Karting - Berkshire area
Discussion
Don't know if this is the right place to start a topic but here you go.
Me and my brother used to do motorcross. Good laugh, but pretty dangerous and know more than one person in a wheel chair as a result of it going wrong. We gave up as I started a family (not with him) and then took up caterham racing. He can't afford to do that level of motorsport so was looking at alternatives when the idea of karting came up. Not sure he wants to really go racing (or whether he could afford the expense I know seeking for extra tenths brings), just practicing getting some speed up and having fun. His budget is pretty limited.
So my question is:
1) is their much in the way of practice days for karting, either with or without a license.
2) how much does a kart cost and how much to run if your doing it for fun
3) anything else you can tell me I may of forgotten.
We didn't race much MX, just practicing etc.
Cheers
Paul
Me and my brother used to do motorcross. Good laugh, but pretty dangerous and know more than one person in a wheel chair as a result of it going wrong. We gave up as I started a family (not with him) and then took up caterham racing. He can't afford to do that level of motorsport so was looking at alternatives when the idea of karting came up. Not sure he wants to really go racing (or whether he could afford the expense I know seeking for extra tenths brings), just practicing getting some speed up and having fun. His budget is pretty limited.
So my question is:
1) is their much in the way of practice days for karting, either with or without a license.
2) how much does a kart cost and how much to run if your doing it for fun
3) anything else you can tell me I may of forgotten.
We didn't race much MX, just practicing etc.
Cheers
Paul
there used to be a track right in the middle of an industrial estate in reading,cant remember the name of it but should be easy to find via a net search if it still exists.
as for buying equipment it all depends on what you want to do. do you want to race or do you just want a kart for blasting round a track a couple of times a month for fun?
if you want to go racing its going to cost you a good £1500 minimum to get a fairly new 2nd hand kart and engine.if it has any spares thats a bonus but i wouldnt bank on it for that kind of money.if you want a quick kart with spares you'd be looking at around 2-2.5k to get a decent one.
if you just want a kart to blast around a track with,then theres plenty of bargains to be had from ebay.try to get something like an ex 100 National kart with a Rotax engine or similar.should be able to get something fairly decent for upto 1k with spares also.
spares wise.for the basics a set of wets,a few rear sprockets to change your gearing for different circuits, a spare chain and a spare carb.is the bare minimum really,and it would also be a bonus to have a trolley to ferry it around in the paddock on as they weigh a lot to be carrying around with you.
as for buying equipment it all depends on what you want to do. do you want to race or do you just want a kart for blasting round a track a couple of times a month for fun?
if you want to go racing its going to cost you a good £1500 minimum to get a fairly new 2nd hand kart and engine.if it has any spares thats a bonus but i wouldnt bank on it for that kind of money.if you want a quick kart with spares you'd be looking at around 2-2.5k to get a decent one.
if you just want a kart to blast around a track with,then theres plenty of bargains to be had from ebay.try to get something like an ex 100 National kart with a Rotax engine or similar.should be able to get something fairly decent for upto 1k with spares also.
spares wise.for the basics a set of wets,a few rear sprockets to change your gearing for different circuits, a spare chain and a spare carb.is the bare minimum really,and it would also be a bonus to have a trolley to ferry it around in the paddock on as they weigh a lot to be carrying around with you.
From Reading you could use either Camberley Kart Club (Blackbushe) or Forest Edge. Neither are very far and easy to pop along with your Kart for a quick blast on a test day.
Plenty of second hand Rotax's and they are probably the easiest to run part time and on your own on occasion - push button start etc.
Try here - loads of info.
http://www.karting.co.uk/
S.
refoman2 said:
there used to be a track right in the middle of an industrial estate in reading,cant remember the name of it but should be easy to find via a net search if it still exists.
Reading trail park.....not a bad track in terms of layout but could do with some tarting upRye house north of london is good and not too far
acf8181 said:
refoman2 said:
there used to be a track right in the middle of an industrial estate in reading,cant remember the name of it but should be easy to find via a net search if it still exists.
Reading trail park.....not a bad track in terms of layout but could do with some tarting upRye house north of london is good and not too far
anyway, if it is still there, i wouldnt bother going, it was run by pikeys who would steal anything they could find whilst you were out on there "track" (oh the irony!) and it was a bumpy as hell...
Don't buy a Rotax kart for fun, get a new TAG TKM kart from the guys at Tal-Ko (www.tal-ko.com).
