Go Karts 101 anyone?

Hey, sorry I'm too lazy to search this out..but can anyone give me a quick lesson in the status of go-kart racing in the US? Interested in the sanctioning bodies, premier series, what kind of carts, affordability, etc. If there is a Formula 1 of go-karts in the US what is it? Thanks.

 

Get yourself a copy of the latest issue of RACER. There is a big section about the karting scene. RACER periodically does these updates. There are also a lot of ads so you get an idea of schools, karts, places and events.

 

I used to race 80cc shifter and 125cc shifters. It's still a back water sport here in the U.S. and can get VERY expensive. I haven't seen the new Racer issue but I'd say check it out. Also Motorsport.com has some coverage of Kart racing along with links.

For what it's worth I'd contacted a few friends a couple of years ago asking how much they were spending to be competitive in the 125cc class. Their answer was "If you want to run competitively you'll probably be spending in the neighborhood of 20K a year." That's for a new Kart every year, running data acquisition, rebuilds, travel, etc...

But, there isn't anything better in my opinion as far as learning race craft. I'd guide someone to Karts before Formula Ford in a hart beat. Also of note, it's a good deal more dangerous than any kind of car racing. The only thing you have to protect you is a good helmet (don't get cheep on that), rib protector, and quick reactions. Heck getting cracked ribs from bumpy tracks isn't uncommon if you're like me and don't like wearing the rib protector.

I'm sure there are people who are currently competing that'll have more info. I'd say take a look at the magazine and decide what you want to race then ask more questions.

Don't discount non shifter classes though. The shifters are the fastest but you'll learn a lot more about being smooth, breaking, and such in a non shift class than in a shifter. If you screw up in a non shifter you don't have the choice to drop down a gear and have the power get you out of trouble. Any mistakes will drop you down. It forces you to work on your line and the basics.

Just a thought.

 

Thanks for the info guys, I picked up a copy of RACER and will read tonite if I can - looks like a section specfic to karts in the last issue. Are we talking 4 cycle or 2 cycle engines here? The shifter seems like it would be pretty fun an a little more interesting. I have had a little seat time in an older 2 cycle non-shift, amazingly fast and fun, but I really don't have a clue as to the status of the sport and classes, shift, non-shift, 2 cycle or 4, etc., etc.,. Anyway, will be fun to learn about all of this and hopefully get involved.

 

Rotax Max and TaG (touch and go) classes are fast growing and usually have a lot of entries in them. They are designed to be stock-out-of the box classes for the recreational driver. Lots of fun for your buck.

pick up an issue of Kart Sport Mag, or check their website:

www.kartsportmag.com

also check out:

www.rmaxchallenge.com (on rotax max)

www.tagracing.net (on tag)

www.ekartingnews.com (bulletin board with lots of info in FORUMS section etc.)

good luck and have fun!

 

You are dead-on! I have 7 race karts in my shop, shifters and non-shifters. I like a TONI shifter kart, i view them as one of the best. 4 cycle karts are the best place to start, great practice karts. If you are fast on a Briggs you will FLY on a shifter.

The biggest issue is time, it takes more time to prep a shifter for a race weekend than it does a formula ford. The advancement of steering wheel adjustable carb jets does make it alot easier though.

I love it, but it can take up alot of time, I am lucky I have a full kart road course at my home, about a 50 second track....

try it you will love it though!

 

I race shifter Karts in the US. The two premier national series in the US is SKUSA(Super Karts USA) and Stars OF Karting. Both compete with each other and both comply with CIK rules, the difference is Stars Of Karting is look for the next Cart, IRL or F1 driver. The prize is getting a test day in Bobby Rahal Formula Atlantic car. From there you win a scholarship for the Barber Dodge pro series. This series is owned by Bobby Rahal. Skusa is the one that everbody wants to win, its the most prestigeous. I guess you can say it is the F1 of karting. There is no big pay off, but it is the oldest and it was the first national series. 2004 season saw some 150 entries in the 125 shifter class, the best of best showed up. Racers from Thomas Sheckter to Alex Tagliani raced and these guys were midpack, thats how competive this series is. One sencond covered first to last place. In both series you have anywhere from 5-7 classes, 80CC shifter, 125CC shifter, Rotamax(100), senior superbox(125 direct drive) Tag senior(Spec 100 CC Pro) Tag Junior(Novice). Costs are pretty high, these days to be top ten, you are taking about anywhere from 50k-80K this is at the national level. Skusa and Stars have regional series which are not as competitive but are a stepping stone to the national series and looking anywhere from 20k-30k to be at the front and this is all for running 125 CC shifter karts, I do not know cost for the other classes, but I am sure it is considerably less. The problem with 125 shifters is that we were using Honda Motors which were of course modified, so maintaince on Honda motors were not that much. You had so many shops doing there own modifications and parts were easy and cheap to get. Basically anybody maintain and build there own motors. Recently Skusa and Stars have changed the motor packages so they can comply with CIK rules and this way they running a similar program to the European series. We all have gone to ICC motors, which are basically karting motors. These motors you will not see on a motorcycle or any other vehicles. These motors are strictly for karting. Since this has happened the cost have gone up alot, because they are only 4 engine suppliers for this type of motor and they are all from Itlay. So buying motors and parts is a headache. They are times we would have to wait 4 months for a motor. In addition, parts were hard to get a hold, because no one else was making aftermarket parts for them. The Italians have us by the balls and we can't do anything about it. I hope this helps. If you want more info, go to www.ekartingnews.com, this is where you will get all your info about karting in the US.

