Karting - advice wanted

rammstein · 08-10-2008, 08:50 PM

So I went to an indoor karting place tonight. It was the deal where they are semi-fast, you wear a helmet, etc.

IT WAS SWEET!!!

Maybe its just because I no longer have a sports car, but MAN, that was some serious fun! But here is the catch:

I wasn't very good.

I mean, sure, I was faster than a lot of guys out there, but I really felt out of my element. The karts react INSTANTLY to your inputs- you can spin out in a split second, which I did twice my first outing.

I plan to go back at least weekly for my fix now, and who knows- if I like it enough, maybe I could someday try real karting.

Does anybody know of some literature about the basics of handling these machines? Anybody have advice on how to drive better? How can I work my way towards racing in real karts?

Did I mention that it was FUN?

Jims5543 · 08-10-2008, 08:55 PM

Its as expensive or more than expensive than cars. IMHO

AND there are a LOT of unethical people in the sport out to rip you off, do your homework and trust no one.

Go to the nearest real karting track and find out what kind of cart classes are popular. Then expect to spend about $5K for a good used Kart that will not be competitive. If you want to win double that number and expect to spend about $200 per race.

If you just want to lap on practice nights then the price goes down a whole bunch but this will be you playing around and I suspect you might get bored with that.

ITs not as cheap as everyone thinks it is to race and win, Its cheaper to buy a used sports car and Autocross for your competition fix.

This is my opinion based on wha tI have been through getting into it. You better be an expert before you dive in, there are a lot of South Florida companies waiting for you to walk in their doors.

rammstein · 08-10-2008, 08:58 PM

Damn scammers!

I can't autoX for awhile still...

I guess I am happy to waste a few bucks at the indoor place for a few months to get me by... but I hope someone on here can tell me how to get about 3 seconds faster!

dewolf · 08-10-2008, 09:07 PM

Agree with Jim. It's not the 'inexpensive motor sport'. Both my lads started racing in January this year. Started with good used karts and soon realised we were way off the pace. Bought brand new karts and engines etc. Also bought a very cool kart trailer to transport all the gear. Cost from January to now is approaching AU$50k. This includes all their race apparel, entry fees, absolutely everything. Wife has a thing for keeping receipts. We had our first wet race Saturday and both my lads came home with 3rd place in their respective classes. So that $50k was worth every penny to see them light up on the podium.
All in all a great fun sport. I say go for it. They are cheaper to maintain and run than a car and probably more fun, dollar for dollar.

dewolf · 08-10-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rammstein

Damn scammers!

I can't autoX for awhile still...

I guess I am happy to waste a few bucks at the indoor place for a few months to get me by... but I hope someone on here can tell me how to get about 3 seconds faster!

Tire pressure is vital in kart setup. We use a hard compound control tire and run 23psi cold. In hot weather, 21psi, in cold weather, 26psi. If it's a slippery track see if you can play with the pressures.

Jims5543 · 08-10-2008, 09:09 PM

125 shifter can give you solid numbers, I can only adivse to study and know your stuff. Do not trust anyone.

Advanced Karting is unethical and if they do not like me saying that we can discuss the "1 season old" kart I purchased from them for my son. After 50 minutes of running time the engine exploded.

Besides that they convinced me that this was a great Kart to start racing in Formula World, I looked it up and it looked great. Except one little problem, no track in Florida runs a Formula World class. I did not do my homework.

I have a KT100 Kart in storage, new brakes and tires, its old school but it moves well. ITs a good learner kart but will NEVER win a race. It will be fun for lapping and learning though.

I am selling it for $300 complete with stand and starter. Like I said it will nto win anything but is a cheap way to get into this if you want. Let me know, for $300 its nothing special but its cheap and you can drive the wheels off of it for about the same price as oe arrive and drive.

artplumber · 08-10-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jims5543

Its as expensive or more than expensive than cars. IMHO

.....

Really? I was hoping to get into it with the kid and do some practice, maybe race middle of the pack on my own. Does it matter what class of car? It seems that you've spent a bunch on the RX, does middle of the pack in karting cost that? Also seems more, I don't know, involved than autocross, with higher (I'm guessing) straightline speeds and the wheel to wheel feeling. Do you do much setup for autocross, or are they pretty much the same?

87coupe · 87coupe's Garage

Tip: Your body weight and where and how you position it will greatly affect handling dynamics.

dd74 · 08-10-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jims5543

Its as expensive or more than expensive than cars. IMHO

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Track days in my car are now between $300 and $400, and I was hoping karts might be a nice financial alternative. Jeez! "Fun" ain't "cheap."

dewolf · 08-10-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Track days in my car are now between $300 and $400, and I was hoping karts might be a nice financial alternative. Jeez! "Fun" ain't "cheap."

