American Electric Karting League - BSR / WKA

Kart Race Reports, Driver Diaries and Schedules
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After spending three days trying to get gas karts to have auto speed up/slow downs etc using that system… electric is way better, reliable and easy.

Let me qualify this somewhat. the electric kart systems lend themselves very well to being able to precisely control fleet speeds etc. it seems to me that for a commercial operation that is seeking greatest control and ease of use, the answer is obviously electric.

That being said… the gas kart experience on a traditional track, outdoors, blows the doors off of electric every time.

The electric experience is fabulous from a driving/speed/maintenance/CRM perspective, but it is soullless.

I like my tracks, like my karts, dirty and raw. Frayed around the edges, even. The gas kart experience has soul that is often lacking in the sanitized world of K1 and Suoercherged.

I have zero doubts that Artis race karts are utterly gobsmacking and that I’d adore them.

But these aren’t rental karts in a rental facility targeted at walk in traffic. His are race karts that are raced in places where the soul of the racing experience still beats strong.

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43

Ah, rental karting. Yes, I am all for that. Electric is amazing fun. Especially indoors.

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44

I hear ya but weren’t you guys also developing a package at one point?

Also, is it fair to lump “serious” racing on electrics in the same bucket as rental pub session amusements?

I prefer gas by far, for the reasons of soul and experience, but there’s something there for electric. Different, but also very compelling. But, perhaps, not yet.

In regards to soul, look at my GRX photo dump and videos. Compare that to my supercharged media.

It’s no contest. Gas wins in the feels department. Personally, one of the things that sends shivers down my hairy arms is thinking about how the revs and your breath/heartbeat all seem to merge and amplify as you chase down the top end and then squat there as long as possible.

It’s freaking beautiful and about as close to the divine as this atheist will ever get. Electric is different, perhaps more clinical, precise. But that’s not what I’m here for (most days).

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45

In my opinion, it is quite pointless to constantly compare with internal combustion engines and mention all sorts of sensory and philosophical aspects; it is like religion and only leads to conflicts. I believe it is important to compare the economics if the product is intended for business or making money; everything else is secondary. It is important to compare pollution if it is in an environment where it causes inconvenience and requires quietness or lower CO2 levels, if not, that’s fine.

All other things like sound, vibrations, etc., are learned sensations, and they should not be taken away from those who have learned them, but they should not be imposed on those who know nothing about them. For example, 9 out of 10 children choose electric karting because they have zero experience with both, but when they try both, the choice is absolutely on the electric side. This is because these are the most straightforward 0-experience future drivers, and this is what makes the technology interesting, as it changes with generations.

This is what we also want to show in the championship: that electric karting pilots are not here to show they are better, but to demonstrate that we use new, very powerful modern technologies and that our racing experience is in a clean and quiet environment, with clean competition, charging from our own electric cars, perfectly balanced power creating equality, etc.

You just need to look at it openly and try it before dismissing it, because only then can you say whether it is good or not. In 10 years, I have never had anyone get out and say it wasn’t great. Never. On the contrary, people always say something unexpectedly positive, even from the biggest skeptic or the top professional.

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All of that is totally true. All of that is also what has driven karting to be more and more 360 design facilities or F1 inspired nonsense.

From a business perspective I think you are absolutely bang on. From a “what is racing all about, really?” perspective, not so much.

I think the resistance is that for those who do this and love it, we came up with that “feel” as integral to the experience and a big part of why we love it. It’s tactile, emotional, raw. It is painful to me to think that there is a kid that will sit in a racecar on champions row someday, never having felt that union that occurs between man and machine, never having been moved to tears by the incredible joy of it.

What bugs me Artis is that electric is perfect for corporate, because it’s totally controllable and perfectly suited to commercial enterprises. It’s a goddam steamroller that we probably can’t get out of the way of, most likely.

So? Keep up the good work and try to keep a piece of the soul alive, imho. You seem to be doing that with great gusto in your racing program.

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47

Yes, but at a much lower price point. I think that’s where electric is missing the market. $15k for a package is too high. Electric powerplant at $4-5k?, that would take off. Props to these guys for actually getting to the market, though. I hope they sell a bunch of them.

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48

Getting a lower price is not a problem; there are two general ways to achieve it: compromising performance or scaling it in huge volumes. We are looking to scale it first and provide uncompromised performance. Later, there will be lower-priced products.

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49

How Americans Zay and Matt testing out BSR karts before Championship:

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50

Odds of the Whiteland race happening in October are slim to none. WKA has cancelled 2 of 2 Whiteland events this year…

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51

@Artis_Daugins Would it be possible for a rental solution to mix the X2 engine with the B5500 battery ?

