From a Different Seat
A viewpoint
Greg Wright
Rapid Racing Inc.

Won’t Get Fooled Again

Fans of the TV series CSI may recognize the title of this month’s column as a classic (Really Classic) rock song by The Who.
Those of you that only recognize it as the rock theme to the popular TV drama need to learn a little more about what classic rock is all about.

“Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss!
We won’t get fooled again!!”  Dum, Da Dum, Dum, Da Dum.

   What’s this got to do with kart racing? Actually quite a lot. Over the next couple of years the CIK (International Karting rulesmakers) will be homologating (approving) new chassis, then the following year new engines.

   Homologation is much misunderstood and if adhered to as intended it should add stability to the marketplace.
At one time (pre 2003) it did and was not planned obsolescence as often said but it was intended to keep the equipment from becoming outdated more often than the every three years that form the homologation periods.
   But, (there is always a but) somehow this stability has slipped away and it seems that continual updates come through the pipeline from over the pond defeating the purpose of the whole process.
   Before anyone calls up my editor and says I am full of male bovine excrement I offer up this example. During 2007 we received several (8 plus or minus) shipments of a well known, successful chassis. Only twice did we receive karts that were of the same spec. Updates included frame rail placement and design, spindles, brakes, bodywork, wheels and hubs.
   All this despite them all having the same model number and homologation tags. Not much stability there now is there. This is bad for the racer and bad for the US karting industry as well.

I’m sure that the newest stuff from Europe will be jam packed with new sophisticated features and designs and will have a lot of “WOW” factor. That’s nice and all but be prepared for the costs to go up with a similar “WOW” factor.
  The expected increases coupled with the poor buying power of the weak US Dollar will be one more step towards our beloved sport pricing itself right out of business.

And another thing!! (Spluttering like Sylvester the Cat) Be prepared for importers to try to bring in the new (to us) KF, KZ and K-whatever engines being used currently in the CIK championships. These engines are TAG like in that they have onboard starters but that is where the similarity ends. Balancer mechanisms, power valves, fancy schmancy carbs etc, etc. result in a thorobred line of engines with lots of power and lots of cost built in. (Currently about $4500 US and bound to go higher)

“Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss. We won’t get fooled again.”

Shifter guys, Do you remember the promises when ICC was introduced to the US Shifter market?

“We won’t get fooled again.”

    What’s my point you ask. The fact is high tech cutting edge racing equipment does nothing to improve the quality of racing. In fact quite the opposite, quality of racing declines due to the cost and complication factors that automatically come with high end equipment limiting the racing to those with the monster racing budget and the rent-a-tuners that are almost essential at that level.
    I’m not advocating a return to 1985 at all, but we need to draw the line somewhere. What I am advocating is standing up to the increasingly high tech machines that are being rammed down our throats, and instead allow a little room for ingenuity and creativity in our sport.
    Our reliance on karts and engines from over the pond has pretty much destroyed the American sprint kart manufacturing base with only Margay producing anything resembling volume.
   In addition the Euro/CIK mindset which insists on spec everything is destroying the American aftermarket business. As hard as it may be for some to imagine, a strong industry will result in a stronger better supported sport.
   I for one want to see a revival of American kart manufacturing so that we as kart racers can deal directly with the people who built them instead of resellers that honestly aren’t sure what’s coming next.
   As far as engines go, well that’s a tougher nut to crack and they most likely will still come from overseas but it is time to just say no to constantly upgraded engine packages.

“Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss, We won’t get fooled again.”

   What’s that I hear? Putting a halt to engine development by the manufacturers will ruin racing?
   The most commonly used engine in US car racing is the small block Chevy that is over 50 years old and it sure doesn’t seem to hurt the racing at hundred of tracks and series across the country.
   In my very humble opinion the current crop of TAG engines are plenty sophisticated and will do just fine if (very big if) the weak US dollar doesn’t cause them to price themselves out of the market. That could happen in very short order unless the economic climate changes and changes quickly.
   I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again we cannot turn our backs on simple engines like the Yamaha KT100. The Yammie saved sprint and enduro racing once and very well could be in position to do it again due to runaway pricing on Euro engines.
    I don’t pretend to have the answers but much like current US economic and foreign policies I’m sure we are on the wrong path.

On a much lighter note I recently attended the “Race for Riley” at NCMP. This is a charity event to benefit the Riley Children’s Hospital featuring a handful of traditional classes plus celebrity/media races in rental karts. A huge turnout for a mid week (During the day on a Wednesday) race resulted in over $200,000 being raised for a great cause.

   As this is being written the 2008 racing season is well past the halfway mark. I guess time really does fly when you are having fun.
   Oh yeah, The mysterious and amazing Gooseman (?) says Hey.

I hope some of this made sense but in the meanwhile,
Race hard, Race safe, and God Bless America, and let’s not get fooled again.