Fastest go karts in the UK?
Discussion
jenzo said:
I ve driven many karts in the past *at Buckmore park etc., but wanted something different and "quick".
I am not scared of power or lack the confidence or basic experience.
What is the quickest version they do - cc wise?
What does it feel like driving one : ) ?
Quickest by a long way 250cc 6 speed gearbox (125's maybe not far short).......I had involvement in a circuit and had many an "experienced" racer scare themselves "shi..ess" when I let them drive a 250.I am not scared of power or lack the confidence or basic experience.
What is the quickest version they do - cc wise?
What does it feel like driving one : ) ?
alfie2244 said:
Any excuse to post up a bit of nostalgia.... I actually hired out 250s to people, even hired the entire Silverstone circuit once...........have fun OP and let us know how you get on 
Short circuit is very very hard work.....long circuit not so hard but a lot faster due to gearing, for example my avge around Thruxton IIRC was about 95mph....the winner's was about 112mph and all that without a seatbelt and 1" from the ground.........awesome feeling.
There are a few vids of superkarts around Darley that are worth a watch...a good circuit to learn on and in between long & short circuits but still avge around 85MPH in a race IIRC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ewBfbfyky8
OP, what is your karting experience so far? If you've not been outside of a 4 stroke corporate kart yet I would be very careful thinking about going anywhere near an Aixro or gearbox kart.
A Rotax Max on a proper chassis and tyres (not a lardy four stroke on chassis designed for abuse on hard tyres..) will be more than enough to give you something to think about.
I've always said to people that unless you've driven a proper 2 stroke race kart forget what you know, the difference between a corporate kart is night and day. The difference in straight line speed is only a very small part of it.
Ps. I'm not sure which is worse, calling them go karts or carts..
A Rotax Max on a proper chassis and tyres (not a lardy four stroke on chassis designed for abuse on hard tyres..) will be more than enough to give you something to think about.
I've always said to people that unless you've driven a proper 2 stroke race kart forget what you know, the difference between a corporate kart is night and day. The difference in straight line speed is only a very small part of it.
Ps. I'm not sure which is worse, calling them go karts or carts..
Sounds incredible. What engine size do you suggest I drive - for the time...
alfie2244 said:
Quickest by a long way 250cc 6 speed gearbox (125's maybe not far short).......I had involvement in a circuit and had many an "experienced" racer scare themselves "shi..ess" when I let them drive a 250.
Short circuit is very very hard work.....long circuit not so hard but a lot faster due to gearing, for example my avge around Thruxton IIRC was about 95mph....the winner's was about 112mph and all that without a seatbelt and 1" from the ground.........awesome feeling.
There are a few vids of superkarts around Darley that are worth a watch...a good circuit to learn on and in between long & short circuits but still avge around 85MPH in a race IIRC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ewBfbfyky8
Short circuit is very very hard work.....long circuit not so hard but a lot faster due to gearing, for example my avge around Thruxton IIRC was about 95mph....the winner's was about 112mph and all that without a seatbelt and 1" from the ground.........awesome feeling.
There are a few vids of superkarts around Darley that are worth a watch...a good circuit to learn on and in between long & short circuits but still avge around 85MPH in a race IIRC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ewBfbfyky8
I don't want to kill myself here! All I want is something quicker that the standard you get at say Buckmore Park (that's all I have driven so far).
Never driven a geared kart before or Rotax Max.
This is something I must off course now all bear in mind...
Never driven a geared kart before or Rotax Max.
This is something I must off course now all bear in mind...
daniel-5zjw7 said:
OP, what is your karting experience so far? If you've not been outside of a 4 stroke corporate kart yet I would be very careful thinking about going anywhere near an Aixro or gearbox kart.
A Rotax Max on a proper chassis and tyres (not a lardy four stroke on chassis designed for abuse on hard tyres..) will be more than enough to give you something to think about.
I've always said to people that unless you've driven a proper 2 stroke race kart forget what you know, the difference between a corporate kart is night and day. The difference in straight line speed is only a very small part of it.
Ps. I'm not sure which is worse, calling them go karts or carts..
A Rotax Max on a proper chassis and tyres (not a lardy four stroke on chassis designed for abuse on hard tyres..) will be more than enough to give you something to think about.
I've always said to people that unless you've driven a proper 2 stroke race kart forget what you know, the difference between a corporate kart is night and day. The difference in straight line speed is only a very small part of it.
Ps. I'm not sure which is worse, calling them go karts or carts..
daniel-5zjw7 said:
OP, what is your karting experience so far? If you've not been outside of a 4 stroke corporate kart yet I would be very careful thinking about going anywhere near an Aixro or gearbox kart.
A Rotax Max on a proper chassis and tyres (not a lardy four stroke on chassis designed for abuse on hard tyres..) will be more than enough to give you something to think about.
