Karting - Where to start?

[SWoll]

Hello All,

My son turns 8 at the start of next year and I have been advised that this is a good age to start him in karting.

He is already car/motorsport obsessed (don't know where he gets it from... ) and is rather keen on the idea, as you can imagine.

Has anyone on here got any experience/advice on how to get started and what the best progression might be? We are North Staffordshire based (5 mins from Curborough Sprint Course) if that helps with local venues/clubs etc.

Many thanks for all (useful ) replies in advance.

[LordHaveMurci]

http://shop.msauk.org/product_details.asp?id=4030

http://www.gomotorsport.net/en-GB/godrive/karting....

[treetops]

You'll find that some karters start at the age of 4....

[U T]

8 yrs old...he's well past it. No self respecting 4 y/old wants to race against some geriatric 8 yr old.

[thinfourth2]

Beware of the "karting dads"

if he is there for fun no problem but watch out for the cheque book racers

The rulings at the back of the MSA magazine are hysterical

[Melvin Udall]

Well, the recognized route is very early. However I was too late for that, so I am taking another route. The plan is to start in F1, and work my way down through F3, formula Ford, etc, hopefully ending up in karting.

[SWoll]

Ah, the joys of modern PH. 1 mildly useful post, 1 cautionary tale and 3 piss takes.

Anyone with any useful information for a dad who thinks that this would be somehing fun and educational to do with his son and isn't considering it as part of a grand plan to mould a future F1 driver...

[CampDavid]

Most appear to be bks as well, I'm not sure you can race until you're about 8?

Regardless. The MSA sites are a good place to start, as would be a call to your local kart track. Let him have a go. If he likes it - great, if not then maybe try something else

[bicycleshorts]

Yep, take him to an indoor arrive and drive. They'll probably have kiddy karts. If he comes out smiling then find out which is the best championship etc.

Might be worth taking him a few times before you start spending big in case he decides he wants to be a professional footballer next week :P

[SWoll]

CampDavid said:

Most appear to be bks as well, I'm not sure you can race until you're about 8?

Regardless. The MSA sites are a good place to start, as would be a call to your local kart track. Let him have a go. If he likes it - great, if not then maybe try something else

Yep, 8 years old before racing. Before that TT's only.

He has karted on a number of occasions at or local track when quiet and loved it. Seemed to take to it like a duck to water so looking into doing something to take the next step.

Have been reading through the MSA stuff, but a lot of info to take in so hoping someone on here might have done this or be involved in the karting scene and be able to advise etc.

[treetops]

SWoll said:

Ah, the joys of modern PH. 1 mildly useful post, 1 cautionary tale and 3 piss takes.

Anyone with any useful information for a dad who thinks that this would be somehing fun and educational to do with his son and isn't considering it as part of a grand plan to mould a future F1 driver...

Some good stuff here:

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7...

Main gig is to start early.

[CampDavid]

SWoll said:

Yep, 8 years old before racing. Before that TT's only.

He has karted on a number of occasions at or local track when quiet and loved it. Seemed to take to it like a duck to water so looking into doing something to take the next step.

Have been reading through the MSA stuff, but a lot of info to take in so hoping someone on here might have done this or be involved in the karting scene and be able to advise etc.

That I can't help with, I'm too young to have an 8 year old (well, I'm not, I just don't have one)

Try a thread in motorsport - there's a few in there who'll be able to help

[Dalto123]

From what I've heard its very expensive. I know of people who's son is Karting, and its costing them on avergae about £30,000 this year alone. They are doing the maintinence on the kart, and they are staying in their own campervan thing, its the running costs and entry fees to the Karting Events that are expensive. You will get very competitive people in this sport, someone else I spoke to who does professional karting (much older) says that he's heard of people spending £100k on this sport.

[limjamrace]

Yes there should be a few local corperate circuits near you that cater for "cadets".
I used to run a cadet club down in Essex for a Kart circuit company.
Small circuits with a max of 30 mph is enough for a 8 year old..
My chap couldn't reach the pedals till he was 9 so he got a bit behind.
If he really likes it you will have to take him every chance you can to get on par with others..
Buying your own kart from there on if it works for him/her..Practice ,practice practice thats the way to go!!
Formula 6 do four stroke karting which is much easily and faster than Comers and such like. But due to recession they have had to curb their activities to the south east i think in recent years.
Together with F6 & Bayford Meadows Kart Club we had a life times experience..
9 years and £30000 later..Was it worth it..Yes. Wish we could still afford to do it.
Wish you all the best..
Its right about Karting Dads...Not so bad as junior football though!

Think PFI will be close to you..A scan of karting clubs will seek out what you want when you get your own gear.
Anyone who has a slightest management of handling tools can spanner. They are not so complicated to work on..Just that 2 strokes need lots more effort to get the best out of..You will soon learn..

