AKA June Conference Summary

AKA press release

The National Karting Council (NKC) of the Australian Karting Association met in Sydney in conjunction with the annual committees conference last weekend.

The discussions items included an overview of the new ‘Smart Card’ licence system, the implementation of clutches for the Yamaha categories, the Junior Rotax engine and the future of the junior classes.

National Treasurer Max Laybutt, who has led the development of the new ‘Smart Card’ licencing system, conducted a presentation outlining the workings of the proposed system.

This new licencing system will allow members to apply for, or renew, licences online along with providing a more efficient way of administrating a race meeting. Following further development and testing over the coming months each AKA club will be issued with the appropriate tools to implement this system for 2009.

On the item of the implementation date of the clutches for the Yamaha categories it was decided that given more clutches are set to hit the market in the coming months the current implementation date of January 1st 2009 will be maintained. This will be further reviewed at the Annual General Meeting in August.

It was made clear by the NKC that they want to ensure there is an elite level of karting to be re-introduced during 2009 in the form of an Australian CIK Championship. Further developments on this championship will be provided once they are established.

A technical clarification was made with the reference balance gears in a Rotax engine and confirmation was agreed that they must be aligned during any time of inspection.

Trevor White has been elected as the Acting National Technical co-ordinator for a period until the Annual General Meeting in August.

The NKC discussed at length the future direction of the Midgets, Rookies and Junior categories across the weekend. The outcome of this discussion was that the NKC will consult with the karting industry to develop a blueprint for any potential change in the current formula.

Clarification was sought regarding the use of front-flip helmets. It was decided that providing a helmet complies with the specifications outlined in the 2008 AKA Manual it is able to be used in competition.

A change was made in the ruling of drivers wearing ear plugs. Effective immediately, the wearing of ear plugs is recommended rather than mandatory.

“Overall I’m pleased with the outcomes decided by the NKC over the weekend,” said AKA President Richard Erdmann.

“I feel as though we are continuing to move in the right direction. I look forward to continuing the growth which the sport has enjoyed over the past few years into 2009 and beyond.”

All state delegates will now inform their representative clubs of the minutes of the meeting at their respective karting council meetings.

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