Slushie success just the tip of the iceberg for karting kids

Kartsport Marlborough’s latest initiative not only offers an opportunity for their junior group to have a voice in the direction of their club - it also provides a refreshing treat for supporters.

The club recently set up a junior committee and one of their first ideas was to sell slushies at club days, providing an opportunity for the youngsters to facilitate fundraising and ultimately play a bigger role in the running of the club.

The junior committee concept was put in place last year by the current club committee, led by president Pete Costello, who felt, “we weren't involving our young members in the decisions that shaped our club”.

“Most decisions were made by adults, and more often than not, adults who weren't even racing anymore. Yet the people using our facility the most, the kids, had very little ownership over it,” said Pete.

“I've always believed that when young people are genuinely invested in something, they take enormous pride in it. They look after it, improve it, and they're proud to show it off to their mates. That's where the junior committee programme began.

“Our ultimate goal as clubs is for growth and sustaining our current membership. If we look at where our sport grows, it starts with the junior classes.

“But I wanted our membership to offer something beyond access to a great race track. I wanted our young members to leave with skills that would benefit them long after they climbed out of a kart.

“Skills such as leadership, communication, confidence, financial awareness and decision-making - skills they can carry into everyday life.”

Initially, the juniors were taught about meeting protocol and governance, some even volunteering to chair meetings. Then they began to come up with their own ideas.

Concepts such as pit site leasing, increasing visibility in schools and throughout the community, growing spectator numbers to increase canteen revenue, surveying members about what food they actually wanted and offering pit-side lunch pre-orders were tabled.

Then one of the 10-year-olds suggested buying a slushie machine. Just 10 days later, during the club championships, the club borrowed two slushie machines and purchased 50 cups for the juniors to test their idea.

They owned the entire project and the end of the day had sold 47 slushies, members of the 15-strong junior group, all of whom are kart racers, immediately switching into business mode after coming off track.

“The excitement was incredible,” said Pete. “They became so invested in the project that racing almost became secondary.”

Their long-term goal is now to own a portable slushie trolley that can provide pit-side service while also attending school fairs, local markets and community events.

Enthusiasm around this one project has inspired more juniors and families to become involved. The first meeting saw seven attendees, the next week 15 youngsters, aged between 7-14, turned up wanting to be involved.

A further part of the junior committee initiative was the decision to bring in regular presenters for the youngsters, people who excel in their life, outside karting.

The first guest was Mark O'Sullivan, a world-class warbird display pilot and owner of multiple display aircraft, with several more guests expected in the forthcoming months.

The local club’s scheme may have wider ramifications, Pete saying Kartsport New Zealand wanted this initiative rolled out to all clubs in NZ and something similar set up at the national board level.

However, his main focus is fixed locally and he and his, senior and junior, committee members have simple aims for the burgeoning Marlborough club.

“I wanted Kartsport Marlborough to become more than a place with an outstanding race track.

“I wanted it to become a place where young people develop ownership. Where families feel connected. Where everyone contributes. When people have skin in the game, they care about the future.

“A club where parents look in from the outside and say, ‘That's exactly the kind of positive, family-focused community I want my kids to be part of’," he added.