The need for pushers

[outlaw19]

It appears from comments made from racing on the weekend that the lack of pushers was an issue at Adelaide. Each driver is suppose to supply a minimum of 1 but recommended 2 at the meetings they attend. Unfortunately it doesn't happen for what ever reason. In some case's because it may only be the driver who attends. If they pay their nomination are they not entitled to race. I would like to think that most who do attend by themselves do help out others by pushing karts during the event.
The lack of pushers will always but a concern, with option of clutches being voted out then it is a case of put up with it.
Or maybe there is a need to rethink the clutch issue and bring AIDKA into line with all other forms of karting and allow the use in all classes.

[tom]

Unless you have a 125cc you'll still need a helper to get your kart going..

I think people are reluctant to introduce themselves to others and arrange their pushers before they head to the out grid. The reality is that all direct drive karts need pushers to get going, so if you walk around the pits near you it doesn't take long to arrange to help a couple of others, and get help yourself in return.

Where the problem lies is people arriving at the out grid and just expecting people to be there to help them. I don't think that paying nomination fees entitles you to pushers for the day, that is something you need to organise for yourself.

Go for a wander, introduce yourself to more people. Maybe even volunteer to do scrutineering and while you have people's attention as you are checking their kart you could ask them to push you for the day!

If all else fails, get a 125..

[Karting 101]

Spot on Tom . !!!
Next the ones complaining will be upset that someone else didn't bring a foot pump , so they couldn't borrow it to pump their flat tyres up.
With a clutch kart , they will be too lazy to charge their battery & sit their flat , waiting for someone else to start them up.
If they can't find a buddy to push then they should look at themselves.
Its time people start being responsable for their kart , their behaviour , & their results .

[outlaw19]

After paying nomination the driver does have a right to compete. But if the club asked at sign in do you have pushers and the reply is no then it can be different. By accepting a nomination fee the club accepts the responsibility of allowing the driver to race, A transaction has taken place. I have not said it entitles you to pushers but the opportunity to race it does. So where do you go from there! "Don't have anyone racing" well thats not good for the sport. Maybe the Hire a Crew that is used in some Speedway Karting events might be an option
I agree partly with you Tom drivers should just not rock up and expect to be looked after.
I take it to mean Tom with the offer to do some scrutineering that they have the appropriate licence and training now thats another can of worms with that one.
Karting 101 don't make aspersions on peoples charactors as you in some of your comments thats no relevancy. As I said for what ever reasons some drivers don't have extra people. I would think this needs looking to see what can be done with trying to alleviate the problem and it is not a new problem. The clutch issue well I think it would be a lot easier to get someone to plug in a starter than to get someone to push. I know what I prefer. Maybe the KT 100SED electric start clutch motors could be an option. But is still a problem thats not going away anytime soon.

[Kart 18]

Unless you went to Adelaide I don't think you can comment about the pushers. Adelaide got through racing fine 4 rounds in before 2. I was only expecting 2 but the rain held off. That was great! Pushers will always be a problem at all clubs and with karting as some people just sit in their karts stick up their hand and expect somebody to come along and push them. Well it's not that simple, maybe offer to push somebody out yourself and then ask them if they will push you in return. Pushers wasn't a problem on the weekend in my opinion they were not waiting like usual for pushers but I reckon the fact that their was a double grid that was the reason why the pushers weren't an issue like usual as their are always more people around. I reckon all clubs should get double grids. I just reckon the slowness in the grid wasn't the fact that people didn't have pushers it was just the fact that everyone (that only race at Adelaide) were just getting used to how the grid system works. 

But I do agree with you Outlaw19 clutches will solve this problem... But they are not the answer in this case it just people need to find their own pushers before they put their kart on the grid and not rely on other people all the time. It's time they took responsibility.

