Just completed 12 lap race in a Kart.

Coudn't agree more. Karting is the most bang for the buck there is, and when you get into a SERIOUS kart, instead of a crappy 13 hp beast, it's an order of magnitude better. Here in Dubai I went straight to the kart club, where they raced Formula Intercontinental A back then. With 26 hp and revving to 19,000 rpm in a 310 lb kart (including driver) it's the real deal. Forget tracking your Ferrari. I've done that too, in daddy's 550M. Proper karting is better in EVERY way.

 

David, glad to hear you had so much fun! The more people taking part in racing, the better!

You should try one of these. It makes a Formula Ford feel slow.

100bhp 250cc twin cylinder engine with programmable engine management.
6 speed sequential gearbox.
4 wheel disc brakes
adjustable rear wing and diffuser
0-100km/h in ~ 3.5 seconds, top speed ~ 250km/h

http://rapidshare.de/files/9441295/MOV00014.MPG.html
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I was at VIR (in VA) in September and they had pros running shifter karts. That was the first time I had ever heard of it. The local word was that if you really wanted to learn to drive, there is no better way. I have loved the few track events I have done, and I am planning to keep doing more. But I am also planning to look at Karts closely.

So I have to ask the more experienced: How dangerous? Not to be a tender-foot, but one thing I like about cars over motorcycles is the car part all around you. You can kill yourself in the shower, but do people get hurt often, or is it rare?

 

I have been karting for a few years myself and it is the best bang for the buck. Its competitive and physically demanding. I have raced with some pro's who are in cars now, but they come back every year for the supernats. It quite amazing how some pro' race car drivers come back to race karts and end having their butts handed to them. Karting is the best tool for racing cars. You will have an easier time making the transition from a kart to car, rather than from a car to a kart. I have posted a couple pictures of my Kart. Its a 125 cc shifter kart, with a TM ICC motor and a CRG chassis. Putting out close to 45 hp.
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It's a great deal more dangerous than cars. And motorcycles as well.

Don't skimp out on your helmet that's rule #1. Always buy the best you can afford. And by best I mean at least a Kevlar composite model. You only have one head, and I think it's well worth the $500 starting price for those types of helmets.

Rule #2 get a good neck brace.

Kart suits aren't really necessary as long as you've got some heavy denim and a good disposable jacket on.

The reason I say it's more dangerous than the other two above is that you don't have any protection around you as you would in a car and if you do have contact (tire on tire) you can be launched. I've seen this occur more than a few times. The worst I'd seen was in Denton, Texas. Short story, two Karts touched coming into a braking zone the one beside and behind launched about three feet into the air. Now the thing about wrecking on a bike is you can easily separate from the bike moving yourself away from the hundreds of pounds of metal and the potential injury that comes with being hit by it. You can't in a Kart. So, the guy was launched three feet into the air. As the Kart began to come down it was going nose first. The diver, still seated and holding onto the wheel, leaned back in the seat. He should have tucked and rolled his shoulder toward the impact. As it came down on the track the front left tire touched and we suppose he was on the brakes as well, that's natural when you're bracing yourself backwards, and the tire dug into the track. It then pivoted over at amazing speed. The driver still sitting and trying to lean back away from the impact was pivoted directly into the grass, thank god. The next thousandth of a second is still a blur in my mind but the Kart came down on his back, sprung up and over, when he was finally separated from it. His helmet also came off his head. The Kart then cart wheeled across the infield and track and he flew/rolled/bounced/something for a few more feet before coming to rest.

He was taken away in an ambulance in a neck brace with whiplash and a concussion. He got off very easy. How did his helmet come off? Well, he'd bought a fiberglass motorcycle helmet. DOT approved but not SNELL. The chin strap was a clip type. Not one you thread through the two D-rings. It'd made a huge divot in the ground. Had the impact been on the track I think things would have been a lot worse. I doubt the helmet would have stayed fully intact.

Broken or cracked ribs are rare but not too uncommon from simply driving the Karts depending on the track and how aggressive you are over the curbs. Remember these have solid suspensions other than the tire sidewalls. Any impact gets transferred through the chassis and as the seat is directly bolted to it, you get to feel those impacts. Padding should be available and if it's too bad ask to borrow a rib protector if you can. Any kind of leather gloves will do.

Having said that if you’re not having a few off track excursions or into the fence a few times, you’re not trying hard enough! You need to go past the limits more than a few times to know where they are. Knowing your equipment is the best that you can have to protect you will help ease the mind so you can achieve those without worries.

All motorsport is dangerous. It’s not about taking risks, it’s about taking calculated risks.

 

I love karting. I raced karts back in the day and I loved it. I wanted to get into it again last year but couldn't find the time. It's the mosy cost effective way to race on 4 wheels. I love it.t

FWIW, I have a 6 speed TonyKart with an I.C.C homologated 125cc 48hp Vortex engine. I have never had to time to finish putting it together (so it's brand new) and get it on the track to race. If anyone's interested, pm me.

