AIDKA are letting clubs make up their own rules?

[briggsy45]

I saw a statement, "once a rule was passed, it stands for 2 years". OK, wait till the first person who hurts their back push starting a kart and sues the insurer, you watch clutch's being an option after that!
Furthermore, after racing karts for years and crossing over to speedway karting, why in the hell wouldn't you want a clutch. Who wants to be nailed by a first corner hero and have to sit out the rest of the race and worse, get a DNF?
Spectators, yeah, those that spend money in you're canteen and help raise funds for your club, don't want to see 2 karts racing after a few have been eliminated because of no clutch, trust me. So, this AIDKA, want to rethink the clutch rule and simply make it an option to run one or not!
Otherwise, people like ourselves up here in Newman and Tom Price (Norwest WA), will simply not align with anyone and just pay our insurance on the "night" be a recognised class at the speedway and have fun that way.
Rules, rules, rules, no wonder I left Bitumen and the AKA, it seems that alot of people have forgot, "Slidin' is FUN"
Cheers and remember, just go get dirty and forget the rest

[John]

AIDKA events tend to have more than 3 or 4 competitors in a race so they don't just have 2 karts racing if a number of karts exit at the first corner. There are also rules relating to a restart when a specified number of karts are involved in a first corner incident.

I do however agree that the karts with clutches save on peoples backs when starting as well as allowing karts to continue in the race as per your comment. A good exampleof this are the 125cc with electric start and clutches.

This may be a reason for the 125cc class being very popular?

[briggsy45]

I do however agree that the karts with clutches save on peoples backs when starting as well as allowing karts to continue in the race as per your comment. A good exampleof this are the 125cc with electric start and clutches.

This may be a reason for the 125cc class being very popular?[/quote]

Not a problem John, Agree without doubt.....
But.... What's the big deal about clutch's? I mean, is there a problem if people can restart or continue afte spinning out for example? Racing is racing, and as I said before, isn't it best if all karts are still going?
I'm sorry, but if I implied about numbers, but up here, between Tom Price and Newman Speedway, we have approximatley 13 karts at any given time...... so the "spin out" rule was actually adhoc as previously mentioned.
Look, no throwing stones, at anyone, I just like to race, and I think clutch's don't advantage or disadvantage anyone, unless of course you don't have one

[Kart 18]

I think that was the main problem a only a few people had them and they used them to their advantage.

We get around 100 to 125 karts at Adelaide and Angas meetings in South Australia so numbers aren't a problem. Also there is a rule that if 3 or more karts crash out first corner there is a restart.

But from what I understood it is only fair if everybody has them. They need to be compulsory for everybody and not just optional. I'm sure in time they will be compulsory for all karters.

[Adrian]

G'day All,
I was fortunate enough to be at the AKA Nationals over the Easter weekend in Victoria. WOW... Very close, competitive and exciting racing to watch.
Only 10 classes and huge fields in all...
All classes ran clutches. J and KT is still by choice IE: You don't have to run one. Mind you the majority ran them!
The direction in International karting is clutches! No body can argue this.

There are plenty of things we do well but there are plenty of things we could do better also :-) As long as we continue to move forward, like the rest of International karting, we will remain competitive as a karting choice. In some basic areas I think we may be starting to fall behind. I don't see this as a problem, it is a challenge for us all to continue to fight for what we believe in. At the end of the day, this is what is special about the Western world, We vote...

Not only are clutches the way forward, but a timing system would seem a logical move also. I can't say enough about the use of a timing system. What a time saver and useful tool to drivers and pit crews! Not to mention a very basic minimum in all forms of competitive motor sport.
Yes both involve cost to competitors and AIDKA, but Technology and advancements in it, generally make life easier, quicker and SAFER.

Remember: Bitumen is just the way to get there :-)


With respect.

Regards,
Adrian, WA.

[John]

AMB Transponders would be a great assistance to the lapscorers especially at clubs with larger numbers of entries in the classes.

The subject has been raised at the AIDKA Council level as well as in WA but was reported to be too costly.

Transponders would cost each driver approximately $350 and the pickup loop, decoder and software would cost the club several thousand dollars.

