Karting Costs and getting started?
Discussion
Have you tried your local karting track? You said that you were in Bournemouth, have you tried this place?
http://www.matchamskarting.co.uk/?page_id=57
It appears that they do open events. That would be the cheapest and simplest way to learn the basics. The guys at the track can then point you in the right direction regarding going further with karts.
http://www.matchamskarting.co.uk/?page_id=57
It appears that they do open events. That would be the cheapest and simplest way to learn the basics. The guys at the track can then point you in the right direction regarding going further with karts.
Jack Blag said:
Have you tried your local karting track? You said that you were in Bournemouth, have you tried this place?
http://www.matchamskarting.co.uk/?page_id=57
It appears that they do open events. That would be the cheapest and simplest way to learn the basics. The guys at the track can then point you in the right direction regarding going further with karts.
hey sorry i didnt specify, I live in hertfordshire. Bournemouth is my uni. So im looking for places around herts that allow for open practice with your own kart but there dosent seem to be as many as my friend made out, or im just missing themhttp://www.matchamskarting.co.uk/?page_id=57
It appears that they do open events. That would be the cheapest and simplest way to learn the basics. The guys at the track can then point you in the right direction regarding going further with karts.
Have you been to Rye House? It's a great circuit.
http://www.rye-house.co.uk
They even have their own hire kart championship so you just need to "arrive and drive"!
http://www.ryehousekarting.co.uk/hire/index.html
http://www.rye-house.co.uk
They even have their own hire kart championship so you just need to "arrive and drive"!
http://www.ryehousekarting.co.uk/hire/index.html
Jack Blag said:
Have you been to Rye House? It's a great circuit.
http://www.rye-house.co.uk
They even have their own hire kart championship so you just need to "arrive and drive"!
http://www.ryehousekarting.co.uk/hire/index.html
ive been looking at their site but not been. Is it the open grand Prix i would do? They dont seem to publish costs on their site?http://www.rye-house.co.uk
They even have their own hire kart championship so you just need to "arrive and drive"!
http://www.ryehousekarting.co.uk/hire/index.html
Also im looking for places where I can drive my own kart, I was looking t picking one up for £1K and using that to practice with so I can get some consistency, also constantly renting is going to add up. are there any places that will allow that? Id quite like to turn up and just be allowed to drive for a couple of hours
Jack Blag said:
They also have an owner driver championship. Your best bet would be to give them a call or go over there when they are open and have a chat with the staff.
looks like owner/driver is pretty serious with multiple member teams and such.Ill take a look at going over there, lack of pricing is annoying though!
dont a bit of reading on the ryehouse site and their series look amazingly well organised.
Think I will go down to their next owners endurance and watch / ask questions. Then join up when I have the info.
Seems I will need t buy a 2xGX160 kart as thats what they all use there. hopefully I can buy and maintain one of them for good money!
Think I will go down to their next owners endurance and watch / ask questions. Then join up when I have the info.
Seems I will need t buy a 2xGX160 kart as thats what they all use there. hopefully I can buy and maintain one of them for good money!
infernouk said:
also guys i wanted to ask. my friend recommended buying a 4 stroke (apparently they dont break often or need as much maintenance as a 2 stroke) and then booking in on practice days on circuits just for fun. Then i can do Club 100 for competitive 2 stroke if I wanted to / when im good enough. Sound like a good idea? He races 2 and 4 stroke regularly so thought he might be of use on info.
4 strokes are the diesels of the kart world.infernouk said:
hey sorry i didnt specify, I live in hertfordshire. Bournemouth is my uni. So im looking for places around herts that allow for open practice with your own kart but there dosent seem to be as many as my friend made out, or im just missing them
bournemouth might have a karting club... I certainly seem to remember them having one back in my BUKC days (cause they were cocks, mostly).lots of unis have karting clubs and there is a national championship run by club100 (so fairly decent arrive and drive)
Use Psychology said:
bournemouth might have a karting club... I certainly seem to remember them having one back in my BUKC days (cause they were cocks, mostly).
lots of unis have karting clubs and there is a national championship run by club100 (so fairly decent arrive and drive)
we dont have one, ive just had a look.lots of unis have karting clubs and there is a national championship run by club100 (so fairly decent arrive and drive)
BBS-LM said:
Karting is bloody expensive for what it is, and if you what proper speed then you want at least a Rotax 125cc. If it was me I would rather go club racing.
