Poll Result: Why You Race Less

A previous poll indicated 60% of karters were planning to do less racing this year than they did in 2017.

As a result, we asked why. The numbers from the latest poll suggest one major reason – money.

In fact, the top 3 responses – accounting for almost 60% of replies – were about karters not being able to afford the sport:

1. I can’t afford the running costs (26%)
2. I can’t afford to practice/test enough to be competitive (16%)
3. A can’t afford to buy/update my equipment (15%)

Dissatisfaction with rules (and/or their enforcement) accounted for 18%.

Surprisingly, less than 6% indicated a lack of time or change of interest as a reason.

54 ‘Other’ responses were recorded.

Of those 54, a significant number went along the lines of not liking the current administrators of Karting Australia as a reason to race less. I don’t understand why that’s a reason not to race. Sure, you might not agree with what they’re doing or how they’re doing it, but do you boycott public events and facilities just because you don’t like the Prime Minister?

Dissatisfaction with tyre costs/compounds/wear rates was also common.

Anyway, here’s a selection of replies received in ‘Other’ reasons to race less in 2018:

• Sunday race days conflict with kids sport
• Too many rules for volunteers and officials to cope
• Local / club politics
• The sport is now too professional
• I’m suspended
• Travelling costs
• Days are too long at the track
• The tires are too soft and you need new tires every time you want to race
• Drop down nose system – does not achieve what it is meant to
• Too much pressure on volunteers & committees with all the rule changes
• My money is being used to progress self interests, not my sport
• Other siblings who don’t race want their share of Mum and Dads time & money
• Just too expensive and run by a dictatorship
• The sport is not controlled by racers
• Karting is no longer about the karter having fun
• Club level racing has been made too expensive