Safety gear for rental karting?

I live in central Florida, with access to several rental kart tracks. These include both Andretti and Nascar indoor locations, two other indoor facilities, plus Orlando Kart center. All of them require helmets. I already have an SA2015 rated helmet, so I've got that covered. 

As I was leaving the Andretti track after my first time there, I saw someone going in with his helmet and a neck collar. I see that the collars are pretty cheap, and also some of the videos that I've seen from these tracks show people wearing gloves. 

I'm new to this level of rental karting, with my previous experience limited to karts you could put an elementary school age kid in. 

Any recommendation from the hive? I'm the main earner for our family, use my hands for precision work. 

I would add "Rib and Chest protection" to your safety list.

And having spent time in a shifter kart, disability insurance.  Yea, I 'm also an old guy. 

if you have any hint of a neck problem, yeah, the collars help.

I would also throw in some 1 inch roam sheets to insert into the seat to make sure you fit snugly. its being thrown around in the loose seats that has hurt me the worst.   

I was at the NJMP karts a few years back for a bachelor party and I ended up doing grass passes on some slow noobs. would cant the kart into a skid onto the grass and when the drift hit asphalt, it was violent enough I bruised the hell out of my ribs. Black and blue.  Foam helps a lot for seat fitment, plus much cheaper than a proper kart rib protector, which I would find overkill for rentals. 

Neck collars are mandatory up here.

The danger is usually from being run into by other drivers so if you go out when it's not busy, you probably only need a helmet. But if you go on a busy track with the lunatics, a neck and rib protector would be good additions.

Came here to post the foam sheets for the seats, Apexcarver beat me to it. It makes a big difference in how sore my back is the following day. Neck brace is a great idea if you have any neck or back issues. 

Rib protector sounds like a good idea, especially since I just got a rib injury.

Have to explain.  I was walking into the ALF where my dad lives, when a man at the door said he was going to fall. 

I had already passed him, so I reversed direction and grabbed his jacket as he fell straight backwards. On brick, with his knees locked. Most of the inertia from the fall was transferred to me. 

My dive watch was crushed under my chest. Hit my face, bruised the inside of my upper lip yet somehow without hitting my teeth. Also skinned my right arm and knee, as well as the trauma to my left wrist from the watch. 

It's been 13 days, and I'm still almost too sore to touch that spot. Luckily, the guy who fell only got a scrape on the back of his head. If I hadn't tried to catch him he could have died. 

So, are the rib protectors specific to karting? 

Oh, at 62, I don't get to be too casual about injuries, either. 

yup, rib protector/foam/yoga matt for the seat. My old roommate broke a rib when we went out for a birthday a few years back. Noob who was looking back/waving after passing his gf nailed his spun cart under yellow.

https://cometkartsales.com/Rib-Vest/

yeah, if you have pre-injury I can understand spending the coin.   Otherwise, I havent seen fit to require it, but I am ~30.

I thought that rental karts were slow enough not to worry about until I bruised a rib at Andretti. Now I wear a rib vest, which has the added benefit of helping me fit in the seat more snugly.

Karting rib vests are often pretty expensive; I found a rigid football rib vest that does the job nicely for $30.

The last indoor kart event I took some nasty hits from the young guys.  No bumps or bruises.  Those karts have 360 degree shock absorbing bumpers.    All depends on the type of kart.

Back in the early days of kart racing our safety gear existed of helmet with eye protection, heavy jacket and shoes and gloves. I flipped twice, joy of open wheel racing, and the only injury was a sore thumb.

Safety gear also depends on the kart a bit.  Helmets are obvious as are closed toed shoes and long pants.  Rib protectors are great to keep you in the "one size fits all" seats and to protect your ribs from bumping and the g-forces.  Chest protectors and neck braces aren't as critical if the kart has some type of roll bar and seat belts.  The neck brace and chest protector are designed more for racing karts if you flip and are thrown from the kart (which is by design).  If you're strapped in, that doesn't apply.  A thick foam neck brace (as opposed to the hard type kinda like a Hans device) will help your neck if you're putting in lots of laps and the grip is up, but that will be dependent on how strong your neck muscles are. 

Note: Neck braces are a bit of a controversy in competition karting.  They're required for the younger classes, but not for the older classes and many do not wear them.  I make my son wear one in his class because it makes me feel better.  There is a large group that thinks a neck brace, especially the foam ones, don't help at all and could actually be a detriment in some cases.  YMMV.

-Rob

Really opening my eyes with the discussion about the rib protectors. Didn't know anything about them, but it sure makes sense. 

What about gloves?

youare very unlikely to be spat out onto pavement in a rental kart.   Grab a fresher set of mechanix gloves if it makes you feel more comfortable, but wouldnt sweat it. 

Apexcarver said:

youare very unlikely to be spat out onto pavement in a rental kart.   Grab a fresher set of mechanix gloves if it makes you feel more comfortable, but wouldnt sweat it. 

That's what I was thinking, actually. In particular, the part about a fresher set, as all of mine are pretty funky. Sure don't want to put them in the bag with my helmet!

I know that this may sound like overkill on the rental kart tracks, but everyone that has replied has been very helpful. Two of the tracks claim a top speed of 45 mph. While I don't know if that is accurate, it's enough to beat you up if things go south.  Sure is nice to be here with adults, compared to some of the other forums I've been on. 

I always follow the WKA rule for Neck Brace and Helmet. Basically, the rule states that the driver has no exposed skin at all times.

Notchada75 said:

I always follow the WKA rule for Neck Brace and Helmet. Basically, the rule states that the driver has no exposed skin at all times.

Good information. Thanks, and welcome to the forum.