Kart Racing Novice

Hello, I have decided to go kart racing... I am not sure how I arrived at this decision. I have always liked rally racing in general and went to my first (and only) rallycross a few years ago. The series in my area dried up and I really thought I was going to buy a truck to tow my beater 5 hrs away for this season. Instead, I bought a kart, it was a lot cheaper than buying a truck to say the least.

I attended a single "practice school," as opposed to just going and renting practice time I was able to bother the guys that ran the track as much as I wanted. I think I got a lot out of it but probably forgot to ask about 1000 questions and honestly thought there would have been more instruction. In the end I became more familiar with how the kart handled, and a lot of the instruction helped to lower lap times, but it did not really introduce me to wheel-to-wheel racing. I feel great pushing the kart to it's limits but I definitely went beyond them more than once and spun it. The prospect of doing that in a field of 15 guys scares the crap of me!

Some of my practice time was on track with kids running 2 strokes which I could easily chase down by pushing the limits of adhesion in the corners, but they would run away on every straight and I never bothered to try a pass. When I wasn't with that group, I was with the rentals. It was a complete blast chasing and passing people that showed up for rental karts, but having more more power than them made it easy. When I was running with the rentals, they weren't really afraid to rub. I am not too bothered by this, but I also know that you can barely tell there is someone next to you, and I want to know how you are supposed to avoid getting rubbed out of your line by a guy slightly in front of you, or following your line and then clipping the front of the guy slightly behind you, or is this just normal? I wouldn't think it is, but that is why I am asking!

So, I'm 27 and about to embark on my first real racing, other than that one adventure in rallycross, so GRM brain-trust, please give me whatever advice you might have!

Thanks!

Unless you're insanely talented naturally, you aren't near THE limit, just near YOUR limit. Drive as much as possible (seat time) and then you will narrow that gap. What I've learned - distance matters (sometimes more than optimal line), keeping the wheels as straight as possible most of the time helps, brake as little as possible (you'd be amazed how little braking the top guys use, they scrub a lot of speed by turning instead), and - of course - look ahead. Good luck. It sounds like a great adventure.

If I had a track anywhere near me at all, that wasn't an oval, I would be racing karts now. Good luck.

Congrats on your purchase, it should be a lot of fun. I'm starting my first full year of karting after borrowing/using my dad's for the last couple years. It takes some time to learn how to race in a pack. In the mean time, don't be afraid to run around in the back while you learn the ropes. Race people one at a time as they come up on you, and be predictable so they become more comfortable racing you. Remember, it stinks to spin and stall on the first corner and watch the whole race from the grass, and it stinks even more to take someone out with you and have that be their first impression of how you race.

With regards to racing other people, just remember that folks can't see or hear ANYTHING behind them, and karts can change direction instantly, before you have any time to react. If someone goes by you decisively, they will expect to have the freedom to move where they want once they believe they are by. Even if you still have a nose alongside, let them have the line since they won't see you there and could move over into you. Likewise if you are looking to pass someone: if you cannot get clearly along side them (i.e. visible) by the turn-in point of a corner, its not your corner. They will turn in on you in an instant and you will both be turned around before you even realized what happened.

As you get better, and as you and the other racers start to learn each others' driving styles, you'll learn who you can trust to race alongside you, who is oblivious to you no matter what, etc. Just focus on you and on having fun, and you'll pick up on everything else!

BTW what class/engine are you running?

This is of interest to me. I've been seriously considering replacing my E30 with a kart to run in KM and/or on a track. I'm loving the idea of something that I don't have register/insure/get inspected, can easily be towed around with my TDI and store in a shed for the winter.

In reply to mrjoshm:

I have way to much to type and no time to do it. Long and short of it is, the first kart race at beaverun about 40 minutes north west of Pittsburgh is next weekend. The best class to join now IMHO is the "clone" class. Its a regular race kart chassis with a chinese copy of a Honda 6.5hp 4 cycle engine. With the allowable mods the engine is just a bit over 10hp. Its just a tad slower than the karting standard Yamaha KT100 2 cycle. But its thousands cheaper. A complete race ready kart can easily be built for $1500. Many, mine included have been built for quite a bit less. Tires are free, yes free! And a free set will last most of a season. Anyway call me at 412-974-5695 and I will be glad to tell you all that I know. I have been racing karts on "big" tracks, i.e. - Mid Ohio, Summit, Daytona etc... And on sprint kart tracks since the very early 90's. Mostly with shifter karts, but these clone karts are just to much fun not to run.

Paul

My son is getting into karting. If he looses interest, I'll just grab his kart for myself!

I dunno about the clone Karts. They seem to have a comparable top end, but acceleration is significantly slower than the 2-strokes. Personally I'd find that frustrating. Also, I anticipate spending a lot of open lap time at local tracks, and a lot of those guys are hotshoes. It'd suck to be constantly getting blitzed by faster karts, regardless of how skilled you might be.

Paul - you run clones on the big tracks? I didn't know that they did that. What sort of sppeds are you able to attain? I'm sure you change your sprocket ratio?

