The Time Karting Threatened Football as a Spectator Sport
The British karting Heritage Project by Gordon Mellis hopes to unlock many more secrets of karting's rich history.
It might sound improbable: karting being a genuine threat to football? Yet that was the conclusion drawn by the Arbroath Herald on June 24, 1960. The publication stated:
"With football, the national game, undergoing a very sticky spell, go-kart racing may oust television as the enemy. In fact, in a sports article on February 26, warning of the danger to football from today’s counter-attractions for the young, the ‘Herald’ had this to say - ‘Counter-attractions are piling up, and one which may well prove the deciding factor in luring away the younger generation is go-kart racing.’"
The 1960s, particularly the early part of the decade, saw an explosion in karting’s popularity. It was a fresh, exciting sport, which, according to the Arbroath Herald, was:
"Far safer than any other type of engine racing, comparatively cheap to acquire and run, yet providing big-race thrills for the driver, these machines could be here to stay. They have brought motor racing down almost to family level."
Karting attracted a wave of pioneers, with new circuits springing up, road-registered karts like the Phantom making appearances, and a flurry of events and innovations that now seem almost unimaginable today. Looking back, it’s easier to understand why karting was perceived as a threat, however far-fetched it might sound today. One can also speculate on how the broader motorsport world viewed karting - a sport more accessible to “the people” than traditional car racing and capable of drawing thousands of spectators.
But with time, much of this rich history risks being lost. These fascinating quirks of karting’s past are slowly fading into obscurity. This isn’t just a concern for me but also for Gordon Mellis, who shares a deep passion for preserving karting’s heritage, which was evident by him providing me with he story above. He’s the creator of the British Karting Heritage Project. Some of you may already know him from his books, such as Get Started in Karting: Racing Rules Explained. A Guide for Junior Novice Drivers.
To preserve karting’s history, Gordon has purchased the intellectual property and rights to defunct magazines Karting Magazine and Karts & Superkart. His goal is to digitize these publications and make them freely accessible online through flipbook technology. For enthusiasts like me, this is a treasure trove - there’s nothing quite like uncovering forgotten stories from the sport’s past.
You can support Gordon’s efforts by visiting his website at www.britishkartingheritage.com and donating to help fund the purchase of scanners. It’s a cause well worth backing to preserve this unique slice of motorsport history.