The smell of gasoline, the sound of cheers from the crowd mixing with the revving of engines adds to the excitement of race day.
However, motorsport racing at the competitive level can be cost prohibitive to many. And in a time when many large events are being cancelled or postponed, it can be difficult to find that race day energy when doing laps around a track by yourself or in a small group. Also, there’s always the possibility someone could cheat by cutting a few corners.
“It began as a passionate goal to share what it feels like to get behind a gate drop… and get that adrenaline rush,” Vince Monteleone, co-founder at LapKing, told NTX Inno.
Looking for a way to bring the race day “vibes” to any track, co-founders and motocross enthusiasts Monteleone and JC Chappell launched social racing platform LapKing. And as they increased use of technology as people look for distanced outdoor activities, the pair is looking to eventually expand across the U.S.
“We wanted to race without having to have a gate drop without 40 bikes going into the first turn at the same time, which is usually a catastrophe,” Chappell said. “It brings race day vibes to practice day.”
Using patented technology, LapKing uses an attachable GPS device that measures a driver's course and times on a track. The device can detect when a driver leaves the track, ensuring there’s no cheating. Then, the information is uploaded onto the LapKing app where other users can view times and virtual leaderboards.
In addition to selling its GPS device, Chappell said that since different racing communities have strong identities, LapKing also contracts with businesses and vendors serving those communities to sponsor those segments of the platform.
“I don’t care if you’re slower or what, it’s just all about the fun and talking smack, so if I can see this vibe nationwide… that would be a dream,” Monteleone said.
Since founding the company in 2016 and launching the product in 2018, LapKing has grown its platform to about 4,000 users, including some in Australia and the UK, competing in 14 different kinds of motorsports, from motocross to karts and bicycles. When it initially launched, Monteleone and Chappell would have to build tracks into the platform. However, they pivoted to allowing users to create their own tracks, bringing the number of tracks on the platform from 20 to about 700.
So far two-man LapKing team has bootstrapped the company.
When they first launched LapKing, Monteleone said they were looking to create something they wished they would have had when they were younger, expecting their target demographic to be in the late teens and early 20s. However, he said they have seen a large number of users from users who are older than that, looking for safer ways to feel like it’s race day without the danger of crashes and other drivers.
“We loved racing. However, as much as it stinks to say, we were past our prime as far as being the fastest guys at the track and with that comes safety,” Chappell said.
And while the pandemic initially slowed activity on LapKing’s platform as tracks and racing events, where the company would promote its product were closed. However, as restrictions lift Chappell said they have been seeing use of LapKing increase. They have also been seeing increased use from teens and younger as many look for outdoor ways to stay active.
“It started with pure panic. No one could go outside. All the tracks weren’t open… so naturally LapKing from a sales standpoint… came to a complete halt,” Chappell said. “All we could do was pull down the sails and ride it out. After regulations started releasing, we had a huge influx and it hasn’t slowed down; we’re doing better now than we ever did before the pandemic… now everybody wants to go outside, everybody wants to ride their dirt bike, everyone wants to drive their car.”
As LapKing continues to grow, it plans to release new features to its platform. The company is also focusing on expanding across the U.S., with hopes to eventually expand to the international market.
“Two wheels just provides a therapy that is incomparable,” Monteleone said.
