Junior Racers Encouraged By The NKA

press release

There were lots of happy faces at the recent sprint kart race meet at Wollongong when the promoter - National Kart Alliance (NKA) - decided to waive race entry fees for all juniors on the day, but still offered trophies, personal accident insurance and plenty of racing. 

One excited junior, Reece, simple said "What an awesome day!" and another junior, Jonathon, said "How good was junior racing today, a big field in junior national class."

The NKA was officially formed early this year to meet the needs of karters, develop the sport of karting and encourage junior participation. The exciting expansion of the NKA competition in Australia means much to the young people involved, the organisation, and to Australia's motorsport in general.
 
The obvious advantages of karting for young people are manyfold. For starters, karting is, of course, the most economical entry into motorsport, and it is a common factor in the careers of many of the world's best drivers (Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, as examples, all started their driving careers in karts, at around the age of eight).

Accredited karting organisations also provide young people with a sport that offers so much in terms of skills such as hand-eye co-ordination, safe driving techniques, risk assessment, and the development of tactics, whilst also involving the sheer thrill and excitement that only motorsport can offer, in a safe and controlled environment.

Needless to say, the appeal of kartsport is multigenerational, and so junior racers are often accompanied by their elder siblings, or parents. The benefits of participating in a sport that attracts and captures the attention and sees the involvement of entire families are some of the best things about the sport and its events; but this is only one side of the sort of the relationship improvements and social advantages that karting provides. The strength of the karting community is growing as numbers increase, and a real sense of the fact that it is a community, marked by shared commitment and enjoyment, geniality and friendly competition, is developing, and this offers young people not only the kind of environment in which they want to be involved, but also the wholesome, supportive and constructive one in which their parents would like to see them involved.
 
There has been a steady increase in recent years of the number of karters, and significant growth in the numbers of young drivers in Australia (and, indeed, worldwide). The NKA, in a generous nod towards this flourishing portion of sport drivers offered free entry for all juniors who attended their recent Wollongong race meet. They explained that this was both to provide encouragement to what they see as a crucial part of both karting in Australia and the future of Australian motorsport in general, and to show their sincere appreciation for the blooming interest and involvement of junior karters in their organisation and its competition.
 
The response to the announcement saw, as aforementioned, a good number of new racers to NKA timed competition, and the quality of their driving was outstanding (surely due in part to the supportive, helpful and constructive environment and advice that has been fostered by the NKA organisers and participants over the season so far). The gesture and the day itself seemed greatly appreciated by the junior racers and parents. Feedback on the day were uniformly positive.  Some drew special attention to the professional and clear operation of the day, and were particularly thankful for the thorough advice assistance and briefings provided before and after their races.
 
The NKA administration made their announcement of free junior involvement for the day just after the Australian Motor Sport Foundation announced the opening of nominations for the 2010 CAMS Rising Star Program, and the NKA hope that programs like this will continue to see the increase in numbers and quality of young drivers in Australian karting nominees in this year and those to follow, given the support that they are trying to offer for the new karting youth. Who knows - the NKA may be providing that first supportive 'leg-up' to the next Jamie Whincup, Mark Webber, or Chris Atkinson!
 
Any prospective young competitors are encouraged to call (02) 8214 8462, (03) 9017 3899, (07) 3137 1102 for further information, or to visit the NKA website (www.nationalkarting.com.au).   The NKA is also very keen to hear from other karters, track owners or clubs who may be interested in this aspect or any other of their organisational events, and would be very happy to receive any contact made through the same channels listed above.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL KARTING ALLIANCE (NKA)
The NKA is a self-supporting organisation, formed in 2009 by several degree-qualified industry leaders, to encourage karting in Australia and provide a framework that focuses on the needs of karters – particularly costs, enjoyment and safety.  Without the burden of a heavy management structure, the NKA has been designed to be able to adapt quickly to karters’ needs or changing market requirements.

The NKA’s operational processes, built on a risk management framework, are modelled on world’s best practices to support karting at outdoor kart racing tracks and hire tracks whilst encouraging competition by suppliers to keep prices down for karters.

The NKA’s comprehensive insurance policy, encompassing public liability, personal accident, work-cover and professional indemnity, allows track owners and clubs to hold events without fear of being personally being responsible.

Currently the NKA has events for 100cc, 125cc, 125cc with front brakes, Endurance and Super-Karts (125cc and 250cc) at some of the best tracks in NSW and QLD and, soon, nationally.

Karters can obtain a twelve month racing license for just $85.00 which permits racing at any NKA sanctioned event. 
The NKA also provides services to assist track owners and clubs for the running of events, designing tracks, and meeting Australian track safety requirements,. The NKA also can provide facilities (such as timing equipment, lights, scales, radios) along with people, to help with the running of events.

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