Getting my kid into karting
 

My 6 year old wants to get into karting, and the wife is on-board. Quite frankly, I'm not sure where to start. I know of two dirt tracks in the area, but that's it. I don't know where to go for a car, equipment, racing league, etc. Is there anyone that can educate the ignorant?

I cannot emphasize enough that you NEED to go to one of the local tracks and ask about the local cart classes, rules etc. Also ask where any other local tracks may be and find out what their rules/classes are compatible.

When I got into cart racing just after MX, we ended up racing the alky 5 hp briggs class (about 9hp at 6000 rpm) because it was the only local class that had many carts in it. No sense buying something and later finding out that there are no local tracks that run that class.

Thanks Tim, I'm going to send the local dirt track club president an email with similar questions. The only tracks I've found nearby are dirt, not sure if they're ovals or not. Personally I'd prefer to get him into a paved autocross type track.

I assume asphalt/road courses? Or dirt track?

Wish I had known this was coming....sold a Gold Kid Cart (designed for 4-7 y.o.) for half what it was worth last year but I made sure it was for a kid going racing and not a flipper.

If you're talking LTO I have an older roller your welcome to for whatever it costs to get it to you. Perfect for a beginner just to see if they want to do it. We tried to set it up for RR and it did OK, but you canjust do so much with a chassis set up for LTO..

Saw this after I posted. The latest trend around here is to do the Harbor Freight "clone" motors at 6.5 hp...motors retail for $129 but coupons are around to let you buy one for $99. About $100 more for allowed mods. They'll run young kids with a restrictor plate to keep the speeds down. Diggest expense are clutches at $200 (used) to $500 (new/trick).

Like I say...I have a roller you can have if we can figure out how to get it to you. It has an adult seat in it but I think I have a child seat for it somewhere if I can find it.

I'd consider the roller for my 7 yr old if Matt passes.

There are 3 classes of kart racing: dirt oval (there are paved ovals too), sprint asphalt with turns (usually much less than mile in length) and enduro road race on larger auto and m/c tracks. No youths under 16 in enduro unless rules have changed.

The best advice here was to go out to a few events first. The various vendors will usually be there. Get to know the equipment and the names of all the manufacturers of even the smallest items. Kids are very sensitive and if you give your kid an xy clutch and all his new buddies have a zy, he'll resent the kart and maybe even you.

And, if everyone is using an xy, there is a reason. It's probably faster.

Jim, I'd love to take you up on your offer. Obviously I'd pay for shipping, any idea how we can ship such a thing?

You are correct on the Harbor Freight motors, the two rookie classes at the nearby dirt course require the HF motors.

Here's a pic of ol' faithful:D



We were running Briggs 5 hp alcohol motor which is now obsolete...so that motor is worthless.

Too bad you're not nearer...we have a city owned kart road course that is leased to Miss Kaarting Assn...$50/year membership and you get a key to the track so you can let yourself in anytime to practice. If only I fit in a Kart:eek:
Link: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/440776-finally-bit-bullet-joined-motorsports-ranch-bought-race-car.htmlhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1280677771.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1280677808.jpg

At this point racing is racing whether on dirt or asphalt. If the nearest tracks are dirt.... so be it. No sense building an asphalt cart if you have to travel 200 miles to race at it with a 6 year old beginner.

By the way, what does RR and LTO mean?:)

I dunno...probably weights 100#'s sans motor.

Post the link to your local track and I'll look at the rules to see what they allow. I may be able to pick you up some spares (wheels, etc) dirt cheap or free. Have a friend whose kid was a national level competitor but is in NC working for a NASCAR tuck team tryig to get a ride and has abandoned Karting.

RR= road race LTO=left turn only

Nice looking cart Jim. When I raced the 5hp briggs alcohol class on small paved tracks, we ran Coyote Free Roller chassis with no bodywork IIRC. We did not run airfilters and just ran a straight shorty pipe with no "muffler". Mods mainly consisted of milling the head to legal limit, boring the carb to legal limit, installing larger jets for the alcohol and removing the governor obviously. So long as your oil dipper stayed intact and you kept your gearing such that 6000 rpm was about all she would turn, the motors stayed together.

You got it if Matt comes to his senses:D

Only thing I ask is that its for a kid who wants to race;)

We were turning this motor in excess of 7000 and it held together.:eek:

Here's what I've found so far: Wheatland karting Association go kart racing

There's several other nearby tracks, including Heartland Park, but I can't find information online.

I don't have any pictures of him on the go-kart handy, but here's one on his ATV.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...00000123471933

Lets try that again.... I think he was 4 at the time, and yes he does have a helmet.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1280679733.jpg

Here's another option from a KC PCA friend:

You can get your kid into autocrossing a jr kart at age 6 with the SCCA. They have events here usually held at the Police training ground out at the Community College in Independence. They are out there today and have another event on Aug 15. There are usually a couple of jr karts there every event. Autocrossog is the perfect way to get started, learning vehicle dynamics (braking, acceleration etc) and developing the ability to "read" a different track every weekend in a very safe controlled environment. Local autocrosses start in March and run through November, about every two weeks.

