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STARTING GRID Membership for this year has already reached 47 renewed and new members. A warm welcome to our new members and thank you to our renewals. There were some good discussions at the well attended AGM held in February and please feel welcome to make your own comments for the committee to consider. Please also note that membership fees have again been frozen for next year. Later on you will find details of MSA regulation proposed changes on which we have been asked to make comment. I have highlighted these items with shading and we would appreciate your comments.. LONDON MOTORSPORT & LONDON KART SHOW 2007 Philip Bunn, organiser of The London Motorsport Show and London Kart Show has reported very positive feedback from the 2006 show at ExCeL, London. Over 8500 visitors attended the show last year which is almost treble the number of visitors that attended in previous years when it was staged at Sandown Park. Incorporating the well-established London Kart Show (formerly held at Sandown Park), the new element attracted twice as many visitors as the 2005 show. The London Motorsport Show is owned by Starting Grid Ltd, whose director Philip Bunn said: "The show and the new venue had a great response from visitors and exhibitors alike, much better then we anticipated. Exhibitors reported excellent trading, with many pledging their support for 2007. This feedback has given us a great foundation for developing the show for 2007. "We will be working hard to encourage a bigger display of manufacturers and teams for all the motorsport disciplines, including motorcycles, as well as continuing to expand the karting areas." One of the main attractions of the show was the 300-metre indoor kart track supplied by Kartex. Over 1,000 visitors tried to beat the track times set by such well-known drivers as Martin Pierce and Luke Hines. Most struggled to meet the amazing times set by ten-year-old kart racer Alex Albon and 12-year-old Jordan Lennox Lamb, both setting lap records at around 16 seconds. The karts and cars were not the only things appealing to visitors: in true motorsport style, glamorous promotional girls draped themselves across bonnets and chassis. Visitors were even more surprised when -- hours before clinching the IBF Intercontinental Light-Welterweight title -- boxer Amir Khan took a walk through the show and watched members of his entourage take to the track. Media interest was very strong pre-show and many of the images that were used in both regional and national press showed owner-driver karting. ‘There is no doubt that the campaign and show itself helped to raise the awareness of the sport and the 2007 exhibition will continue this media focus.’ Although the show is now open to all forms of motorsport, it is the organisers intention to maintain the integrity of The London Kart Show and the name will be equally billed in all promotions. Some exciting and very different attractions are also included for this year’s show which will set it apart from any other motorsport show in this country. Details will be released shortly. The show will take place at ExCeL London on 8th and 9th December 2007 SUPER ONE CHAMPIONSHIP This year the Super One Championship celebrates its 25th year of operation and entries as known can be found on www.s1series.co.uk STARS OF TOMORROW A record number of entries have signed up for the series with 143 entries across all classes. This includes 55 for the MSA British Cadet Championship, 25 for JICA, 24 for Junior Max, 27 for Mini Max and 12 for Super ICC. NEW STARTERS IN KARTING VOUCHERS Twelve year old Sarah Worthington from Redditch has won a BKIA voucher towards a kart training day. All the visitors at the London Kart & Motorsport Show who showed an interest in starting karting were given a free DVD and Start Karting brochure at the Association of British Kart Clubs' stand supported by the Association of Racing Kart Schools. The names were put in a hat and Sarah's was the first valid entry to be drawn. Her father Dave Worthington said: "After seven years of running a team in British Superbikes I've decided to support Sarah in her ambition to go kart racing. We normally have to spend a lot of money to win anything so this is great." Meanwhile Sarah could only exclaim: "Yes, yes, I can do karting now!" Sarah, who has only tried a little bit of indoor karting so far, will use the £120 voucher towards a try-out in a kart from a local member or the British Kart Industry Association or ARKS school. Adam Rusling from Scunthorpe was the lucky winner of the BKIA voucher at the Autosport International Show. He has a kart already and has done some non-MSA racing at Strubby. He bought an ARKS pack at the show and intends to go on and get his licence. 2008 MSA Bodywork Rules Apart from Cadets and long circuit karts all karts will have to be fitted with CIK ‘crash tested’ bodywork from 1st January 2008. Cadets have a waiver until 1st January 2010. Although there is a year to go inevitably there will be a few who will not be aware of this ruling and considerably more with older chassis with diagonal bar mountings. The recommendation is that such chassis should be modified by the chassis manufacturer rather than leave it to the individual owner whose welding skills might not be up to the necessary standard. There will of course be some chassis where the original manufacturer is no longer in business and there will need to be provision made for these. For 250 and 210 karts used on short circuit the proposal is for these to be fitted with crash tested side pods and their bars or for a mandatory double side rail. For the front the introduction of a mandatory