Posts
1776
Joined
11/8/2006
Location
Clarkesville, GA
US
Edited Date/Time
5/12/2015 8:10am
A friend of mine is pretty big into Karting, as we all are into moto. His son, whom I think is about 13 year old, just brought home $12,000. at this big race they were at. My oldest son used to kart a couple years ago at the local level. He was 13 then and would win anywhere from $20-100 at a local event that he would place at. He was good enough to basically cover what we spent for the night of racing, or at least close.
So, why is the Karting world so different then our moto world? Why can these kids get to bring home some cash in their pockets for their efforts and all we get is a plastic trophy?
Who set it up this way and how can we change it? As expensive as this sport has become, it sure would be nice to be able to make at least our entry fees back...
$10,000 KTM probably costs $4,000 if that to make.
The Shop
But they can't.
Want to change it? Dig into your own pocket and offer to pitch in to fund a big purse for the local racers. Then convince others to do the same. If you can't come up with enough good reasons to justify doing that, perhaps you can begin to understand why no one else wants to either.
The dynamics of karting are different than moto. Fewer tracks, fewer opportunities to race, etc. If kart tracks were everywhere, the number of racers at each event would be diluted and no single track would have great turnouts. Just like motocross.
Karts aren't making money either ! To make a million in racing you gotta start with 2.
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/09/19/1888236/go-kart-race-draws-hundreds-…
They must have 300 grand invested.
Their theory is the future on all points is brighter.
Less injury, longer career and more opportunity.
Lets be honest....look at AC. Hes already on the downslope and if he fucks that shoulder up again its over. And hes what?
20? If he hadnt signed 5 year deal he could barely get a ride flunking out of each series so far.
I am sure the more entries the more you won but heck even if it was say... $10 .. well, that's better then what us MX guys leave with.
So clearly there is a way to do it.
But my main question is, why is it not allowed in AMA racing? Ok so its against the rules.... why?
Pit Row
NESC pays +30A, +40A and +25A on a rotating basis every week. Open A might be in the rotation as well.
NorCal racing is bullshit, not even the expert classes pay. No wonder there's single digit number (usually under 5) rider turnout for even those classes...
People sandbag bad enough just for trophies. Add money to more classes, and things will only get worse.
Each organization has a points system that is enforced and riders who win a lot move up. Every week there is a list of riders who are moving up whether they want to or not. Once your in the expert class there no where to go and you race all the fast guys.
Amateur payback even makes sense in these organizations because they dont let you get away with it. Shit, I left Crow Hill with $25 for winning B classes here and there and it was a good motivation to win.
In NorCal the C riders are whipping and scrubbing over every jump and never move up. There's even a D (beginner) class where you constantly get the couple of kids who gap the field by 30 seconds in a 4 lapper and no one makes them move up. The racing is NorCal is dying because the C/D classes have riders but the A/B classes have 2-7 person gates...
How much longer?
i'd say their amateur careers are pretty parallel ..
Cliff notes for vitard GSXR: (This is a joke, bit of fun not trashing James) If you take offence to this, here's a tube of:
Compare these two top athletes.
Both were champions last year. Both are filthy rich but one of them earns a shit load of more money than the other.
One of them has a main sponsor that produces oil and gas, the other one is supported by a sandwich shop.
....and that pretty much wraps it up.
followed by you compaining your child only gets a trophy.
I suggest the poor little sod doesn't need any extra pressure on your chosen career path, for him.
Paying prize money to children is against all the rules here and for good reason.
Post a reply to: Why can't we get paid?