e-KMI.com Inside Info

Visit Kart Expo Online

CLICK HERE

International Karting Industry Buyer's Guide

Kart Expo International
ExhibitorInformation and Show Directions

INDOOR INFO

ASK THE EXPERT
By Peter F. Olesen, PE

Question:
Why have you stated that indoor kart racing should include other venues?

Answer:
The number of failed venues continues to grow, even in areas where the population appears to be large enough to support them. This has occurred for a number of reasons, including the following:

Many track developers fail to properly evaluate the actual number of potential guests that a track could attract. Not everyone in a given demographic is a realistic target when the venue is narrowly structured. A large population base doesn't always mean there are enough potential guests to fill the place. This has been demonstrated in a number of failed facilities in major population areas.

A further assumption is that racers will run indoors during the summer months. This has proven to be less than factual at many sites. I don't claim to have a wealth of information on attendance at indoor facilities beyond my personal experience and the number of facilities that have apparently closed.

If anyone has information contrary to my statements, I would certainly like to hear it. If someone has developed a way to keep the attendance volume high enough using the racer only concept, the industry would like to hear how it is done. Based on my observations, the creation of a racing only program requires a skilled and persistent staff member working continuously to generate and maintain group attendance. As not all facilities have developed the skills required to maintain this market, many league programs have failed.

It is my opinion that a properly planned operation offering other elements within the building to generate revenues beyond those to be realized with only a serious racing program is more likely to succeed. This includes expanding the capabilities of the equipment to accommodate younger drivers and adding other attractions to provide additional revenues to create a better bottom line.

Some racing facilities were opened that didn't properly address the carbon monoxide potential and suffered setbacks as a result. This is a factor that should be considered in whatever format the racing or indoor karting venue is to be operated. Creation of an initial bad image will drive business away that will never return, regardless of later improvements. We suggest that serious consideration be given to electric karts for indoor venues.

Question?
You seem to have strong opinions concerning some of the karts being used in indoor operations, why?

Answer:
Most of the karts initially operated on indoor tracks were not equipped with roll bars or seat belts. The expressed arguments supporting this approach were based on the fact that European indoor tracks did not require them and that outdoor competition karts did not have them.

I personally take issue with this approach from a safety standpoint. The circumstances associated with indoor and outdoor kart racing are very different. Indoor karts race within confined track areas and individuals thrown from karts end up directly in front of other approaching karts. There are no wide shoulders, escape areas or other avenues that allow approaching karts to maneuver to miss fallen drivers.

Many road racing kart chassis have failed to hold up under rough operation. Their chassis design is based on combining strength with flexibility for the high-speed outdoor environment, not for the banging that takes place between karts and karts and barriers. Later modifications to some karts have addressed some of the above concerns, though not as effectively as they could have been. I've seen later karts equipped with roll bars and seat belts that may have been more dangerous than driving without them. This includes roll bars that are to low for many adult drivers, poorly fastened to the chassis or both. My impression was that the manufacturer was giving only passing consideration to adding the elements in order to meet with local regulations, rather than designing equipment that would really address the safety issue.

On some karts I observed seat belts connected to the chassis and then extended up to slots in plastic bucket seats and then onto the seating area. I have also observed seatbelts that connect to the chassis and are then wrapped up and across plastic bucket seats. In this situation, large drivers were perhaps securely belted in, while smaller or thinner drivers did not get any safe protection as they were not securely belted in. In some instances there were two or more inches between the drivers lap and the belt itself.

My recommendation would be to only purchase karts that were equipped with effective roll-bars and seat belt systems that properly protect the kart driver. This is in the owner and drivers best interest.

Question?
Several months ago you requested people using various track barrier systems to send information on their systems and their experience with them. What information did you get?

Answer:
To date only two people have provided information on their systems. Hopefully we will receive information from others. Maybe we aren't hearing from others because they aren't happy with their system. Whether or not we hear from anyone else, we will provide the information received in our next column.

NOTE: To All e-kmi.com Readers!

If you attend or are operating an indoor go-kart track with any type of barrier system and have opinions or experience information that could be helpful to e-kmi.com readers, please send us your comments. They will be printed anonymously in our next column.

END

View Past "The Inside Info" Articles

Kart Marketing Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 101
Wheaton, IL 60189 USA
Telephone: 630-653-7368
Fax: 630-653-2637
Email: karting@msn.com

Back to Home Page

Neatconcept, Inc