the driving standards were very very poor.But I don't think it's down to just Championship drivers or indeed teams, or money it was in all classes.
Nor do I have any criticism of Whilton Mill Kart club who ran a very good event - there is always a limit to what officials can do - people are always quick off the mark to just blame the officials - but that is not the obvious answer.
Over the weekend the attitudes of some parents and kids were equally as shocking to me.Without doubt our sport is changing and I can only put it down to the stress of the rising costs for people to race and a mentality to win at all costs. Some of the behaviour of Honda cadet and other Junior classes parents towards their own kids was a disgrace.
It does seem that kids (in all classes) just crash into the rear of others in an attempt to load other kart's off the track. There is no karting skill in that as a driver.
I am not sure what the answer is, but how can we all expect new people to come into our sport and incur the amount of damage to their new equipment that they have just purchased?. In turn the karting trade and teams are then criticised for the cost of replacement parts!
Drivers are the only ones responsible for their actions and indeed the consequences.
You only have to look at the success of the F100 racing series and the Easykart Championship to see that the on track racing and the paddocks don't have to be like this. The difference is that the drivers in these Championships give and show respect both on and off the track.
We will continue to make some MSA club races and hopefully continue to have some success like we have done over the many years. Everyone wants competitive racing - no one should be put off by that, but sheer on track karting vandalism will ruin our sport and will continue to promote karting negativity.
Many people say they love the sport of karting but as our sport continues to face more and more challenges, we should all take some responsibility for the sport we all say we love. This must be in positive ways to improve it, whether you are at the grass roots of club racing, WSK or World Championship CIK level.
Lets hope things can change.
Written for the spirit of Karting
Andy Cox
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