Karting? Any one here do it as an adult?

[m raks]

how accomodating are karts though for taller drivers?

i'm 6'4 and wonder if i'd even fit!

[dinkel]

I'm tall and you'll do just fine . . . However, smaller types have the better seat.

[Twincam16]

orgasmicliving!! said:

Try going to rental places for a year or so before convincing yourself you are sure that you want to buy. Owning one is a completely higher level of expense, time, and possibly hassle in finding parts, etc. At a minimum, you will need an estate or SUV to carry it around. Then there's:
- tools
- dolly/work stand
- fuel canister
- helmets, gloves, rib protector, shoes, other gear
- tyres
- engine rebuilds
- parts
- entry fees/club memberships
- time commitments to get to tracks, set up, and tear down/pack up at day's end
- cost of fuel itself, plus other fluids
- a hundred other things!

I suppose it depends.

Yes, you'll need an estate car to carry them around in, but if it's your everyday runaround it's not such a bad thing (I've got half a mind to buy a hearse - you could fit two karts in the back of one and put the frighteners on any 'opposition' in the track car park )

If you get a couple of cheap pro-karts for you and a mate to race each other at the weekend, then all you really need is some petrol tanks, the right oil, chain lube, and the number of the right spares place (most use Honda bits so they're not exactly hard to find). If an engine blows it's probably cheap enough to do a straight swap.

I've already got the apparel from Sparco, the helmet etc.

In terms of 'entry fees' and 'club memberships' - well AFAIK karting isn't like golf in that you have to be a member to turn up and drive. If you have your own kart and do Arrive & Drive, you only pay for the use of the track - all the other stuff related to the kart is in your hands, and you can decide how you budget for that.

I suppose a kart would last better if privately owned too - you don't get numpties thrashing the nuts off it day in day out, so if it's designed for that to happen and you keep it and look after it, it'll all work out cheaper and, most importantly, more fun.

TBH I'd rather buy a kart than thrash a road car on a track day. You'd use a lot less fuel, the tyres are cheaper, and there isn't the unfortunate reality that if you stuff it into the barriers you'll be going home in an AA van.