Anyone into Go Karts

[smurfs_182]

Motorsport is so exspensive and i was thinking why not karting, its super fast and i would imagine atleast half the price of a track car.

are there any Kart racers here that could school me on what i need to know??

[JasonC]

paging BDsax and FredK

[george graves]

sub'ed

[j0oftheworld]

E30 track car would be less than almost any shifter/TAG kart I'm afraid to say..
You need the Kart and if it's a TAG, a service center, or if not be able to rebuild and tune, SPARES galore, wheels, slicks, rains, clutches, brakes, axles, Micron dash?, plastics, a stand, a trailer, (or a volvo V70 wagon) :) Race gas/jugs, different gear/parts for different classes/clubs, personal race/safety gear.
Not trying to sound scary but most people think their just cheap/easy.
In fact they're high maintenance and tires will run you $200/event.

On my E30 it's $250 brakes and $500 tires per year and ~$30 in gas/day. :)

[Fusion]

[george graves]

E30 track car would be less than almost any shifter/TAG kart I'm afraid to say....

No way. I mean, I'm not calling you a liar, but that's crazy. Karting is suppose to be the cheapest form of racing. I just can't see 99% of karters spending 200 on tires a weekend. Were is this info from? Are you racing?

[payney8]

If you want to be serious and competitive you will change slicks every race because red type tyres (stickiest) are loosing their effectivness after about from memory 5 heat cycles after the first two you do to prime the tyres. Its serious business. When i was seriously racing i was spending upwards of $300 a meet overall before you get into the 10k a year for a new frame + 3-4k for a new engine. Its the cheapest form of racing yes. But you can race cars cheaper in sprints etc. Because techincally its not racing because they are road registered. Racing go-karts is proper racing because they are a racing vehicle.

[z31maniac]

No way. I mean, I'm not calling you a liar, but that's crazy. Karting is suppose to be the cheapest form of racing. I just can't see 99% of karters spending 200 on tires a weekend. Were is this info from? Are you racing?

It's true, I looked into when I had the 318. Nearly bought Turk's OEM tow hitch for it. Decided doing it cheaply and getting your ass kicked all the timed seemed like a shitty way to spend a Saturday.

[fryerfighter94]

E30 track car would be less than almost any shifter/TAG kart I'm afraid to say..
You need the Kart and if it's a TAG, a service center, or if not be able to rebuild and tune, SPARES galore, wheels, slicks, rains, clutches, brakes, axles, Micron dash?, plastics, a stand, a trailer, (or a volvo V70 wagon) :) Race gas/jugs, different gear/parts for different classes/clubs, personal race/safety gear.
Not trying to sound scary but most people think their just cheap/easy.
In fact they're high maintenance and tires will run you $200/event.

On my E30 it's $250 brakes and $500 tires per year and ~$30 in gas/day. :)

No way. I mean, I'm not calling you a liar, but that's crazy. Karting is suppose to be the cheapest form of racing. I just can't see 99% of karters spending 200 on tires a weekend. Were is this info from? Are you racing?

Its the truth. Having raced since I was 5 I can say that it is crazy expensive, and my brother is racing TAG this year. Not only that, but theres like 3 different types of tag motors depending on the class that you want to run, and of course you need spares and such. Tires are expensive and NEED to be replaced every race. /feelsbadman.

I think that racing Legends would be nearly expensive as well, FWIW.

If you want to be serious and competitive you will change slicks every race because red type tyres (stickiest) are loosing their effectivness after about from memory 5 heat cycles after the first two you do to prime the tyres. Its serious business. When i was seriously racing i was spending upwards of $300 a meet overall before you get into the 10k a year for a new frame + 3-4k for a new engine. Its the cheapest form of racing yes. But you can race cars cheaper in sprints etc. Because techincally its not racing because they are road registered. Racing go-karts is proper racing because they are a racing vehicle.

tru shit

[M-technik-3]

There's another thread that discusses it. But depending on class it can be inexpensive or down right expensive.

[fryerfighter94]

There's another thread that discusses it. But depending on class it can be inexpensive or down right expensive.

If you want to race lawnmowers then sure, its probably less expensive. Anything serious, and even the 4strokes to an extent and its insane.

[smurfs_182]

well thanks guys i was sittin here all excited to get into karting,

stoned ideas rarely work out

[george graves]

Something tells me there is one or two classes that are that way, but I bet most 90% of the kart racing is budget stuff. I just buy it - at least I sure hope it's not that way.

Usually they start to put rules into place if too much money starts to ruin a class.

[payney8]

Sorry george you got it back to front. 90% of the classes are expensive and the other 10% are cheap for the very reason they are 10-20 seconds slower around a 60 sec track. All depends on your involvment and dedication to the sport. Its hardcore addictive and once you get passed once you will be looking at ways to get a better kart and that always equals $$$ then generally stepping up to a better class once you have modified your kart and then again more $$$ until you get to one of the a grade classes or unlimited. Then its huge $$$ until you get a sponsership then your on ur way to a career in racing :)

[george graves]

You guys are crushing my hope and dreams....again. Damit.