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Membership Although this has been a relatively quiet period the international successes of UK kart drivers has again been worthy of note and completely missed by the general media. 2006 membership has now crept up to 63, matching last year, and with a couple of pending enquiries we look to better this by one or two. Thanks to you for recommending membership and a warm welcome to our new members. Entry Level Karting Clubman Tyro - Low cost formula not requiring the paraphernalia associated with MSA racing. Designed to bring more people into the main band of the sport mixing with the hustle and bustle of a normal MSA race meeting. Recent discussions at the ABkC have included the prospect of an entry level kart class which caters for drivers prior to the ARKS qualification and for which there is a proposed National C/Clubman licence. This class has been referred to as Tyro Clubman and as an example Whilton Mill has suggested a restricted Senior TKM outfit with power limited to 15hp. We are all looking for an answer to dwindling club racing numbers - Is this the way to go? Would there be support from BKIA members? Should it be limited to one engine or opened up to a choice of power capped options? Should participation be limited to novices? Should the BKIA be actively involved? It raises a number of questions and opportunities. Views please. LONDON KART SHOW ON TRACK FOR RECORD SALES FIGURES The organisers of the London Kart Show -- which this year runs in conjunction with the newly launched London Motorsport Show are confident that their first show at ExCeL London (9-10 December 2006) will exceed all their expectations, with interest high and stand space selling strongly. The show represents affordable motorsport. Apart from being the major showcase for European karting, visitors can expect to see exhibitors from all the entry-level disciplines including single-seaters, racing saloons and rallying as well as some exotic race machinery. The London Show also offers a 'one-stop' shopping experience for competitors and teams preparing for the 2007 season, with a complete range of parts, accessories and clothing on sale, many of them at bargain prices. For lovers of live action, there will be an 'arrive and drive' kart track, where anyone can have a go and compare lap times with some of the world's top drivers, plus an opportunity to experience rally driving. The organisers of the London Kart Show have been actively promoting the new venue, with displays at selected race meetings throughout the year. They also took stand space at the International Motor Show, which took place at ExCeL London. According to Philip Bunn, "feedback from the visitors is extremely positive. The Motor Show served to put ExCeL on the map as a venue. It offers the exhibitor and the visitor a modern and user-friendly environment, as well as superb access routes by road, air and rail." With extra marketing budget for the show, with excellent support from the venue ExCeL's marketing partners include Canary Wharf, Docklands Light Railway and Southern Rail the 2006 London Motorsport Show promises to be a resounding success. As Bunn says, "this will be THE exhibition for grass roots motorsports". The organisers plan to include workshops for both karts and cars at the show, designed to inform those already participating, but created specifically with the newcomer in mind. "It is high time that there was a show to tell interested parties how to go about participating in this exhilarating sport of ours", said Bunn. "I believe that if embraced by the industry, it will start to make a difference to the numbers participating at all levels in the future." Following a recent rush of bookings, over 150 exhibitors have already signed-up. These include the following organisations (listed in alphabetical order): :: Association of British Kart Clubs (ABkC) :: British Automobile Racing Club (BARC; Thruxton, Pembrey and Mallory Park circuits) :: Dunkeswell Kart Circuit (Devon; owned by Nigel Mansell) :: Historic & Classic Kart Club for Great Britain (Warwickshire) :: JAG Engineering (Sussex) :: Karting Magazine (Kent) :: Maranello Kart UK (Oxfordshire) :: MotorSports Vision (Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton circuits) :: Zip Kart (Hertfordshire) There are still opportunities to take stand space at this year's show: contact the organisers on +44(0)1444 246446, or email via the website www.londonkartshow.co.uk. The London Kart Show and the London Motorsport Show are supported by the Motor Sports Association, RacecarsDirect.com and the British Kart Industry Association. ABkC Items - see their latest newsletter. There are a number if items in this newsletter of particular interest to us and a snapshot of regulation changes for 2007. Kart Race Yearbook If you require MSA Yearbooks at the BKIA discounted price (£14.50 including post) please let me know and include payment. The 2007 Autosport Show includes a BKIA trade pavilion with a number of stands solely for BKIA members at discretionary rates. The BKIA Pavilion will be positioned next to the Karting Stage, once again housed by the BRDC Stars of Tomorrow race transporter, where stars of motorsport are interviewed throughout the show. Just one of the fantastic new stage features will be a special presentation on Saturday and Sunday about how to get started in karting. Along with experts from the BKIA, celebrity drivers will also help the general public, offering advice and encouragement to future participants in the sport. The area is initially divided between 6 separate units, each measuring 4m long by 4.5m deep. However these could be divided up to create more opportunities or completely extend the size of the pavilion. Discounted rates are available on request to Kate Woodley. These costs include a complimentary turnkey package with a strip light, 2amp/500W power socket and 1 table plus 2 chairs for each of the stands to make use of. Designed to welcome visitors to the area, the Karting Information Point will direct visitors to key karting activities, not only in the Karting Area but across the one-million square feet of Autosport International. Useful copies of the Autosport International floor plan will be available, with karting activity ‘hot spots’ clearly highlighted across the show, including the new BKIA Pavilion. The Karting Information Point will feature listings of all Karting exhibitors, in addition to timetables, such as the Manufacturer Display schedule and details of top interviews and activity on the Karting Stage, which will be active for all four days. Look out for