Kart suggestions

[Adam]

I am looking to buy a Kart that I can race and also my 12 year old son can race as well.

I was looking at the classes and it looks pretty tough to have one Kart that two people can race in two different classes, any suggestions??

Also, why doesnt the SDKA look to building a track in the area?? I am sure it can be done!!

[BayanS]

Try a kart with a kt100, that is probably the best bet for senior super sportsman and your son can drive in Junior sportsman or junior super sportsman. check with some other opinions too

[Rich]

Adam,

That is a real challenge. I know that I weigh 100+ pounds more than my 13 year old son. There is no way we can use the same seat in one kart. Also, I am almost a foot taller (for now...) Another consideration is that the adult classes run at a signficantly higher minimum weight than the Junior 2 classes. Consequently, even if you guys fit in the kart the same way, you will be very busy moving weight around on race day. I don't know if it is managable. If you both want to practice, it might be able to work. If you were considering buying a new kart, consider two used ones so that you both can race.

Good Luck!

-Rich Pearlman
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Jacob Pearlman #25 Birel
HPV-2 and Jr. Superbox

[AdamK]

Thanks, I will probably have to buy two Karts. Any suggestions on the two I buy, which classes have good turn outs in the association?

I was about 14 or so when my estranged Father took me Karting a couple times in his Kart. What I remember is it was a two stroke, very fast, had a hand held starter that looked like a Y shape and it spun the engine on.

I remember both of us being able to race in different classes in that Kart, Oxnard was one of the tracks we went to. I am sure things have changed quite a bit from the early 80's though...lol

BTW my son turns 13 this May and is very short for his age if that makes any difference in the type of Kart we should get for him.

[Rich]

Adam,

Your son should be racing in the Juniior 2 classes which are for ages 12-15. I think SDKA runs both the HPV-2 and Junior Sportsman classes. Junior Sportsman is a Yamaha motor with a 3-hole can exhaust. It is significantly less power than the HPV-2 and needs more frequent rebuilding (at least I think so). The HPV-2 is fun and fast, but the Yamaha motor will teach your son to be smooth and consistent. Of the Junior 2 classes, I think that HPV-2 is the most popular in SoCal.

As your son is smaller, be sure to get a chassis designed for the Junior 2 level driver. Although Jacob is average height for his age, he is very light and we did much research to be sure we put him in a chassis that would flex for him. Jacob is running the Birel AR-28. We have been very happy with the support we have gotten from Daves Performance Karting in Temecula -www.davesperf.com.

Dave has a fantastic Junior program. It has been great for Jacob. There are also pedal extensions and steering column extensions that are fairly common in this class. Many 11-13 year olds have not yet grown into fitting into the full-size or almost full-size karts common to karting in this age group.

I also recommend that you head out to the track this weekend for the SDKA race and talk to people. Ask a great deal of questions. Karters love to share advice and information with folks just starting out.

You can also check out some of the other local tracks and clubs such as Tri-C Karters (www.tri-ckarters.com) and the Los Angles Kart Club (www.lakc.org) as well as Moranraceway.com.

Have a Blast!

-Rich Pearlman
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Jacob Pearlman #25 Birel
HPV-2 and Jr. Superbox

[Guest]

If you are looking for a new kart, I feel that it would be a waste of time, money, and effort to invest into any type of Yamaha class as it is an outdated technology and class.

If you are looking to get into karting, I suggest that for yourself you invest in a TaG package, as the power is decent and the entry cost is effective. Coming from a european background, the TaG class brings with it perks that can't be found in some of the older classes.

As for your son, HPV-2 would be a good entry level class. I would also check over at ekartingnews, and look to some of the national sanctioning bodies as to which classes they are running. I think that this will give you a better idea of which path you would like to take with your son.