 

I used to run a 100cc Yamaha Hartman Kart at Adams back in the early 80's. The Yamahas had 18hp and used a centrifical clutch ... do they still run that setup? We ran 6 lap heats and by the end of lap 6, you were done. It was tough back then ... if you didn't have new tires to qualify, you had NO chance of starting in the front six. New tires were $250 which was a lot of money for a broke azz youngster with no budget ... especially if you wanted to race more than once a month.

It seemed like there were a lot of broken collarbones then ... fortunately, I was never seriously injured.

G

 

Check out this video on karting accidents:

http://rysaracing.com/videoclips.htm

Click on the accidents...Ouch! link on the page.

P.S. There is also a video link on Senna driving a kart in Japan.

Theo

 

i've been karting now for about 2 years doing once a month practice runs.
i got hooked from day 1.
The preferred track we go to here in Southern California is Moran Raceway. It is about a mile long. If I'm not mistaken, it is the longest track in So. Cal. If there is a kart track near L.A. longer than this one, let me know, I'd love to try it. The other long track that we've been to is Willow Spring's Horsethief, which is not really for karts but they had allowed us to run there. It was a blast going through very fast, high g turns, and dramatic elevation changes (very stressful to the engine).

I highly recommend karting. I too am convinced that it is the best bang for the buck. I enjoy tracking cars, but karts are hands down, more exhilarating. It is a very raw race feeling since there are no shocks, springs, power steering, rack and pinions, to absorb the vibrations going directly to the driver.

Gene
Tony Kart 125cc Vortex 6-speed shifter

 

I have been racing karts since the 70’s and I have raced with several guys that have made as far as Champ cart. They all still race karts; they say that is the best way to stay in shape because it is the closest feeling to driving an 850 BHP open wheel car. Sure they have less power but the track is shorter.
It is dangerous, but you really don’t think about that, otherwise probably you’ll never do it in the first place. Besides if you going to get in a wreck I can’t think on a better place to do it; you are wearing a helmet and there is an ambulance in the track. You can’t say that about wrecking your car in mountain road in the middle of nowhere.
If you are going to get into karting, go to your local track check what they are racing and check the support you get from you local shop.
Also I would suggest you buy a good helmet and a good rib-protector, thrust me on this one.

 

Yes it is. Rocky and Rocky Jr. own it together.

 

I work at an "arrive and drive" indoor go-kart track here in Phoenix. We have SodiKarts with 270cc Honda engines with 9.5 hp. Its not the fastest karts around, but they get up to about 45 in 3 places on the track. The website for our track is www.speedwayraceway.com. I have a lot of fun working there, and I can usually run in the low to mid 30 second range. Track record is a 28.6x for comparison, and usually only about 70 people per month run 30's. I'm usually one of those 70.

 

For anyone who is in the area, I have my first race next Saturday the 7th of Jan. at Moran Raceway. It would be a good a event to see if any of you are interested in karting. For more info here is the website. www.prokartchallenge.com

 

Nothing lasts forever, but for now, no closing date.
I was at Moran yesterday New Year's day. I asked if they were closing and the definitive answer is no. The shut down is a rumor running around, which may have some merit, but there won't be a shut down.
What a great day to practice. We got lucky with the weather; dry, until light drizzle came at 3:30pm. There were only 5 people total for the day. We had the track to ourselves.
When drizzle came, we tried driving the track with slick tires, what an experience!!! Talk about no grip at all. Can't even get out of 3rd gear around the track. Turn the wheel to maximum and you're still going straight- kinda irritating because you don't want to go off track in the mud (which did happen at high speed).

CRG125 what are your average and fastest lap times at Moran?

 

Its great track isn't it. I have not been their that much, done about 100 laps at Moran. The last race we had I put it on the poll at a 1:02.8. When the stars nationals happens, the times are something like 1:01 and high 1:00, but they have softer compound tires and modified motors.

 

CRG125 what are your average and fastest lap times at Moran?[/QUOTE]

 

Gene,

The times fall off big time when there is no grip on the track. For instance when I did my fastest lap, it was during qualifying, but during morning practice the track was 2.5 -3 seconds slower. Your time is not to bad considering you have a few laps. What kind of chassis and motor are you running? Tires also make a huge difference, what kind of tires were you running? As for pointers, I would be more that happy to help you out. As for chassis setup, I have someone who works on my kart. I recommend you come out and check our race on Saturday this weekend.

 

CRG,
I have a 5 year old Tony Kart with a 125cc Vortex engine. Tires are MG yellow.

My biggest gripe with this kart is the brakes. It is not the floating type. It needs to be bled before every race or else they won't work at all, and the bleeding process is tedious. My confidence in the braking ability of the kart is very low.

Who do you send your kart to for service?