‘G is for Gentleman, we are an older generation, K for the sport we do, karting, and C for Challenge, we'll take on the challenge again. The 100 couldn't be missing either. That's how GKC 100 came about.’ We met one of the founder of the GKC, a karting league that brings German (and not only) karters in a healthy and pure motorsport environment, because it’s not just about winning a race.
Published: 09 January 2025
Columns: Close Up
Patrick Labusch is 39 years old, lives in Germany, and is an IT system integrator. He was involved in karting and car racing with his Filutowicz last name until 2013. Then he got married, got two children and with his new last name gave birth to a karters group that is bringing back to the track a lot of drivers (and newcomers, too)
«I have been involved in motorsport since 1994. I started with indoor karting, then outdoor karting in 1996. In 1997 I became ADMV karting champion, in 1999 I became German DMV karting champion and took part in the European Karting Championship in the IC/A Juniors class. In 2000 I drove in the Formula A DKM, European Championship and World Championship. In 2001 I got in the car, Formula König, 2004 Formula Renault and 2005 Formula 3. Then I unfortunately had to end my motorsport career.
In order not to give up karting completely, I drove a kart endurance championship from 2005-2015.»
Where does GKC come from? Tell me more about the genesis of the project, where did you guys start it (track, year, event) and where it's now headed
«In 2011 I noticed that I still had a CRG Kalifornia in the garage from my active motorsport days. I asked my very good friend Maurice Kleer if we should go karting together again. He told me that he also had a kart and so we finally met a few like-minded people on the kart track. Maurice and I drove a few kart races in a small group from 2013-2016 in which only 100cc, direct-drive engines were permitted. I liked the environment and the 6-8 competitors, but the planning and event process was always a bit confusing. So in 2016 I decided to start my own group and vowed to do better. A member of the group then asked what we should call ourselves, it was half past midnight. I told him to give me 10 minutes, I would call him back. I thought about it for a moment. We competed in our first race in Kerpen on the famous "Schumi" race track. Thanks to my good organization, for which I took a lot of time, we already had 24 starters at our first race in October 2016. That's how it should be, and that's how it can stay. The GKC 100 championships have been around since 2017. We always have 5-8 races per year, even during Corona we were able to do 3 races. Our group got bigger and bigger, sometimes up to 50 registered drivers per year.»
Patrick handles every race event by his own: «Yes, I still organize the GKC 100 on my own today, I have my friend Florian from Websmile to thank for this. He created our website https://gkc100.de/ on which all our dates, results and pictures are presented. This makes it super easy for me to manage the driver database and publish the results lists. Over the years, little things in our regulations have been adjusted again and again, joint decisions have been made so that everyone in our group can express their ideas and opinions. This is what makes the GKC 100 what it is today. We want to continue as long as we can. That could be 5 years, or 30, you never know»
«I have been involved in motorsport since 1994. I started with indoor karting, then outdoor karting in 1996. In 1997 I became ADMV karting champion, in 1999 I became German DMV karting champion and took part in the European Karting Championship in the IC/A Juniors class. In 2000 I drove in the Formula A DKM, European Championship and World Championship. In 2001 I got in the car, Formula König, 2004 Formula Renault and 2005 Formula 3. Then I unfortunately had to end my motorsport career.
In order not to give up karting completely, I drove a kart endurance championship from 2005-2015.»
Where does GKC come from? Tell me more about the genesis of the project, where did you guys start it (track, year, event) and where it's now headed
«In 2011 I noticed that I still had a CRG Kalifornia in the garage from my active motorsport days. I asked my very good friend Maurice Kleer if we should go karting together again. He told me that he also had a kart and so we finally met a few like-minded people on the kart track. Maurice and I drove a few kart races in a small group from 2013-2016 in which only 100cc, direct-drive engines were permitted. I liked the environment and the 6-8 competitors, but the planning and event process was always a bit confusing. So in 2016 I decided to start my own group and vowed to do better. A member of the group then asked what we should call ourselves, it was half past midnight. I told him to give me 10 minutes, I would call him back. I thought about it for a moment. We competed in our first race in Kerpen on the famous "Schumi" race track. Thanks to my good organization, for which I took a lot of time, we already had 24 starters at our first race in October 2016. That's how it should be, and that's how it can stay. The GKC 100 championships have been around since 2017. We always have 5-8 races per year, even during Corona we were able to do 3 races. Our group got bigger and bigger, sometimes up to 50 registered drivers per year.»
Patrick handles every race event by his own: «Yes, I still organize the GKC 100 on my own today, I have my friend Florian from Websmile to thank for this. He created our website https://gkc100.de/ on which all our dates, results and pictures are presented. This makes it super easy for me to manage the driver database and publish the results lists. Over the years, little things in our regulations have been adjusted again and again, joint decisions have been made so that everyone in our group can express their ideas and opinions. This is what makes the GKC 100 what it is today. We want to continue as long as we can. That could be 5 years, or 30, you never know»
We have different mindset about 100cc: on one side we have "purism" with guys who like a restricted regulation and karts stick to what they were back in the days. On the other side there are other karting lovers who like to race whatever they restored: pre-2000, water cooled engines, old chassis, newest homologation chassis, reed valve, rotary, whatever.
