Getting into karting
Discussion
i know its bearly a motorsport in the grand picture of things but ive recently been bitten by the bug, just wondering if anyone on here competes and is willing to offer advice on the essentials and best class to enter etc etc.
ive been setting competative times down the local indoor track and am seriously considering going halves with my mate on buying a second hand kart outfit. im 23 and intending on doing this purely on a "just for shits and giggles" basis (famous last words!).
Thinking of entering Rotax senior class???
ive been setting competative times down the local indoor track and am seriously considering going halves with my mate on buying a second hand kart outfit. im 23 and intending on doing this purely on a "just for shits and giggles" basis (famous last words!).
Thinking of entering Rotax senior class???
go to a few races and see what appeals. personally if you are going halves with a mate, why not consider a prokart and do the endurance races. you could get a useable kart for less than a grand with a load of spares, a trolley etc and have loads of fun.
i like prokarts as they are easy to prep and quite good fun, people say they are slow but then if everyone has the same equipment what does it matter? and three abreast round a corner tends to take your mind off the speed...
i would imagine sharing a kart is logistically difficult because of the nature the events are run, heats, semi-finals, finals etc. if the two stroke bug appeals though, have a look at Club 100 who a lot of people here race through. it is cheque book racing though and the disadvantage being you cant just take your kart to a track for some testing/fun whenever you want.
www.karting.co.uk for all the info on classes, local circuits, etc you will ever need...
i like prokarts as they are easy to prep and quite good fun, people say they are slow but then if everyone has the same equipment what does it matter? and three abreast round a corner tends to take your mind off the speed...
i would imagine sharing a kart is logistically difficult because of the nature the events are run, heats, semi-finals, finals etc. if the two stroke bug appeals though, have a look at Club 100 who a lot of people here race through. it is cheque book racing though and the disadvantage being you cant just take your kart to a track for some testing/fun whenever you want.
www.karting.co.uk for all the info on classes, local circuits, etc you will ever need...
I had a go at racing rotax's they are a great laugh but prob not the best way to start racing as they are very fast compaired to hire karts after all the 160cc prokarts are aorund 8-10bhp? and a rotax is 28 bhp. It was suggested that i would have been a better idea for be to do a year or so on prokarts first.
I would suggest you look into budget as rotaxs are not cheap to run. for a day i'd expect £30-100 tyres (£30 if you think they last 3 races but you'll not be at the front) £10-15 fuel, very regular chains and sprockets at about £40-50 a set. A yearly rebuild at around £500-800ish. disks were over £100 on the tonykart. The list of cost does seam to go on and on.
Think i might have spent less racing by 205 gti last year!
I do have very fond memories of the rotax, remember driving it at a test day at lydd on slicks with a dry track except for one puddle which ment for entertainment.
I would suggest you look into budget as rotaxs are not cheap to run. for a day i'd expect £30-100 tyres (£30 if you think they last 3 races but you'll not be at the front) £10-15 fuel, very regular chains and sprockets at about £40-50 a set. A yearly rebuild at around £500-800ish. disks were over £100 on the tonykart. The list of cost does seam to go on and on.
Think i might have spent less racing by 205 gti last year!
I do have very fond memories of the rotax, remember driving it at a test day at lydd on slicks with a dry track except for one puddle which ment for entertainment.
thanks guys, this is the kind of info i couldnt find on the net, id prob of been a bit out of my depth in a rotax by the sounds of it, especially as im only wanting to do this for a laugh. another question is whats the social side of it like, i used to race downhill bikes and everyone was very sociable and helpfull, even at top level,(sharing tools and parts etc) on the "invite only" session i attended to see what the crack was i ended up filling in for a bloke and the other guy sharing the kart with me was a bit too serious, every time i went past he was indicating for me to focus!!! ironic seen as though i was lapping a second faster than him with a sticking accelerator and broken seat slider! also what is the typical cost of a race day (not including travel) do i need a lisence?
edit ignore the cost question ive seen the above!
cost wise it doesnt seem much worse than biking which all in used to cost about £200 for a race all in.
when does the season run from-to? gonna get some practice overtaking etc on the indoor track before stepping into the propper events although ill prob go to a few local spots and just watch to see what the crack is.
edit ignore the cost question ive seen the above!
cost wise it doesnt seem much worse than biking which all in used to cost about £200 for a race all in.
when does the season run from-to? gonna get some practice overtaking etc on the indoor track before stepping into the propper events although ill prob go to a few local spots and just watch to see what the crack is.
Edited by mark.h on Thursday 31st January 10:57
Get yourself and a couple of mates over to a Club100 test day - not competetive, no licence needed and will give you a taste fro 2-stroke karts.
Compared to indoor's it'll blow you away - I couldn't stop laughing the first time I fully opened the throttle on a 2-stroke (after a few tentative laps).
Club100 is a great place to start - they do endurance and individual (sprinit) events. The cost is cheaper than buying/prepping/fixing your own and if you decide you don't like it after a few rounds you've not got the hassle of selling it all on - oh and as you don't need a licence you won't have the expense and hassle of having to sort that out.
I did 4 years in Club100 and really enjoyed it - wasn't overly competetive but had great fun and it took care of the adrenalin and speed rush!
Chris
Compared to indoor's it'll blow you away - I couldn't stop laughing the first time I fully opened the throttle on a 2-stroke (after a few tentative laps).
Club100 is a great place to start - they do endurance and individual (sprinit) events. The cost is cheaper than buying/prepping/fixing your own and if you decide you don't like it after a few rounds you've not got the hassle of selling it all on - oh and as you don't need a licence you won't have the expense and hassle of having to sort that out.