fairing is being discussed and your views are requested. For long circuit karts your views are also requested on whether they should be fitted with double side rails too. CADET FRONT FAIRINGS Cadet front fairings must either fully comply with the MSA regulations to the letter or be individually approved. The MSA has introduced a registration form for new Cadet front fairings. To date approval has been given to NJR (Parolin Minikart) and Zip (Top Kart Minikart). If you need to register your fairing please obtain an application form from John Ryan at the MSA or from the BKIA. CADET REAR BUMPER The existing dimensions have been discussed at the MSA and the following changes are up for your input. It is proposed that the bottom rail should be 50 to 100mm above the ground, top rail 200 to 250mm, and a maximum gap between the rails of 100mm. COMER CADET CARBS A new Tillotson carburettor will be available for evaluation later this year and will replace all existing Tillotsons and their variants. The target is to introduce this for 2008 and will be at a similar cost to the present ex-stock item and with unique internal and external markings, an anodized body, new fiche and measuring tools. With the present carburettor and the many variants being difficult to police plus the sometimes outrageous prices they change hands for, the MSA has taken the step with Zip to replace the Comer carb as soon as practical. CHEST & RIB PROTECTORS The MSA is taking a long look at introducing these protectors with junior karters as a priority. Your views are welcomed. If you would like more information about what type of products are available and advice I would recommend you contact Steve Tillett. REAR AXLE THICKNESS Recognising an omission in the current MSA regulations the CIK chart (reproduced below) is to be used to specify the minimum axle wall thickness. Max. ext diameter (mm) Min. thickness (mm) 50 1.9 40 2.9 30 4.9 CIK WEIGHTS The new Tag classes have had their weights reviewed with the following increases proposed subject to discussion :KF1 + 8kg; KF2 +5kg; KF3 +10kg. FUEL SAMPLES A clarification will be sought by the MSA regarding the minimum required for fuel samples. Existing regulations require a minimum of 1 litre to be in the tank and the proposed revision should make it clear that if there is no surplus fuel remaining after the 1 litre has been taken, then the competitor forfeits any right to a fuel sample for their own testing. FORMULA TKM RULE CLARIFICATION Tal-Ko Racing, controllers of the Formula TKM classes have issued two technical clarifications. Effective January 26 2007. Rear Bumpers - it has come to our notice that some karts are being supplied in the UK with a rear bumper which has a bolted in lower bar across its width which could be construed as a torsion bar. We clarify that as stated in rule B3.3.15, no form of adjustable torsion bar may be used. Such bars must either be totally removed, or permanently welded in place. Bolt fixings are not permitted on them. Pedal Fittings - We clarify that it is permitted to use add-on devices which make the pedals easier to operate as detailed in regulation B.3.3.23 for all classes providing this is their only purpose. We further clarify that use of purpose designed components such as those made by Wild Kart, Tony Kart or others which clamp/bolt onto the central steering column bottom support may be used to provide a firm heel stop. Such heel rest bars must only be attached in their centre section. They must only be used for the purpose of heel support. And an amendment: B3.4.19 It is permitted to use helicoil type thread replacements to repair critical engine fixings on the cylinder head, crankcase and cylinder barrel. Any other type of repair or insert is prohibited. Such repairs must not be used to derive any benefit other than rectification of damage. In the case of the spark plug thread, no portion of the helicoil may protrude outside of the normal thread area. The coil must be inserted to the full length of the original thread and only one continuous coil to be used per repaired thread. In all cases the size of the repaired threads must remain as standard. On the carburettor it is permitted to repair the non metric threads with M3 or M4 threads providing they do not perform any other function. And some typo’s / omissions from the Kart Race Yearbook: In 2-stroke the following was totally missed from additional notes list at end: It is permitted and recommended to use a protective device to prevent water being sucked into the airbox inlet trumpet. Design free but it must not be attached to any part of the airbox, carburettor or engine. It may be fixed to the sidepod. Such a device must only be used when tyres are declared either wet or open. In 4-stroke TKM regulations there is an error in 9.4.1: Pilot jet should be 35-60 4TH INTERNATIONAL HISTORIC MOTORSPORT SHOW Historic karts will again feature at the 2007 International Historic Motorsport Show. Stands at Race Retro 2007, the 4th International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh on 23-25 March, are being taken at such a rate that the main hall is almost sold out -- with four months still to go! Among the most enthusiastic are the motoring and motorsport clubs, keen to bring more of their members to the world's only show dedicated to historic motorsport. Already, more than 50 clubs with motorsport connections (on two wheels or four) have joined a scheme to offer ticket discounts to their members. The discounted tickets, representing a £3 saving on the Show's on-the-day ticket price -- and £5 off a two-day ticket -- are being promoted through individual club magazines. Organisations already involved in the scheme