SKA RESPONDS The CAMS Statement about Championships

For those who may not have seen it, CAMS has issued a ‘Statement’ recently that reports decisions from a “Strategic Review” by a ‘selected’ AMRC panel into Category Championships and general Category Structure. http://docs.cams.com.au/Public%20Documents/Motor%20Sport%20Documents/CAMS_AMRC_Strategic%20Group_20150629.pdf

More detail is on the CAMS website if you have plenty of time but to cut to the chase, by a simple keystroke pressed, and with an obvious low effort of consideration, CAMS has withdrawn the CAMS Australian Superkart Championship from their category structure.

CAMS now apparently supports Superkart to State Championship level only. However, judging by correspondence* from CAMS about the Strategic Review “next step” into “the flow of state based circuit racing categories into National level competition”, CAMS may also be about to cull categories at state level as well! *http://www.superkartsaustralia.org/uploads/CAMSemail_StratRev_16July15.pdf

Initially the changes from CAMS are at best severely disappointing, and at worst shows a significant lack of respect for Superkart Category and another four or so categories similarly dealt with this way, whom have been loyal CAMS Championship categories for decades.

The most important people affected in this are the Competitors who value the SKA Superkart Championship Series format.  The Australian Superkart Championships represent one of the longest running CAMS Championships approaching thirty years running, and Superkart is an international category replicated globally, so the decision is difficult to comprehend on many business criteria. For balance in comment, it’s true that Superkart category contests fewer rounds, doesn’t pay championship management fees to CAMS, and has dispensation for other criteria that usually applies to CAMS Drivers Title in the ‘prestige’ categories. Previously CAMS recognised the budget demographic of Superkart and made allowance for that within a Championship structure, but this has been withdrawn.

Despite the negativity from CAMS, the support of our members, competitors and teams spoken to urges Superkarts Australia to continue the work of providing the Championship level race series. At the recent ASKC Sydney Round 1, the clear mood of dismay at this seemingly ill-conceived outcome from CAMS by the competitors and team associates was quickly replaced by a strong determination to support Superkarts Australia running a similar format Superkart National Championship Series beyond 2015.

From this firm attitude of superkarters that value highly their Championships, Superkarts Australia will move forward and is investigating the possible options for 2016 and beyond. There are a number of Categories similarly affected and they also hold a belief in continuing their championship racing in a viable format, so an expectation is that in the coming months plans will formalise that sees a platform emerge that will provide what superkarters and others want – a high standard race series to contest championship racing at quality venues. Superkarts Australia is positioned to participate.

While our primary focus is to complete the CAMS 2015 Australian Superkart Championship Series to the highest standards, rest assured that Superkarts Australia will continue to work and serve our members to this end forward - Superkart Championships and SKA won’t just disappear – watch this space.

Best regards

Phil Silcock and theSKA Team

The 2015 AUSTRALIAN SUPERKART CHAMPIONSHIPS Final Round 2 date confirmed with the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals is:

18-20 September: Phillip Island GP Circuit