I've always said to people that unless you've driven a proper 2 stroke race kart forget what you know, the difference between a corporate kart is night and day. The difference in straight line speed is only a very small part of it.
Ps. I'm not sure which is worse, calling them go karts or carts..
Exactly this! A Rotax Max on a proper chassis and tyres (not a lardy four stroke on chassis designed for abuse on hard tyres..) will be more than enough to give you something to think about.
I've always said to people that unless you've driven a proper 2 stroke race kart forget what you know, the difference between a corporate kart is night and day. The difference in straight line speed is only a very small part of it.
Ps. I'm not sure which is worse, calling them go karts or carts..
My local kart track(kinsham) I had done plenty of days there on their own karts. I bought a senior rotax max on a kosmic t11 chassis.(same as the tonykart but more pink!) Within 200 yards you will realise how crap the hire karts are. It took a few days there to be able to get anywhere near the potential of it.
To put it in perspective, the hire kart lap record was 54 odd seconds. My quickest lap and fastest there on a max for a long while was 39.9. A proper race prepped kart is a world apart from any of the 4 stroke hire karts. They are lighter, more powerful, handle way better and brake harder. They have so much grip you are waiting for either the chassis to snap or for you to roll!
When you are "on it" nothing this side of a single seat race car will come close.I did have a go on a couple of gearbox karts there too. They are relentless, no other word for it. There is no way you would be safe going from a hire kart to one of those. It genuinely would be asking for trouble.
I did 10 mins on a mugen chassis with a CR125 motor, that was nuts, I then jumped off that onto a full blown, race ready 125 disc valved(can't remember the name of it) weapon with around 50bhp. It would light the slicks up in 3rd if you weren't careful. A real handful. 10 mins on that felt like an hour on a max. I couldn't physically drive it anymore if I wanted to. The next lad that had a go in it, with hot tyres from my session did less than 100 yards before burying the throttle and sticking it through a fence. Don't under estimate the brutality of those things. They will bite you hard!!
I agree and as many others have also stated, I will go Rotax Max first. Its not worth any risk, trying to drive the Superkarts.
I am based in London - can drive, but anyone have any recommendations as to whom to speak to, to hire a Rotax Max, for say an hour?
I am based in London - can drive, but anyone have any recommendations as to whom to speak to, to hire a Rotax Max, for say an hour?
alfie2244 said:
Go for Rotax max.....still be a lot quicker than a standard hire kart....you did ask "Fastest go karts in the UK?" but maybe a step too far to start with if you have limited experience.
keep us updated
keep us updated
Scroll down to the bottom of the page here http://mlcmotorsport.co.uk/services/
Full day test in a Rotax Max with mechanic to help you - seems a bargain at £195.
Full day test in a Rotax Max with mechanic to help you - seems a bargain at £195.
Fab! I will giove them a call. Is the X30 quicker than the Rotax Max?
mcbook said:
Scroll down to the bottom of the page here http://mlcmotorsport.co.uk/services/
Full day test in a Rotax Max with mechanic to help you - seems a bargain at £195.
Full day test in a Rotax Max with mechanic to help you - seems a bargain at £195.
I've been out of the karting scene for a few years now so not particularly familiar with the X30, however as far as a know it's a reasonably recent engine (in comparison to the Rotax Max motor) and is a little more up to date, I would expect performance to be similar to the Rotax so would be fine for you if that's what's on offer.
Can you find out what make of chassis, year of manufacturer and what tyres you'll be using? This is just as important as the motor..
Just to be clear as it can be confusing, Rotax is an engine manufacturer, as are Iame who make the X30, karts are often referred to only by the class in which they compete, i.e Rotax Max, but this tells you very little about the kart itself, a kart described as a Rotax Max could be said engine on a 20 year old chassis that was never that good in the first place or said engine on a brand new top end chassis with the accompanying components, so if your going to spend £200, it's worth finding out exactly what you'll be driving as it will have an impact on your enjoyment.
I'd also check if they carry a number of seat sizes and whether they will supply clothing such as rib protectors & suits. You need to fit well in this type of kart, it's all to easy to break a rib with the wrong seat size or wrong equipment.
Can you find out what make of chassis, year of manufacturer and what tyres you'll be using? This is just as important as the motor..
Just to be clear as it can be confusing, Rotax is an engine manufacturer, as are Iame who make the X30, karts are often referred to only by the class in which they compete, i.e Rotax Max, but this tells you very little about the kart itself, a kart described as a Rotax Max could be said engine on a 20 year old chassis that was never that good in the first place or said engine on a brand new top end chassis with the accompanying components, so if your going to spend £200, it's worth finding out exactly what you'll be driving as it will have an impact on your enjoyment.
