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EYE ON THE INDUSTRY

THE KARTING WORLD IS LARGER THAN YOU THINK!
Editorial by: Darrell Sitarz

With apologies to Walt Disney – Yes, It’s a big world after all… and not a Mickey Mouse one, either!

Many parts manufacturers and suppliers who deal in only one segment of the karting industry may well be astounded at the huge market which may be outside the normal scope of their marketing efforts. I am also amazed at some outside the industry who dismiss karting as insignificant, little kiddie sport, not worth the time to investigate or become involved in.

One example of an item that can cross over into the all four industry segments is the “Kart Lift”. Primarily designed for kart racers, the product eases the lifting of chassis to levels where it is comfortable to work. With a bit of engineering and extra “beef”, the kart lift could be used by fun kart dealers who service thousands of karts, and by over 2,000 concession and indoor kart tracks around the country. Concession and indoor racing track owners, who have an average of 10-12 karts per track, change tires every ten days and are constantly working on the karts and engines. Because standard concession karts weigh over 200 lbs, it has been necessary to either service the karts on the ground (very uncomfortable) or ask someone to help lift the kart onto a stand or workbench (dangerous). For the kart lift manufacturer, here is a whole new market just waiting for your product.

Another example: Racing helmet manufacturers and distributors may be unaware that over 200,000 fun karts are sold annually. A helmet should be sold with every fun kart, but do fun kart retailers know where to buy helmets?

Motorcycle distributors and other accessory dealers should take time to go through their inventories and determine which items can be sold to kart shops and kart retailers. Items such as chain, lubricants, throttle devices, special fasteners, clothing, cables and cable ties, fuel line, etc. all may be applied to karting. By addressing the hot go-kart market, hundreds of kart shops could be customers.

Lawn and garden parts suppliers also have numerous parts and accessories in their inventories — fuel line and filters, air filters, spark plugs, cables, countless engine parts, both OEM and replacement, etc. By not recognizing karting as a viable industry, these suppliers are missing a golden opportunity to move mass quantities of products.

I think that many, who are either involved at present or on the outside looking in, should take the time to examine the ENTIRE karting industry. I think they would be pleasantly surprised, perhaps even amazed at the big world of karting. In a sense, they’d have to be “Goofy” not to!

Darrell Sitarz

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