Looking at the rules, the bodywork should be fine. Need clarification on the "WKA approved chassis" although they're probably pretty lenient in the rookie class. You need to find out whetehr they're running 5 or 6 " diameter tires and what width restrictions there are. This kart has a single rear disc and a full width rear bumper so that should be fine for the class. I think we still have the memory tach and head temp gauge. I'll go poke around at the shop to see what we have laying around. Do find out about the wheel diameter/width. On the chassis I have toe, ride height and track width is adjustable...no caster/camber adjustment like newer Karts but probably doesn't matter for 6 y.o.s


The kart has 5" wheels now with asphalt slicks so you should be good to go to take him into a parking lot to learn and then on to an autoX. I even think we have some restrictor paltes somewhere and a few extra gear sets. You'need to buy or fabricate some risers from aluminum sscrap to raise the floor board under his heel so he can reach the pedals.

Awesome Jim, thanks. I sent an email to the president of the local dirt track racing organization, I'll ask him about the wheels. We have a local racing kart store, so I'm sure they would have different sizes if necessary.

I'm finding a lot of options in our area. This one looks like fun: Lake Garnett - Home

Supposedly it used to be an SCCA sports car track decades ago, at least in some form. It looks like he has the option of dirt, paved, oval, or autocross within an hour or so. If we make a trip up to KC (2.5 hrs) there's even more.

For the most part it is laid back and tremendously family oriented...you got dad working on the kart, mom making a picnic and the kids wandering around chasing frogs and lizards. But it can get ungodly (and unnecessarily) competitive. Some parents make tyranical soccer moms and little league dads look like saints. there's always a few that think because they've got their kids karting at age 5 he's the next jeff gordon or tony stewart. I've seen raging mom's going at each other accusing the other for cheating while their 4 y.o. is crying, In the Kid Kart class trick little chassis are powered by 50cc Comer weed eater motors...parents will spend $1200 to get a "legal" blanced/blueprinted engine. FER CHRISAKES...its a frgigin' weed eater motor. The whole kart new was only $1500!!!!! And you'll see people showing up with 28' enclosed trailers with 6 or 8 karts, multiple engines and 20 sets of tires/wheels etc...you get the idea.

The sealed Harbor Freight motor is a good little class. But I've seen competitors buy 5 or 10 at a time, have them sealed then run them on a dyno to see which has the most power (QC in china must be spotty) and then discard the rest. SHEEESH.

If you do get your kid into it don't go nuts...seen kids get burned out by 10 or 12 because of the parental pressure.

I raced Enduro for years and absolutely loved it. Not really into the dirt type of thing as thats not my style but karts are a lot of fun.

International Kart Federation

Totally agree about the crazy parents, even with him playing in casual sports leagues we still see the nut jobs. He's a car nut like me and loves his current go kart, I just want him to have healthy hobbies that he enjoys.

Yes, it can get crazy with the parents. My stepson raced against future IRL dirvers Ritchie Hearn, Alex Barron and notable racer PJ Jones. I guess you could say that those parents did think their boy was gonna be the next Jeff Gordon.

We raced against some people named Mears, too. And regularly lost of all of them. What can I say? Parnelli sent one of his mechanics to wrench young PJ's car along with the checkbook. Money was spent freely in those other pits as well.

A female driver that today would be old enough to be Danica Patricks's mother arrived with her support team, trailer, 3 karts and 12 spare motors. She won her fair share of races. The weird thing is she looked a lot like Danica. Skinny little pretty brunette.

We had a hard time with her, too, but beat her enough times to not be embarrassed. I mean the amount of money that can get spent is insane.

Go out and have a good time and don't take it too seriously.

LISTEN TO TIM ON THIS HE's RIGHT

If anyone in Los Angeles needs a CRG kid kart axle I have one. The cost is a 12 pack of Red Hook Breweries LONG HAMER BEER!

I also have a bunch of side pods in grey for pre 2006 karts and some old 219 and 35 chain breakers.

If someone wants a beat down Chassis that will cost more to put back together I might part with one...it's garage art right now

The cost would be that if you put it back together I get to drive it once or twice at a local track

His first word was "Car". If you gave him a gift and it was not car related he'd throw a fit.

This place is about 10 minutes from me. $300 per year family membership.

Asphalt though.

North Texas Karters - North Texas Premier Kart Track

That is a nice race track. (Texas)

Hi Matt, I would love to get my son into the sport but he's already over committed with baseball and karate.

I don't know much about karting but do have two friends who do it with their son. From what I can gather the best class to get in is TaG (Touch and Go) where everyone uses the same motor (Bombardier Rotax) which cannot be modified. The focus is then on chassis tuning and driver skill. Sounds reasonable in a sport where $$ can get entirely unreasonable quickly and has been already mentioned there are folks with deep pockets who take this all very very seriously. Semi-trucks with multiple carts and full time mechanics - kinda puts a damper on the father/son team operating out of a pickup truck with less than top of the line gear.

I know you're just getting into the sport but as will all things extremely fun the pull to upgrade/move up is hard to resist.

That's nice, I'm jealous. I have a feeling our kids would get along well, here's my genuinely sad son the night before I sold the 996.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1280704948.jpg

Hell...if the kid's anything like Matt he'll have bought and sold a dozen karts by the time he's 8:D:D:D

There's always something better to be had.:cool:

We checked out the local dirt track on Saturday, it looks like a lot of fun. My son is pumped, he's been playing lots of Mario Kart to prepare.:D

The more I look the more options I find for him to drive, so we should have plenty of choices. I plan to let him try a paved road course vs a dirt oval and we'll see what he enjoys the most. Based on what I saw today I'll be way outclassed, lots of new diesel trucks hauling large enclosed trailers embroidered with racing graphics. Crazy.....

By the way, Jim (Dueller) your PM inbox is full.