Karting?

bigdog1250

I'm thinking about buying a Kart this summer to get some track time in. I'm wondering who here is into shifter Karting and could provide some pointers as to where to start. Also I can't seem to find any good karting forums.

I'd be in the market for a used 125cc 6 spd.

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350z / 40th 370z / C6 Z06 / BMW M4 / V10 R8 / C7 Grand Spot / 997.1 GT3 / S2K / Camaro ZL1 / 718 GTS / 991.2 GT3

scottIN

Don't start in shifters. I see more people quit trying to start out in a shifter than in all other classes combined. IMHO, you shoudln't even be able to drive a shifter unless you've mastered a single speed. Some people make it, most give up. Check out my post in the sports section (karting 101), and for a good forum (really the only forum) ekartingnews.com.

bigdog1250

Yea I saw that site, I'll do some deeper reading on it when I get home today. Does the shifting really make it that much more difficult? I'd like it to be as close to real driving as possible. I've driven stick my entire life including dirt bikes and ATVs.

It does sound smart to get used to a single speed first, but I'd prefer to purchase one kart that I can stick with for a long time.

I appreciate the advice!

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350z / 40th 370z / C6 Z06 / BMW M4 / V10 R8 / C7 Grand Spot / 997.1 GT3 / S2K / Camaro ZL1 / 718 GTS / 991.2 GT3

TreeSemdyZee

I was gonna say, "Ask scottIN", but as usual, I'm late.

scottIN

The deal with a shifter is that you're busy all the time. I think at my track a stock moto does about 40 shifts a lap - and a good lap is 1:02. So that averages out to almost a shift a second. Like I said...you're busy. Here's a good comparison: take the fastest guy in a TaG (single speed, 26 hp) and thrown him in a shifter class (6 speed, 43 hp) and he'll finish mid pack. A shifter will blow by me like I'm sitting still on a straight, but I'll be all over them in a turn.

Also what happens is that you don't learn to drive smooth in a shifter becasue you have enough power to save your butt. It's even true in a TaG. The top guys start out in the slower classes, learn to drive, and then move to faster classes.

Here's a video from NCMP on board a shifter. You get an idea of how much is going on.

Joe Ruch Tag Worlds Final Stock Moto - YouTube

Now...all that said. If you just want something to mess around on, a lot of guys buy shifters starting out and have a lot of fun, but I think every shifter pilot I know that races started out in a lower class. (And you do get the advantage of being called a 'pilot' instead of a 'driver')

Rusty

Nice video. You catch the one turn where he down shifts 4 times before he entered. 6th down to 2nd in a heart beat. The sound on that video reminds me of when I used to race a Yammie TZ250 in AMA. Still remember the smell of bean oil in the air. LOL

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bigdog1250

This little guy looks pretty good and is local: 2009 CRG Black Star Racing Kart

Thoughts?

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350z / 40th 370z / C6 Z06 / BMW M4 / V10 R8 / C7 Grand Spot / 997.1 GT3 / S2K / Camaro ZL1 / 718 GTS / 991.2 GT3

shaun66

I started in a 15hp gokart and it took me 2 years of competitive racing before I made the switch to shifter. Start off slow you learn to drive so much smoother and it's still fun.

scottIN

Yeah, I don't know that most people realize how tough it is to even keep the damn thing on the track at first, let alone go fast.

The question always comes up-How do I get started in karting? My best advice is to go to your local track and hang out on a practice day. Look interested in a guy's kart and he'll normally tell you all about it. I've spent hours and hours talking to guys that were just curious about them while I'm working on mine and probably half a dozen of them now race. As a general rule, karters are really nice people and love to sucker other guys in (errr...I mean get others involved in this great sport). You'll learn more at the track in a day than you can in a month of reading about it online. It's also a great way to find out about good deals on used equipment. And if you really want to get in someone's good graces, help them lift their kart onto the stand.

Shaun - has that been your experience in the best way to get started?

IMWEZL

I also wanted to get into carting but I would probably look like Donkey Kong from MarioKart.

I would imagine one would have to be really precise in applying the throttle, hitting the apex, and shifting. Heck it took two seasons of auto-x just to get smooth and then fast.

scottIN

Two buddies of mine that live West Ashley came up here & drove my kart for a weekend. They now have their own karts and take weekend trips up to either Kershaw (Carolina Motorsports Park) or Jacksonville (103rd St.) to run. They both used to do track days & auto-X, but the thought of trashing their DDs got them into karting.

WEZL...as in the station? Do you know JL? She's an ex of mine.

IMWEZL

Haha naw as in the cartoon I am weasel. Karting is probably cheaper than going thru a set of RE-11s. I'm already looking for a bigger family car that can tow. I just can't see my 07 GTI up to the task of towing a kart (trailer).

cossie1600

Each set of tires are 200, you need one set each weekend

bigdog1250

How many hours of drive time would that be in the weekend? If I plan on running 2 hours in a day, how many days would I get out of a set?

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350z / 40th 370z / C6 Z06 / BMW M4 / V10 R8 / C7 Grand Spot / 997.1 GT3 / S2K / Camaro ZL1 / 718 GTS / 991.2 GT3

shaun66

Absolutely couldn't have said it better myself. I showed up to a race just to check it out and at the end of the day somebody asked me if i wanted to drive their kart and i was like YUUUUH! Thats how I got hooked(bastards). The karting community is generally really friendly always looking for new members.