That's about what we spend on two boys karting. Including fuel to and from the track, entry fees etc. It's a whole lot more if it's an interstate race.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Rammstein is asking for information on carting, not how to get competitive with his own equipment. He is going to an indoor carting place where you can run their carts, rented suit, rented helmet - all included. In my neck of the woods it is about $70 an hour. That is MUCH cheaper than taking my 993 to the track - per hour seat time.

You can have a lot of fun this way and compete against the other dorks on the track in all stock carts. I have done a few "social" events with people from work and it was a hoot. These places track your times and you can have real races.

That all said, I do not know where to read. If you have the basics from autocross or track driving, you should be able to apply it to carting. Just practise. You'll learn what you can do in a cart and what you can not do. I had to learn that you can do a lot with them which would get you in trouble with a car. One other thing is that you can drive it 100% - there is no real chance to get hurt if you go off ...

George

Jims5543 · 08-10-2008, 09:27 PM

If you do not believe me go to a local karting track on a race weekend and walk around the pits.

I have never seen money thrown around like the karting camp.

A good competitive kart is going to run into the 10K range, then add in tires for every race weekend, $150 for the rubber not the rims, expect to buy a few sets of rims, $400-$500.

Expect an engine rebuild every 4th race, $500-$1000 depending on wear and tear.

It goes on and on.

Many front runners throw away frames every 2nd to 4th race. Without a doubt every season.

Thinking of running last years kart this year? Think again.

I'll stick with Autocrossing, you can run in a stock class where you are limited to Cat back, sway bars, brakes and tires for mods the rest of the car remains stock, and you can drive it during the week.

GO to a track and see for yourself, see how much money these guys pour into the karts, transport and storage.

dewolf · 08-10-2008, 09:28 PM

watch this for real superkart action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFJOefoqF34

dewolf · 09:37 PM

[QUOTE=Jims5543;4112923

GO to a track and see for yourself, see how much money these guys pour into the karts, transport and storage.[/QUOTE]

lol, I'm one of them. In saying that though there are folks at meets we go to who are spending a 100k a year.

Edit: we done most of the big spending now though so hopefully it won't be as wallet emptying in the future

Oracle · 08-10-2008, 09:35 PM

I agree with Jim, expenses are a true never-ending thing.. My brother in law blew like $30K in a year or less, at the end he was in debt and even lost the karts!
Great fun but expensive as hell... I dont see autoX as expensive.. (not considering the base price of a car vs. kart)

Jims5543 · 08-10-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aigel

Rammstein is asking for information on carting, not how to get competitive with his own equipment. He is going to an indoor carting place where you can run their carts, rented suit, rented helmet - all included. In my neck of the woods it is about $70 an hour. That is MUCH cheaper than taking my 993 to the track - per hour seat time.

You can have a lot of fun this way and compete against the other dorks on the track in all stock carts. I have done a few "social" events with people from work and it was a hoot. These places track your times and you can have real races.

That all said, I do not know where to read. If you have the basics from autocross or track driving, you should be able to apply it to carting. Just practise. You'll learn what you can do in a cart and what you can not do. I had to learn that you can do a lot with them which would get you in trouble with a car. One other thing is that you can drive it 100% - there is no real chance to get hurt if you go off ...

George

We did an arrive and drive at a local outdoor karting track. The WKA was there that weekend and some of the WKA kids jumped into the rental karts and raced around with us.

I was thinking I would be able to hand with these kids with my track and AX experience. 2 of them caught me and passed me (the way we started I was in 3rd position they were in the back) I was bewildered, then I watched, I followed and watched his lines, how he took the hairpins where he braked, how he slid through turns sideways (like we would never do in a car) and how he used his slides as brakes.

After 2 laps behind him I had it figured out and was able to put a charge back on him and start to pressure him, in the sections where you drive more like on a road course I was able to pressure him, in the sliding turns I could hang while still learning, and out of the tight turns and down the straights he had me being an easy 50 lbs lighter.

The point is, its not like driving a car, you do things in these karts that defy logic and go against everything you think you know about driving. Its like learning to drive all over again.

LeeH · 08-10-2008, 09:43 PM

It's all about conserving momentum. The indoor kart tracks I've been to don't keep the karts up as well as they should. Usually there are a couple of karts that are just faster than the others. Last time I went there was a kid out there who either worked there or was really good friends with the guys who worked there. His kart was significantly faster than the others. For every two laps I completed he was turning three!

artplumber · 08-10-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dewolf

watch this for real superkart action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFJOefoqF34

I never understood why he didn't take that position on the right-hander when he actually was ahead of the other kart.

If you go w/Jim's recs, you'll be getting new frames next season...

dewolf · 08-10-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artplumber

If you go w/Jim's recs, you'll be getting new frames next season...

If my boys are still racing, yes we will be buying new frames/karts . We have a deal with the manufacturer to do a changeover from old to new for roughly half the cost of new karts, so it's not to bad. Our karts less engines and tires cost $3300 each. So $1750 for new ones trading in our old ones.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rammstein

but I hope someone on here can tell me how to get about 3 seconds faster!

go on a diet, fatass