Very timely post for me too. The karing $ numbers just seem easier to make. Anyone in ON kart?

kreb wrote: Paul - you run clones on the big tracks? I didn't know that they did that. What sort of sppeds are you able to attain? I'm sure you change your sprocket ratio?

Hi Kreb, yes they run clones on the big tracks. WKA runs them as International 4cycle. A few changes from the sprint tracks, i.e. - a larger exhaust pipe, gears and a billit alm flywheel. Top speeds are a bit tame compared to yamaha pipe, shifters etc. but high 70's very low 80's depending on the track. They run with the briggs karts so they are very similar in speeds, so your not getting buzzed by the really fast stuff. On a sprint track with 15 or 20 other clones, its the spec miata of karts! Fast enough to entertaining, but nothing as hairy as my 125cc shifter. Both are fun in there own right.

paul

Are there some good forums to search through? While I know I can pick the brains of my local region drivers (4 regulars in KM), it would be nice to have some knowledge beforehand.

ekartingnews.com is the largest forum for karts. I've only just began to pick through it and have found everything I've needed to start setting up my kart, carb adjustments, clutch, etc. just by searching through. I haven't had to start a thread yet in about two months.

I raced karts after I raced cars. Usually its the the other way around. Karts are a blast, very competitive and not much different from cars except they cost a lot less. I'd get back into it in moment if there was a decent track in my immediate area, and I'm not young.

Thanks for all of the replies! I should have said, I bought a Birel framed Clone from my local track. I paid $1200, and I feel pretty good about that..I'm not sure what they actually go for but there weren't any cheaper ones on craigslist. This one included them having the new spec cam and spring added, new motor mounts, new clutch, and new tie rods.

Where can I find these free tires!?

I bought a Birel kart with a Rotax a few months ago. I've been at the track 3 times so far, learning the kart and how to drive. I'm going to enter my first race in August. It is tons of fun and affordable for me.

Does anyone here run their kart at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC?

mrjoshm wrote: Thanks for all of the replies! I should have said, I bought a Birel framed Clone from my local track. I paid $1200, and I feel pretty good about that..I'm not sure what they actually go for but there weren't any cheaper on craigslist. This one included them having the new spec cam and spring added, new motor mounts, new clutch, and new tie rods. Where can I find these free tires!?

I hope your one of the new guys Dan was telling me about. Your profile says Pittsburgh, so I'm guessing Pitt Race Complex(Beaverun). If your going to compete in the clone class this year, the tires are mostly free. If you want a set that is almost new they usually charge $20, but my last few sets have been $0. Next time your at the track just ask Dan or one of the guys in the workshop(the one at the end of pit road) for a set of YLC tires for the clone class.

As for race advice, the best advice I can give is be steady and predictable. No rapid line changes except for avoidance manouvers. If someone spins in front of you get your hand up and start waiving it like crazy to alert others behind you something is wrong. That will help them from punting you since you may be taking extreme action to avoid a crash. Same thing when you are exiting the track and heading to the pits make sure you get your arm way up and waiving to signal your leaving the racing surface. The same arm up and waiving if you spin or stall/break something. Helps everyone to know well ahead of time something is wrong. Next is don't try and win practice, or the race in the first turn. There is supposed to be quite a crowd this year so everyone should have someone to race with anywhere in the pack. As others have said no dive bombing other racers into corners. If someone is holding you up in the corners, hang back slightly and take a different line in the next corner so you can carry more speed and easily pass them on the next straight. Don't get the "red mist" and drive like Ernhart and force your way past. Karts are all about momentum, and clones are the epitomy of that.

I am really looking forward to this season. Are you getting a supermembership and planning to run all the races?

Paul

Thanks for the info Paul. I am one of the new guys Dan was talking about. I am hoping to get a couple more practice days in before I race, so I'll probably miss the opener. There are a few races I won't be able to make it out for, so a supermembership probably doesn't make sense for me, but I am going to try and make it to the bulk of the races.

Looking at their pricing, it all seems to make sense, until I read the part about pit spots being free with supermembership. What do they consider pit spots? I swear I just saw it on their website, but now I can not find it. I thought that it said somewhere that pit spots were $40, and I just wanted to know if they counted where we park and unload as pit spots.

I realize I'm not asking about thousands of dollars, but I'm trying to budget this out.

mrjoshm wrote: Looking at their pricing, it all seems to make sense, until I read the part about pit spots being free with supermembership. What do they consider pit spots? I swear I just saw it on their website, but now I can not find it. I thought that it said somewhere that pit spots were $40, and I just wanted to know if they counted where we park and unload as pit spots. I realize I'm not asking about thousands of dollars, but I'm trying to budget this out.

It seems with entry $30 + Pitt pass $10 + Transponder $10 your at $50 a day total entry fee. So if you make 10 races with a supermembership the rest are free, so to speak. They charge or at least used to if you want to reserve the same pit spot for the season. Yes a pit spot is where you park, unload, and pit for the day or weekend. They don't charge to use a pit spot every race day, but you may not get the same one week after week. A reserved spot is also just a perk of the supermembership. Practicing is always good, but at least at the early races, everyone is working to get up to speed. I would say to join in from the first race if its feasable, and add in practices to work on what you learn from the races. Thats my plan.
Paul