Is Karting Right For Me?

[The Colorado Karter]

Hi Shawn,

First and foremost, welcome to karting!! The Colorado karting community is a pretty unique one, full of friendly and approachable racers. That said, many take it quite seriously.

While you may be new to the world of karting, having experience in motorsports, and some of your own tools to start is great! As an engineer, your mechanical aptitude will serve you well as you learn more about karts and the sport in general.

Within the region, the Briggs & Stratton LO206 engine is certainly the strongest option for those starting out in karting. Over the last decade, Briggs has worked extremely hard to create consistency and parity between the engines they produce, and have designed an engine that while not necessarily the fastest option out there, has longevity and accessibility that really is unrivaled by most 2-cycle karting engines (which are awesome in their own right!).

The question of budget can get tricky, as for most racers it is honestly pretty variable. With the harder Duro tire used by most Briggs 206 classes in the region, many used or ‘dated’ chassis are still quite competitive with strong and smooth driving fundamentals. The Briggs engine rewards a smooth and consistent driver. A reasonable 206-equipped kart ‘race ready’ can be had for $1500-$2000 used, and of course more depending on your budget or ambitions. Here is a link to some rough numbers for a variety of other additional areas that may be expenses for you, depending on your finances or competitive ambition.

Regionally, the 206 has gathered a significant following. Last year, average attendance at races for this class (if we combine the two categories, heavy and light) was between 25 and 30. This coming year, these numbers look to be up even more. For many new racers this means that they often will have someone close to them in experience that they can compete against. Rotax-powered classes are also reasonably strong with quality drivers, but the senior division is still rather smaller than the 206 fields the majority of the time.

Storing a kart on a vertical kart stand is a great idea! However, even with the oil and fuel drained, I wouldn’t recommend storing the Briggs engine specifically on a vertical stand. Most 2 cycle engines tend to be ok with this practice assuming draining of fluids, but it is rare to see this done with the Briggs. As an air cooled engine with few accessories to attach, removing the Briggs engine from the kart is a 2-minute job, so it would not be a major chore to remove the engine before storing vertically.

While ultimately an enclosed trailer is going to be nicer in many respects, the additional cost and size of an enclosed trailer is a challenge for some racers. As a result, an open trailer may be more up your ally. There are several brands and options available for these trailers around Colorado. Through Dustin Courter’s (a regional racer in the 206 category and shifter) sponsorship, I do know that Parker Trailers has a 10% discount for those that mention him to them at the front desk/service center.

Setting aside the ‘startup’ costs of a kart, tools, safety equipment, etc., etc.,

A weekend racing budget would likely look similar to this:
1) Entry fees(can vary from series to series. Colorado Karting Tour is $85 per entry for members, $115 per entry for non-members.
2) Transportation costs and lodging (dependent on your preference somewhat). For races further away from Boulder, say at SBR Motorsports Park or Grand Junction Motor Speedway, a hotel may be a prudent investment depending on how much time you wish to spend at the track/commuting back and forth.
3) Fuel, tires, parts: This varies heavily between teams and drivers. In the 206 class, a typical racer would likely cycle between 2-3 sets of Duro tires a season, although many go with far less. Duro’s last time I checked were ~$150 a set. Fuel for this category can vary, but likely would be ~5-10 gallons necessary for two full days at the track (practice and a race if you choose) and it is often pump gas, which is significantly cheaper than racing fuel ($2-3 / gallon compared to $7-10 for racing fuels). Common parts you may need would include: sprockets, chains, lubricants, brake pads, replacement tires, replacement chassis parts, etc.

We are excited you are interested in the sport of karting in Colorado! I look forward to seeing your thoughts on your initial exploration of karting, and the community here will answer your questions pretty thoroughly over time.

–Eric Gunderson

[Author]

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