Kart racing info

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Sausage450r

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Anyone here race go karts? Kids friends are racing them at dirt tracks, and they want to start. Was looking around craigslist and there seems to be all sorts. 100/125, shifter non shifter, no one ever specifies frame size. I know these 9 year olds are racing 100cc karts but frames are smaller. Looking for a little help deciphering the lingo. I may get a kart for me too. May as well

 
The race series should specify the cart size based on age, along with min weight. 

https://www.coloradokartingtour.com/kart-size-and-performance/

This does a good job of explaining the different sizes and approx ages. Make it fun and reliable with relatively neutral handling. If your don’t kids like it (mine didn’t), you’ll be able to sell and recoup most of it. Once they’re set on it, consider mods and going more advanced on setup.

 
If they are running dirt tracks are they outlaw carts? The ones with wings,  look like a mini sprint car. That’s what they are running up here in Oregon and Nor Cal and they have a sanctioning body that provides all the rules and equipment requirements. 

 
I was considering this and went to a race. All the racers there said to buy a new cart (10Kish).  

 
GBR said:
If they are running dirt tracks are they outlaw carts? The ones with wings,  look like a mini sprint car. That’s what they are running up here in Oregon and Nor Cal and they have a sanctioning body that provides all the rules and equipment requirements. 
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They run both

 
EastMT said:
I was considering this and went to a race. All the racers there said to buy a new cart (10Kish).  
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New equipped shifter kart is about 11-12k$

im looking at 125 direct drive for me and equivalent for kids. Craigslist karts are 800$-4500$ 

average for a good looking well equipped 125 is about 2400$

 
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EastMT said:
I was considering this and went to a race. All the racers there said to buy a new cart (10Kish).  
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A lot of those are the same guys who suck the fun out of racing for their kids by being waaaaaaaaay too competitive :biggrin:

 
Rockwood said:
A lot of those are the same guys who suck the fun out of racing for their kids by being waaaaaaaaay too competitive :biggrin:
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This group was very friendly and out to have a good time, not to competitive. The idea behind the new cart was to not buy someone else's problem (used) and spend your race weekend fixing your cart instead of racing.  If I could find a low hour cart I buy it. Just can’t justify 10K for one weekend per year.

 
Pops had me doing the Sprint karts at 12. Abq. 1986.  Fun stuff.  I ran a Yamaha kt100. Kart hauled ass. He bought used. Was always changing something 

 Sprockets,  expansion chamber lengths,  Clutch weights, tire pressures. Tires.  We were low budget.  For sure.

Some weekends we killed it. Some. Not so much.  Good times though. Dirt karts are a blast. Wish my kids were interested. 

 
What kind of Racing and where do you live is the first question, and how involved do you want to be, 

For example in Las vegas, they had a Asphalt track,  Asphalt is awesome, way faster speeds than a concrete track and way smoother,   

I had a Rotax cart,  this is a spec class so it was easy, could focus on driving,  not tweaking on motor stuff,  I had a weather station that plugged into a laptop program that told what jet and spark plug to run,  

On the asphalt track a rotax kart did around 88 mph, was super fun,  

They closed the asphalt track then only had a concrete track, max speed was about 45 mph,  for this cart it was no fun,  to much power just spun the tires all the time, and the concrete beat the piss out of you,    so sold everything,  

Looking at karts,  my rotax was just as fast as my shifter 125,  you spend so much time focusing on shifting instead of driving it, if felt fast but was not,    

What is your level of getting hurt,   asphalt track with the cart setup correctly was loose to be fast, was like driving on water and always had to be in the power,  there was more than one time that someone left in a ambulance, and once in a couple of years that left in a helicopter. 

I took a couple of driving classes, these really helped,  karting is super physical,  it pulls a lot of G's in the corner, but super fun if you are in shape,  if you are out of shape, you going to get beat on, 

 







got to be loose to be fast,  rotax example 

I was into my Kart about $8000 by the time i got it where i wanted, with spare motor, after tools software, trailer setup for just kart, axles tires, 

axles for different tracks,  axles are like spring rates,   also different seats,  stiffer the seat the kart handles different, also different pads for brakes on different tracks and seat bracket setup,   

so alot to think about besides motors,  

You want to be comfortable, so i recommend a true kart helmet, it is lighter and breathable for shorter distances like 30 lap heats,  

I had a cheaper suit and it was hot and not great,  the suits are made for skid protection for if you get chucked out,   only got chucked out once at low speed with tire to tire action  

get a lightweight good suit like a SPARCO,  

will also need a neckbrace,  and kart shoes.   

If you can get a Kart setup with multiple seats, rims axles and spare motor,  you will be miles ahead,   i did not know this so i was about $15,000 all in, 

 
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J Alper said:
What kind of Racing and where do you live is the first question, and how involved do you want to be, 

For example in Las vegas, they had a Asphalt track,  Asphalt is awesome, way faster speeds than a concrete track and way smoother,   

I had a Rotax cart,  this is a spec class so it was easy, could focus on driving,  not tweaking on motor stuff,  I had a weather station that plugged into a laptop program that told what jet and spark plug to run,  

On the asphalt track a rotax kart did around 88 mph, was super fun,  

They closed the asphalt track then only had a concrete track, max speed was about 45 mph,  for this cart it was no fun,  to much power just spun the tires all the time, and the concrete beat the piss out of you,    so sold everything,  

Looking at karts,  my rotax was just as fast as my shifter 125,  you spend so much time focusing on shifting instead of driving it, if felt fast but was not,    

What is your level of getting hurt,   asphalt track with the cart setup correctly was loose to be fast, was like driving on water and always had to be in the power,  there was more than one time that someone left in a ambulance, and once in a couple of years that left in a helicopter. 

I took a couple of driving classes, these really helped,  karting is super physical,  it pulls a lot of G's in the corner, but super fun if you are in shape,  if you are out of shape, you going to get beat on, 
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Thanks for all the great info. Its a dirt track, and it will be maybe a once a month thing for us. Just something local and fun to do 

 
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