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Can you please send more info to [email protected] we will check your idea and how it could work.

53

Let’s make a bet on this event :wink:

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It would be cool if they don’t, but you’re more than welcome to bring your program to SIRA’s Speedrome Showdown the week prior if they do…

We’ll be about 20 minutes up the interstate.

All I know is what I’ve seen historically with WKA the past couple of years. They didn’t even publicly cancel the one last weekend. :rofl: They just ignored everything about it and all the inquiries.

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55

I’ll take this bet. Unfortunately, you guys put your faith in the wrong American organization.

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56

Y’all be very kind. Nice! Let’s hope Artis doesn’t have to scramble.

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57

I just got my son an electric car and this also seems to be the key to success for passenger vehicles.

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Will do that whenever something happens. I wanted to ask, is BSR providing the PU for this : https://www.raceroom.lu/e-karting

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Indianapolis Hosts Historic First Round of the American Electric
Karting League at Whiteland Raceway Park, Partnering with WKA
and Blue Shock Race

Indianapolis’ Whiteland Raceway Park became a landmark in motorsports this October, as
it hosted the inaugural qualifying round of the American Electric Karting League. This
historic event, organized by the World Karting Association (WKA) in collaboration with
European electric karting innovator Blue Shock Race (BSR), marks a major step towards
introducing high-performance electric karting to the American national championship,
starting in 2025.
The American Electric Karting League is unlike any other, featuring the world’s most
powerful electric racing karts, designed by BSR. The league aims to engage a new
generation of motorsport enthusiasts who are eager to build careers using cutting-edge
electric racing technology. This first round proved that drivers, regardless of experience,
could quickly master BSR’s advanced X4 electric karting technology, achieving impressive
results on the track and providing thrilling competition for spectators. The debut race was
hailed as one of the most dynamic karting classes, thrilling fans with intense battles and
competitive spirit.
In the opening round, drivers showcased high performance, setting record lap times of
45.8 seconds on the newly configured Whiteland Raceway Park track. The weekend’s
standout was Chad Stoughton (#88), who, despite only achieving top-five times during
practice, claimed victory in the BSR-X4 class. The fiercest rivalry was between Ronon
Gitman (#6) and young talent Achilles Siperko (#208), who set multiple lap records over
the weekend. Gitman ultimately secured second place, narrowly edging out Siperko, while
talented racer Kaitlyn F. Rains (#11), who held second place for much of the final heat,
finished fourth after a minor technical issue.
Industry professionals, including representatives from the SCCA and other motorsport
organizations, were present to witness the performance of BSR technology and its
integration with rising young talent.
Chairman of the WKA Board, Mike Tetreault, remarked, “The BSR-X4 class is truly
impressive – the performance, torque, top speed, and intense on-track battles,
paired with the unique sound of electric karting, are a sight to behold. We are proud
that this technology will be part of the WKA national championship calendar starting
in 2025. This isn’t the future; it’s the present, and everyone needs to experience it.”
Upcoming Events in the American Electric Karting League
Following this successful launch, WKA and Blue Shock Race have committed to
advancing electric karting in the U.S. with a qualifying series ahead of the 2025 Grand
Opening in Daytona. The next qualifying round will be held in Jacksonville from November
22-24, marking the final opportunity for drivers to qualify for the national championship
season opener in Daytona, scheduled for December 28-30.
Drivers interested in competing in Jacksonville can register by visiting the Blue Shock
Race website’s Championship section. Participants can enter with a personal BSR race
kart or use the Arrive and Drive program, which provides fully equipped racing karts.
Special Thanks to Key Partners
This groundbreaking event was made possible with support from Milwaukee, contributing
tools for kart production and championship technical operations. Additionally, ShockT,
BSR’s distribution partner in the U.S., has ensured ample material support for American
racers. Long-standing partner birelArt has also supplied chassis for the Arrive and Drive
program, aiding BSR’s mission to develop electric karting globally.
For more information on the American Electric Karting League and upcoming events,
please visit the Blue Shock Race website. Join us as we shape the future of motorsports
with WKA and Blue Shock Race!

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60

Artis,
If you ever do anything in the NY/NJ area, lmk. I presume one could hook up with a team and do an event via rental of equip?

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61

Pay Up… WKA cancelled as we all told you they would. Thank goodness Whiteland scheduled a one-off club night race so you guys had somewhere to race.

I hope you guys succeed. Watching those electric karts run was cool… but get as far away from WKA as you can.

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