Dave and I know, as do a few others here I would imagine. Though I doubt any of us have ever competed on a course like the one in the vid, yikes!

It's a long download but well worth the wait, it gives a great feeling of speed. If you don't know what these karts are capable of take a look.

http://www.video.racing.hu/files/1038/kart_onboard2.mpeg

Man, that is awesome. Are there any sites you'd recommend for info on how to get started on kart-racing? I'm definitely going to have to try that out.

I would do a search for tracks in your area, and go to an event, talk to people in the pits. Kart racers are very helpful and always willing to talk to someone looking to get into karting. I've been out of it for a while so maybe Dave knows of some good links. I would not suggest jumping right into a shifter Kart, and maybe starting with a 100cc sprint kart. I'm not sure but I think Dave started with a shifter kart so maybe he can give you a better idea. I started with a 100cc powered kart and then moved on to a 125cc shifter kart.

karting is the cheapest, and fastest way to go racing. i go to the cheapie rental kart place here (great date... but sucks when you can't find anyone to compete against, even with +100lb advantages), only until i can afford absolutely everything i'd need to be competitive.

ekartingnews (http://www.ekartingnews.com/NewToKarting/?sid=d3f1045895541e6f5692b8d906654085&PHPSESSID=b4d7bea900dbeefebeeeaa7f1bafd4d5&PHPSESSID=b4d7bea900dbeefebeeeaa7f1bafd4d5) has a wealth of info about karting and also a guide write up about how to get started in karting. You should check it out when you get a chance.

Still waiting for the download... apparently we're creaming that server. :D

Anyway... www.ekartingnews.com is the place to go. There 's a "newbie" link on the top in red (or pink). Good info there. Tons of great info on the forums, so go there and search, search, search.

Also depends on whether you want to go wheel-to-wheel or autocross. I just autocross, apart from practice days at the local track. (married, have a young boy... need to be concerned about not getting hurt)

I had a 100cc kart many years ago. I never got competitive with it, but I was still hooked. So I went to a 125cc shifter last year. A big jump. If you're going wheel-to-wheel, go 100cc first (like Ike wisely said) to understand how to drive a kart and tune it. Driving a kart *fast* is very different than a car. Takes some re-learning.

There are some great low-maintenence options out there (HPV) or even the TAG (touch and go) karts that have 125cc motors (fast) but have electric start and moderate power (for a 125) to prolong engine component life.

No matter what, they're serious fun. More of a rush than any car I've been in, and far more accessible too in terms of cost and ease of getting laps, etc.

Hey, thanks for the help. I'm moving to Maryland in a few weeks, so I'll definitely check out the local carting scene.

W:eek: W !! Reminds me to the Isle of man TT. Those walls don't inspire me any confidence.

Just watched the vid... it's unusual to see a three-pedal kart. His setup looks like (from left to right) clutch, brake and throttle. Cool.

Also, this looked like part of the Isle of Man event. I don't think the karts do the whole circuit. Awesome.

What these guys in the vid are doing takes some serious balls. It appears there are many blind corners. Karting is about the biggest adrenaline rush you'll get. I've gone over 100mph in snowmobiles, done trackdays, jumped out of planes, snowboard, skateboard, BMX, autox, you name it. Nothing compares to wheel to wheel racing in a racing kart. Dave, I hope you've at least gone up to Dousman or other tracks for practice sessions. Seems a waste to only run for a few minutes on a Sunday when you could be going through a few tanks of gas :D

Originally posted by racerdave
Just watched the vid... it's unusual to see a three-pedal kart. His setup looks like (from left to right) clutch, brake and throttle. Cool.

Also, this looked like part of the Isle of Man event. I don't think the karts do the whole circuit. Awesome.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if that pedal setup was more common now or if it's something a little different from the norm. Something tells me he doesn't have quite as good a breaks as the guy that was in front of him, or he just wasn't pushing it as hard.

Originally posted by IkeWRX
Karting is about the biggest adrenaline rush you'll get. I've gone over 100mph in snowmobiles, done trackdays, jumped out of planes, snowboard, skateboard, BMX, autox, you name it.

You should buy a used Yamaha R6 and take it on the track. 100% pure, unaltered, unfiltered adrenaline.

Originally posted by desmo996
You should buy a used Yamaha R6 and take it on the track. 100% pure, unaltered, unfiltered adrenaline.

I'm soo tempted to get a used 600cc sportbike, I just know it's not a good idea. I've always been too much of a speedfreak and I'm affraid of what I would do with a sportbike. I would be the jackass trying to do a wheelie up to 120mph on the highway. I would also try to test my limits my very first time out at a track. In a kart it's dangerous, in a car it's dangerous, on a bike it's much more dangerous.

