Club Information:
Membership Fees:
Junior (Cadet, Junior restricted) $84.00
Senior (all other classes) $120.00
These fees apply to drivers.
*Social $12.00 p.a.
*For Drivers under the age of 18 years it is required that one member of the family is a Social Member as each driver needs to have a Guardian present and accept responsibility for the Driver.
For parents and supporters we encourage consideration be being given to a Social membership which carry’s club privileges other than racing.
Race day Fees Club events $35.00 per day.
Major events determined by Kart NZ
One Day license for unregistered drivers $47.00. per day
(No more than 3 in any year)
Other charges:
KartSport New Zealand License $196.00 per year
Transponder Deposit (refundable on return) $123.00
Transponder Lease Mandatory for all events $74.00 per year
Pit Shelter (if available) $50.00 per year.
Kart New Zealand Race License: Each racing club member is required to hold a KNZ Race License. You are unable to participate in events until you have formally joined our club, applied and received a novice license (see above re One Day License)
Once received you are free to join the fun and go racing. You will however be required to carry a black X on a separate plate to your number plate to indicate a Novice driver and be required to start at the rear of the grid.
You are required to present your license to the Chief Steward at registration prior to each meeting. Your entry at each event is noted and forms your record of participation in the sport. This is important documentation because as you participate your progress is noted. To achieve a C License, you are required to come under the scrutiny of the Race Officials for track performance, and in addition undertake a verbal and written examination. This is not onerous, but is to ensure you have an appropriate level of understanding of the sport and its requirements.
As you progress through the grades more competition opportunities become available. You need to hold minimum ratings to enter some events (i.e. B License to enter Open Meetings and National Schools and South Island Championships, A License to enter New Zealand and North Island Championships and Special A Rated events).
Transponders:
Transponders are carried by all Karts during race day and are used to provide electronic race results. In addition full details are posted on the www.mylaps.com website usually within 24 hours of an event where interesting details of the drivers times etc can be viewed.
Newsletter:
All members will receive a electronic newsletter, in an endeavour to keep everyone up to date. Contributions are welcome from all members. Please ensure we have your email address.
Nelson Club Days:
Club race days are the heart of the sport and this is the opportunity to test the things learnt along the way. Nelson has a close working relationship with the Marlborough Kart Club and so it will not be unusual to see events held in Blenheim on a Saturday followed by an event in Nelson the next day. This gives new drivers an excellent opportunity to experience a different track and useful learning, building on each day’s events. If going to Blenheim for the first time, talk to the Club Officials about what may be required in terms of alterations to you kart, as the track is somewhat longer than Nelson and higher speed.
Gates open 9.30am
– gives time to set up a spot to service the kart and look after the days activities.
Scrutineering commences at 10am:
All karts competing for the day must be inspected and cleared by the Technical staff prior to racing. You will need to obtain an inspection form and have this completed prior to presenting your kart. Following inspection, the driver and assistant attend the club house, present their license book for completion and pay the entry fee.
Note – the parental liability section must be completed on the reverse side for all those under the age of 18 years.
In presenting your kart, you should have your kart ready to race, along with your safety equipment (Helmet, Gloves, Race suit if not worn). Importantly your Kart should be presented in a tidy and CLEAN condition.
Scrutineering finishes 11am.
Drivers Briefing at 11.10am.
Attendance is mandatory.
Instruction will be given on matters of importance including the start order for each class. Posted in the results bay will be the individual drivers start order.
For those with Guardians present, they should also attend to ensure they understand the procedures for the day.
Starting engines:
No engine is to be started until after the drivers meeting.
We have a Club Captain and you should make yourself familiar with that person. He is there to assist you in any way we can, and will certainly guide you through the scrutineering process.
Social Activities:
Following a race meeting the club house welcomes all members to join in having some social time. This is a great opportunity to come to know the members and fellow drivers. This is a licensed facility so personal responsibility for consumption is important.
Use of the Track:
Practice Days:
As part of your membership you can be supplied with a key to the main gate for a fee of $10.00. Subject to there being no racing, you are entitled to use the track as follows:
Wednesday 11am to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sunday 11am to 5pm.
Use of the track outside these hours is not permitted.
We encourage new members to get as much track time as possible as this is the way to improve technique and develop kart setup with the objective of becoming a better driver. There are a few simple rules to be followed.
1) At least 2 persons must be present at the track before it can be used – for personal safety reasons.
2) Only karts of the same class are permitted on the track at the same time. There could well be a variety of classes present and therefore personal courtesy is necessary to ensure all get a fair opportunity to practise.
3) The access gate to the track must be closed once a kart is let out onto the track.
4) Driving in the pit area is not permitted. Karts should be placed on the concrete strip before drivers becomes seated and start undertaken.
5) On leaving the track, karts are to stop in the chute prior to the scales platform. There is a mechanism under the platform that can be damaged and expensive to repair. As a club member you are expected to look after our equipment.
6) Drivers must be clothed in all racing safety equipment prior to entering the track including driving shoes or closed footwear.
7) Drivers must always travel clockwise on the Nelson Track (Blenheim Anticlockwise)
Kart Supplies:
No doubt in time you will need to purchase Kart supplies as things do wear out or fail and need replacement. Although there are national suppliers, in Nelson we have access to parts and equipment from:
GK Kart Supplies (Richmond Auto Electrics) 64 Beach Road Richmond.
Website: www.gkkarts.co.nz
Grant Kugener is himself a driver and has wide experience in the sport.
Engine Maintenance
Vin Orr 136 Waimea Road Nelson Phone 5484644
Vin has a lifetime of small engine experience and a highly regarded member of the technical team of KartSport NZ.
