Have you tried karting? Please tell me about it.
 

Got to thinking about it as a cheap way to get my kicks on 4 wheels w/o having to worry about new tires, brake pads, rear wing and gas prices. Did you have a blast? I heard it's very demanding physically. Is this true? Do I need to bring my own helmet, gloves, etc? I want to bring my son along who's 15 y/o. Will they let unlicensed minors drive? Thanks for the info.

I hear the experience, from a formula driver associate, that the experience aint much different from formula racing...0-100 in like 5.5 seconds...Cheap upkeep, cheap track days.

You can get a good used rig for 3-4,000, brand-spanking new with bells-n-whistles for around 8.

edit: physically demanding?...Yes...buddy of mine cracked ribs due to G-force (don't let that dissuade you), rare I am sure. Quite a work-out otherwise.

OK, how does indoor karting compare to above?

4/10ths...Yes on gloves, suit, helmet.

A friend I race against let me drive his 80cc shifter kart one day until I broke it. The short answer is: Loud, fast, punishing fun.

First of all, to a snob like me, karting (at least around here) is kind of ghetto. But once you're actually driving on the track and hanging on for dear life, it's a blast.

They're fast, the shifters, and feel like you're into nitrous or turbo boost once they're in their 2-stroke powerband (about a 1500 rpm range somewhere north of 12K). I thought the front end was going to lift up when the power came on. It was startlingly fast, and this wasn't even a 100 or 125 cc kart.

Taking turns is brutal, you're fighting the lateral Gs, rough pavement without suspension, and making steering corrections through a wheel that doesn't want to turn. But if your seat fits well and you have a neck brace, you don't feel the beating you're taking until you're done. You roll into the pits breathless and laughing. And sore later in the day.

I've known guys that got out of karting because it eventually costs almost as much as running a cheaper racecar (you go through a LOT of tires and engine rebuilds), and it became tiresome to compete against reckless kids.

Indoor karting is fun, too. The lawnmower engines or electric karts demand smoothness and a clean line. And they have you race against the clock, and frown on close wheel to wheel racing. Unless you're in the nightly leagues. That's where the action is, cheaper too.

I raced SCCA Production and open wheel for years then got tired of blowing $5,000 a weekend on fun and started racing lay down enduro karts. Most fun for the price I have had in years and very affordable. You can overhaul the engine (in those days) for $30 and a set of tires lasted most of the season for $200.

The sit up karts are fun but not as fast. None of these except the larger shifter karts are really heavy on the horsepower so drivers skills make or break a kart driver. Smoothness counts for a lot and you worry about 1 or 2 pounds and are right on the minimum limits if possible.

Lots of fun and big for me was that I did not have to tow a frigging trailer. Put the kart in a van, back of a station wagon and head to the race.

Joe A

Thanks for the link Mul.

Being able to haul around a Kart in my van will be convenient. Tires last a season, gas is cheaper, maintenance is cheaper. I don't see any negatives except the muscle aches and, maybe, sharing the track with a bunch of kiddies?

the track i talked to you about, the one my friend works at, the price includes laundered race suits. i would still bring my own helmet and gloves. i might go next sunday.

buying a kart, that is a diff story. i pondered it, but the cost still add up. they have these new ones powered by two stroke 250's!!! i think some race company is bringing them to the states.

I've got an 80 shifter. For a while I had two. Most fun I've ever had. It will squeeze every ounce of skills and talent you've got to offer, and then want more. Very inexpensive to run. Tires last a long time, and in stock configuration, the engines are bullet-proof. Top end rebuild costs about $65 and I have it down to about 15-20 minutes in my garage. I did that about every 5 hours of engine run time. Very physically demanding, and very rewarding when you get it right. I've raced SCCA in diff classes, but most fun and certainly bang for the buck is karting.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1131556989.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1131557049.jpg

Chris,

Talk to Toby, he an ex-carter and his Dad is still into it.


Chris

My only question now is, when you attend Kart school, where does the instructor sit? :D

Cliff, let me know if you're going next Sunday.

The muscle aches are trumped by the experience. Don't we all want to be a kid again?...(now you can implement the "if I knew what I know now, then" theory)... :D...Great bonding time with the youngin's.

Do they generally have a "Clydesdale Class" for us huge bastards? I would love to do this, but if I'm up against a guy half my weight or less I really wouldn't have a chance.

:D

Depending on the track/club, I run in a "Masters" class (35 y.o.+) or a "Grand Masters" class (45 y.o.+) and the weight minimum is 375, kart and driver. Kart weighs about 185lbs. There are some pretty big guys in my class, and they still do very well. Driving skill plays such a big part.

That is like saying that you don't want to ride horses because jockies are 5'2" and weigh 100 pounds...pfff

My opionion is a bit different...
I used to race Karts and its a blast! but inherently really dangerous.
I have seen Karts flying and landing on people's head, I've seen them going sideways crushing the driver against the wall and seen them upside down at speed... (yes broken bones)
I'm sorry if I sound pessimistic but I wouldn't take my kid.
I rather have him protected by a shell, the speed on those things are comparable to real cars but no seatbelt, no rollbar, no nothing...

Indoors karting can be a bit safer because the tracks are usually a lot smaller and the speeds are not that great so its fun and safer...

-Jasper

Still safer than BMX, motocross, skateboarding, road-biking, snowboarding, skiing or mountain-climbing...IMHO

Of course I just spent the equivalent of this...

http://www.tsracing.com/estore/image...ceSonik400.jpg

...on my car. :rolleyes:

Oh well, I guess the saving grace is I can't drive a kart on the 101 Freeway...

Hmmm, if my wife reads this thread, I definitely won't be karting. For now, I'm going to try indoor but I won't be taking my kid.