Rotax eats tyres, aren't particularly reliable and are very borig to drive, a TKM on the green maxxis tyres is much more rewarding to drive, and the tyres will last for ages if you are only testing. The engines are fast and the karts simple. Karting is the best fun in the world - but be careful, some people who say they will only go testing get the bug and end up racing, that really can be expensive.
Rotax eats tyres, aren't particularly reliable and are very borig to drive, a TKM on the green maxxis tyres is much more rewarding to drive, and the tyres will last for ages if you are only testing. The engines are fast and the karts simple. Karting is the best fun in the world - but be careful, some people who say they will only go testing get the bug and end up racing, that really can be expensive.
TKMextreme said:
Don't buy a Rotax kart for fun, get a new TAG TKM kart from the guys at Tal-Ko (www.tal-ko.com).
Rotax eats tyres, aren't particularly reliable and are very borig to drive, a TKM on the green maxxis tyres is much more rewarding to drive, and the tyres will last for ages if you are only testing. The engines are fast and the karts simple. Karting is the best fun in the world - but be careful, some people who say they will only go testing get the bug and end up racing, that really can be expensive.
thanks, oh yeah, I know racing is expensive alright...! My brothers would curtail that though. Cheers.Rotax eats tyres, aren't particularly reliable and are very borig to drive, a TKM on the green maxxis tyres is much more rewarding to drive, and the tyres will last for ages if you are only testing. The engines are fast and the karts simple. Karting is the best fun in the world - but be careful, some people who say they will only go testing get the bug and end up racing, that really can be expensive.
Hey Paul, I'd recommemd this crowd: www.club100.co.uk - I did it for about 3 years before Caterhams. They're based at Rye House (mentioned previously).
Tell Rick to give me a shout if he wants more info - I assume he'll be at Cadwell this weekend?
Tell Rick to give me a shout if he wants more info - I assume he'll be at Cadwell this weekend?
Treevaz said:
Hey Paul, I'd recommemd this crowd: www.club100.co.uk - I did it for about 3 years before Caterhams. They're based at Rye House (mentioned previously).
Tell Rick to give me a shout if he wants more info - I assume he'll be at Cadwell this weekend?
Hi Trevor, yeah I'll tell him to wander over. He is towing an RSA up for Spy on thursday so will be there with the camera...unlike me. I've actually had a mate email me about testing club100 so will look at it some more, and also the buckmore park stuff you and Adam were talking about/did? Not sure my bulky ass is meant for karting, but hey ho.Tell Rick to give me a shout if he wants more info - I assume he'll be at Cadwell this weekend?
Speaking of which.......awards dinner???
cheers
TKMextreme said:
Don't buy a Rotax kart for fun, get a new TAG TKM kart from the guys at Tal-Ko (www.tal-ko.com).
Rotax eats tyres, aren't particularly reliable and are very borig to drive, a TKM on the green maxxis tyres is much more rewarding to drive, and the tyres will last for ages if you are only testing. The engines are fast and the karts simple. Karting is the best fun in the world - but be careful, some people who say they will only go testing get the bug and end up racing, that really can be expensive.
Rotax eats tyres, aren't particularly reliable and are very borig to drive, a TKM on the green maxxis tyres is much more rewarding to drive, and the tyres will last for ages if you are only testing. The engines are fast and the karts simple. Karting is the best fun in the world - but be careful, some people who say they will only go testing get the bug and end up racing, that really can be expensive.
But you don"t say you CAN"T race TKM everywhere!! TKM is a dieing class fact!!!TKMextreme said:
You can't race it everywhere, but Kimbolton, Whilton and Shennington all have good TKM grids every month, as does Wigan.
Kimbolton: TKM 0 - Rotax senior MAX 22Wilton Mill: TKM 13 - Rotax senior MAX 25
Shennington: TKM 15 - Rotax senior MAX 25
Wigan: TKM 3 - Rotax senior MAX 15
All entries are from the August race meatings on above tracks.Fact!! Is what you call "good grids"????Sorry but TKM is DIED!!!!
RoadRat99 said:
TKMextreme said:
You can't race it everywhere, but Kimbolton, Whilton and Shennington all have good TKM grids every month, as does Wigan.
Kimbolton: TKM 0 - Rotax senior MAX 22Wilton Mill: TKM 13 - Rotax senior MAX 25
Shennington: TKM 15 - Rotax senior MAX 25
Wigan: TKM 3 - Rotax senior MAX 15
All entries are from the August race meatings on above tracks.Fact!! Is what you call "good grids"????Sorry but TKM is DIED!!!!
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