Karting

I started in kart racing in 1958, went to cars in HSDE events, went to motorcycles in track event-too fast-now back to kart

We run on an asphalt road race course in Barneville G, elevation changes. The track has been there since the late 50s/early 60's. We run both vintage and modern karts. We use modded Harbor Freight (Honda) clone engine, Yamahas and vintage 2stroke vintage kart engines..

We have loaner karts for people to get some free seat time in. Basic complete karts used can be bought for under $1000.

Karting. Is and always been the best bang for the buck in motorsports. My 55th year in kart racing.

I would love to help anyone to get into the sport. c

Wow , you must remember the Fox and Dart karts huh? Welcome to the mix youngster!

My dad was three years old when you started.

Very cool. I may be looking for some suggestions from you here in the near future. I'll get with ya then. Welcome.

I was just thinking about this today (maybe I should get into karting).

Problem is, I don't know where there are any clubs, tracks, or otherwise organized racing around me.

Is there a good resource to find how where the nearby places to race might be?

(Unfortunately, I'm afraid everything within an hour or two of me might be dirt oval...)

Hi all. Grassroots motorsports is the best mag around. Have had a subscription to it off and on for years.

Yes-I remember the old karts including the Dart. I have one plus 9 more vintage karts and two modern karts. Some of my vintage karts are,twin engined.

Imam the assistant race director for the Barnesvile ga vintage kart Winternationals end of March. We pull in over 100 registered karts from all over the US. one of the two biggest vintage karting events in the US.

Also newly elected pres for the GA Sprint Karting Association. I go under Dr. Chip on the GSKA website. We are doing a karting event at the new Atlanta Motorsports Park dedicated.85 mile kart track this Sat, rain or shine. I have my kart rain tires ready, really.

Let me know where you are located and I can find a paved road race track near you. My goal is to grow kart racing like back in the old days when we drew 400 plus-yes-at our Barnesville track.

I am a transplant from SW OH Where I started karting. Moved south in 1971.

Karts hold many track records at full,sized tracks. Friend of mine did 148mph at Daytona at age 65 on an Enduro lay down kart. Record speed record for a kart is about. 250 mph-google it. But we only run 40mph average in my class. Btw,,just finished second for the season in my class. Guy I mentored for the last year beat me in points for the season!

I will help anyway to get people into karting..c

Ever since I found out I can use the GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville almost any day I want with a membership, I've been keeping an eye out for a shifter kart. Every kart I've driven so far bores me after a while. They're just too slow, but I think a shifter kart will keep my adrenaline going for a loong, looong time. Most fun I've had in a kart was doing the endurance kart race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Lots of track time for the money, and got to race in the rain. Too much fun!! http://endurancekarting.com/

In reply to ncjay:

Look in craigslist. One friend has a shifter, another is looking. One listed in Atlanta crags,list for $2200. Is a buyers market all the time, and even more so in the winter around Christmas.

You will not be bored in a shifter. You never know if you are driving it or if you are just along for the ride. Acceleration is unreal, but so is stopping!

Go for it..c

Been interested for awhile...

What is a practical expenses for getting started?

I am considering TAG and 125cc shifter

What is Maintenice like for them?

Price standpoint and time outlay?

Consumables?

I was under the impression that shifters broke a lot and needed a whole lot of TLC to keep running.

Are there any good internet forums with regional subsets to gain more information?

I have tried looking at webpages for tracks and they never give you much information.

Chipperb From Ohio you must have been to Kugler back in the day? What Kind of vintage Karts , Motors do you have now? I grew up racing Mac 91B1on a Margay chassis.

Apexcarver wrote: Been interested for awhile... What is a practical expenses for getting started? I am considering TAG and 125cc shifter What is Maintenice like for them? Price standpoint and time outlay? Consumables? I was under the impression that shifters broke a lot and needed a whole lot of TLC to keep running. Are there any good internet forums with regional subsets to gain more information? I have tried looking at webpages for tracks and they never give you much information.

You ask enough questions that I could write a book. I'm starting year 3 with a shifter in autocross.

1. Shifters are never boring, but that adrenaline overload does wear off after a year or two.

2 Consumables: EVERYTHING is consumable. Except maybe the engine case. Seriously. Pistons,Cylinders, gears, axles, brakes, even the frame. Mostly it's cheap, but it's still a wear item.

Race gas should be run in most karts(though I live in the ICC/Mod Moto world), which is $8/gallon and another $12/quart for oil. I'm in the quart per day per person range for an autocross. On a good practice day I can go through a gallon and a half just dodging cones.

MG Greens are generally $220 to your door, and will last me half a competitive season. They cycle out way before they wear out. Dunno about sprint racing and tire longevity.

Pistons get changed every 4 hours or so of run time. About $100 and 2 hours to change(including the single beer)

You should put a wrench on every bolt between every, or every other event. The single cylinder and no suspension vibrations rattle everything loose, which can multiply the problem. Last year I had a sidepod come loose, broke the sidepod, bent the support rod, axle and punctured the tire. My fault for not nuting and bolting everything takes about 30m to an hour.

1. It's between $2500 and $4000 for a good package. Package price depends on the age/condition of the kart, type/popularity of the motor, spares package, type of kart chassis. Try ekartingnews.com for info. They're the largest forum right now.

Welcome. Karting is indeed the cheapest, most fun and convenient form of motorsports around. Better than LeMons and Chump. Almost as entertaining as SCCA in my region. A world ahead of dodging cones in a parking lot for 4 minutes over an 8 hour day.

More people should race karts.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/karts-where-to-start/73719/page1/

There is some great info on this page for those that are interested in getting into the sport, I am defiantly a supporter, I love karting and will have some karts for sale soon.