I did 4 years in Club100 and really enjoyed it - wasn't overly competetive but had great fun and it took care of the adrenalin and speed rush!
Chris
that sounds perfect to get a taster without commiting to it too much!cant wait!!!! cheers fella!Have a look up Warden Law (near Sunderland) this weekend (Sunday), first race of the season. I'll be racing even if it snows, I'll give you some more info later on (currently at school).
Here's the website: www.kartingnortheast.co.uk
Another track is Wombwell near Barnsley, looking at your profile Yorkshire is a pretty big place, so I'm not sure what your local circuit is.
One advantage of racing at Warden Law is you don't need a MSA licence, so that will save you some of the costs. Although I will warn you it has a climate of it's own at Warden Law, it can be 7*C at Sunderland and hovering around the zero at the track, so wrap up warm.
If you do go I'm number 44 World Forumla.
Cheers, Paul.
Here's the website: www.kartingnortheast.co.uk
Another track is Wombwell near Barnsley, looking at your profile Yorkshire is a pretty big place, so I'm not sure what your local circuit is.
One advantage of racing at Warden Law is you don't need a MSA licence, so that will save you some of the costs. Although I will warn you it has a climate of it's own at Warden Law, it can be 7*C at Sunderland and hovering around the zero at the track, so wrap up warm.
If you do go I'm number 44 World Forumla.
Cheers, Paul.
with all due respect you will learn nothing new at the indoor circuit. the track layout with tyres rather than kerbs and run off areas is very artificial and does not give you a true appreciation of cornering. indoor circuits seem to attract a certain kind of person who might be five seconds a lap slower than you but who will make it almost impossible for you to get past when you come to lap them. this is proof to them that they are better than you becuase you can not "pass" them.
as i first said, dont discount prokarts, the twin engined karts are heavier than a two stroke and have totally a different power delivery but i really enjoy them. they are more forgiving than a two stroke which might be better for someone with no outdoor karting experience.
as i first said, dont discount prokarts, the twin engined karts are heavier than a two stroke and have totally a different power delivery but i really enjoy them. they are more forgiving than a two stroke which might be better for someone with no outdoor karting experience.
im more than familiar with this, but i figure (Maybe wrongly???) if i can pass on a tight twisty circuit with relatively slow karts and low traction where momentum is vital then it'll form a good grounding for moving into outdoor racing... think ill find the nearest 2-3 places outdoor, visit and see what races are held there. big thanks to everyone for their advice, its been a big help and filled in a good couple of blanks... so far ive noticed york has a track outdoor with twin gx160 karts so i may start there.
Edited by mark.h on Thursday 31st January 13:40
I'm from Harrogate and I usually race up at Warden Law. only missing this weekend because I am going skiing.
Warden Law is a very good track in comparison to some I have raced.
Socially they are very amenable.
and more importantly driving standards on track are kept very high which is great for safety.
From a good indoor grounding you should do reasonably well.
As for the speed.... compared to indoor karts even the slower outdoor ones seem quick.. not particularly in accelaration but definately at the actual speeds you reach.
If you get a kart the best place to practice is Tockwith because its cheap and more local.
If you and your friend get a cheap second hand kart each you would have great fun just practising round there chasing each other and at only £30ish for a full day on the track from 10-4pm.
Warden Law is a very good track in comparison to some I have raced.
Socially they are very amenable.
and more importantly driving standards on track are kept very high which is great for safety.
From a good indoor grounding you should do reasonably well.
As for the speed.... compared to indoor karts even the slower outdoor ones seem quick.. not particularly in accelaration but definately at the actual speeds you reach.
If you get a kart the best place to practice is Tockwith because its cheap and more local.
If you and your friend get a cheap second hand kart each you would have great fun just practising round there chasing each other and at only £30ish for a full day on the track from 10-4pm.
andye30m3 said:
I had a go at racing rotax's they are a great laugh but prob not the best way to start racing as they are very fast compaired to hire karts after all the 160cc prokarts are aorund 8-10bhp? and a rotax is 28 bhp. It was suggested that i would have been a better idea for be to do a year or so on prokarts first.
I would suggest you look into budget as rotaxs are not cheap to run. for a day i'd expect £30-100 tyres (£30 if you think they last 3 races but you'll not be at the front) £10-15 fuel, very regular chains and sprockets at about £40-50 a set. A yearly rebuild at around £500-800ish. disks were over £100 on the tonykart. The list of cost does seam to go on and on.
Think i might have spent less racing by 205 gti last year!
I do have very fond memories of the rotax, remember driving it at a test day at lydd on slicks with a dry track except for one puddle which ment for entertainment.
Who ever said Karting was cheap is having a laugh. Them Rotax 125 karts are fast, but they will bleed you dry, trust me.I would suggest you look into budget as rotaxs are not cheap to run. for a day i'd expect £30-100 tyres (£30 if you think they last 3 races but you'll not be at the front) £10-15 fuel, very regular chains and sprockets at about £40-50 a set. A yearly rebuild at around £500-800ish. disks were over £100 on the tonykart. The list of cost does seam to go on and on.
Think i might have spent less racing by 205 gti last year!
I do have very fond memories of the rotax, remember driving it at a test day at lydd on slicks with a dry track except for one puddle which ment for entertainment.
which is why air cooled TKM's are more financially viable.
Rotax engines have to be sealed and built by licensed companies - that in itself is a license to print money.
Look on www.tal-ko.com for more info, lots of 2nd hand TKM's on the classified pages of www.karting.co.uk
Rotax engines have to be sealed and built by licensed companies - that in itself is a license to print money.
Look on www.tal-ko.com for more info, lots of 2nd hand TKM's on the classified pages of www.karting.co.uk
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