some exciting new karting initiatives at the show including a Motorsport News café in Hall 10 where karters can chat with the magazine’s journalists. All enquiries for these special stands to Kate Woodley at Haymarket Exhibitions Ltd on 020 8267 8301. MSA Items Cadet Kart Bodywork Please note that the requirement for the need of a front fairing vertical surface does not apply to the Cadet category for 2006. The recent modification to the dimension published in Motor Sports Now to N14.15.5 appears to have caused confusion and MSA confirm the use of the shovel nose style front fairings will continue to be permitted in the cadet category until the 1.1.2007. MSA will publish further guidance on bodywork with pictures in Scrutineers News later this year. Cadet Chassis Homologation Please ensure that chassis used in the cadet classes are either registered or homologated by the MSA. Reports have been received of Honda Cadets running with non-homologated chassis’ and main chassis tube exceeding 28mm in diameter. An amendment has also been made to the Zip chassis to permit Left handed variants for the fitment of Honda engines. Magnesium Kart Wheels Please note that magnesium wheels are not permitted in selected classes. In particular the Cadet categories. Class regulations A1.7, A2.7 and A3.7 are very clear that only Aluminium wheels are permitted. Brake Failures The MSA has received reports of various brake failures in some of the direct drive kart classes and mainly in the heavy classes such as Rotax heavy etc. If you have any experience of this please let me know. Fire in kart incidentsFire is not something that is commonplace in modern day motorsport but it does still occur and we cannot afford to ignore the possibility. Fire in karting doesn’t happen too often but there have been two recent instances of fire in kart incidents. In both cases it appears the fuel filler caps were either loose or ill fitting so worth making sure the filler cap is secure. World Formula Tyres
Zip
Kart,
the
Bridgestone
importer
has
informed
the
ABkC
and
MSA that
production
of
the
YEQ
slick
tyre
has
ceased,
due
to
certain
components
in
the
compounds
being
banned.
It
has
been
replaced
by
the
YJL
and
since
stocks
of
the
YEQ are almost
exhausted,
the
YJL
(with
or without
MSA
marking)
will
be
permitted
in
the
World
Formula
class
from World Formula Engines Allegedly there are some world formula engines being used with the incorrect exhaust system. The only exhaust system permitted is the system supplied by Zoom (Official importer). Braking Systems for Karts (N14.7) Scrutineers are being reminded that the secondary brake connection must be effective. If it is not obvious that the secondary connection is effective, scrutineers should ask the competitor/entrant to prove its operation by disconnecting the prime connection and ask for the brake pedal to be applied using the secondary connection to ensure it is fully operational. Steering (N14.8) Please note that alone, the use of a split pin inserted in the lower column thread where the retaining bolt is fastened is not an acceptable means to prevent the column to pull free from the lower bearing. Please ensure a suitable method such as a collar, etc is in place. Cadet chassis mods – no additional holes permitted including those for attaching different bodywork. CIK bodywork mandatory for 2008, advice to be provided to enable older type chassis to be fitted with these parts. The new CIK rear protection has been accepted by the MSA for 2007 but only for CIK classes – FA, ICA & JICA. The large bubble front panel (Big Foot) front panel does not conform to MSA or CIK regulations – even for MSA endurance events. Wedge style nose fairing will not be permitted in the Cadet classes from 2007. An error has been made in the Blue Book regarding the height of the rear bumper in Cadets. For all cadet class karts the upper rail and uppermost extension element must be between 20cm and 30cm above the ground in dry configuration and not 16cm and 20cm as stated. The 1.8mm minimum diameter of brake secondary cables will be made mandatory in all classes from 1.1.2007. Cadet ages are extended to year of 13th birthday. It is believed that this will help the really small, light kids not being pressured to move into junior karts beyond their physical capabilities. In parallel with this the MSA Kart Committee also confirmed a change to the Junior entry age in the year of the 11th birthday. However this change will not come into effect for ABkC accepted classes until 2008 and then subject to ABkC specific approval. All 2007 junior classes will have a mandatory maximum kart weight without driver, approximating to a maximum of 25kg ballast. Junior TKM and Intermediate - 94kg Junior TKM 4-stroke - 105kg Junior Max and MiniMax - 108kg JICA - 100kg Honda Junior - 117kg Junior Gearbox - 115kg. Junior Blue - instead the minimum driver weight is 27kg.
Cadet Chassis Homologations – 2007 The following have applied to the MSA for new chassis homologations: ARC
Motorsports Ltd Formula TKM Chassis Homologations - 2007 The following have applied for new chassis homologations: ARC Health & Safety Information Teh BKIA has been asked whether manufacturers should be providing user information and health & safety advice with supplied equipment. For example does anyone supply users guidance notes with a new chassis? It crosses our minds that there is a case for stating that some items are for racing purposes only. Does anyone have thoughts on this matter. BKIA Logo Members should use the logo in all advertising; thanks to those members including it in their Karting Magazine ads. High-resolution images are available and can be supplied to members. Come Kart Racing DVD The new starting in karting promotion DVD has been produced by the ABkC with BKIA and ARKS support. A copy was forwarded to each member last year. We hope that members and clubs will show this to customers and local groups, perhaps accompanied by a presentation to help promote our sport. It is suggested that copies might be given to local schools for their libraries or given to prospective newcomers. Please order further quantities to support this initiative. They can be ordered either direct from the ABkC in boxes of 100 at £100 per box or the BKIA will collate orders for smaller quantities. Mechanics Paddock Passes Members operating on the continent sometimes encounter a requirement for a mechanics paddock pass from the organisers. If members have experience of this would you please let the Administrator know. Maybe this is something that can be provided to members? |
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