FAQ  (Frequently Asked Questions) most karting answers can be found on this page

GETTING  STARTED?

What you should know...

Karting has become so popular that you should be able to find a track near you. Most of the major cities in the US have one or more tracks designed especially for racing.

This is really the most important element at this stage...finding a track you’re comfortable with. Tracks vary in design. Some are a lot more fun than others, so check around and see what’s out there. They also differ in what classes they offer. Even though most typically run under one of the national kart organizations rules, they also offer what’s called “local Option “ classes. These classes are offered because they feel that a variation of the organizations rules is in order for their particular location. For example: there might be a dealer near a particular track that loves 4 cycle engines, and since that shop services and supports that track weekly, they tend to offer more 4 cycle classes than another track just 30 miles away. So, if you have the option of a couple of tracks, visit them all to see which one best suits your needs.

Once you find a track you prefer, contact them and go watch a race and then attend one of their monthly meetings. There you can get a rule book as well as being able to ask questions and get to know the people you will be racing with. If you haven’t been to one of their races do so. You’ll find that they are great sources of information. Many dealers also display their wares as do many of the local drivers, so if you’re looking for a used kart, this would be the first place to look.

Today there are 3 forms of karts available to you: Fun, Concession and Racing.

Fun Karts are the type that you can find at places like K-Mart and are designed to have fun around your yard or down an alley. They usually are priced around the $500.00 and are mainly for kids.

  Concession Karts are those that are used at fun parks that also offer things like miniature golf and  batting cages. You can’t buy Concession karts, and even if you could, I’m not sure why you’d want to.

Then there’s racing karts. These karts are the ones that most we’re interested in. Racing karts are purpose built machines designed that allow you the opportunity to tune them to suit your own needs. They are built from the most exotic materials available today.  Racing karts are too fast for “concession” type tracks and are built so you can choose which type of engine you’d like to run on it.

We are often asked the question “Are there blueprints available and can I build my own kart”? My answer is, that unless you have a serious mechanical and engineering background and access to the a wealth of machinery, I would suggest otherwise. Not only do you have to conform to stringent rules and regulations set forth by the various racing organizations, but you’ll be competing against companies that have decades of racing experience to draw from, and some of them are actually teams that build Indy Cars for a living. That type of experience is hard to beat. My advise is to save the time and headache and buy something from a reliable and established company and go out and have a good time. You’ll be glad you did.

Racing karts come in a variety of designs, depending on what type of racing you are interested in competing in. Those divisions are: Enduro, Oval (dirt or asphalt) and Sprint categories.

Sprint racing is by far the most popular. Sprint races are held on road-course type tracks that are anywhere from 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile in length. Sprint karts can also be driven on any of the other types of tracks, which makes them the most versatile of all the karting divisions. This class, depending on engine size, runs speeds in the neighborhood of 45 - 80 MPH  and fully prepared, generally cost between $2000.00 and $5000.00. Most Sprint races run short but quick 10 to 15 lap heat races, thus the name “Sprint”. Each state usually offers a number of Sprint tracks that run every weekend, which makes it very accessible and the most popular division in the sport.

Oval racing is held on tighter tracks of 1/8 or even 10 mile lengths. They also run on either dirt or asphalt. Oval racing is the 2nd largest division, and is more common in the southern regions due the popularity of NASCAR, but are held in each state across the country as well. Oval chassis are specialized designs that are engineered specifically for tight courses where you only turn one direction. Oval karts can not compete on road courses, however, Sprint karts can and do complete on Oval tracks...and in the right hands, do very well.

Then there is the Enduro division. This division runs longer, endurance races, thus the name Enduro. These karts vary drastically from either the Sprint or Oval divisions in that the karts are designed so the driver lays down in the kart for better aerodynamics. However,  Sprint karts, although they run their own separate race,  can run in Enduro events too, which is why the Sprint karts are generally more popular. This division runs on the big car  tracks like the Daytona International Speedway, Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake, Road Atlanta, and so on and are the fastest of the lot as it is not uncommon to average speeds of well over 90 MPH!.  Some Enduro karts even run twin engines, which makes for a truly exciting ride!

Unfortunately, the Enduro tracks are few and far in-between, so this class is the smallest division of karting, but offers a lot of excitement for those you want to run on the same circuits that Mario and AJ have.

Which class is for you?

If you live in the south where there are more oval tracks, and you enjoy that type of racing, then a 4 cycle kart is a good place to start. If you decide to try oval racing and purchase a specified oval chassis, remember that you can not run that kart, or should I say you won’t be very competitive, if you run it on anything other than an oval track. If you’re not sure oval racing is where you’ll end up, but there’s an oval track near you, than you might want to consider buying a Sprint chassis and tuning it to run on ovals. Then you’ll be able to run it on just about anything.

If you prefer the challenge of tuning your kart to turn left and right, and are in a local that offers Sprint tracks, then you may want to try Sprint racing. Sprint karts are the most common since you can tune them to run on every type of track imaginable -Sprints, Oval, Enduro or Street courses.