WOW! That looks like loads of fun. Just how fast do these shifter karts go? The video brought back fond memories of my home made "General Lee" go-kart complete with competition orange paint, rebel flag decal floor plate and 8 HP Briggs & Stratton Engine I had when I was a young'n! Oh yeah, I put in a black box with a fake CB mike and an antenna too!

originally, my homade go-kart ran gear driven with a Husqvarna chainsaw motor (now older and wiser I wonder what would've happend if I would've snapped the chain), then upgraded to belt drive with the B&S as I got bigger and bolder. Sold it to my cousin when I was 12.

Ahhh the old days. Now kids have to be safe and wear a helmet when they ride a bicycle or any other "FUN" activity. Not that it would matter. It seems most would rather stay inside and play X-Box games. It just seems when I was growing up, you learned to take a fall. But this is a whole nother rant.

HMMMMM maybe I should start a thread on stupid dangerous stuff we did as kids.

100cc + karts are quite capable of hitting 100+ mph. And they do so breathtakingly fast. 160mph isn't unheard of from the 250cc karts, and they will embarass the times of just about any roadgoing car around a track, supercars included.

Damn Ike,

As you know, I started the "dumb things" thread, but seriously, 160mph in a kart? That's just retarded! I have to build a Kart, like now! I'll start looking for kart races in Germany post haste!

I guess when you wreck, you're just ummmmmm Dead, yeah real fast death

Originally posted by AutoBahnRX8
Damn Ike,

As you know, I started the "dumb things" thread, but seriously, 160mph in a kart? That's just retarded! I have to build a Kart, like now! I'll start looking for kart races in Germany post haste!

It's pretty big in Europe, and it's prettymcuh the training ground for many professional racecar drivers throughout the world. Some believe it teaches the dynamics of openwheel F1 style racing better than driving anything but an F1 car.

Originally posted by AutoBahnRX8
I guess when you wreck, you're just ummmmmm Dead, yeah real fast death

Nah, I've spun going close to 100mph a couple times. Most of the time when you spin it's because you overcooked a turn (so you've already slowed down from braking) and you just hit some haybails or a sandtrap. It's over in a flash and if you're at the a proper track it's very safe and very tough to flip them. That racing in the streets stuff is a different story though.

Sounds great! I've only been here about 3 months but I'll start looking! I would imagine it won't take much money to start. Maybe $2000. Let me know if I'm way off track

Dammit, I wish there was a live chat for this forum!

Originally posted by AutoBahnRX8
Sounds great! I've only been here about 3 months but I'll start looking! I would imagine it won't take much money to start. Maybe $2000. Let me know if I'm way off track

You could get into a used kart for around that, it really depends on if you want the latest and the best. I think if you're just getting into it used is the way to go. That way if you realize it's just not for you you can turn around and sell it for about what you paid.

anyone in illinois can go here:

http://www.chicagoindoorracing.com/

it's an indoor kart racing track...they use Honda GX200s, 200 cc 4 cycle motor, revving up to 5,500 rpm.

i think it's limited to 35mph though...i haven't gone yet cuz i just heard about it yesterday...

Originally posted by BRx8
anyone in illinois can go here:

http://www.chicagoindoorracing.com/

it's an indoor kart racing track...they use Honda GX200s, 200 cc 4 cycle motor, revving up to 5,500 rpm.

i think it's limited to 35mph though...i haven't gone yet cuz i just heard about it yesterday...

It won't be anything like real kart racing, but I'm sure it's still fun none the less :)

Yes, the 250 superkarts are really that fast. The current "king" of the superkarts is none other than a true king of motorsports... Eddie Lawson.

Yes, *that* Eddie Lawson... the three-time F1 bike world champ.

Here's an idea of how fast the 250 Superkarts are... V-8 Trans-Am cars lap Road America at about 2:10 or so. Lawson did a lap of 2:17 in his 250cc kart. Yes folks, that's fast.

As for Badger... yes, Ike, I went through about 4 gallons of gas there... and will again this year. :)

If you live in Phoenix, AZ - check out the Bondurant Super Cart School - http://www.bondurantsuperkarts.com/karttrack.html

They said the formula one drivers practice with shifter carts because its the closest feeling to F1. The 125cc carts at the school are said to go zero to 100 in six seconds and 100 to zero in four seconds!

AutobahnRX8 - there is a kart track at the Nurburgring, and another at Zindsheid?? which is close to you I think. I live in Cologne and want to go to the Schumacher indoor place on the A4 some time soon... (I don't know if the other two are indoor or not...)