And after any advice from anybody already involved.

My main concern is whether it'd be even worth my while my while turning up - my initial impression is that I'd get tonked by 5 stone midgets.

But, having looked into it, the minnimum weights would probably mean I'd perhaps be adding a little ballast to make the grade, which gives me a little hope.

The classes I'd be looking at would be TKM Extreme or Honda Twin Engine (Prokart?) - I think Rotax is a couple of seasons down the road for now.

From the looks of things, I could get a kart for about £500 and a seasons racing for something like £1000 including for entry fees, fuel, tyres, a bit of damage maybe (£75 per event for 10 events plus a few practice sessions).

I want to get into a bit of motorsport but it's expensive. I figured I could do a few years of karting on a budget and then go to Rotax or maybe have a crack at FF1600 ir Caterham Academy - basically follow the traditional routes of most racers, but about 15 years too late, with a bigger belly and better appreciation for girls/beer

ETA

This is all spurred on by the fact I'll be selling the Indy soon due to wife's redundancy/my own business being a bit slow. So, it's a sort of scaling down my interests while still having a hand in dabbling with all things mchanical/fast/on track. Plus, I like the idea of actually having space in my garage to work on things nicely!

[Edited on 21/12/09 by StevieB]

Have you had a look at the Rotax Max class ?

You might want to look at Easykart and also club 100, google both. Club 100 might be a good start as you hire the kart and then you can see if you like it and can then move up and buy your own if you get on ok.
J

All i can say is just do it, i also had a 125cc Prokart (automatic) and it's really addictive and you really learn a lot about braking and cornering.

The problem you are going to encouter is that the mind want's to keep going but your body doesn't agree with it, at least that happend with me.

Like i said just go for it.

i done 5 years karting 250E gearbox class 15years ago and been thinking of having another go as suprised how cheep karts seem now, if looking at doing competatively worth having a trip to local tracks and see what classes are raced and some do hire drive which may be a way to test classes, with minimum weights that shouldnt be a issue but dont be supprised with some whipper snappers beating you!! im still stuck on gearbox classes as seem more like driver involvement, but wont be any quicker that a direct drive on a short circuit as less tracks race them, but if you go the gearbox route can always do long circuit racing with laps faster than most things!!

i'd start with a pro kart as its a lot cheaper, no need to buy a new set of tyres every 2 meetings. If you need any more info u2u me as i have a few contacts.

cheers

I think you are underestimating your budget. To be competitive you are going to have to spend more that £500 on a chassis, and your annual running cost will be a lot more than £1000. Consider this, you will probably need at least 1 set of tyres per event that will cost you approx £125, if you have a mixed day (i.e. wet and dry) that will be two sets. Your entry fee will be aroind £50 an event)

Don't want to be a kill joy but it really is a lot more expensive than it seems.

I used to race prokarts and did think about getting back into it, but after a visit to my local track I found out instead of using the standard GX160 that cost about £250 brand new, they have all started using tuned motors that cost from £400 to £800 (and you need two of them)

I was seriously looking to get back into to it, but it seems that money has spoiled my old hobby, as it usually does.

Cheers

Scott

[Edited on 21/12/09 by phoenix70]

M budget is based on TKM extreme at one of my local clubs (ok, Sunderland, but not really all that far away).

In that class you're limited to 2 sets of slicks per season (and it's a control tyre), plus wets as required, so tyre costs not too bad. There's a few tkm extreme karts for sale at the moment for under £500 including spares - might not be the best, but will be a start (plus there's nothing worse than being the 'all the gear, no idea' screwby!).

Entry fees are £35 per race.

They also have a pro-kart class that's restricted to the gx160 engines.

With karts for both classes being a similar cost, it sounds like the gx160's will be considerably cheaper to replace/have a spare than the tkm motor. There's no restriction on how many sets of tyres for pro-kart, but I'm not sure how quick I'd get through them in pro-kart.

The aim isn't to be competetive right away - just to have a go for a season or so then start to get competetive thereafter.

[Edited on 21/12/09 by StevieB]

Club 100 is a great series, I did this before moving to Locosts. It's arrive & drive so nothing to worry about apart from learning your racecraft. They run different weight classes (<80kg, >85kg & >90kg) so ample folks (like me..) have a chance to be competitive. And IMHO the 100cc 2-stroke karts are far more fun than pro-karts.

Really depends on which you like? 2 stroke or 4 stroke? I love the high reving 2 stroke engines and dont like racing lawnmower engines. But................

