Karting

[Kaido]

Hey,

Looking at getting into karting at the beginning on next year, however i have no idea where to start...

I know few guys here on antilag are into karting so just looking for some help :)

first question: Racing suits is there any different between racing suits and kart suits? I was looking on demon-tweeks, and the kart suits are different to the normal racing suits. Can you use normal racing suits (2 or 3 layer FIA approve) in karting or am i better off just getting a normal karting one?

Helmets, am i able to use my DOT/SNELL approve motorbike helmet or will i have to get a racing/karting helmet?

apart from the Suit, Shoes, Gloves and Helmet will i need any other gear?

Cheers

[Wrexter]

Might also need a kart champ :p

[urabus]

Kart suits are not fireproof to the same standard as car suits. So in short you can use a car suit karting but you cant use a kart suit in a car. The kart suits are a lot cheaper and they get pretty dirty from all the crap being flung around. A lot of the higher end kart suits will have thing like shoulder protection etc. Put it this way. Of you have an expensive car suit you are fond of go and buy a kart suit. Of you dont care that you will destroy your car suit then use it karting for a couple of seasons.

A motorbike helemt is fine. Again the helemts dont have to be fire proof like a car one because it doesn't take as long to get out of a kart as it does a car.

One thing i found i cant race witout is a rib protector. You get thrown around a bit and if you bruise your ribs and keep racing they never get a chance to heal properly. People run eveything from a bit of $5 foam in there seat right up to the $300 carbon jacket thing. I have the carbon thing and it is awesome.

As for what class you want to get into you need to think about your budget and how far you want to go. If you just want to play around with some mates and aren't particularly competitive or are too heavy then your cheapest way out will be soethinglike a clubbie. If you want to get something a bit faster my advice would be 125 restricted. Basically you rebuild your rotax once a year. You will get 2-3 meetes out of a set of tyres and there are good fields. If you then decide to go to the next level all yo have to do is take out te restrictor (2 bolts), put on some different tyres and you are racing the fatest karts this side of a shifter.

Brendon

[cplagz]

PM mys1 and buy his Kart. Competitive and ready to go.

[TJ]

Might also need a kart champ :p

Nah he will just use someone elses than bag other peoples karts for not being good enough

[mys1]

My Kart is an excellent starting point for someone looking to get into it - I'll even throw in the race suit and boots, I need the space at the moment!

[Wrench]

Pics and description of said kart?

[mys1]

http://www.antilag.com/forums/showthread.php?48561-FS-Go-Kart-CRG-Kali&highlight=

[Tom]

I don't mean to shitstomp on mys1, but make sure you're set on a class before you buy a kart. No point in buying a senior national kart if you're wanting to enter into Rotax or shifters.

Might pay to have a chat with some shops. I'd recommend Flatout.

As far as gear goes, it may have changed since I was racing, but I think at one stage they were talking about making rib braces a requirment. I always used to wear one and didn't have any issues.

I preferred to wear it, those seats can really get uncomfortable on long days, the rib brace gives some padding.

[mys1]

I don't mean to shitstomp on mys1, but make sure you're set on a class before you buy a kart. No point in buying a senior national kart if you're wanting to enter into Rotax or shifters.

Might pay to have a chat with some shops. I'd recommend Flatout.

As far as gear goes, it may have changed since I was racing, but I think at one stage they were talking about making rib braces a requirment. I always used to wear one and didn't have any issues.

I preferred to wear it, those seats can really get uncomfortable on long days, the rib brace gives some padding.

No offense Taken - But if you want to be competitive in 125 classes expect to fork out a minimum of 5k! Spending 1500 on a Kart setup to see if you like it and run for a season is less of an outlay, then you can allways sell and buy a rotax if you like it! (Im selling the setup for basically a Few hundred bucks more than a Good J goes for anyway!)

Rib Protectors aren't mandatory and depending on class they aren't really nescessary - Ie the ol SL1's dont really grip up enough to cause much damage haha

[jaybee]

+1 for flatout, Greg is such a nice guy, has helped me out heaps.

everything has pretty much been covered above, the most inconvenient aspect that you need to also consider is transportation of the kart and everything else to and from the track. the ideal way is a nice little trailer but they are normally about 3k or so for a good 2nd hand one.

i may be interested in selling my rotax kart, shoot me a pm if you like.

[Tom]

Just sold my old kart trailer as well.

As mys said, 125's are very competitive. Although, a lot of the big names in the Rotax, Leopard and Shifters have moved to closed wheel or Formula Ford now.

[jaybee]

Rotax/Leopard is where it all starts though :)

Tom, know of any other trailers for sale?

[Tom]

I don't know of any at the moment, but I can ask around.

[manna_85]

If you need a suit and your skinny i got a brand new sparco for sale. doesnt fit me.

[RB20ZED]

If ur looking for a good chassis to run from starting out through to top level 125. I have a Kosmic t11/9 roller for sale with full otk magnesium gear, upgraded dent 4 pots, new chrome sticker kit etc etc. Can be seen at kart magic in rockingham and they can supply a engine and all the gear u need.
Or If ur looking at a cheaper faster form of karting I have my dirt kart for sale. Run 125,s on dirt for the same cost of competitive j racing on bitumen...
Clint

[redline07]

Clint you don't have any kosmic spares you want to sell do you? Need a new nose cone, sticker kit and seat for mine.

[Kaido]

ok bumping this topic! i am finally getting my ass into gear and trying to sort myself out a kart.

i have pick my class 125cc restricted. however now i am lost to what chassis and engine setup to go, i went down and had a chat with the guys at kartmart today and they were really helpful and gave me a ruff idea about price wise for a brand new kart was going to cost me.

My question is, is it worth me spending that little bit extra on the chassis, atm i was looking at getting myself an Arrow kart but after doing some read it seems that CRG chassis are very popular

[urabus]

I bought a brand new crg to learn in. I wouldnt say it was a mistake but it certainly had very little benefit. I bought new because in my mind it took one more variable out of it. I.e if i finished last then i knew it wasnt the kart. It was me.

Other thing with buying a new one is you know that they are straight. If it has been in a monumental you can straighten them but they are never going to win consistently in your first season.

Other thing is they can be a botch to sell 2nd hand so i didnt want to have to deal with that.

If you can afford it buy a new one but you will not see a noticeable gain inerformance in your first year.

Brendon

[shane]

I'd stick to Arrow/Monaco because of the amount of people who run them its easy to get set up advice. With karting set up is everything and if you've got no idea or no one to help with set up you'll be no were. With Arrow you've got Greg Dicker from Flat out karts and Monaco you've got Kip Foster from Kart Force that are always at the track to help. Thats the number 1 thing you need to look for whether buying new or second hand. With out the right support you'll go no were fast and quickly become frustrated with it and likely give it up.
I raced for about 5 years and loved it but in the end couldn't afford it anymore ( running a drag car is a hell of a lot cheaper ).
Running 125 whether Rotax or Leopard if you cant afford to throw a new set of tyres at it every meet you mite want to look at one of the other classes.