Kids' Karting Konundrum
Discussion
One of my sons is interested in and seems to have a bit of an aptitude for karting. I took him to a proper track a few days ago, with an instructor and a cadet race kart. Predictably enough I've been unable to wipe the smile off his face since.
The instructor was extremely good and an excellent advocate for his sport. However, afterwards I was left slightly concerned about whether or not I can let Junior get involved. My concerns are these:
1. The Cadet karts have sealed engines, levelling the playing field somewhat. At 13 years of age where do we go? Is there a meaningful race series for older youths that let them race on equal terms or is it going to just be about how much money we have?
2. Spannering. I come from a motor trade background and have a pathological hatred of spanners and grease. I am not sure I can overcome it sufficiently to be the team mechanic.
3. I'd either need to keep the kart at a track somewhere or buy a van. Either would be a significant overhead.
4. Junior has school and sports commitments and increasingly so. Will karting take over?
5. Am I going to be able to control my spending? I am competitive and I will want him to win.
6. There seems to be a lot of waiting involved. A day's practice and a race day will take up a whole weekend, with only a fraction of it being track time.
I appreciate that most of this comes down to my personal outlook and situation, but has anyone been through this loop and got any advice to offer?
TIA.
tapkaJohnD said:
https://www.msauk.org/assets/msanews791016.pdf See page 13 BRITISH SCHOOLS KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 JOIN THE FUN AND REPRESENT YOUR SCHOOL 9or college)
Get the school involved and keep him doing the other things.
Thanks. I will take a look.Get the school involved and keep him doing the other things.
To be honest I don't see him as the next Lewis Hamilton, it is more that I am keen to find a sport for him that he enjoys and at which he can do OK. He cannot commit the time to it to become really good, even if he turns out to be very talented. Furthermore, I cannot spend a five figure sum on it, or give up a lot of spare time. I run two businesses and have other family commitments.
ribiero said:
I saw in another thread you said you were close to PFI. (one of the best tracks in the country)
Someone also said give Jay Shepard a shout (http://www.team7racing.co.uk/) i'll second that, he's doing good things getting people into karting. PFI also do a non-msa race meeting once a month for sealed 4 strokes. anyone spending 5 figures on that need their head examining. If you put your lad into their cadet class (8-13) then you'll have at least 3 years worth of racing/knowledge on that chassis/engine combo then he can go up to juniors (11-16) on a different type of chassis and an additional engine. It's a valid alternative to Trent Valley Kart Club which also runs out of PFI.
If you go under a team awning usually you can be as hands off or hands on as you want. From pure renting a running kart, mech + coach (the best way to spend lots of money) to just having them run a kart you own to just rent you awning space. Over time you'll need less and less from a team as you'll notice you can do stuff yourself or you'll find out way to make $$ savings.
But being in a social karting awning can be a great experience, for both lad/daughter + dad, especially if you find one that's less "serious motorsport" and more family/socially orientated.
PFI is about half an hour away and Jay is the instructor we used last week. Good guy.Someone also said give Jay Shepard a shout (http://www.team7racing.co.uk/) i'll second that, he's doing good things getting people into karting. PFI also do a non-msa race meeting once a month for sealed 4 strokes. anyone spending 5 figures on that need their head examining. If you put your lad into their cadet class (8-13) then you'll have at least 3 years worth of racing/knowledge on that chassis/engine combo then he can go up to juniors (11-16) on a different type of chassis and an additional engine. It's a valid alternative to Trent Valley Kart Club which also runs out of PFI.
If you go under a team awning usually you can be as hands off or hands on as you want. From pure renting a running kart, mech + coach (the best way to spend lots of money) to just having them run a kart you own to just rent you awning space. Over time you'll need less and less from a team as you'll notice you can do stuff yourself or you'll find out way to make $$ savings.
But being in a social karting awning can be a great experience, for both lad/daughter + dad, especially if you find one that's less "serious motorsport" and more family/socially orientated.
