Would like to get into Karting desperately

[aemmanuel714]

Hello!! I would like to get in to Karting desperately....I am big Formula 1 fan ever since I was kid... im 25 years old turning 26....Where should I start? How and Where can I buy a kart? I am willing to spend money in this sport...I am not rich or anything just want to do this for FUN and enjoy it and hopefully make something out of it! been really researching for this! Any recommendations where I should Start? or What division? idk anything about it yet..still on my research mode about Karts, where do i start and what is good for me ? please serious answers only! Can wait to watch SDKA racing! I believe I missed races this season! looking forward to being part of this CULTURE!

[meisterporsche]

I'll let you decide what class and where to run. My son races in the cadet class in several clubs as well as IKF and SKUSA so here's what we learned after about 18 months in the sport (we've made all the mistakes you can make so this is all first hand):

1. Don't buy a kart off craigslist.
2. When buying a kart look at the bottom and check out the overall cleanliness of the kart. If parts don't match or the hardware is all different be concerned. If the kart looks like it fell in a dirt bath, walk away no matter how much the seller is telling you it used to be michael schumacher's kart or won 5 national NASCAR titles (true story). By the way a kart shop will sell you a bent kart just like a craiglist seller would.
3. Go to the races at a club that you want to race at and talk to everyone who'll talk to you. See who's fast and what they're running. See which shops are at the track all the time and go with them.
4. If you talk to a shop, team or seller and they're jerks walk away.
5. Once you see a kart you like have the seller meet you at a shop that you like, put the kart on a flat table and see if it's straight. If it's not, walk away.
6. See which motor builders come to the races, figure out if they are good at the class you race in and then meet them and see if you like them. If they're jerks walk away. If they make the world's fastest Rotax but you're racing KT100's and no one else is running their KT100's walk away.
7. Buy less stuff, practice more. Practice on used tires, scrap together enough money for an old suit, used helmet, shoes, gloves, sniper lasers and a mychron and if you have any left buy chains, oil, fuel, tie rods and hardware.
8. Do your own work and prep and clean the kart yourself after every race. Do this a few times and you become an expert!
9. Buy decent tools. No matter what someone says most karts fit in a truck or big SUV so no need to buy a trailer.
10. Don't buy a shifter or rotax. Pick up a KPV or KT100 for your age and experience level and have fun for 12 months and see if you like it and can afford it. If you do and can, save your money and buy better gear and a better kart.
11. Everyone in karting is a grass roots racer and they're all pretty much friendly and welcoming. SDKA is a fun local club but the only way to see if you're good is to race at as many clubs/series and against the best competition possible. Nothings worst than listening to some whanker brag about being the KPV4 Heavy Champion of the Pacoima Valley Parking lot Series. Go get beat, figure out what you need to do to improve, work hard and repeat till you stop getting beat.
12. Have fun, trust your instincts and if a deal is too good to be true it is. Be patient, you can't hurry speed. If you work hard it comes, in the meantime try to not blow your budget in the first month of racing...see it all the time.

Cheers!