Why isn't karting a proffesional motorsport
Discussion
Everyone seems to think karting is the first step on the motorsport ladder.
However after having seen the shennanigans of late in the F1 madhouse I wonder why karting never actually got accepted as the brilliant sport it is in its own right.
I mean Valentino Rossi gets to be a world superstar riding a motorbike.
Put a world superbike (correction MotoGP) and driver next to a 250 kart and driver and they don't look much different do they.
So why the fascination with all the expense etc of F1
Lets put the current field of F1 drivers in 250e karts and have a real world driver championship that is decided on track with overtaking.
However after having seen the shennanigans of late in the F1 madhouse I wonder why karting never actually got accepted as the brilliant sport it is in its own right.
I mean Valentino Rossi gets to be a world superstar riding a motorbike.
Put a world superbike (correction MotoGP) and driver next to a 250 kart and driver and they don't look much different do they.
So why the fascination with all the expense etc of F1
Lets put the current field of F1 drivers in 250e karts and have a real world driver championship that is decided on track with overtaking.
Edited by mark69sheer on Thursday 4th October 17:38
obviously I know there are some paid karters out there but I just wonder why it never made it as a media followed sport
This pic shows visually there's not much between superkarts and superbikes
and performance wise the karts are as quick if not quicker..
karts racing . . .
http://videos.streetfire.net/category/Kart+Racing/0/80567a9c-3032-4ab7-9bfa-994c014f66ef.htm
This pic shows visually there's not much between superkarts and superbikes
and performance wise the karts are as quick if not quicker..
karts racing . . .
http://videos.streetfire.net/category/Kart+Racing/0/80567a9c-3032-4ab7-9bfa-994c014f66ef.htm
ewenm said:
Are the top karters happy being the top karters or do they move on to something else? If the participants don't want to stay in the sport how are you going to market it to the general public?
I'm sure that karters would stay in karting if there was media coverage and a pay packet.I have watched lots of Motor sport over the years but you have to go to your local kart clubs meeting one day and watch a day of their amatuer racing. Take a friend you won't even have to pay to watch and you will go home amazed by the skill . . and sadly buying your own and starting yourself
mark69sheer said:
karts racing . . .
http://videos.streetfire.net/category/Kart+Racing/0/80567a9c-3032-4ab7-9bfa-994c014f66ef.htm
Cool video!http://videos.streetfire.net/category/Kart+Racing/0/80567a9c-3032-4ab7-9bfa-994c014f66ef.htm
Does anyone know where I can try a gearbox kart?
I raced 100cc 2-Strokes for a while (club100) - would like to try something faster.
Chris
The money to turn a sport professional has to come from the public or a wealthy benefactor - look at Rugby Union. Bath were unbeatable when I was young, but turn the game professional and a 14,000 seater stadium won't cover the wages of the players you need to win the league.
I also think there is something in the argument about what the public can relate to.
MotoGP machines look like something you could ride on the road - they aren't, but they look like it.
Touring Cars are obviously hugely popular and look like something you could drive on the road
Sports cars ebb and flow. For me the heyday was Group C, but the Mclaren F1 / F40 GT era was commercially very successful, dragging Soper out of Touring Cars, and Piquet to Le Mans. Last year's LMES at Donnington was a one man and his dog affair, I loved it, but my £25 probably didn't go very far towards the drivers.
F1 is F1, it's been around the entire life of the average viewer / spectator. It looks like nothing on earth, but is and had been promoted to to hell and the spectacle is incredible.
Go Karts? Absolutely amazing racing, speed and drama, but there's no promotion and there's nothing the public can relate to other than a day at the local kart track when they were a kid.
I also think there is something in the argument about what the public can relate to.
MotoGP machines look like something you could ride on the road - they aren't, but they look like it.
Touring Cars are obviously hugely popular and look like something you could drive on the road
Sports cars ebb and flow. For me the heyday was Group C, but the Mclaren F1 / F40 GT era was commercially very successful, dragging Soper out of Touring Cars, and Piquet to Le Mans. Last year's LMES at Donnington was a one man and his dog affair, I loved it, but my £25 probably didn't go very far towards the drivers.
F1 is F1, it's been around the entire life of the average viewer / spectator. It looks like nothing on earth, but is and had been promoted to to hell and the spectacle is incredible.
Go Karts? Absolutely amazing racing, speed and drama, but there's no promotion and there's nothing the public can relate to other than a day at the local kart track when they were a kid.
It is a shame as karting is just as much a skill sport as F1
as for the Buzz , well Schuey when asked for his plans after F1 said he would probably do some karting and 'our Nige' races in karts now.
I guess karting is seen as the Sunday League of Football compared to the premier league but just like Foootball some Sunday League games can be just as entertaining as a Premiership match.
as for the Buzz , well Schuey when asked for his plans after F1 said he would probably do some karting and 'our Nige' races in karts now.
I guess karting is seen as the Sunday League of Football compared to the premier league but just like Foootball some Sunday League games can be just as entertaining as a Premiership match.
It's all about the hype and the sponsors dollar isn't it though. A vicious circle.
Sunday League v Premiership - ok, I'll accept the entertainment argument, but you can't deny the skill of the players is light years apart (You only have to drop down to the lower reaches of the championship to see routine passes go out for throw ins) and that has to account for some of the difference.
The real comparison is to understand why this country's best mens hockey players are semi pro, while the country's best football player could pay for a nice house every fortnight. It's nothing to do with skill or entertainment, it's all about the mass market appeal, as promoted by the media.
Sunday League v Premiership - ok, I'll accept the entertainment argument, but you can't deny the skill of the players is light years apart (You only have to drop down to the lower reaches of the championship to see routine passes go out for throw ins) and that has to account for some of the difference.
The real comparison is to understand why this country's best mens hockey players are semi pro, while the country's best football player could pay for a nice house every fortnight. It's nothing to do with skill or entertainment, it's all about the mass market appeal, as promoted by the media.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff