Starting Karting - Formula Blue
Discussion
Hi folks, I'm a 21 year-old engineering student looking to start karting at the WSKC(larkhall). Having done some research and contacted the comp. secretary, I have settled on FBlue as my chosen class as it seems to offer low running costs and is well supported. I would really appreciate help on answering the following questions:
1. When is the best time to buy a kart - I notice there are few for sale at present - and what should an absolute novice like myself be looking to pay?
2. Should I search out a kart that comes with lots of spares to save future expense?
3. What other costs are associated with this karting business? (Will only be practicing at first).
4. Any general advice for a newcomer?
Many thanks in advance.
1. When is the best time to buy a kart - I notice there are few for sale at present - and what should an absolute novice like myself be looking to pay?
2. Should I search out a kart that comes with lots of spares to save future expense?
3. What other costs are associated with this karting business? (Will only be practicing at first).
4. Any general advice for a newcomer?
Many thanks in advance.
now is the best time to buy karting gear as most drivers will be selling their 'old' equipment ready for the new season.
as for budgets? how bigs your wallet as its never ending really.
buy the best you can afford and it would be a good idea to go along to Larkhall,befriend a few drivers and maybe they can go along with you when you go to look at prospective karts as its very easy to make an expensive mistake. but be prepared to lose money if you decide to sell in a few months or a year, karts are renowned for not holding their value. if i was you and had a few grand to spend id buy a race car, something like a stock hatch or track days, karts are overpriced these days for what you get( and this is coming from someone who raced karts on and off for 17 years!)especially if your not planning on racing.
why formula blue?
also when buying a kart and engine,try to pick a model that has a dealer that either goes to the circuits you go to with spares or one with a lot of spares as its very easy to waste a whole day for something simple breaking. and try and get something with a spare engine, again nothing worse than driving a long way and seizing your one engine in practice!
as for budgets? how bigs your wallet as its never ending really.
buy the best you can afford and it would be a good idea to go along to Larkhall,befriend a few drivers and maybe they can go along with you when you go to look at prospective karts as its very easy to make an expensive mistake. but be prepared to lose money if you decide to sell in a few months or a year, karts are renowned for not holding their value. if i was you and had a few grand to spend id buy a race car, something like a stock hatch or track days, karts are overpriced these days for what you get( and this is coming from someone who raced karts on and off for 17 years!)especially if your not planning on racing.
why formula blue?
also when buying a kart and engine,try to pick a model that has a dealer that either goes to the circuits you go to with spares or one with a lot of spares as its very easy to waste a whole day for something simple breaking. and try and get something with a spare engine, again nothing worse than driving a long way and seizing your one engine in practice!
Thanks very much guys. Refoman, I have decided on FBlue as it seems to be the cheapest of the senior classes (no expensive engine rebuilds etc), I had also considered karting in general to be far cheaper than other motorsports and, tbh, I don't have room to store anyhting bigger!
Regarding the purchasing of a kart, would it be sensible to go for a slightly older chassis as it's possible to spend 1500+ on a nearly-new chassis and engine?
I have a mechanically minded friend with a small trailer who is going to be viewing kart(s) with me, although he too is a karting novice.
I have already posted a message on the Scottish Karting site but will heed your advice and post on the UK site.
Cheers.
Regarding the purchasing of a kart, would it be sensible to go for a slightly older chassis as it's possible to spend 1500+ on a nearly-new chassis and engine?
I have a mechanically minded friend with a small trailer who is going to be viewing kart(s) with me, although he too is a karting novice.
I have already posted a message on the Scottish Karting site but will heed your advice and post on the UK site.
Cheers.
I would have said TKM but some circuits have low grid numbers - Blue can have quite good entries, its best to look at the results page on www.karting.co.uk.
What engines do FBlue run?
I've raced cars and karts, I enjoy the cut and thrust action of karting - if there is contact then repairs are relatively cheap unless you bend a chassis.
For a first kart i'd look at spending around a grand, for this you should get a decent amount of spares - wets on rims, trolley, sprockets etc... Again, look on karting.co.uk at the market place, there are always retirement sales.
Get as new a chassis as you can afford.
What engines do FBlue run?
I've raced cars and karts, I enjoy the cut and thrust action of karting - if there is contact then repairs are relatively cheap unless you bend a chassis.
For a first kart i'd look at spending around a grand, for this you should get a decent amount of spares - wets on rims, trolley, sprockets etc... Again, look on karting.co.uk at the market place, there are always retirement sales.