[outlaw19]

I wasn't having a go at Adelaide club but it was raised in the Adelaide forum though you can read that part. The lack of pushers affects most clubs and this is the on going part. If people don't take pushers with them for what ever reason is it ok not to start them thats been brought up at times. For the better meant of karting yes they have to be started but what do you do about the repeat offenders the option of not accepting their nomination is an avenue but not favoured and it is easy to say let them take responsibility for them self but then it doesn't look good for karting if karts are left at the grid. Obviously the new grid worked on the day thats fine but that was not the discussion. It is the lack of people wanting to help those who think it is their right to expected it. I don't know how to satisfactorily address the problems but as I have stated previously Clutches would assist but not be the total cure. (and use I am 100% totally in favour of clutches for all classes). The leave it to their responsibility is not a cure to the problem., the problem will still exist I think open discussion and suggestions is what it will take to help not criticism of any club or individual that doesn't help anyone

[tom]

I agree that open discussion is a good thing.

If it was up to me i'd say don't bring your kart to the grid unless you bring pushers with you.

[John]

"Its time people start being responsible for their kart , their behavior , & their results ."

I think Tom summed it up nicely with the above statement.

I also believe that clutches and electric start would be an improvement to all classes especially in relation to the prevention of injury to pushers.

Acceptance of an entry fee does not in my opinion imply that the competitor will be provided with pushers.

At a lot of clubs the competitors are required to assist themselves and each other by being flag Marshall's, scrutineers etc Wouldn't be any racing if they all expected to simply put their kart on the grid on the basis of the entry fee entitling them to have it "all provided".

The problem is at all clubs and most people do strike up a friendship to help each other as suggested.

The few drivers that expect everything to revolve around them need to start taking some responsibility for themselves.

[outlaw19]

You have misinterpreted what I have said. The payment of fees means an agreement has been entered into by both parties. The driver to drive the club to provide somewhere to drive. If the driver expects to have pushers supplied then the fee should show this and provide Hire a Crew for the purpose. If they don't want this then at nominations the drivers should be asked do you have pushers if they don't they can't compete if a fee is paid prior then it must be returned. The service has not been provided. It would be good if drivers as has been stated before took responsibility for themselves but we know that's not going to happen quickly. So what is the alternative there is no current penalty for not providing pushers so it is just an ongoing problem.

[Sam]

Everyone has raised some valid points here. The solution is clutch the karts, as the bitumen racers did. This solves everything and I believe is the safest option. I still think that in 2010 it's a bit backwards to have to push start karts. Maybe clutches aren't for everyone thats fine but at least if you run a KT and want a clutch for convenience and safety then you should be allowed to run one. It offers no performance advantage but you would finish more races than a non clutched kart.

The clutch factor is why 125's are becoming so popular just look at Adelaide last sunday there were 16 in the 125 heavies. Personally I found it hard to find pushers when I ran a KT as I always felt like I was imposing on other people and i was starting out on my own.

This is why I switched to the 125.

[tom]

Look closely at what happened when the AKA "tried" to implement clutches as compulsory.

It created a lot more problems than it solved, there is no way i'd encourage AIDKA to follow that path.

PS. I'm not against clutches, i think a single manufacturer optional clutch for KT would be OK.

[mike]

I dont think clutches need to be compulsory to make a difference. Just a few at a time would take the load off. I have also push started karts with my 125 to get them going again.
When I was in KT heavy my push starter had such a hard time starting me, picking up the back of the kart and pushing 170kg to get me going. And If it didnt start, he was running half way down the straight still pushing. I dont think he enjoyed it too much. Why would anyone enjoy that. No wonder why pushers are getting scarce.

It is my reason that I went 125s. I can be self sufficient, Go the the track by my self start myself and get it off the grid myself.Why would I want to go back to the stone age.

The KT100 SED is a good option. I think there is also a retrofit kit for the older motors (the standard kt) available now to make them elect start. There is also pull starters (like on a lawn mower) as well as the battery pack starters available.

[John]

Some good discussion taking place. Nice to see.

I do not compete myself but take more of a behind the scenes role with assisting AIDKA Clubs.

I agree that to have a change to compulsory clutches would not be the best course of action but having them available as an option would be a positive change.

Although a number of drivers have taken up the 125cc classes they would tend to be a more expensive class to run than the KT and J classes. It would be interesting to see what would happen if there was a KT class made available with electric start and clutch. I think that it would prove quite popular.

Keep up the good discussion.

[Kart 18]

Also it helps when the person leans all the way forward lifting their bottom of the seat when being pushed...... That makes things so much easier. I think people need to learn this also.