I would like to join, or, if necessary, and interest is there, start an organization for kids 5-12(?) years old to race low-spec, low cost, low power (5hp, maybe even less) dirt go-karts at low cost venues, with travel time less than an hour or so from my home town (Evansville, IN). Perhaps "spec Rural King" karts. Maybe even a large back yard or unused piece of farmland could serve as a venue. Focus being on fun, and low barrier to entry. Can anyone point me towards such an organization? Anyone want to start such an organization?
Yes, I am familiar with quarter midgets, but from the little research I've done I have found that the races are too far away, the karts and equipment costs to much, and the dads all throw money at it because they think their kid is the next NASCAR phenom, and as such, take it WAY too seriously.
Thoughts from GRM Moms, Dads, and crazy relatives of kids?
As far as engines, I would advise using the clone or predator, with a drum clutch and used tires. WKA and AKRA have a junior class, but the list continues to grow on the modifications and the need for engine builders to make them faster. I would keep it simple and stock.
SCCA has autocross classes for kids karts.
Gearheadotaku wrote:
SCCA has autocross classes for kids karts.
Not a bad idea. Still like to look into something wheel-to-wheel if I can.
chrispy
New Reader
10/1/13 3:14 p.m.
I'll echo the 2 above. SCCA for autox or check out the local kart track. I'm seeing a big move towards "clone" classes where the emphasis is on low cost and fun. I recently built 2 autox karts (one for my soon to be 12 yo and one for me) using Honda clone engines and have around $1000 invested.
Check out www.4cycle.com. There was a recent thread on starting a track and tons of kart info in general.
My daughter (8) has been to K1 Speed a few times now, which is electric indoor karting. She liked it enough that she wanted to have her birthday party there last month. We've just done casual arrive-and-drive sessions, but their web site says they have a "junior racing league", and that they have a location in Indianapolis (looks like that might be a bit far from Evansville, though).
The arrive-and-drive nature of it is nice, because it gives much lower initial capital costs and vastly reduced hassle vs transporting your own kart somewhere. OTOH, the karts vary in speed fairly substantially during the casual sessions, and I don't know if they do anything to try to equalize them for the racing league events.
