Getting in to go-karting?

[Frimley111R]

CraigyMc said:

Club100 isn't a track, it's a company that does rental karts at various tracks around the country.
The Kent address you may be looking at (Sittingbourne) is an industrial warehouse, it's where they prep the karts and load them on an HGV, before sending them wherever in the country they are off to for the fun.

More specifically, it is a race series organiser with karts that are a bit better than your typical hire karts. It is very competitive but has an even playing filed because all the karts are the same, you just arrive and race. They race at various locations. Many of the karters are very experienced so expect to finish in a similar position to a McLaren in F1

[CraigyMc]

Frimley111R said:

CraigyMc said:

Club100 isn't a track, it's a company that does rental karts at various tracks around the country.
The Kent address you may be looking at (Sittingbourne) is an industrial warehouse, it's where they prep the karts and load them on an HGV, before sending them wherever in the country they are off to for the fun.

More specifically, it is a race series organiser with karts that are a bit better than your typical hire karts. It is very competitive but has an even playing filed because all the karts are the same, you just arrive and race. They race at various locations. Many of the karters are very experienced so expect to finish in a similar position to a McLaren in F1

It is possible to win as a newbie.
I raced as a one-off stand-in in C100 enduro last year in 2021 at Ellough Park and won first time out (albeit in the muggle class). My laptimes were more or less on a par with Andy from Titan, which was nice (I think we may have had a healthy kart).

C100 do have open testing days. You don't need to jump straight into racing. https://club100.co.uk/testing/open-testing/

Club 100 provide the karts for things like BUKC and at least one other private series (iykyk).

The actual race spec C100 isn't that far different from the specification of Daytona DMAX kart. They use the same engines in the same specification from the same engine builder, and the same chassis and seats, the same Kelgate brakes. The main differences are Daytona's Dmax karts have wraparound bumpers and the tyres they use.

Edited by CraigyMc on Tuesday 23 May 10:48

[AB]

Came here to post a similar topic but may as well piggy back on this one.

Not necessarily looking to get in to racing as yet but I live relatively close to 3 Sisters and Warrington and my wife's cousin takes his kart along and has endless hours of fun going round the tracks. Yesterday, for example, beautiful day and nobody about.

I'd like to do similar, go along with him just for the craic and the day out. I've had a go of his and it's great fun.

Feck knows what sort of kart I should be looking at...

https://secondhand-karting.co.uk/listing/43454/oct...

This looks cool, that's all I know!

[usn90]

what kart does your cousin have, specifically engine?

Rotax max or x30 are the norm

I’d go with the rotax max, slightly quicker and doesn’t need as many rebuilds as the x30.

3 sisters is soon opening back up it’s owner driver championships, although it’s msa regulated so you will need an msa motorsport licence to take part in the race days

As far as chassis goes, I’d personally look at the OTK range

Edited by usn90 on Tuesday 5th September 12:03

[AB]

Erm... this one!

Not sure on the specifics, I'll have to ask. Thanks for the advice.

3 Sisters is about an hour away, took my 911 for a track evening last week. Hard on the tyres and brakes in a car

[CraigyMc]

AB said:

Erm... this one!

Not sure on the specifics, I'll have to ask. Thanks for the advice.

3 Sisters is about an hour away, took my 911 for a track evening last week. Hard on the tyres and brakes in a car

I think that's an OTK (original tony kart) -- OTK produce branded karts for loads of drivers.

I don't recognise the engine, although tbh the photo doesn't make it easy

[usn90]

Yep, as above, OTK is essentially Tonykart, which are green, they have quite a few different brands, all based of the same chassis as the tonykart but different colours, I believe that one is a ralf Schumacher variant.

That engines not a rotax and doesn’t appear to be a x30 unless it’s using a different exhaust, but as the poster above mentioned the pictures not the best

I stand by what I said, get an OTK chassis and a senior rotax max, won’t struggle to find grids, that photo is taken from hooten, I’m not a fan of that track myself but as you say, Wigan is close enough.

[AB]

Sure is Hooton, only 15 mins from me so likely where I'd be going most of the time to be honest.

Watch this space!

[usn90]

When you can, take a kart around 3 sisters, I know you’ve been around in a car but taking a proper kart around there is much better than any car.

Another track I recommend is GYG in north wales

[AB]

Where's the best place to look for secondhand karts?

[AB]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266384367872?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334916275189?hash=item4...

How do these look? Haven't really got a budget!

[ribiero]

AB said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266384367872?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334916275189?hash=item4...

How do these look? Haven't really got a budget!

First one you can race up and down the country as it's a rotax max in senior spec and it's an Evo

second one the engines's pretty niche so might be tough to find a grid.

[AB]

I get itchy fingers, I've bought the Rotax Evo.

[CraigyMc]

ribiero said:

AB said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266384367872?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334916275189?hash=item4...

How do these look? Haven't really got a budget!

First one you can race up and down the country as it's a rotax max in senior spec and it's an Evo

second one the engines's pretty niche so might be tough to find a grid.

The vortex engine is OTK's own in-house motor.

[usn90]

AB said:

I get itchy fingers, I've bought the Rotax Evo.

Good choice getting the rotax evo engine

Gearing wise for hooten you want on these sprockets. 12 front 75 rear, if you join kartinguk Facebook group they can be helpful for tips and advice if you have issues

[AB]

Thank you, I'll join now and have a browse. Just overalls and helmet now, can't keep borrowing them.

[aponting389]

Get yourself a decent rib protector, and make sure the seat fits properly! Also I would suggest ask someone at the track what a standard setup there would be and get the kart adjusted to that. Those maxxis tyres on the kart are pretty naff but will be fine to start off with, the proper rotax max tyre is called a Mojo D5

[usn90]

As I mentioned previously, hooten have both a msa and non msa (indikart) event each month, you will need an msa licence to compete in the msa event, it’s around £90 and you have to take a driving test and a theory, you can take these tests at hooten.

Three sisters (MBKC) only run msa events, I’m entering the gold cup event in November, you can still pratice at three sisters without a license though

Edited by usn90 on Thursday 7th September 18:27

Edited by usn90 on Thursday 7th September 18:28

[AB]

Thanks for the advice. The seat was something I was wondering about but shouldn't be too much hassle to swap out when I get it if needed.

I guess it'll fit in the back of my T5 but a trailer is probably next thing on the list.

[usn90]

Helmets and suit.. it may be worth getting proper karting gear, reason being if you intend to race MSA events your gear needs to be fia/msa approved, you can’t use motorbike helmets, I have an arai sk6, I’m not completely sure if the non- msa/indikart events are as strict, you’ll have to check on that!
I seriously recommend a rib protector, especially round hooten, I have the tillet p1

Make sure the seat fits too, you want to be very snug, shouldn’t be able to move side to side