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Hey guys,

I used to race go-karts at Todd Road and its an awesome track.

I was wondering why no club races pocket bikes there and it seems i have found my answer...

This was posted anonymously on another forum. Thought it might be of interest to a few and help towards racing there one day.

Cheers

as follows......


OK, knowing the AKA/VKA as i do and as a kart race promter that deals with these guys a maybe help shed some light.



"It's not the owners you need persuade, it's the members of the Kart club."


Yes and no......Firstly, the AKA and/or VKA do not own any tracks! They think they do, they will tell you they do (more importantly they tell assoc kart club they do anyway) but they don't.

Most if not all AKA/VKA tracks are part of sport and recreation within local councils, the local councils or state goverment that let them continue in the first place has probly the most control and say.

Clubs and circuit owners wouldn't have a problem with pit bikes, they would do not more damage to a track than a kart, I mean look at the weight and traction difference between kart and PB and tell me how a PB could do as much if not more damage than a kart club?

So don't believe entirely that the owners/club members wouldn't want you, they have lease's etc to pay monthly and if they could rent the track out privately to PB to help cost etc.....they would. Working bee's and more members for track up keep etc is another bonus they would happily take aboard also.

This is where it gets tricky.....The AKA will do it's best to keep all other markets out of their arena. In short, will not share circuits to other rival karting organisations or anyother sport that may detract members from their original set up (aka sprint karting).....If GKVC (todd rd) submit to the AKA that they want to lease the circuit out to another party things get dirty.

Clubs are threatend with stripping of AKA accred, so are any officials/flag wavers etc that even lend a hand on the day also....In fact we have a new karting organisation coming out of Sydney ATM, and all competitors have been told if they compete there, their AKA liscence will be invalid (which they can't do, but will threatin anyway).....that's how protective they are of that market etc.....

Now since everything from spark plugs, tyres and every single little part of kart racing under the AKA is controlled, they make a fair bit of$$$ from tender contracts etc from within the Industry itself......

Basically, you aint buying tyres of Mr X, Mr X won't give us (the AKA) his $10 per set of every set of tires sold as in the tender/contract agreement states, then there's nothing in it for us except maybe losing numbers to another organisation/PB's etc....and we are talking alot of money here people.....(if i told you some of the shenanigans that go on behind the scene's of karting buisseness, you would be shocked!!!!.....actually, you probly wouldn't believe me anyway!.....I'm talking moltove cocktails, $250,000.00 law suits etc.. )

Todd rd can hold/host you guys, but they have to apply 3 months before hand and pay around $500 (non refundable) for the AKA to consider letting you run.

there's no gaurantee they will.

If they do, they will impose their officials at another cost added, and basically, a PB meet entry fee's would be too high to even think of running for the average PB racer, considering your numbers would be less than an average kart club meet, throw in "those PB's will ruin your circuit and you'll get nothing from us" it becomes a no brainer and a not worth it for the club to continue with.

Hope that clears things up a bit......i can go on.

CAMS are no different with car/circuit racing.

As for wether you guys should go to MA which is another matter, from my experience. MA/VMA are a dream to work with over the AKA and CAMS. MA/VMA are still a governing body, the AKA/CAMS moved away from that years ago to Buisseness/Revenue ambitions.
BIG DIFFERENCE

If the AKA wanted to bring PB's into the fold, I would have some big hessitations.

If the AKA were smart they would. But there too busy fighting off other players and running karting in general at the moment.

I'd suggest if you want Pucka, Todd RD etc.....go the goverment avenue with sport and rec. The AKA/VKA can't fight those guys. they know that.

Form clubs from the premisses and work in times with the kart club equally....

Giood luck and happy to help you guys out in anyway....cheers.


M.C