🏁 Welcome to the March 2025 Edition of the ABKC News
🗓 ABKC Annual General Meeting
We have arranged the AGM in April
Current Officers:
- Chairman: Nigel Edwards
- Secretary: Graham Smith
- Operations Manager: Paul Sirett
- Steering Group: Rob Dodds, Paul Skipp, Jim Thornsby, Ian Ward, Dan Ashton
We’re eager to welcome new volunteers to help run your Regional Association.
📝 Grahame Butterworth resigned after the last AGM. Last year’s minutes are on the News Archive page of the website.
A new website has been commissioned and should be online soon. Thank you for your continued support of ABKC!
🏎 Kart Council – February 25, 2025 (Bicester)
Over 25 clubs attended. Motorsport UK will issue full minutes, but here are key highlights:
📌 Important Dates & Updates:
- National Motorsport Week: 10–20 July
- Pre-event scrutineering summaries will be required (form coming soon)
- NCR Appendix to list next year’s approved changes
- NCR V9 release: 26th March
- NCR App launching by end of March
- Driving Standards video coming soon
🛠 Team & Entry Updates:
- Alpha Timing updated to allow Comp Secs to select teams (must hold Entrants Licences)
- Results Sheets will display approved Team name (if selected)
- Media with a team must:
- Hold a suitability check (e.g. DBS)
- Be insured
- Be over 18
🎥 Stewarding & Safety:
- Motorsport UK requests video evidence of major incidents (e.g., red flags, injuries, near-misses)
- Licencing in progress for Event Stewards & Secretaries
👥 For 2026:
- Competitors will list their mechanic’s name
- Adults working with drivers under 18 must have a suitability check
⏱ Timing Notes:
- For long practice or timed qualifying: SRs must state that all karts leave dummy grid on time
🎫 Licensing:
- Check carefully – some had Clubman licences when Interclub was needed
- Digital licences (phone wallet) are acceptable
💡 Light Panels:
- Currently in homologation
- Motorsport UK hopes to offer discounted prices with grants this autumn
🚦 Overhead Gantries & Digiflags
📏 Minimum clearance height above the track: 2.5m
🎁 Vega Tyre Vouchers
Clubs can apply for Vega Tyre Vouchers to use as prizes or raffle rewards.
📩 Request via email: kart@motorsportuk.org
Only carriage fees apply — the tyres are free.
🔐 Online Safety Reminder
Motorsport UK has reminded PG Entrants and Team Entrants of their online safety responsibilities.
Resources include:
- Online Safety Guide for Parents & Young People
- Teams Toolkit – Social Media Code of Conduct
With rising bullying reports, this is a vital reminder that karting must be safe, fair, and fun for everyone. Motorsport UK will take strong action where required, including suspending licences or referring to National Court.
👨👩👧 Parents: Please speak with your children.
👥 Teams: Ensure all drivers sign up to the Code of Conduct.
🏁 British Karting Heritage Project
Gordon Mellis (author of Racing Rules Explained) has secured the rights to Karting Magazine and Kart & Superkart.
He plans to:
- Digitise the archives
- Make all content free to access
- Publish a new and expanded version of his rulebook
ABKC proudly supports this effort.
🔗 Visit The British Karting Heritage Project – donations welcome!
📬 Membership Renewals
Some clubs still haven’t renewed for 2025.
If you missed the January newsletter, invoices have been sent as reminders. Please renew promptly to stay active.
📞 Contact Us
Association of British Kart Clubs
🌐 www.abkc.org.uk
📧 secretary@abkc.org.uk