Get as new a chassis as you can afford.
the problem asking for advice as without any idea of what kind of budget you have theres no way of really pointing you in the right direction.
ive never driven a kart with a fblue engine so cant comment on them really,i come from the days of 100C and 100 national when you had the choice of many engines,not like now where the majority of classes your tied into one make.
as for chassis, if i was looking to buy, you cant go wrong with a Wright really. if i was going back into competetive karting id personally choose a Swiss Hutless, the reasoning being its the best chassis ive ever driven. but the Wright is a good all rounder, just be carefull that the kart you look at is designed with the specific tyres your going to be using in mind, as too stiff a chassis with hard tyres wont work very well,but then again you get too soft a chassis and it will be a pig to drive if your tyres are quite soft.
tkm is a good alternative as well as rotaxmas but the initial introduction of these classes as supposedly standard engines is a bit of a joke really,there isnt anything such as standard engines, as they all will have had some kind of work done to them,legal or not.
if your going to look at a kart outfit, its not just the chassis you need to look at, before you go find out what make/model engine it has, then speak to a kart dealer about what is the maximum size piston the engine can take before needing a new liner. that way you can take the head off the engine and see what piston size is fitted, this will give you an idea of the use the engine has had. as there are plenty of motors out there advertised with not much use that are on there last piston size. that is why you need to take someone with you who knows what they are doing, might even be better paying a little more and buying from a dealer, that why if it all goes pear shaped you have some kind of comeback
ive never driven a kart with a fblue engine so cant comment on them really,i come from the days of 100C and 100 national when you had the choice of many engines,not like now where the majority of classes your tied into one make.
as for chassis, if i was looking to buy, you cant go wrong with a Wright really. if i was going back into competetive karting id personally choose a Swiss Hutless, the reasoning being its the best chassis ive ever driven. but the Wright is a good all rounder, just be carefull that the kart you look at is designed with the specific tyres your going to be using in mind, as too stiff a chassis with hard tyres wont work very well,but then again you get too soft a chassis and it will be a pig to drive if your tyres are quite soft.
tkm is a good alternative as well as rotaxmas but the initial introduction of these classes as supposedly standard engines is a bit of a joke really,there isnt anything such as standard engines, as they all will have had some kind of work done to them,legal or not.
if your going to look at a kart outfit, its not just the chassis you need to look at, before you go find out what make/model engine it has, then speak to a kart dealer about what is the maximum size piston the engine can take before needing a new liner. that way you can take the head off the engine and see what piston size is fitted, this will give you an idea of the use the engine has had. as there are plenty of motors out there advertised with not much use that are on there last piston size. that is why you need to take someone with you who knows what they are doing, might even be better paying a little more and buying from a dealer, that why if it all goes pear shaped you have some kind of comeback
superhans88 said:
I have decided on FBlue as it seems to be the cheapest of the senior classes (no expensive engine rebuilds etc)
The Formula Blue engine, the Parilla Lynx, will require at least one rebuild a season, more likely two if you race regularly.But I guess you might be doing these yourself/yourselves, given your vocation.
If you buy a blue make sure it conforms to the correct regs for chassis and engine, eg start boxes marked with a 5 won't be eligable for racing, needs to be 5a I believe
be wary of looking at kart spares, some of the bits thrown in might not be much good or no use at all, old worn sprockets, slightly bent axles etc although a good set of spares can be worth their weight in gold- just try to know what you are looking at
main costs excl kart
wets on rims
slicks
trolley
(if not included with kart)
If you get into racing tyres can get a bit costly but for practice you will probably find them left behind in the bins after race meets (perfectly good for practice)
suit
helmet
licence if racing msa
petrol
2/ castor oil
chains
sprockets
chain lube
race fees/track cost
there are other things you will probably need/want like a bead braker and specific tools to take the engine apart
Are you thinking of using a trailer, van, roofrack?
seat needs to be a tight fit when you get one, if not you need to look at what it will cost you for one off ebay etc, although in all honestly most parts can be bought relatively cheaply, have a look on karting dirct or spellfame for prices of bits.
be wary of looking at kart spares, some of the bits thrown in might not be much good or no use at all, old worn sprockets, slightly bent axles etc although a good set of spares can be worth their weight in gold- just try to know what you are looking at
main costs excl kart
wets on rims
slicks
trolley
(if not included with kart)
If you get into racing tyres can get a bit costly but for practice you will probably find them left behind in the bins after race meets (perfectly good for practice)
suit
helmet
licence if racing msa
petrol
2/ castor oil
chains
sprockets
chain lube
race fees/track cost
there are other things you will probably need/want like a bead braker and specific tools to take the engine apart
Are you thinking of using a trailer, van, roofrack?
seat needs to be a tight fit when you get one, if not you need to look at what it will cost you for one off ebay etc, although in all honestly most parts can be bought relatively cheaply, have a look on karting dirct or spellfame for prices of bits.
i picked up a Steve Wright kart form a colleague at work,with spares, for £125!! It was an adult 4 stroke one but my 9 yr old can practice in it at Blackbushe, Been out once and he likes it a lot, looking to do more this year. I thought at the time if he does not like it, there's no money lost, if he does like it, he can go further.
Just my thoughts, don't like to spend loads of money if I don't have to!!
Just my thoughts, don't like to spend loads of money if I don't have to!!
Thanks for the help guys. I've just bought myself an '07 Gillard 010 that has apparently done 1 race plus a few test sessions having been lying unused for a while. The engine was recently rebuilt and is only just run in. I paid 2 grand including alfano timer and a few sprockets. A spares package is available for a further 200 quid which includes wheels, tyres, axles and various chassis bits.
Did I get a good deal or not?
Did I get a good deal or not?
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