Enduro karts are completely different. They’re faster, but the biggest difference is that the tracks are fewer and farther in-between. Enduro racing is popular with older drivers as it is a lot less physical than Sprint or Oval racing in that the courses are much longer and the turns are long and sweeping.

The Engines

All of the classes that we just discussed can run with either of two different types of engines: 2 cycle or 4 cycle. The differences are dramatic. All engines used in karting is of the single cylinder type. The 2 cycle engine is an engine with no cam or valves. It is similar to that found on chain-saws and many snow blowers and requires the fuel and oil to be mixed together. These engines produce between 14 and 30 horsepower and run in speeds of 50 to 90 MPH.  A 2 cycle engine revs a lot higher than a 4 cycle and offers good top end performance. They’re popular with the Sprint and Enduro crowds, but less with the Oval drivers because it is harder to get the power to the ground on tighter ovals. An average new 2 cycle engine starts at around $1200.00.

The four cycle engine is similar to that on your lawnmower. It has valves and cams and a flywheel. The 5 HP Brigs & Stratton engine is the most common, although Honda, and others are all players as well. Typically these engines produce approximately 8 to 12 hp and run in speeds of 30 to 55 MPH. The 4 cycle engine is prevalent in oval racing as they produce good torque for their tighter tracks. A new race ready Briggs stock engine costs around $700.00.

The Classes

As we have mentioned, there are 2 different engine divisions available in karting: 2 and 4 cycle. Each of these engines run in their own classes and not together, meaning that the 2 cycle groups run separate races than the 4 cycles. Then it’s broken down even more than that, in that within each of these divisions, we have additional classes. For instance; under the 4 cycle division we have a variety of classes such as, Stock, Modified and Open. The reason for this is that each group breaks up the whole pie so that there are manageable numbers in any one race. Some people want to go as fast as they can and don’t mind spending whatever it takes to accomplish that, so they might opt for the “Open” division. So the Open race might only have 20 karts competing. On the other hand you might find that you want to keep your budget intact and don’t want to go at ballistic speeds, so the “Stock” class would be for you.

Breaking down the classes in this manor keeps each class to a manageable number and also gives everyone a place to run. For anyone just getting started, this can be very confusing, so my advise is to go to a race and watch. Notice how many drivers are competing in each one and how fast they run. Then go talk to the drivers in that class. I would suggest though that you start with the “stock” class until you really get a feel for things. You might find, as a majority of racers have, that the Stock class is ideal, and there really isn’t any good reason to move up to more expensive or faster class. Beside, the “stock” classes are popular everywhere, so no matter where you travel in the country, you’ll always find a place to race with a “stock” setup. 

 The Events

There are 4 levels of karting events today:

1) Local Club events

2) Regional Series

3) National

4) Street and Special Indoor events

Most local club races are held on Sunday’s, and often times every weekend, but that varies with each track and club. Oval dirt racing usually is held at night so the dirt track doesn’t dry out as quickly. Others divisions usually start practice in the mornings and begin racing around noon and are done by late afternoon. Some tracks are also open for practice on Saturdays before the scheduled club race and even on week days. This is a great time to get some track time in and become more familiar with your equipment and your ability.

Club races are held by local clubs on any of the 1800 tracks around the country. These events are more relaxed then that of the other two as it’s geared to have more fun and less pressure. It’s also the most popular because of those reasons too.

Then you have the Regional races that are designed to give you more serious competition and prepare you for the national events. Regional Series events are held at various tracks within a few neighboring states which keeps your travel time to a minimum. These are more serious than club events and require more experience and travel time but offer you an opportunity to run for a series point championship at a variety of track within a reasonable travel distance.

National events are more serious than local club events and are held throughout a full weekend generally starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. If you attend a national event, you’ll need to arrive early in the week to get a good pit space and enough track and practice time. So national events are certainly more demanding in that sense. Although they require more of a time commitment, they generally only run them once a month or so.

You’ll find the cream of the crop at national events who are often preparing to move into a professional racing career. You’ll need years of good local and regional experience, an understanding employer who will let you off work a lot and a more sizeable pocketbook to compete at this level.

And lastly, there are special events like Street races and Indoor programs.

Street racing is very exciting. Unlike many of the regular kart tracks that are built miles away from civilization, street races brings the drama of karting to the public. It can also be more dangerous than a club event in that you generally don’t have any runoff areas as you do a purpose built kart track does. Promoters of this type of racing often do their best to provide safety by using hay bales to line the temporary circuit, but you must always remember that if you have trees, telephone poles and parking meters lining the course, there is always room for errors, especially when you have 40 drivers running wheel to wheel.