Edited by ribiero on Tuesday 25th October 12:14
ribiero said:
I saw in another thread you said you were close to PFI. (one of the best tracks in the country)
Someone also said give Jay Shepard a shout (http://www.team7racing.co.uk/) i'll second that, he's doing good things getting people into karting. PFI also do a non-msa race meeting once a month for sealed 4 strokes. anyone spending 5 figures on that need their head examining. If you put your lad into their cadet class (8-13) then you'll have at least 3 years worth of racing/knowledge on that chassis/engine combo then he can go up to juniors (11-16) on a different type of chassis and an additional engine. It's a valid alternative to Trent Valley Kart Club which also runs out of PFI.
If you go under a team awning usually you can be as hands off or hands on as you want. From pure renting a running kart, mech + coach (the best way to spend lots of money) to just having them run a kart you own to just rent you awning space. Over time you'll need less and less from a team as you'll notice you can do stuff yourself or you'll find out way to make $$ savings.
But being in a social karting awning can be a great experience, for both lad/daughter + dad, especially if you find one that's less "serious motorsport" and more family/socially orientated.
PFI is about half an hour away and Jay is the instructor we used last week. Good guy.Someone also said give Jay Shepard a shout (http://www.team7racing.co.uk/) i'll second that, he's doing good things getting people into karting. PFI also do a non-msa race meeting once a month for sealed 4 strokes. anyone spending 5 figures on that need their head examining. If you put your lad into their cadet class (8-13) then you'll have at least 3 years worth of racing/knowledge on that chassis/engine combo then he can go up to juniors (11-16) on a different type of chassis and an additional engine. It's a valid alternative to Trent Valley Kart Club which also runs out of PFI.
If you go under a team awning usually you can be as hands off or hands on as you want. From pure renting a running kart, mech + coach (the best way to spend lots of money) to just having them run a kart you own to just rent you awning space. Over time you'll need less and less from a team as you'll notice you can do stuff yourself or you'll find out way to make $$ savings.
But being in a social karting awning can be a great experience, for both lad/daughter + dad, especially if you find one that's less "serious motorsport" and more family/socially orientated.
Edited by ribiero on Tuesday 25th October 12:14
Some Gump said:
13m said:
PFI is about half an hour away and Jay is the instructor we used last week. Good guy.
I've never met him, know nothing about him at all.However, "oh, your son looks like a natural, you should consider taking this up" is the first move in the "pay me lots of money to run him" game played by pretty much every karting team owner I met in the 8 years we did it.
Dudboy said:
Not sure if your Local to me as I see Castle Combe mentioned in this thread.
However I have learn't / seen many of the pitfalls / challenges with Kids and Karting over the last 5 years we have been doing it.
Feel free to email me direct if you want any honest answers
Search Louis Harvey Karting on facebook you can see our progress there and what we have achieved so far.
Thanks. I cannot email you however as you haven't allowed them. If you can do that please I'll drop you a line.However I have learn't / seen many of the pitfalls / challenges with Kids and Karting over the last 5 years we have been doing it.
Feel free to email me direct if you want any honest answers
Search Louis Harvey Karting on facebook you can see our progress there and what we have achieved so far.
tapkaJohnD said:
Reading through this thread, it's disappointing how much the idea dominates that winning is all, and the only way to win is to spend a lot.
Motorsport IS expensive, but compare, say, with golf? Horse riding? Membership fees, even for kids are large, kit too. It all mounts up.
But a sport that is fun to take part in for kids is an education for life.
For 99.9% of participants in sport or life, they will not be winners, Chairmen of the Board, or F1 Champions.
Talent will out, but application, dedication and education are needed too.
This is an argument for sport in general, not just karting, but if your child enjoys karting, follow that interest, within your means.
Budget control is another lesson that kids can learn from sport! Even eight year olds!
John
Ah, an idealist. Motorsport IS expensive, but compare, say, with golf? Horse riding? Membership fees, even for kids are large, kit too. It all mounts up.
But a sport that is fun to take part in for kids is an education for life.
For 99.9% of participants in sport or life, they will not be winners, Chairmen of the Board, or F1 Champions.
Talent will out, but application, dedication and education are needed too.
This is an argument for sport in general, not just karting, but if your child enjoys karting, follow that interest, within your means.
Budget control is another lesson that kids can learn from sport! Even eight year olds!
John
Unfortunately the lad in question is competitive and he would become frustrated with not winning due to budgetary constraints. We have decided to stick to corporate karting for treats and let him compete at sports where effort and dedication will take him further than cash.
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