I'd also check if they carry a number of seat sizes and whether they will supply clothing such as rib protectors & suits. You need to fit well in this type of kart, it's all to easy to break a rib with the wrong seat size or wrong equipment.
Jenzo if you are calling them and get all those info (they mention that karts are always not older than 12 months so at least for that it might be more reassuring) let me know as I would also be interested (even if I think that one full day for me would be too much)
If you have to bring your equipment (ie race suit, helmet, gloves, rib protector) that would be also a big issue
It would also be good to know in which circuit you can have the session!
If you have to bring your equipment (ie race suit, helmet, gloves, rib protector) that would be also a big issue
It would also be good to know in which circuit you can have the session!
Hi guys. Yes, I will send over info, once I have spoken to them.
Riccardino said:
Jenzo if you are calling them and get all those info (they mention that karts are always not older than 12 months so at least for that it might be more reassuring) let me know as I would also be interested (even if I think that one full day for me would be too much)
If you have to bring your equipment (ie race suit, helmet, gloves, rib protector) that would be also a big issue
It would also be good to know in which circuit you can have the session!
If you have to bring your equipment (ie race suit, helmet, gloves, rib protector) that would be also a big issue
It would also be good to know in which circuit you can have the session!
daniel-5zjw7 said:
Can you find out what make of chassis, year of manufacturer and what tyres you'll be using? This is just as important as the motor..
Out of curiositythe ones in Daytona are
Birel N35 with Rotax Max 125cc EVO engines, how do they compare with the Rotax Max race karts? They mention a power of about 22hp
no ideas regarding tyres
One thing that for me was strange last time is that I had no grip on the front wheels. Spinned and when I was trying to turn with the kart to get back in the track the kart was going straight even if the steering wheel was completely turned. It also had quite a lot of understeer
Edited by Riccardino on Tuesday 2nd August 16:20
No differential, turning involves twisting the chassis (by turning the front wheels) to lift the inside-rear off the track. If you're off track, the front tyres don't have enough grip to do that so you travel forwards (at 90 degrees to the rear axle). Used to have fun at Daytona on slicks during torrential rain - their tip to get around corners in those conditions were effectively "lock the wheels when braking to start rotation"...
Riccardino said:
thanks for the clarification
Still think that there was something with the tyres as I was really having more difficulties then last time in almost every turns and I was almost 2 seconds slower
Hire karts take all sorts of abuse and to set a kart up to handle properly is a science in itself.Still think that there was something with the tyres as I was really having more difficulties then last time in almost every turns and I was almost 2 seconds slower
bad handling could be a variety of reasons - how the seat is set up means weight distribution will be different for every different person, Toe in / out, corner weighting, tyre pressures / wear, chassis integrity i.e. bit twisted after a shunt,
Hire karts are exactly that - Not sure how it all works nowdays but perhaps you should ask for it to be changed in future?
Riccardino said:
Out of curiosity
the ones in Daytona are
Birel N35 with Rotax Max 125cc EVO engines, how do they compare with the Rotax Max race karts? They mention a power of about 22hp
no ideas regarding tyres
One thing that for me was strange last time is that I had no grip on the front wheels. Spinned and when I was trying to turn with the kart to get back in the track the kart was going straight even if the steering wheel was completely turned. It also had quite a lot of understeer
You guys are testing me now lol, right a Rotax Max EVO motor is as far as I'm aware a updated version of the Rotax Max unit with electronic ignition/electronic power valve etc. If they're quoting 22bhp my guess is this won't be the Max engine but the Junior Max, the Max would be closer to 30bhp.the ones in Daytona are
Birel N35 with Rotax Max 125cc EVO engines, how do they compare with the Rotax Max race karts? They mention a power of about 22hp
no ideas regarding tyres
One thing that for me was strange last time is that I had no grip on the front wheels. Spinned and when I was trying to turn with the kart to get back in the track the kart was going straight even if the steering wheel was completely turned. It also had quite a lot of understeer
Edited by Riccardino on Tuesday 2nd August 16:20
Birel N35 is a corporate kart, that said it's about as racy as this type of kart can get and a good deal better than what you'll get as most karting places, Birel do make some decent race karts so I'm sure the N35 will be a decent enough drive all things considered.
So OK this combo is still not the same as a full on senior race kart, but it will still go well and I'd expect you'll have a lot of fun!
I can't help you diagnose your issues last time I'm afraid, as has been said there are stacks of variables, balance, tyre quality/pressure, tyre temp, track conditions, general kart set up and not least the driver. It takes a lot of seat time to really learn how to set up and get the most from a kart, it's a very different proposition to a car and requires different techniques. However the type of experience your looking to do should be about having fun, so don't worry about all of this, jump in and enjoy it!
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