Big problem i found after i bought my Tony Kart rotax Max was you are very limited where you can use it if you are on a small budget. Plenty of the pro tracks allow but you will pay a price for this. If you are just going to race for a bit of fun then look for a local airfield kart club and you will find this alot cheaper.

I might end up going 4 stroke just to be able to use it on smaller local arrive and drive tracks. Really hard to swallow tho..

quote:

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Originally posted by StevieB
M budget is based on TKM extreme at one of my local clubs (ok, Sunderland, but not really all that far away).

In that class you're limited to 2 sets of slicks per season (and it's a control tyre), plus wets as required, so tyre costs not too bad. There's a few tkm extreme karts for sale at the moment for under £500 including spares - might not be the best, but will be a start (plus there's nothing worse than being the 'all the gear, no idea' screwby!).

Entry fees are £35 per race.

They also have a pro-kart class that's restricted to the gx160 engines.

With karts for both classes being a similar cost, it sounds like the gx160's will be considerably cheaper to replace/have a spare than the tkm motor. There's no restriction on how many sets of tyres for pro-kart, but I'm not sure how quick I'd get through them in pro-kart.

The aim isn't to be competetive right away - just to have a go for a season or so then start to get competetive thereafter.

[Edited on 21/12/09 by StevieB]

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It's definately 2 sets per season - you have to leave them in the club store between races as well.

TKM does need a rebuild at least once per season from what I read. I've found a supplier of them who will sell a bare engine for £500 plus VAT, which would almost make it worth just having a new engine every year rather than the £500 rebuild.

The GX160 tuned version is about £380, and I'm huessing they'd last a lot longer than the TKM. So, as an introduction I think Pro-Kart might be the way to go and with any luck the kart I buy might already have decent engines on it already. I can progress on to TKM or Rotax at a later stage if I want!

How long do tyres last on the pro-karts - I don't imagine the top speed is too dissimilar from the TKM (probably a little lower even), and putting out about half the power, they must be a little more gentle on tyres than the 2 stroke screamers?

quote:

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Originally posted by StevieB
The GX160 tuned version is about £380, and I'm huessing they'd last a lot longer than the TKM. So, as an introduction I think Pro-Kart might be the way to go and with any luck the kart I buy might already have decent engines on it already. I can progress on to TKM or Rotax at a later stage if I want!

How long do tyres last on the pro-karts - I don't imagine the top speed is too dissimilar from the TKM (probably a little lower even), and putting out about half the power, they must be a little more gentle on tyres than the 2 stroke screamers?

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I race TKM Extreme and my engine is being rebuild at the moment, it does not cost £500! I am paying £160 for a complete rebuild (excl ConRod) from a reputable race engine tuner!

A TKM engine will last around 8-hours easily between rebuilds (and a bit more if it is looked after and not revved stupid) so that should do most 'hobby' karters just fine for a season.

If you are racing once a month then the costs you described should be about OK. I reckon it costs between £70-£100 per meeting including fuel, tyres, consumables - it depends on how often you race, where you race and whether you're a person that has to buy everything new!

HTH

[Edited on 22/12/09 by Tiger Super Six]

quote:

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Originally posted by Tiger Super Six
I race TKM Extreme and my engine is being rebuild at the moment, it does not cost £500! I am paying £160 for a complete rebuild (excl ConRod) from a reputable race engine tuner!

A TKM engine will last around 8-hours easily between rebuilds (and a bit more if it is looked after and not revved stupid) so that should do most 'hobby' karters just fine.

If you are racing once a month then the costs you described should be about OK. I reckon it costs between £70-£100 per meeting including fuel, tyres, consumables - it depends on how often you race, where you race and whether you're a person that has to buy everything new!

HTH

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TKM all day long, it's a 2 stroke engine that rev's to 16,000 and pulls well out of the corners, you won't get that with a 4 stroke pro kart.

Much more fun!

quote:

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Originally posted by Tiger Super Six
I race TKM Extreme and my engine is being rebuild at the moment, it does not cost £500! I am paying £160 for a complete rebuild (excl ConRod) from a reputable race engine tuner!

A TKM engine will last around 8-hours easily between rebuilds (and a bit more if it is looked after and not revved stupid) so that should do most 'hobby' karters just fine for a season.

If you are racing once a month then the costs you described should be about OK. I reckon it costs between £70-£100 per meeting including fuel, tyres, consumables - it depends on how often you race, where you race and whether you're a person that has to buy everything new!

