PUNE, Feb 18: Ten Pin Bowling, pool centres, cyber cafes, virtual reality, paragliding . Unknown, unheard of words for most Indians till only about three years ago. Today, however, each one translates into mass popularity and millions of dollars every year in the country.Joining the list of these `American' recreations, once accessible only to those habitual of traversing New York and Washington, and which now seem to have taken India by storm, is Go Karting. The country's third (one each in Delhi and Mumbai) Go Karting centre - First Kart - opened in Pune recently.On the international scenario, Karting has been around since the late fifties. Invented by Art Ingals, the first Go Kart was put together in the USA out of water pipe and a lawn mower motor. The backyard hobby of a couple of young Americans has since developed into the international sport that is recognised as the training ground for world champion drivers such as Michael Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Scott Pruett, Rusky Wallace and Lake Speed.And now, after the saturation in world markets, promoters have turned to India. ``India today is a very big market for the entertainment and recreation industry, despite the recession. In fact, this is the only industry that has an upward graph at the moment,'' says Sunil Pawar, who is one of the masterminds behind First Kart. Shyam Kothari and Sagar Chordia complete the pioneering trio.The minimum requirement for getting into the sport is that one must be 5 feet tall and at least 15-years of age. In international centres, the longer exposure period has children as young as eight-years-old enjoying the sport. One can enjoy the sport upto 60-years.For the amateurs, First Kart has eight leisure karts, which can touch speeds of upto 40-kms per hour. The professionals can go upto 65-kms per hour in the four, double engine, Pro karts.Prior knowledge of driving is unnecessary, ``Most of the drivers we get here have never been behind the steering wheel. Driving the Kart is very simple, there is only one accelerator and the brakes.''The fees for five laps (a total of 2.5 kms) which stands at Rs 100 for normal hours, and Rs 125 for night racing with floodlights, may sound a bit steep. However, with Go Kart purchase prices ranging between Rs. 1.5 to 3 lakhs apiece, and with the rigours of high quality maintenance, as of now there seems to be little option.If the traditional identification of Go Karting as ``bringing miniature Formula racing to the masses'' had been the initial accelerator for the sport's popularity graph, in relatively uninformed markets like India, the perceived high risk factor of Formula championships may well prove to be the biggest obstacle for Go Karting.Setting the record straight, Sunil Pawar informs that, ``In the past 20-years of Go Karting, only one person has died.'' Go Karting, in fact, is seen as one of the safest forms of motor sports. The driver is only two inches above the ground. Because of their low centre of gravity and width, Karts rarely roll over unless involved in an accident with another Kart. The edges of the track have a protective tyre wall, and there are no roll bars.Protective clothing, however, is a must. The centre makes sure that all drivers are well equipped with the special jacket and helmet for safety. Go Karting, nevertheless, does fall into the adventure sports category, and adventure cannot escape the element of danger. First Kart, therefore, enters as the first fully insured track for drivers and crew in the country.The 200 plus drivers that are turning up at the centre have only highlighted the potential of the country gaining an important position in the International Go Karting Federation. As of now, the sport in India does not have any regulatory body. However, 1999 end will see India having five Go Karting centres (one each in Bangalore and Hyderabad), and after that the regional operators intend to get together to campaign for participation in the Asian and South Asian championships.``The idea is that each centre will develop one team and there shall be a National championship in Chennai. The best team shall then be fielded for the International championships,'' explains Sunil.While, realistically speaking, there may still be some time before India makes a genuine impact at these championships, the very fact that such essentially non-Indian sports have managed to carve their niche in the country bodes well for India's sporting future.And it makes one anticipate. What's next on the Indian sports scene? The Formula One championship? Going by the country's track record, the possibility does not today remain quite so impossibly remote a one!