Street racing isn’t for everybody, certainly not for novices to karting. It attracts drivers from all over the country because it is something out of the ordinary, and generally these drivers take the sport pretty serious. Street racing is fantastic, but I always advise drivers to be realistic. Walk the track before you race on it. If you feel it is unsafe, don’t race. Talk to the officials and voice your concerns. Use common sense. No one is forcing you to race. Don’t be one of these people that complain or sue after the race is over. You have a brain...use it.

All too often people think that they need to run in the highest level of whatever the sport offers. I strongly question that logic. Karting is often more rewarding at the local level than the national level in so much as these points are concerned:

1. Cost - local racing is affordable

2. Travel - racing each weekend at a track that is with comfortable driving distance allows you to have fun and get back home to mow the grass.

3. Competition. 98% of karters stay at home, and many have the same skill level as those that you’ll find on the national circuits - so if you need to test yourself you can try the national programs, but remember the competition is most likely just as strong locally as anywhere else.

4. Overall cost - local racing is cheap. Fuel and entry fees is all you’ll need. National level racing is several times more expensive. Time, travel, parts, pressure. National level racing is not for everyone...local racing is!

5. And at the local level, you don’t have to belong to any racing organization. Many of the local tracks don’t require you to belong to one.

Organizations:

There are many national organizations in karting. These organizations primarily hold races in various states and establish the basic rules we all run. WKA (World Karting Association), IKF (International Karting Association), IRA (International Racing Organization) and KART are the most notable organizations, but there are many smaller groups as well.

The reason so many organizations exists, is that the country is too large to be governed by one group. WKA covers the east coast and southeast regions: KART the central part of the country: IKF west cost: and IRA the Midwest. All hold events in other parts of the country, but they’re strongest in the locals indicated. Although they vary little, each has a little different slant to their events, whether it’s in the rules, or the way they run their races.

To put it all in perspective, there are over 120,000 racers nationwide, but fewer than 10 percent of kart racers belong to any organization.

Running with some of the national organizations won’t give you any more “inside” information than you would at the club level, so unless you intent on running a national race, you’ll save money by concentrating on the local racing program until the time comes to move on.

It may sound a bit confusing trying to understand where all the national organizations, clubs and series come into play, but you’ll quickly see that karting offers everyone a place to race and have fun. Classes are broken down by engine size, drivers age and combined weight. Whether you want to go 25 miles and hour or over 90, karting offers a variety of classes to satisfy everyone and at a price that everyone can afford.

Prices can range from as little as $750.00 for a used kart setup to well over $8000.00 for the top of the line Shifter Karts. Aside from the kart, you’ll need a good approved and certified racing helmet, a driving suit and a few spare parts and you’re ready to go have fun.

At this point, my advice would be to buy a used kart, preferably a 4 cycle or a restricted 2 cycle class as they are a little slower and will give you time to learn, is affordable and easy to work on. After you learn more about the sport and racing in general, you can move into something else. Money can’t buy success at this level. Until you know how to tune your kart, learn about close wheel-to-wheel racing and understand all the little tips and tricks, you’ll still find yourself in the back of the pack, no matter how much money you spend.

Again, I would suggest that you contact a local club before you do anything. From there you can get all the rules and find out what classes are offered and what equipment is available. Beware not to buy a kart or engine before you find out what your local track offers in terms of class structures as you might find out that the kart you bought from a friend or out of the newspaper or at a garage sale, does not have a class to run in at your regular track. Save yourself the time and frustration and visit your local club first. They’re eager to enlist new drivers and will be very helpful in pointing you in the right direction.

Now, once you have acquired your kart, picked out your drivers safety gear, are ready to hit the track, don’t forget to take a good look at your insurance policy. Not to scare you, but this is racing, and racing can and is dangerous. Don’t be fooled by the word Go-Kart”. These are racing machines that can provide a lot of fun and excitement, but are real racing machines first.

Some insurance policies don’t cover racing activities. Be sure your’s allows you to participate in this type of activity, and look at the limits it provides. Talk to your agent and think about adjusting the policy to fit your needs. Most clubs offer insurance at their events and often times it’s included with the Pit Pass you buy, but you should always ask questions. What is the amount of coverage that they provide? What does and doesn’t it cover? You just might be surprised at what it doesn’t cover.

Generally the insurance offered at many race tracks is considered a secondary policy. That means that it will take care of certain things “after” your personal policy stops. If you don’t have any insurance, then it will cover you but only up to its limits, which sometimes are less than what you might need. So it’s always best to have a strong personal policy before you go to the track, especially if the track doesn’t offer ANY insurance. Some tracks that run what is called, “Outlaw” rules, might not offer any insurance. Be sure you ask before you enter and event. If they don’t offer insurance, you’ll want to make sure you have what you need before you put your kart on the track. Again use common sense. Don’t fool yourself in believing that others are going to take care of everything for you.

Now, you’re ready to start enjoying a lifetime of family fun and excitement. Nothing that I can think of offers you more bang for the buck than karting. If you follow these guidelines, I’m confident that you’ll get started on the right foot and will have a good time doing it.

See you at the track.....