Bullcr4p!Rotax, Tkm, formula blue, Tkm 4 stroke, easy kart are all roughly the same speed within a couple of seconds a lap, I've driven them all. Best bang for your bucks is easykart or Tkm. Rotax is overpriced and isn't worth the extra cash.
No matter which way you look at it karting is still great bang for your bucks, it can be a small outlay and low budget for the year, you won't go circuit racing for less than 3k a year and can't pick up a race car for 1500 quid like a kart.
On circuits you need at least 4k to get a car, then a trailer, tow vehicle, and entry fees are 4 times the amount than in karting.
That's not to say karting cant get more expensive than cars, people spend wayyyyy too much in karting...as I said n the other page if you're spending more than 5k a year it's worth going to cars.
It depends whether you want to do it for s
ts and giggles, or to try and get into serious Motorsport series'. If the former applies, look at TKM, or Fblue or one of the less hotly contested formulae. If its the latter, get some deep pockets and look at Rotax, Kart stars, or one of the series that media and sponsors look at.
ts and giggles, or to try and get into serious Motorsport series'. If the former applies, look at TKM, or Fblue or one of the less hotly contested formulae. If its the latter, get some deep pockets and look at Rotax, Kart stars, or one of the series that media and sponsors look at.infernouk said:
Hey guys
I wanted to know what is required in terms of going from nothing to being ready to race at any circuit with all your own things.
You sound as if its completely new to you, ie not turned a wheel in anything, so my take would be to simply go and do a few club100 meets. Invest some time in actually being a qualifying/racing situation before throwing a load of cash at it, then make the decision to have your own kit.I wanted to know what is required in terms of going from nothing to being ready to race at any circuit with all your own things.
I dont know how experienced you are though, as I mentioned earlier, so if you've already got the bug and want to do it properly, some good advice from some of the other guys on here re TKM/Rotax etc. (Go 2 stroke though...............;))
37chevy said:
Bullcr4p!
Rotax, Tkm, formula blue, Tkm 4 stroke, easy kart are all roughly the same speed within a couple of seconds a lap, I've driven them all. Best bang for your bucks is easykart or Tkm. Rotax is overpriced and isn't worth the extra cash.
No matter which way you look at it karting is still great bang for your bucks, it can be a small outlay and low budget for the year, you won't go circuit racing for less than 3k a year and can't pick up a race car for 1500 quid like a kart.
On circuits you need at least 4k to get a car, then a trailer, tow vehicle, and entry fees are 4 times the amount than in karting.
That's not to say karting cant get more expensive than cars, people spend wayyyyy too much in karting...as I said n the other page if you're spending more than 5k a year it's worth going to cars.
You'll find it very difficult to win any sort of meaningful race or championship at a decent club without spending £5k+ unless you've been in the sport for years and are racing against a bunch of less experienced/talented drivers. How can you say people spend too much on karting - its all relative surely. I funded my son's racing career up to GP3 and my other son into formula renault; both went through karting, both with excellent results to their names and yes we were spending a lot, but it was worth it, one of the boys is now running a very successful karting team and doing well for himself, all because of his experiences over the years in racing.Rotax, Tkm, formula blue, Tkm 4 stroke, easy kart are all roughly the same speed within a couple of seconds a lap, I've driven them all. Best bang for your bucks is easykart or Tkm. Rotax is overpriced and isn't worth the extra cash.
No matter which way you look at it karting is still great bang for your bucks, it can be a small outlay and low budget for the year, you won't go circuit racing for less than 3k a year and can't pick up a race car for 1500 quid like a kart.
On circuits you need at least 4k to get a car, then a trailer, tow vehicle, and entry fees are 4 times the amount than in karting.
That's not to say karting cant get more expensive than cars, people spend wayyyyy too much in karting...as I said n the other page if you're spending more than 5k a year it's worth going to cars.
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