Sure have. The answer is that there is no answer, just a moving target that has many moving parts to it.
Let me explain...
The popularity of an engine has a number of factors to it; price, availability, rules/tech, engine builder support, promoter interest, stability over time, geography, history, brand, ease of use, aftermarket, industry interest, etc. The order of those needs will be different for a local track (or actually a group of local tracks), and a regional or national series.
For example, the local tracks are going to be more focused on geography, price, ease of use, availability, and stability over time. This keeps them in line with other tracks in their area (necessary) and makes it easy for racers to invest in this for the long haul. The others on the list are in play as well, but aren’t as important.
Most, if not all, of the ideas in this thread have been experiments done at the local level. Typically we find that in a geographical area, you’ll have a large primary track that tends to experiment initially with a new package, finds what tends to work, and then sticks with that until they need to change. Then the satellite tracks that follow what the primary track does in that geographic area will follow suit (more or less). This is smart, and has worked for the entire history of karting, until you try and scale.
By scale, I mean start appearing on the regional or national levels. When an engine package reaches a tipping point, it becomes ‘important’ and you’ll find it appearing on the regional and national series. When it hits this level, you’ll see that the needs change drastically as it needs to have its act together. This has been the inherent problem with clone. It hasn't scaled well.
The regional/national series is more likely going to need to focus on vetted rules, thorough and consistent tech, engine builder support, industry interest, promoter interest, aftermarket, etc. Price, availability, ease of use, and geography are still involved, but aren’t as important once an engine reaches the regional/national level.
Clone is where it is now because the rules and tech didn’t scale while the other factors did. The industry is involved, the promoters are promoting, the engine builders are supporting, the aftermarket is engaging, but the rules and tech were lacking. This is the part that needs fixing, and nobody was fixing it. The rules were not scalable and tech at regional/national events was (and still may be depending on the rules package) a complete shot in the dark rife with judgement calls.
So if I was the new Technical Director, this is what I would do…
I would move away from Box Stock/OEM, and establish measurements that can be applied to all of the clone engines, in a way treating them as one engine.
I would use those measurements to develop a technical compliance program that can be implemented at regional/national series events, as well as local events should they want to do that, thereby eliminating judgement calls in as many areas as can be done.
I would make sure that the regional/national series have the technical support that they need, but focus on the needs of the local tracks to make sure they have the support that they need to evolve their rules and tech, but at a slower pace that meets the needs of their racers.
I would make sure to remember that the needs of the local track/racer, and the needs of the regional/national series/racer, are two different needs and that I need to consider both when making any changes to the rules.
Note: One is not more important than the other. They are both equally important and necessary for long term success. And over time, the rules of the regional/national and local tracks will become fairly close.
When I started this thread, I had hoped that it would start a positive conversation about the engine in general, and it did. I’ve received a number of emails, phone calls, and PM’s about it from various folks in the industry that don’t post, but watch. I feel that it is important to have these types of discussions so that we can all share our ideas on how to grow our sport and not be so divisive all of the time.
The reality? It isn’t that bad, and the sky isn’t falling. We’re working on the rules and tech to get it better. Enjoy the fact that this is still (and will be for quite some time) an inexpensive package that you can enjoy racing, even if it isn't perfect.
Joe Janowski
NKA, Inc.
