Introduction to Karting: Advice Requested

[jessegibson]

I am 30 and interested in inexpensive racing. I am drawn to karting as a place to learn car control. If it leads to cars than great, if karting satisfies me than that is great as well, especially great financially.

I now need to get my feet wet by attending and trying out karting before investing. Motorsports are dangerous and I want to make sure I am learning to be safe and effective on the track.

Here are my questions...

1.) Recommendations for karting classes/instructions.
2.) After classes, assuming I get hooked [if I am not already], is renting a viable option, before deciding on the kart/class to begin at.
3.) I would eventually like a class with the most passing potential [based on driver skill of course].
4.) I am 5'8" and around 150lbs. and I am under the impression that weight plays a factor in deciding on a kart/kart class.

I am just exposing myself to karting so I am sure there are other questions I should probably be asking but since I do not know enough it is hard for me to imagine the best questions to ask.

Any and all input is appreciated.

[David Chong]

Jesse, looks like nobody has responded yet so I'll give you my two cents. I just bought my first kart, so I have no experience to draw from, only my recent research and the great input I've received from folks in the SDKA, Tri-C club, and Apex Raceway.

I noticed that right up front you mentioned expense. "Inexpensive" means different things to different people, so if you describe the maximum budget you'd be able to allocate, as well as the "comfortable" budget (if different), then that will go a long way towards funnelling you into a class. Also, are you comfortable buying used (including the negotiation and research necessary to do that properly), or will you be buying new and enjoying the support of a local shop after the sale?

I note that you don't have prior track experience; you'll probably want to narrow your choices to the non-shifter classes. You will have plenty to keep you busy without the speed and shifting on track, and a new karter may be turned off by the maintenance levels required in the garage.

Two of my friends and I just decided to go kart racing. Two of us are experienced race drivers with regional competition experience, and we still race our full size cars so we needed karting to be very, very inexpensive. We settled on Formula Y/C Heavy (Yamaha 100cc KT100 motor) because the class has been phased out of competition in many places throughout the country and in most of SoCal (SDKA is the only club that still runs it, and our numbers have been too low to merit a championship points battle). Because of this, there are very few buyers for a large number of Formula Y karts available on the market. We are finding complete racing packages for under $1000. When I say complete, I am talking about a running and competitive kart, a blueprinted engine, specialized tools, a stand, a starter, and enough spares/parts options to replace just about anything you need on the kart throughout the season. We are anticipating buying tires, fuel, maintenance supplies, tech items (safety), and in some cases the 8787 pipe when the karts come with can exhausts.

If your budget is a little more flexible, take a good look at TAG & Rotax. The maintenance and technical requirements on those motors are very low, allowing you to focus on driving. Our budget is basically unheard of, and if we weren't actually doing it, I'd call it unrealistic. However, we have the benefit of numbers, so even if we are not particularly competitive in our class (because we haven't spent enough to go fast), we still have the joy of running against each other.

Please wait for other opinions - there are a lot of very helpful people here, they just aren't posting regularly during the holidays.

Regards,
David Chong

[jessegibson]

Thanks for your input David. I know inexpensive is a subjective term. I don't have a budget identified because I don't know what a realistic budget is yet.

I am gauging inexpensive as a ratio between the lowest dollar amount and the highest reliability. Karting will be an experiment for me.

I should have mentioned I knew "shiftless" is where I would be starting. Regarding maintenance, I am self-taught in a lot of different things and look forward to learning the mechanics of karting.

In the beginning I am fine with a low numbers class if that is the cheapest. I am assuming it would take about a year for me to be comfortably competitive to try and throw around with more experienced drivers. My desire for passing as a potential is simply because I have heard complaints about an inability for passing due to a lack of power. (That statement is pure conjecture). You have peaked my interest in Forumla Y/C based on the market lowering prices. Sounds like a good trial kart for learning the ropes.

Thanks again for you insight.

BTW, I noticed that within the last month a season ended. Do you know when things will usually resume? That way I know how much time I have to make a decision so I can get as much out of the next season as possible.

[David Chong]

Feb. 21st is the first race. See www.sdka.com/SDKAschedule.html for the first half of 2009.

If you are looking for passing opportunities, I have heard that Formula Y is the *best* choice. Lack of power is not the reason why passing is difficult; on lower power karts you'll find driver skill is highlighted because you can't use torque to cover up driving errors. Get some feedback from experienced karters on the classes that feature the most passing.

David

[kbates20]

I would recomend HPV.. Formula Y is outdated...The horstamn motor is more advanced and way easier to tune...I also can rent you a kart to race and show you about karting....any questions e-mail [e-mail]

[guest]

O.K. here's my two cents. Formula Y, yamaha, is an older racing setup. Outdated, what the drivers or the yamaha? With Formula Y you have a little more input as far as setup with the clutch. You are able to set the stall speed wherever you want, this relates to your competition, gearing, and your input from experience. HPV is also a very good choice. As far as tuning goes I don't see a difference between the two. HPV has a spec. clutch, no adjustment, they are a little bit faster, there is less maintinance, preperation and on race day. Passing happens when either you are faster than the person in front of you ( just because you are faster dosen't mean your going to pass them ) or they slip a little and you are able to get by. Equally matched karts makes for great racing for the drivers, and to watch, in any of the classes.

[Mike Campbell]

Your personal weight should play a big part in your choice of class. You can be overweight in any class, but you will be disqualified if you come off the track underweight. I drive in the formula y class and weigh around 190 lbs. and with 10 lbs. of lead on the kart I come in between 4 and 12 lbs. over the minimum. You can add as much lead as you need to meet the class minimum. The only way you will know is to put the kart on scales with you in it. I would suggest you do this prior to purchasing in order to help you make a good decision before getting to the track. Formula y is 370 lbs., hpv 4 is 340 lbs. total weight. If you have enough drivers that can't make the 370, you guys could just put on a superbox can and run your own class.