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Welcome to Colorado Karting!
The way you get good is a secret but I’ll tell you anyway. Put your gluteus maxximus in the seat and drive. When you get used to the speed and grip of the tires then you can really get to down to work.
Seat time is what makes you fast. When you are comfortable then you can start tweaking the kart to make it handle better and such.
But Michael Schumacher wasn’t Michael Schumacher out of the box so keep that in mind. Have fun while you get good.
What kind of kart? Engine? Class?
Look for a kart at the kart shops either new or used or in this classified section. As for a trailer call Trailer Source or look used in the local classified. Many choices, many things to consider…Hi Erik,
Welcome. I’m very new to karting, so perhaps I can offer some help.1) Will you be good from the start?
Why does this matter? Chances are you will not be very good at the start. Just like you wouldn’t be a good skier or rock climber or video gamer, just like it took time to learn to ride a bike or drive a car.Karting requires mental and physical skills and concentration. Much of these can be learned, but there are definitely some people who will be better than others. Being in good physical shape is a big help. Being able to understand the physics of how the kart drives is a big help. Lots of practice is a big help.
I’ve done various kinds of car racing for more than fifteen years. I had my first day at the track in a shifter kart and felt like I needed training wheels. It felt like trying to fly the Space Shuttle. I can’t wait to get back and do it again.
2) Where to find a kart and trailer?
Depends on what you want. I suggest you figure out your budget first. How much are you able to spend, and how much are you willing to spend? If you’ve got help from any source – parents, sponsors, friends – then they should be part of that discussion.
How much time are you willing to spend karting? What else do you do with your time? Those answers may affect your budget, too.
There are several local kart dealers on this forum. Also, there are consignment karts for sale at local tracks. That’s a great way to at least look at several different karts. There are the classifieds here, craigslist.org, and, of course, Ebay.Depending on what kind of trailer you need, you might buy that separately. A small open trailer can be found for less than $200, up to $5,000 or more for a nice, enclosed trailer.
3) You’ll have to find out what kind of kart you want. Some of that is decided by how you want to use it. Do you want to just have fun? Race? Race and be competitive to win? (That last choice will triple your expense.)
There are many different kinds of karts available in many different classes. The karting world is pretty fragmented and it is a bit difficult for a newbie (like me) to figure out what the different classes are.
Your choices really break down into:
two-stroke or four-stroke
Centrifigual clutch (one-speed)
Shifter kart (6-speed)Depending on your patience, luck, and negotiating skills, you can spend anywhere from $800 to $8,000 for a kart. It’s kind of like buying a car – there is that much variety.
Other people can provide more and better information. You might get some magazines at the track and read about the different karts out there.
This whole website is a great resource, as are some of the people who will respond to you directly. Also check out ekarting.com and read all their forums. Google is your friend, too.
Can you go to your local track and just hang out for a few hours, talking to people and asking about different karts?
I’ve collected a lot of information from the web and I’d be happy to share it with you. Just drop me an email and we can talk.
Good luck,
Geremy
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