It would most likely not be beneficial for small clubs to outlay thousands of dollars but the larger clubs may find the benefits worth the cost?

What do drivers think about the use of transponders in AIDKA?

[outlaw19]

At some stage transponders will have to be become the norm in AIDKA racing, unfortunately the "COST" is the problem. Currently in other codes of racing it is one transponder per licenced driver and if there is more than one driver in a family then it means multiple transponders having to be purchased. At the club end currently the required hard and software is quite a bit more than several thousand dollars. The bigger clubs maybe able to afford them but consideration also must be given to the smaller clubs that only have limited funds available and the cost of setup could be better spend elsewhere. I do believe AIDKA is lagging behind other forms of karting and the clutch issue will be discussed at many levels for quite sometime but eventually it will have to fall into line. It is also interesting the two clubs mentioned earlier in a post being bigger clubs "one" is in favour of clutches, the "other" is not, so until there is some unity of all clubs clutches aren't happening for awhile. I am personally infavour of clutches in all classes but then also have to comply with the rules current for the season of racing, I have no vested interests in clutches because I run outlaws but feel they should be used sometime in the future

[lincoln]

Just my 2cents worth..but if it was not for the option of clutch's i prob wouldnt have gottin into the sport...not knowing anyone when your starting out makes it hard and if your doing it solo, a clutch class is really the best/only option...and this is also the reason another mate has now invested in a kart and started racing and another who is about to purchase a kart...so if a clutch has got 3 new people into the sport and who knows how many more? im all for them...again jm2c

And this dosnt mean i dont help with pushing...always give a hand when needed..

[Doing the dirt thing]

I think, there is a place for clutches & its there now .
125ss have them , The clutch & engine are supplied as one, so every one has the same , but the engine is costly & more complicated & needs more Maint.
Outlaws have them but who wants to build a Nasa rocket ship in their spare time, only to have the neighbour build a faster one with more money. .
Sorry outlaw drivers but its the more standard "" out the box classes that always remain competitive, that stand the test of time.
Seniors can run the more expensive class & more powerfull if they are big drivers, & or if they don't have friends at the track.
They may see advantages with a clutch, the choice is theirs , on their own situation.
Many seniors choose the KT class , its very competitive , simple & great value. A great intro into the world of karting.
Juniors & Rookies are best kept less expensive & simple & a NO clutch policy has done this .
The simple KT S & J motors are the backbone of dirt karting.
So why argue for or against , just kept it an option at a senior level, by the class, not as an option in the class.
Choose your class of racing , at a senior level , but when their is 1 class only eligible for non seniors then keep it standard.
Safety , there are points either way , but if they keep leaving the starter motors lying around the grid areas , then there may be a back injury from triping over.
Bitumen has become so expensive , just ask anyone who ""Wins "" so why would you follow them , when the success of Dirt karting is family fun at a low cost .
With some classes now having factory clutched engines & some without, everyone should be happy .
Well done AIDKA & the majority of people who voted for the 2010 rules we have now.

[briggsy45]

Well, here's my"clutch" equiped KT100 Outlaw kart Anyhow



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

US 6" QRC Beadlock rims.
All wings hand built out of 3mm Ali.

[tom]

That looks impressive.. Although if you drove in my class those side plates would end up pretty bent by the end of the meeting!

If i saw that photo without any explanation i'd think it was a kart from the USA..

Seems like a lot of input from Sth. Aust. in there also.

[briggsy45]

Gday Tom
Nah, I'm up in Newman, 1200kms north (sort of) of Perth.
We only run at 2 tracks at the moment, Newman and Tom Price Speedway.
Only reason I've got the QRC wheels is that our ozzie $ is doing so good, and the tyre wheel package is actually about $100 bucks less than the standard wheels we can get here.

Yeah, the side panels are pretty virginal at the moment but hey they're good for fending off tyre riders!

As I mentioned previously, we have only about 13 karts (Speedway) up here, but hopefully a few disheartened and cash strapped blacktop racers might make the switch to the dark side! ;D

Either way, we're having fun, and that's what it's about yeah?