 

Ive been thinking about a track at home. Can you provide some details such as configuration, space needed, cost?

 

The "Formula 1" of karts performance-wise would be Formula E Superkarts.

They use a twin cylinder 250cc engine producing between 80 and 100hp, programmable engine management, 4 wheel disc brakes, 6 speed sequential gearbox, rear diffuser and adjustable rear wing. Often many components are made from carbon-fibre.

If geared correctly, they'll do up to 280kmph, 0-100kmph in 3.2 seconds, the quarter mile in 9 seconds and 2.6G cornering ability.

 

Unless you have at least 3 acres of land, forget it about it a 50 sec. track you would need 5 acers.

 

My track is all concrete, 6 rights, 4 lefts with a carosel (sp).

We have multiple configurations from an oval to a high speed road course to a slower road course that is a more technical set up.

Track width is a minimum of 12 ft with a much larger corner radius.

I do not know the exact amount as I have expanded and modified more than once, I believe we have over 50,000 sq ft on concrete, and I would guess something close to $100,000.

We also are finishing a new paddock building, 16x18 just for kart storage.

We are on 80 acres (20 on my ranch)

 

in case you are wondering, the "track" is 4/10 of a mile...

 

Thanks alot. These dimensions will be helpful. I hope to fit it on approx. 5 acres.

 

This is my key issue... I just wanna drive... not into prep time. Thus, I was leaning towards a set of Rotax Max karts... OR... maybe even going with an electric kart, which would also have the advantage of being quieter (avoiding issues with the neighbors). I've seen some electric's in the UK that do 0-60 in 5 secs... not too bad. But don't seem to find electric karts in the US.

Cool... I am planning to build similar... so, I was going to ask for details...
but you gave them...

My current layout has 7 lefts, 3 rights (or vice versa in the opposite direction) including a carousel, a double-apex, a chicane, a high-speed sweeper, and a corkscrew (sorta). I am planning all asphalt.

12ft! Is that wide enough? I couldn't find any feedback on the width issue, so I was planning 20ft wide... going 12 ft wide would cut cost dramatically.

What radius is your carousel? What is the smallest radius corner that you have? That's another key dimension that I haven't gotten any clarity on.

You did a track that big in concrete for only $100K! Wow. I think I'd have been pretty close to that for asphalt... I figured concrete would be way more than asphalt.

I assume the track consumes very little of that 80! Maybe 6? (Depends upon layout, of course.) I have about 3.5 acres.


Anyway, any guidance on track construction, track design, or kart selection would be greatly appreciated!!

 

I know nothing about construction, but is there a way to pave a larger area that would allow multiple configurations versus digging and paving a single, winding course? Or is it simply about the amount of material you use?

 

Basically per square foot and to a lesser degree the thickness of the surface.

 

This is so cool, I only dreamt of my own go kart track, you guys are actually doing that. Fantastic!

The one thing I'd do if I'd build my own track is add time measuring equipment with lap by lap feedback onto an LCD screen on the steering wheel. IMHO that's the only way to learn whether you're improving or not.

And if money is no obstacle: How about a slight elevation change with maybe a blind apex past the hill point.

 

Actually, I'm hoping I have three of those... gotta make sure I have "home track" advantage, after all!!

 

I think that's a given and therein I see the problem of your own track (not that I would still give my left hand for one): How do you keep it challenging? I would think that after a season of driving you know it inside out and have set the record in either direction and beaten all your buddies on it. What do you do then?

 

My guess is that 12feet will be sufficient for most straights. I always find it funny how you see many tracks with straights wide enough for cars to run on whereas on a long straight most karts drive single line. It is the turns that need the space for the more talented drivers to be able to pass.

So my recommendation would be to go with 12ft and use 20ft (or more!) before, in and after key turns such as blind apex, hairpin, tightening or opening turn, double apex. The stuff the less experienced drivers normally get wrong. That creates passing opportunities. Nothing is more frustrating than to follow a guy who always screws up the same corner, but you don't have enough room in the turn or the straight thereafter isn't long enough to take advantage of. Something that happens on indoor tracks a lot.

 

Good question... somehow I doubt I'll ever "perfect" it... with good timing and software, I'll always know that I could do my laps even faster...

But even then, I'll bet I still enjoy trying to hit that mark. I enjoy skiing the same ski runs each year... and little changes other than the idiots that I need to dodge.

And for competition, that's easy... just handicap. Try to win with an extra 5# pressure in the tires (making them slicker), or crank down the power a bit... or whatever. I suspect it'll be a decade before I actually have driven it so much that I get bored with it.

 

Just get the best of best karters in the nation and race them on your track. This way you can gauge yourself against them. I know you will have an advantage over them because its your track. But a pro usually will figure a race track in a few laps. Once I have enough laps to know the track like to back of my hand, I always get some pro to come and race around with me, because I know there is always room for improvement. I think if you do this, you won't get bored of your track.

 

I think 12 feet is pretty narrow. Here is a link to a very nice track in SoCal:

www.moranraceway.com

It is 29 feet wide, 1 mile long, 17 turns spread out over 29 acres. Even has a nice corkscrew, check it out.

There are numerous companies that do the electronic timing, below is a link to one of the more popular ones. The MyChron3 Gold even does trackmapping which is really useful for datalogging and analysis.

www.mychron3.com

Also, Rotax Max engines are pretty quiet and provides great bang for your buck. 4 strokes might be even better though.