«For me, it didn't matter at first whether it was new or old karts. The important thing was that I could get enough drivers together to be able to race again with the old 100cc engines, air or water cooled, reed or rotary valve controlled. At the beginning, in 2017, most people also drove old karts, which was of course the same as before. But unfortunately it became increasingly difficult to get old karts and spare parts cheaply. We also found that new karts are not much faster or even not faster at all than old ones. That's why we're free to drive old or new. I drive a Tony Kart Extreme with a Vortex VR98 and am always in the top ten. It was also about driving as cheaply as possible. Some drivers use one set of tires for three races. Once a year we hold the GKC 100 Pre2000 Cup. This race is held outside of the championship and only karts homologated up to 2002 and only air-cooled engines are allowed.»
Historic Golden Age karts share the track with latest homologation chassis: the more guys racing, the better
What's the philosophy behind GKC?
«Our philosophy is, to quote from our website: In the past, it was important to work out the perfect balance between tire pressure, track, axle, etc. Or the correct, sensitive carburetor setting was always part of the overall package that decided victory or defeat. So you could say "Not everyone who can drive a kart well is also the fastest." In the GKC 100 we maintain this flair of karting and do so very cheaply.»
Speaking of tracks: you till have, in Germany, oldschool circuits? Do you prefer short and twisty tracks for these karts or you have no problemin race them wherever you have a chance for?
«In Germany there are still some old tracks that are short and winding. Kerpen, Wittgenborn, Wackersdorf, Opperenrod or Liedolsheim, etc. We stay away from tracks that have very long straights. But there aren't that many of them in Germany. So we have enough choice. I can recommend the kart track guide https://www.racingo.de »
Were you at the KFA event in Lonato back in 2018? What do you think of a european series? What do you need - in your opinion - to gather UK, DK, German, French and Italians on the same series?
«Unfortunately I wasn't in Lonato in 2018, but a few drivers from our group were. It's actually quite easy to turn it into a Pre2000 Kart European Championship. We should draw up a set of rules together. After that, each group from the respective country organizes a European Championship race. For example, an overall result can then be calculated from the races in Italy, Germany, France and Denmark and a Pre2000 European champion can be honored. This requires good communication between the individual organizers and unfortunately that hasn't been the case in the past. But I would be happy if it ever happens. The GKC 100 is definitely ready for it.»
Tell me some nice story about the GKC spirit: the legend tells about a guy racing old chassis and being damn fast. When the chassis gets broken, his father solder that and he goes back on track - that's a nice story. How many people you have in your series working out garage solutions?
«Yes, that happens a lot with us! On the evenings of the event we always sit together, grill, drink and listen to music. We always have a lot of fun. Opponents on the track, friends in the paddock. It has also happened that a driver came to the kart track on Saturday evening with just the chassis and we, 5 people, screwed everything together until 3 a.m. You can imagine what a spectacle that was. I only drove in the final of the Pre2000 Cup. When everyone went to the pre-start for timed practice, I noticed that my transponder was still on the charger in the motorhome. There wasn't enough time to get the transponder and do the time trial. I then read the regulations again and found out that only the final counts anyway. So I skipped the pre-final too, only started the final from 19th place and finished in 4th place. Some of our drivers have been involved in karting for a long time and can almost always help. We always help each other. That's the nice thing about our group, no one is left alone.»
Tell me some nice story about the GKC spirit: the legend tells about a guy racing old chassis and being damn fast. When the chassis gets broken, his father solder that and he goes back on track - that's a nice story. How many people you have in your series working out garage solutions?
«Yes, that happens a lot with us! On the evenings of the event we always sit together, grill, drink and listen to music. We always have a lot of fun. Opponents on the track, friends in the paddock. It has also happened that a driver came to the kart track on Saturday evening with just the chassis and we, 5 people, screwed everything together until 3 a.m. You can imagine what a spectacle that was. I only drove in the final of the Pre2000 Cup. When everyone went to the pre-start for timed practice, I noticed that my transponder was still on the charger in the motorhome. There wasn't enough time to get the transponder and do the time trial. I then read the regulations again and found out that only the final counts anyway. So I skipped the pre-final too, only started the final from 19th place and finished in 4th place. Some of our drivers have been involved in karting for a long time and can almost always help. We always help each other. That's the nice thing about our group, no one is left alone.»
Rear bumpers are mandatory in the GKC
On the sporting side: you use rear plastic bumper: why do you? Have you had any feedback about an improved sfatey with them? Does the drive style change during the races? Cause in FIA kartimg, according to many, these have made things worst.
«I don't know how it is in other countries, but in Germany the kart track operator determines which safety precautions must be taken on the kart. These are also specified by the kart track licensing authority. That's why we are not allowed to drive exactly as we used to. Rear collision protection, brake disc protection, integral chain protection and safety screws in the rims are mandatory. But I have had rather positive experiences with rear collision protection. In the past, it often happened that you would drive into the rear wheel of the car in front of you, but that can no longer happen and it significantly increases safety against rollover. We have got used to these safety precautions and for us it is not a restriction.»
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