1.         Why was six rounds decided on when you said 5 or 6 to begin with ? In previous years, it’s usually been 5 rounds.

There is more than one answer but we have to plan ahead because not only are we are obliged under the FIA and CAMS delegations to run the Oceania Championships, we need to get International Karting back to Australia. Once Oceania becomes viable, that will be our sixth CIK event which is how it worked some years back. 

2.          Its rumoured we wont start until after the Nationals so isn’t 6 rounds too many between April and December ?

 That may be right and there’s dates to be coordinated too, so there’s no certainty there will be 6 events in 2008.

 3.            Venues/Dates This needs to be sorted! We can’t secure drivers with the vague details as they are.”

We are not looking to start the series until after Easter as our engines wont arrive until mid  March.  We are in the process of sorting out dates but can’t until the States settle their calendars for next year.  We have to then ask State Councils which clubs/tracks best suit the aim of the AKA to use CIK as a promotional tool to attract new karters to clubs.  The we go to the clubs and they have to decide whether they are happy to fit our class into their club racing program because it means we’re asking them to look after us for 2 days not one to accommodate because of our schedule.   And when. Then there’s clashes with other major meetings etc.  Get the picture ?  

4.          Front Brakes – Why are we having them? It simply raises costs and decreases the racing spectacle. Our CIK is on a different level to Europe now anyway with the new format. They are also going to ban front brakes as of next year. Why should teams have to fork out for equipment we can only use 6 times a year and for 2 years????

The CIK rules say they are optional.  If you don’t want to fit them/use them, don’t.   It has been forgotten that CIK Australia is a stepping stone to international karting and we must prepare our karters and their teams on as much a similar basis to what they are doing overseas as we can. CIK is not changing that rule for 2008 and has said the only change they’re considering for 2009 is to make them foot operated.   Commentary from the World Championships said the racing was processional and someone suggested that was the front brakes.  That is typical and also ludicrous.   The patent superiority of the Vortex is apparently irrelevant.

 We do know the CIK can change this overnight and we just need to sit tight until after the CIK meet on 8 November.

 5.         One Engine for the Season – Why not choose every round? It in no way creates more work for anyone to have a different one each round. It will however increase the ‘sense’ of parity.

A new ballot every round was our starting point but concerns arose that if they swapped them every round, a person at round 3 for example may pay the price for engine damage originally done to an engine at round 2 by someone else is hardly fair. Eventually, you weigh up the pro’s and con’s of both systems and what we’ve arrived is a better balance. There’s little likelihood of “DUD” engines. Really it is no different to you buying any engine: you get what you are given either way. Historically, CIK engines have far less variance from engine to engine than other engines and we sought out European and Asian teams experience in this regard.  We’d guarantee some people will think/claim they have a dud engine but more than likely the real problem will lie with driving ability or chassis setup. The Mark Winterbottoms of the world were not lucky enough to always have the best J’s, Clubman’s, Rotax’s and CIK engines available: they worked with what they had and won regardless. The rest usually like to find something to complain about because it makes them feel better.  

6.        Radiators, Airboxes, Waterhoses, … Does this all get supplied as part of the engine deal at the first round, or do we supply our own?? Are we ALLOWED to use our own of these items?

 The first thing here we need everyone to appreciate is that the engines belong to the AKA and we have to do whatever is sensible to protect the AKA’s investment in them and preserve the warranty we have from the manufacturer.   That is why we will control the fuel, oil, airbox and spark plug.  We haven’t determined if we need to control the radiator although we do have a bulk buy quote available if we go that way.   

Non tech items will include hoses, switches etc.  The water pump is integral.

Fitting wise, we propose to send teams the wiring looms so they can be fitted to their karts.  We will also circulate engines so engine mounts and other fittings can be readied. All competitors should need to do after collecting their engine at round one is fit it, make the connections and touch and go.

 Before practice commences at round one, there will also be an engine run in session.

7.          Seeing as we’re likely to be having front brakes and untried engines, can we have an extra practice day on the Friday preceding the first round ? 

 The short answer is No.  It is no simple task to add a day to any program but when each round is being run at a club event, we are already pushing the club hospitality for an extra day to have practice, qualifying and 3 heats on the Saturday before fitting our pre final and final into their club program, modified to include us on Sunday, but above all that, we simply can’t get officials, equipment and all the other necessities into place a day early without creating enormous extra costs for ourselves and teams.

We’ve already heard talk of karters adding front brake set ups to current karts and getting a feel for them.   Seeing as most of the front brake systems are ‘self contained’ (99% of the system is mounted to the stub axles) we imagine all competitors will be well and truly up to speed on front brakes by April 2008.     

 8.         These details need to be released ASAP. We (along with other teams) are running chassis not stocked in Australia. That means we need to get them in from Europe. This process takes a while (as you know) and cant start before we know what on earth is going on. 

We sense some frustration within your email but we are all in the same boat. We are all in this together. Don’t forget that of the 5 members of the IKC, 3 are team bosses.   We are all excited, all chafing at the bit to get on with it.  It’s all new though and there are lots of teething issues.  This is not an us and them.   It’s a package that we are all part of and we need to get as much of it right as we can but acknowledge that it wont be perfect.  If we could start it next week and run some trials, we would but we just cant.

 Keep sending your queries to Ian.  Don’t be shy.  We don’t know everything and we cant read minds.  We also don’t name names as you can see above.