Ted Hamilton
Helmet Painter / Racer
A well prepped SKUSA effort is probably around $14K.....per race.
Anyhow, the reason I'm for no-prep, and simpler chassis types, etc. is to get the variable of competition weighted more toward the driver / tuner than budget. And simple time expenditure. Most racers are addicted, and race AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR FAMILIES. I have prepped and driven winning karts (4x NYS champ and 7x points champ), and know what it takes to win. I also know that if you push yourself to the lengths needed to win, your pocketbook, your family life, and the sport all suffer. How so? The pursuit of speed consumes ever more cubic dollars and time, and prices the newbs out (both in time and money.) So, I think the market has demonstrated that there's an ample supply of would-be racers who don't have the skill or desire to prep.....and unlike 20 yrs. ago, regional and touring sports compete for summer evenings (which would otherwise be good practice time), and so on. I think someone who bought a 40' trailer and did a rent-a-ride situation for 10 ppl. could be successful... Or tracks could do a parc ferme for ENGINES and TIRES.....like my first track did. We did a pill draw for engine number, bolted it on, and ran on 4" Carlisle Super Slicks... They lasted a season and a half, practically....on asphalt. On dirt, even longer. So, there's ways to accomplish this. It just takes the will and perseverance. Plus, it's not at the expense of the wallet racers -- fuller entry level or hobby classes boost the pool for the cutthroat racers too. "A rising tide raises all ships," as they say. That's my $0.03.
Anyhow, the reason I'm for no-prep, and simpler chassis types, etc. is to get the variable of competition weighted more toward the driver / tuner than budget. And simple time expenditure. Most racers are addicted, and race AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR FAMILIES. I have prepped and driven winning karts (4x NYS champ and 7x points champ), and know what it takes to win. I also know that if you push yourself to the lengths needed to win, your pocketbook, your family life, and the sport all suffer. How so? The pursuit of speed consumes ever more cubic dollars and time, and prices the newbs out (both in time and money.) So, I think the market has demonstrated that there's an ample supply of would-be racers who don't have the skill or desire to prep.....and unlike 20 yrs. ago, regional and touring sports compete for summer evenings (which would otherwise be good practice time), and so on. I think someone who bought a 40' trailer and did a rent-a-ride situation for 10 ppl. could be successful... Or tracks could do a parc ferme for ENGINES and TIRES.....like my first track did. We did a pill draw for engine number, bolted it on, and ran on 4" Carlisle Super Slicks... They lasted a season and a half, practically....on asphalt. On dirt, even longer. So, there's ways to accomplish this. It just takes the will and perseverance. Plus, it's not at the expense of the wallet racers -- fuller entry level or hobby classes boost the pool for the cutthroat racers too. "A rising tide raises all ships," as they say. That's my $0.03.