The Beginning - Aussie Cyclekarts
Back in 2018 not many people had even heard of a Cyclekart in Australia and there were no local online resources. So 'Aussie Cyclekarts' was created to help connect people to try to generate a bit of interest in these awesome contraptions, and maybe even convince a few others to build them as well, so that there were others to 'race' against.
The Website and Facebook pages were created with the aim of connecting people, promoting build meets and shed gatherings and maybe down the track, when there were enough running Cyclekarts, facilitate some kind of Cyclekart events so that those of us with running Cyclekarts could run against each other and further promote the 'Sport' to the wider community.
To help people get started and take some of the guesswork out of building a Cyclekart, local parts sources and Australian alternatives for the standard parts used in the USA were documented, so that anyone starting out on their CycleKarting journey had a point of reference on where to begin.
The Cyclekart Club of Australia
Later on when things had picked up some momentum it was realised that trying to organise insurance to cover Cyclekart events was proving to be fairly challenging for a private group, with many insurers recommending affiliation with Motorsports Australia as the only possible route.
That kind of affiliation placed the cost of entry to Cyclekarting at the same level as competing in professional motorsport, and along with it came safety compliance and licensing requirements that were massive overkill. This was seen as a big stumbling block to progress and was looking to stop things before they had even really started.
So we decided the only course of action was to develop our own simplified safety system that was tailored for Cyclekarting and did not need to cater for everything from Superkarts to Supercars. This way we could demonstrate to insurers and underwriters that any risks associated with Cyclekarting were well considered and well managed.
The CycleKart Club of Australia (CCA) was formally incorporated on February 22nd 2024 out of the need for a formal legally structured body that could hold the responsibility for the organisation of public events, manage safety and undertake insurance at a national level.
The Club operates a membership program that aids event organisation and insurance requirements by managing participant and vehicle eligibility, but still stands true to the original goals of Aussie Cyclekarts. The CCA exists solely to support and promote the sport of CycleKarting in Australia.
The CCA is a not-for-profit incorporated association and a formal registered Australian Body, which exists to promote sport of CycleKarting in Australia and encourage and assist members in designing, building, and driving CycleKarts. It is overseen by a committee elected at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and is managed in accordance with the club’s constitution. It is a private club run and managed on a voluntary basis.
Cyclekarts and Cyclekarting
The first thing worth noting about Cyclekarts, apart from the intrinsic cool factor, is that it's not really a serious sport. The goal is not winning, or coming first, but about the gathering of like minded souls and having fun. First and foremost Cyclekarting is about community, the camaraderie and a chance to get away from the competitive nature of day-to-day life and have a bit of fun. You will note that when you look at the grand prix style events held in the USA, that there is just as much focus put on dressing up in costume and creating an awesome looking Cyclekart along with a matching pit display as there is in any serious attempts to win.
Cyclekarts are generally based on an inspiration car from the pre-war era and all follow the same basic format but may take inspiration from any open wheeled vehicle. There are some very basic rules to follow on how your Cyclekart is constructed, which keeps a level playing field and ensures that things don't get too unsafe but generally CycleKart construction is down to the individual. It is the art of the Cyclekart that is where the focus lay.
What Cyclekarting isn't
The general consensus is that If you are taking it really seriously, or building your CycleKart to win or be the fastest, then you are kind of missing the entire point of CycleKarting.
Building a CycleKart that is faster, and handles better or is more technically advanced is really not that hard, after all there is over a hundred years of well documented automotive improvements that anyone can apply to a CycleKart to make it better. That's just not what CycleKarting is about, and it kinda flows against the general ethos of the 'sport'. This is why the basic design does not include powerful engines, four wheel braking, differentials and other such technological advancements, because when you make a sport super competitive it kinda takes the fun out of it. Faster, bigger, better has all been tried before, and it doesn't make the sport any more enjoyable. It already has just the right amount of everything to be lots of fun. The recipe is just right. It doesn't need to be changed.
Similarly the recommendation is to build your own CycleKart and stick to a reasonable budget. Open chequebook racing tends to make motorsport dull and uncompetitive, so recycling, repurposing and generally making it yourself is the pathway to satisfaction and enjoyment.
For a more in depth understanding on what constitutes a CycleKart please take a look at the CCA members handbook.
Inclusivity
The CCA promotes an inclusive family atmosphere and as such members are required to abide by the club’s rules for the safety of its members and those attending CCA events. The rules of the club are set out in the clubs Constitution and the Members Handbook.