In reply to TRoglodyte:

I have at least 10 vintage karts-Go Kart 400 replica with two,West Bend 700s, a Dart with an alky Clinton, a Margay Enduro with a West Bend 820, a Simplex Challenger with two West Bend 580s, a Bug rear engine with twin 820s, and a Bug Stinger sidewinder with a Mac 101.

..and I am proud to say I knew Mr. Kugler..c

I've been seriously considering it. I have some seriously quick track cars, but all I can do is lapping days most of the time. There's no w2w around here at all, but there is a decent kart track. I could pick up a TAG and just duke it out with club members at their monthly races. Looks like about $3k to get in. Hmm.

In reply to Apexcarver:

Go with a shifter vs a Tag. And go with A Honda or Yamahe powered shifter. TAG (touch and go, have electric starters) use Rotax engines and must be services by a Tag dealer. Engines are and rebuilds are expensive $3500 engine and $1750 for rebuilds.

A class we have been seeing grow is the Yamaha 100cc class. Very fast but less expensive to buy and maintain.

Where can I find within 1/2 hour of Greenville,SC for my five year old?

Chipperb wrote: In reply to Apexcarver: Go with a shifter vs a Tag. And go with A Honda or Yamahe powered shifter. TAG (touch and go, have electric starters) use Rotax engines and must be services by a Tag dealer. Engines are and rebuilds are expensive $3500 engine and $1750 for rebuilds. A class we have been seeing grow is the Yamaha 100cc class. Very fast but less expensive to buy and maintain.

Disagree. People who have never raced karts w2w always say 'get a shifter'. Shifters are difficult to drive let alone race flat out wheel to wheel. They'll beat you up pretty good. Lap times are usually pretty similar.

There is more than one TAG engine choice. Rotax rebuilds can be pricey but it's a good series to race.

I raced Sr. Sportsman with a Yamaha KT100 for a few years before Rotax. Also fun series. Sr. Sportsman was the Spec Miata of karting 10-15 years ago then Rotax came around.

I met Mr. Kugler at the Daytona enduro races one year. Heckuva guy, did a LOT for the sport. First kart I ever drove was a Fox with a Mac 101 on it. It was a handfull

http://www.lemanskarting.com/ This opened in November off Roper Mtn Rd. A bunch of CCR-SCCA guys went there last night. Looks like the youngest age allowed is 8. You may want to check for circle tracks in the area too. At the Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville NC (about 2 hours), there is no age requirement if you bring your own kart. I don't know if CCR-SCCA or SCR-SCCA allows drivers younger than 12 to autox but there is a formula junior program. My son will be 12 in January and will be autcrossing a clone kart next season.

chrispy wrote: http://www.lemanskarting.com/ This opened in November off Roper Mtn Rd. A bunch of CCR-SCCA guys went there last night. Looks like the youngest age allowed is 8. You may want to check for circle tracks in the area too. At the Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville NC (about 2 hours), there is no age requirement if you bring your own kart. I don't know if CCR-SCCA or SCR-SCCA allows drivers younger than 12 to autox but there is a formula junior program. My son will be 12 in January and will be autcrossing a clone kart next season.

I drive by that place every day, and had not noticed it was open already. Other than being over 8, it's a winner. I am less than a mile from there now.

Two hours is way too many. Eight isn't terrible to wait, though, perhaps I'll bring him soon so he can watch at least.

Chipperb wrote: In reply to Apexcarver: Go with a shifter vs a Tag. And go with A Honda or Yamahe powered shifter. TAG (touch and go, have electric starters) use Rotax engines and must be services by a Tag dealer. Engines are and rebuilds are expensive $3500 engine and $1750 for rebuilds. A class we have been seeing grow is the Yamaha 100cc class. Very fast but less expensive to buy and maintain.

I had a Rotax DD2 kart (2 speed TAG) and the engine life was 50 hours. Top end was about $300 and a full rebuild was $1000 by a dealer. New engine was $5000. Rotax has a longer interval than Honda and Yamaha.

Disagree. People who have never raced karts w2w always say 'get a shifter'. Shifters are difficult to drive let alone race flat out wheel to wheel. They'll beat you up pretty good. Lap times are usually pretty similar. There is more than one TAG engine choice. Rotax rebuilds can be pricey but it's a good series to race.

This. A shifter has a power band about the width of your pinky, and takes real skill to the motor in it, but when you do it's VERY rewarding.

Not having driven a TAG kart, I wouldn't think they'd be any better than a shifter when it comes to wear and tear on your body.

Yep, Off the top of my head there's the leopard, Sonik, Fireball, Vortex ROK, Rotax are all elidgible for TAG use. I have NO idea on which one's competitive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGvMJafI27k&feature=c4-overview&list=UU3jNbP_Gsm-ZdpoKGRV3GSg

Where do you get parts for the old carts? I have what I think is an old Dart Kart from 63-65 time frame and I can't find wheels and the bearings for it.

It was my best friend's dad's cart. I have the whole kart all ready to assemble with a 9 HP subaru motor but no wheels.

It is true that the the shifters are a handful. Not a newby kart. A well driven Tag will outrun a shifter. Tags have no gear box.

BUT when someone, often falsely, feels they have outgrown the Tag, they can move up to a shifter.

The shifter is the F1 of karts. Properly driven, it will outrun most other vehicles.

And the Super karts with 250 cc vs 125 tag/shifters and all kinds of downforce can run 170!

My point always is karting is the best bang for the buck in motorsports. And just when you think you have mastered one class, you can move up,and be humbled again..c