include Audi Club, Classic Rally Association, Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, Ferrari Owners' Club, Hillclimb & Sprint Association, Historic Rally Car Register, Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club, Lotus 7 Club, Lotus Drivers' Club, MG Car Club, MG Owners' Club, TR Register and Vintage Sports-Car Club. More clubs are joining every week. Aside from the reduced cost of entry, there are other benefits for club members: • A Club Class Lounge will be open to any motoring or motorsport club member, simply by presenting your club membership card. • Any visitor arriving at the Show in a classic car will be directed to a free car park (saving £5 per day), close to the exhibition halls and Club Class Lounge. • Each club participating in the scheme will benefit by retaining a portion of the ticket price. • Club members buying discount tickets will, of course, have full access to all exhibition halls and all the live events, plus access to the auction review on the Friday, as well as the Club Class Lounge. Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, is THE industry show for classic competition cars and bikes, on road, off road and on track. Visitors to the Show are promised a tremendous spectacle -- from the 450 exhibitors, through the live classic motorsport action, to meeting stars of the sport. Race Retro 2007 runs from 23-25 March at its usual venue of Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. Advance one-day tickets cost £17 (two-day tickets are £30) to members of participating clubs, against the normal on-the-day price of £20 (or £35 for two-day tickets). NEW GUIDANCE ON "MOTORSPORT FIRST AID" ISSUED BY THE MOTORSPORT SAFETY FUND The Motorsport Safety Fund has produced a new film: "Motorsport First Aid". It replaces one made some years ago and incorporates important changes in techniques recommended by the European Resuscitation Council. Split into two sections, it comprises a broad overview of the subject, followed by a more detailed look at the removal of helmets and HANS (Head and Neck Support) devices. It also includes a sequence on how to right a rolled car without injuring the crew. The new film was launched at the Fund's 2007 Watkins Lecture. Held at the recent Autosport International Show at the NEC, Birmingham, it was the tenth in the series and was presented to great acclaim by Professor Sid Watkins - F1's celebrated safety pioneer - who made the very first presentation and after whom the lecture is named. The film is available on DVD, together with four other productions by the Fund: "Motorsport Marshalling", "Motorsport Rescue", "Motorsport Firefighting" and "It Could Happen To You". The latter gives advice on personal preparation and equipment to help newcomers take up motorsport in safety. The 5-in-1 DVD is available for £10, including post and packing, from the Motorsport Safety Fund, PO Box 200, Sevenoaks, TN15 8WZ. THE WORLD MOTORSPORT MARKETPLACE A new motorsport website, The World Motorsport Marketplace (www.twmm.com), has been launched, to become the motorsport industry’s most efficient and economical sales and marketing tool, locally and internationally. For a limited time listings can be created, and advertising placed, free-of-charge. TWMM is for every business, organization and person involved directly or indirectly in four-wheeled-vehicle motorsport (Drag, GT, Historic, Kart, Midget, Off-Road, Oval, Rally, Single-Seater, Sportscar/Prototype, Touring/Sedan, Truck) from the grassroots level to the professional. MotorsportAds.co.uk, This is a new motorsport advertising website, is revolutionising the buying, selling and promoting of everything to do with motorsport. The latest stage in this revolution is that they now guarantee the performance of display ads placed on their website. As well as providing advertisers with all-important brand and/or product awareness among motorsport participants, display ads also generate 'click throughs' to the advertiser's own website. MotorsportAds.co.uk is underwriting the volume of click throughs. If an advertisement doesn't achieve an agreed number of click throughs, MotorsportAds will either credit a proportion of the advertising fees, or extend the advertisement free of charge. Rural Enterprise Valley Project One of the contacts made at the London Kart Show was the Rural Enterprise Valley project (Rev project). This is an exciting multi-million pound investment to establish the A11 corridor in and around Thetford, Norfolk, as the place to do business for companies involved in the advanced engineering and motorsport industries. Rev aims to develop and grow a cluster of like minded businesses. It will encourage small and medium size companies to relocate to the area with the offer of a comprehensive support package. If this is of interest please have a look at www.revproject.com. 2007 BKIA TRACK DAY I have floated the notion of a BKIA track day type event with a small number of members, all of whom believe this to be a good idea. The basic outline would be to hold an open day, or maybe two day, event at a centrally located track where we all pitch up with our trucks and awnings, display our products and offer trial drives to new potential customers and also to current drivers who might wish to try different karts. With the number of championship and club meetings taking up weekends the probability would be a mid week school holiday date. We would clearly need to ensure local and national publicity to make this work. We are aware that this type of event happens in France and in the USA and these are quite successful. This had a good discussion at the AGM. |
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