[OMNIO]

See if there are any schools around you that do karting. When i was at school i competed in the Natska series. www.natska.co.uk/ have a look at the race calender and see if there are any tracks near you where you can spend a day going round the pits / spectating / chatting to the race leaders.

Most are very helpful and keen to share knowledge & advice.

Natska is more 12 - 18 age range. They usually start in Honda karts (GX160cc 4 stroke 5.5hp) and then after a full race licence is obtained (normally 1 year as a novice) you have the option to move onto the 2 strokes.

for someone aged 8 have a look at Cadet classes explianed here - http://www.abkc.org.uk/ that borchure (on the left side) also offers contacts of approved clubs.

If you are just after a non competitive father son hobby i suggest you start small. Get to your local track that does practice / arrive and drive sessions and have a few sessions. Once hes got the hang of it and some confidence Get your son a Honda Cadet - £350ish from flea bay. The engines are bullet proof and cheap and simple to work on. Then get down to your local track and have a go. you could get yourself a GX160 Honda Kart as well so you dont feel left out! Plus it will give your son something to grow into.

Hondas are the basic entry level karts. They are reasonably cheap, easy to fix and parts are inexpensive. The engines themselves are simply de-restricted generator engines. They rarely go through tyres which is good news as racing slicks are ~£150 a set. They wont blow you away in terms of neck snapping acceleration - they top out at around 40mph depetndant on gearing - but 10mm off the ground in a bucket seat and the wind whistling past.... its fast enough for a start

Beyond hondas you have many differernt options but its always best to start small!

Edited by OMNIO on Monday 24th October 14:14

[Brite spark]

Get yourself on uk karting forum, you should be able to do plenty of research there

How hands on are you wanting to be with the kart maintenance/setup?

2 stroke or 4 stroke preference?

I would just find your local kart track that does owner driver sessions and get down there for a look at what is running there.

If you are only wanting to do it for fun/ non msa racing there will be plenty of choice on the kart, if however you go down the race route you need to be really careful what you buy to make sure that it is eligible to race.

There are plenty of practice days at most kart tracks, some will run a kart for themselves and one for their kid although it can get a bit hectic if doing this....damn good fun though with a 2 stroke 125 though

[Brite spark]

thinfourth2 said:

"karting dads" the most completive motor sport class ever

Efa

Dalto123 said:

From what I've heard its very expensive. I know of people who's son is Karting, and its costing them on avergae about £30,000 this year alone. They are doing the maintinence on the kart, and they are staying in their own campervan thing, its the running costs and entry fees to the Karting Events that are expensive. You will get very competitive people in this sport, someone else I spoke to who does professional karting (much older) says that he's heard of people spending £100k on this sport.

Karting can be expensive but 30k isn't beginners money, that serious championship chasing money- most normal people spend nowhere near that amount

Edited by Brite spark on Monday 24th October 14:15

[limjamrace]

Dalto123 said:

From what I've heard its very expensive. I know of people who's son is Karting, and its costing them on avergae about £30,000 this year alone. They are doing the maintinence on the kart, and they are staying in their own campervan thing, its the running costs and entry fees to the Karting Events that are expensive. You will get very competitive people in this sport, someone else I spoke to who does professional karting (much older) says that he's heard of people spending £100k on this sport.

When we first started we had £50 a month budget..Nine years later after spending Some £30000 and acquiring tens of trophies i had to pack it in.
From what happens now the entry fees are still about £50..Its the transport funding that cost money + the broken chain + pods and various other things that are not made man enough for the job..Tyres are the main thing of success. Once i spent £360 (3 x sets)in one meeting..That was Junior Biland when it was about!!

£100000 budgets are for National/International series not club racing!
You actually pay people to do all the work for you as it gets a bit out of depth.

[SWoll]

Thanks for all of the replies guys, plenty of food for thought but can't say I'm put of the idea just yet...

Have just found that this place Midland Karting Experience is within 10 minutes of us and seems to have a lot to offer.

If any of you guys have 5 minutes would you mind taking a look and seeing what you think regarding their Junior Race Academy/Karting Race League. Looks like it could be perfect as a start point?

[Brite spark]

SWoll said:

Thanks for all of the replies guys, plenty of food for thought but can't say I'm put of the idea just yet...

Have just found that this place Midland Karting Experience is within 10 minutes of us and seems to have a lot to offer.

If any of you guys have 5 minutes would you mind taking a look and seeing what you think regarding their Junior Race Academy/Karting Race League. Looks like it could be perfect as a start point?

Junior academy seems to be £30 for an hour and a half, if I am reading it right.

Race league looks like £20 over the day for the sessions you would be involved in.(ie not a full day on track-probably an hour or less)
It does seem to offer a cheapish taster, though track time may be limited.
Other than that I would say you want to speak to some of the people down there to look at number of people attending and what they think of it