HTH

[Edited on 22/12/09 by Tiger Super Six]

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I am using Grice racing in Basildon this time but have also used Gary Munroe in Stansted. Both of them can rebuild Rotax motors and are well known so either are fine depending which is closer to you.

Drop me a u2u if you need anymore info.

Mark

see link karting link

I Endurance raced Rotax MAX for 5 years between 2000 and 2005. Did Le Mans 24hr twice and also did it once in Prokart Hire Class. Did Spa 6hr 4 times and raced in all the UK MAX Endurance Championships. ES2i, Toshiba, GT Challenge, and the Trackside Endurance Series.

Worked out once that in 2003 (our busiest year) with all the races and the testing we put over 500 hours in.

We also managed to get a MAX engine to do 200 hrs between major rebuild! We normally had piston and bearing changes at 50hrs but we left one engine to see what it would do.

Interesting thread this about which way to go so here is my two peneth worth:

2 stroke is much more demanding on both body and wallet.

Prokart has little in the way of finesse but is both cheaper and easier on the body physically.

Don't forget to add in some testing and general maintenance costs as you will need to do some especially after a wet race!

Unless you cook wet tyres on a drying track they should alst you a whole season. I don't know what the control slick tyre is but to last a season it will be made of wood! so don't expect high cornering speeds! Although its all relative as whatever you choose to do you WILL enjoy it!

So my over-riding advice is DO IT! I stopped at the end of the 2005 season and in truth I miss everything about it. I miss the racing, the travelling all over Europe, the events (do Le Mans you will feel like a real racing driver as there is a crowd AND at the end of the race I defy you to NOT be emotional). I miss the people and paddock friendship.

It doesn't matter how much you spend, get on the grid and enjoy.

IMHO

......Neil

Control tyres are Maxxis Greens for tkm - there doesn't appear to be any control or restriction on tyre type or quantity in pro-kart.

This is all, of course, based on what my local club runs rather than any national rules. What I would like to keep in mind would be to run something that can be used both within the club and in any events further affield with little or no change to the kart.

This will keep options open and also add to the resale value IMHO.

quote:

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Originally posted by StevieB
Control tyres are Maxxis Greens for tkm - there doesn't appear to be any control or restriction on tyre type or quantity in pro-kart.

This is all, of course, based on what my local club runs rather than any national rules. What I would like to keep in mind would be to run something that can be used both within the club and in any events further affield with little or no change to the kart.

This will keep options open and also add to the resale value IMHO.

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TKM do run maxis greens and these are the same for MSA level racing, they then use maxis reds for wets.

One thing to note is that they are changing the greens next year to a different compound, you will still be able to use the old greens but the new ones are supposed to offer up more grip (They are not on sale until January).

To start with I wouldn't worry about new tyres etc as you need to get used to the kart, the way it accelerates and how it handles.

Once you start to get the most out of that then start investing money in new tyres that will actually offer some benefit to you (you will only need a couple of meetings or test sessions)

karts can be cheap - if you are happy being mid pack... and just making up the grid - but having good craic wheel to wheel.....

IF/When you want to get into the top few... the costs will go up dramatically, and you'd be able to run in a club 'car' racing series..

I wouldn't agree, at club level your driving will make up for budgets. The boys that spend the cash can't always drive! It is different when you get to National level but the original thread was on about fun/hobby karting.

quote:

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Originally posted by gixermark
karts can be cheap - if you are happy being mid pack... and just making up the grid - but having good craic wheel to wheel.....

IF/When you want to get into the top few... the costs will go up dramatically, and you'd be able to run in a club 'car' racing series..

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Mark's hit the nail on the head - the plan is to get into some form of motorsport and enjoy myself while gaining some form of experience.

Karting offers cheap entry, local clubs which limits travelling around (I have a young family) and running costs are relatively low.

While I am karting, I shall be saving enough money to buy and prep for car racing - preferbly in a class where, like the karting, it's about fun rather than big budgets.

I have the desire to be a competetive racer eventually, but I'm 31 years old so unlikely to ever achieve much so might as well stick with the fun side of things.

bang on.... if you go into karting with that attitude and its a bit of craic.. you'll have a blast...

pm me if you wish.... i've been there with karts.. and quite a few other racing disciplines.... settled on cars for now - pipe and slippers required at 33

Well, got myself a rolling chassis on ebay, so looks like I'm going down the 2 stroke route.

Just need to get a set of wheels (or several sets with tyres) and an engine - probably TKM extreme.