Both Grant and Vin are active members of the club and more than willing to provide advice and assistance.
What can you do to assist:
Our club is run by volunteers and as such we will not function without everyone making a contribution. In the early stages you will have enough to do to get yourself and your driver up to speed with the sport. But we would ask you to consider your membership as being part of the Karting family and look to find ways of making a contribution to the overall performance of the club. There is also opportunities for other members of the family to be involved, from learning and helping with the club house functions, computer assisted lap recording through to becoming part of the technical functions. We need volunteers to release karts onto the track, manning the safety zones in the event of accidents etc. As you become more familiar with the club and how it all works, please enhance your experience by giving back a little to the club for everyone’s benefit.
Each class has a responsibility from time to time to set up the track for racing – you will find details noted on the programme when it is your turn. That is part of your responsibilities. In addition during race meetings each class is responsible to provide flag marshals for its class and as such you will be expected to learn the requirements and assist with these duties. The Race starter will not allow a start until sufficient Marshall’s are in place.
This package is design to assist you become familiar with the Karting Family. Enjoy the challenges ahead – remember its “Motor sport with fun”.
Racing Information
There are a number of actions taken by the drivers to ensure we all know what is going on, and to ensure incidents do not unnecessarily occur. These simple procedures assist everyone.
Track entry Grid:
Karts are lined up on the starting grid in the order in which they will undertake the start. At the point when the official is ready to release the drivers onto the track all drivers raise an arm above the head, the order to start engines is given and the arm lowered when the motor starts. When all motors are running you will be released.
Race start:
For novice drivers you will be starting at the rear of the grid, so very much follow the karts in front of you and observe what goes on.
All races are rolling starts and therefore you will find the drivers travel at about half speed, with the driver in the number one grid position setting the pace. The race will be started with the dropping of a flag by the starter or more generally the extinguishing of the red start lights.
You will note on the main straight two white lines painted on the track. The procedure is for those drivers on the inside (right lane) to run the left front tire along the white line. The driver on the outside (left lane) to run their right front tire on the white line. This provides an orderly starting system. Drivers are not permitted to leave their position, commence passing etc until such time as the start signal is given.
Leaving the track.
At the end of the race all karts return to the pits via the exit chute, next to the start line. When a kart decelerates to enter the chute the driver is to raise his hand above head level to indicate to others that he is leaving the track. On entering the chute, stop prior to the weigh station, be this practise or competition. Care must be taken to protect the weight station as the mechanism under the plate can easily be damaged.
Kart weighing:
On leaving the track during competition the kart including driver is weighed to ensure they meet the minimum weight requirement for the class. Ensure to take the opportunity to weigh up to determine whether lead weights or additional fuel needs to be carried. Failure to meet the minimum weight requirement means disqualification.
Track incidents:
Incidents do happen on the track such as spin-outs, collisions etc. Should you be involved in such an incident, it is your responsibility to remove your kart a suitable distance away from the racing surface. However personal safety is the number one concern for everyone and therefore do not expose yourself to unnecessary risk. Stay in the kart until the track is clear. Take your time to ensure you carry out the movement of the kart in a sensible way.
For anxious parents – sorry you are not permitted to go rushing out on the track.
Race Flags.
There are a number of marshalling points on the track and various flags will be flown which you need to become familiar with.
The main ones you will see are:
Yellow: Which means caution and no passing – there is an incident on the track ahead.
Blue: This is the passing flag i.e. somebody is coming up behind you – do not alter your line of travel (and don’t panic).
Red: There has been an incident that requires immediate cessation of racing. Return to the start line, stop and turn off your engine and await further instruction.
Black: If the Stewards wave a black flag at you, this is an indication you should leave the track, as most likely they have seen a hazard with your kart. (something hanging off it or similar). It could of course mean you have performed a dangerous manoeuvre but hopefully not the case.
When you pass a flag being shown, it is good practise to acknowledge to the Marshall that you have seen the flag – a wave of the hand is fine.
Race Format:
For regular club days the racing format will be four Heats and a Final. This may change with other events but this is what you can expect initially. There will be adequate time between heats to service your kart and have some relaxation time as all classes need to also complete their program. However keep alert to when your class is preparing for the next heat.
Driving instructions:
Kart sport is really no different to other motor sport in that there are specific rules regarding passing manoeuvres etc. As a novice driver you will find that it takes time and effort on your behalf to develop the skills necessary to run with the top drivers. All drivers go through a learning curve as they come to understand our sport, drive within the levels of their capabilities and understand more what makes their Kart perform to the level they expect. Always smooth driving is faster than excessive steering wheel movement, so much of your early efforts will be to learn how you get through the corners as smooth as possible while trying to find the limits of grip and speed.
Like all sport, the top drivers make it look easy. It is not until you experience it for yourself that you realise the skill involved.
Follow these simple rules for the safety of yourself and fellow drivers:
- A driver may defend their position by moving off line in the straights but in ONE direction only. Once committed to an alternative line, they must continue on that line until the end of the straight.
- A passing manoeuvre is deemed when two karts overlap each other by approximately 50% or more. Once this occurs it is not permissible for a driver to try and block, barge, shunt or cause an incident and therefore the rules state it is up to both drivers to ensure collisions etc do not occur.
- Should you have a spin-out or leave the track for any reason, you may re-enter the race providing this is undertaken safely. However this must be under your own efforts – outside assistance is not permitted.
- A passing manoeuvre is deemed when two karts overlap each other by approximately 50% or more. Once this occurs it is not permissible for a driver to try and block, barge, shunt or cause an incident and therefore the rules state it is up to both drivers to ensure collisions etc do not occur.