Just wanted to share my new toy

[82SC]

check it out...me and my buddies are splitting this 2002 mintox tony-kart...it has a kawasaki engine...but when my skills catch up with my ambition we'll upgrade to a vortex...

I think this is a cheaper way to go racing...especially since I am working on my cruiser targa...building a 911 racecar is such an expensive project...

anyways if there are any karters out there lets talk I am a novice at this sport...

[bell]

shifter carts always put a big smile on my face, a freind lets me run his yamaha 125 once and a while

[YTNUKLR]

I'd like to get a couple of those someday when I have a son (or daughter, even) and go out karting. Anyway, check out the site for Jim Hall II Kart Racing School. They've got a neat track out in Ventura. They have classes on some days of the week, where they run their own 100cc and 80- and 100-cc shifters, depending on skill. They time you, etc, like racing, and teach you the line(more difficult than you would think) and it's a good time. The starter class is about $150, but they told me that I could come up any day that they weren't scheduled for classes, hand 'em $40 and they'll let you use the track all day. Just haven't gotten around to it b/c I don't have a pickup. Good luck.

[82SC]

i use KRC home base is willow springs...they have a great trak there...

$25.00 gets you the track all day...also I heard we can change the gearing and run it on the street of Willow and rech over 100mph

I've taked their class 2 times now...awesome

if you go tell matt mark and jaysen sent you

MJ

[Don Plumley]

I can also vouch for Jim Hill and Karts...Bunch of friends got together and took a full day lesson at Jim Hill a couple of years back. Loads of fun - stuff really looks fast with pavement in front of your feet and 2" under your rear.

Nice looking Kart!

[Denis54]

Had one of these for a couple of years. Mine was a Tony Kart too. I did not race it, I just used it for lapping. I bought it because I felt it was a nice and safe way to satisfy my wish for fast speeds.

It was a lot of fun until an idiot who drove a faster kart ran over my front left wheel with his rear right wheel.

INSTANT flip-over. I found myself going about 70 mph with the kart over me. The result was an ambulance ride to the hospital, 2 broken ribs, severe burns (from the asphalt eating my suit and then my flesh) and mostly a badly hurt back. Luckily, I recovered quickly and have no problem now.

My kart has been sitting in my garage for the last 2 years and I have not dared to drive it back yet. Be carefull, these things are a lot of fun but can be pretty dangerous too. I am lucky I was not hurt anymore as 2 other karts were following us and I am told came close to hit me too.

I say that the other driver is an idiot because I was told afterwards that track officials had told him previously that he was driving over his head and that his 125 cc kart was too fast for him. Like anywhere else, most people are very nice but once in a while you come across people who do not use good judgement and can risk hurting you.

I do not mean to scare anybody as I understand that such accident are quite rare. I just wanted to share my experience and forwarn you that it can be pretty dangerous too.

[Jim Garfield]

I've got a CRG w/a100cc piston port Komet.
If you think a 911 is fun, you should try a
racing kart. On the barrel of lesbians scale -
well, I'm pretty sure that it's off the scale.

[cegerer]

Looks like alot of fun! And you're in good company with the Tony Kart:

[Denis54]

I have heard that Michael Schumacher owns Tony Kart. Can anybody confirm that?

[RazorRacer]

This has been my first year racing karts. You can view my race reports via the link below 78SC Targa Guards Red.

By far, this has been the most fun / hard thing I have done in my life. I hope you have a group to compete with in your area.

The track I race at is 0.4 miles and has 7 turns. It's really too short for a 6 speed shifter kart.

I'm considering the new Rotax 2-speed kart.

Also, the kart doesn't make that much difference at a beginners level. It's really the horsepower and driving skill at first.

Keep me posted on your races and have you considered a p-car DE?

[cegerer]

"I have heard that Michael Schumacher owns Tony Kart. Can anybody confirm that?"

I don't think so, but he and Ralph have a few karting tracks in Germany. A friend has been there a couple of times and said they are first rate with very fast karts.

http://www.michaelschumacher-kartcenter.de/

-- Curt

[82SC]

I know that Tony Karts are concidered the Ferraris of karts...

MS drove one last year when he competed in a karting world championship race last year...

Trulli has his own model of tony karts because he used to be a factory driver...

Karting is such a rush it is crazy...Willow's little kart track is really fun...plus with the right gearing you can run at the streets of willow and they are building a new 1 mile karting track...

I think for a student...with federal loans...making a porsche 911ST race car is a bit ambitious...but I am still gonna try...this karting is to satisfy my need for speed for now...Plus I have the targa chassis too!!! ackkk...

well if any of you are in the SoCal area and want to give shifter carts a try KRC is great...you don't have to start in dinky 1 speed carts...and the guys are really cool...

MJ

[RazorRacer]

Originally posted by 82SC
you don't have to start in dinky 1 speed cartsMJ

If you want to learn to race, a 1 speed cart makes you pay for your mistakes. Also, with 29HP it's not so "dinky".

[82SC]

you are right...

I think to learn carts the right and proper way is to move up the ranks of karts...but that is alot of time

but for young testosterone guys instant gratification is more what we are looking for...

I realize my limitations not going to vortex or thinking I am racer...I am a novice and plan to get alot of track time to make me better...

cool pics of your car and your young crew chiefs...aren't there child labor laws against that?

MJ