BoulderG

[BoulderG]

Thanks to Jansen, now I risk getting fired AND being charged with sexual harassment every time I look at this website from work.

[BoulderG]

Yes – running GJMS in a Miata is ten tons of fun. I’ve never done it in a kart.

Keith at Flyin Miata has dared me to tow the kart out behind the Miata and then run both on the track…

[BoulderG]

I’ve got a turbocharged 92 Miata – in the garage since November, but ready for a mid-life or any other crisis.

Did a lot of autocross, track days, and SCCA Time Trials with the Miata. Things happen five times faster in my shifter kart.

Oh, and I saw the Motor City Madman live in Rhode Island, warming up for Aerosmith. It was the Wango Tango tour – yeah, yeah – 1986.

[BoulderG]

I’m a newbie to karting with observations on the holiday weekend issue.

What would be a terrific spectator turnout? 2,000 people? 5,000?

What’s the potential spectator population within 30 miles of Greeley? 1,000,000 people? 2,000,000?

Even if half of the people leave the area for a holiday weekend, there’s still more than enough people to attend.

The challenge is reaching them and motivating them to attend. This applies for any event – karting, bike race, peach festival, balloon fest, volleyball tournament, etc.

For a first-year event, GGP seemed very well promoted. It’s going to take time to grow, but I don’t think it matters much when it is.

Thanks.

[BoulderG]

Thanks to all for the responses, PMs, and emails.
As always, the Colorado Karters have offered great suggestions and advice.

See you on track!

[BoulderG]

Hi JB –
Any details on the start / end time for the Swap Meet?
Anything else we should know?

I’m hoping to stock my garage!

Geremy

[BoulderG]

Hi Gary –
Welcome…
I’m in your boat – 1999 CRG Daytona Heron with stock Honda CR 125 and am learning a bunch.

I’m brand-new to karting, so if you’ve raced in the past, you’ve got a good start.

This list is a great resource – many knowledgeable and informed people here. I also enjoy the ekartingnews forums.

I’m in Boulder, but down your way, I’ve heard good things about Billet Performance in Parker – Barry apparently has a top-notch shop and can offer lots of help.

I’ve found the Memo Gidley book “Secrets of Speed – Shifter Kart Racing” to be an excellent primer. It’s too basic for experienced racers, but gave me lots of helpful info. (About two-three weeks to get from their website, possibly faster via other sources.)

Hanging out at IMI or Bandimere and talking to people running there should also be very informative – people have been very helpful.

My best advice – GET A RIB PROTECTOR!!! Make sure your seat fits correctly!!! I failed to do this my first and second outing and my ribs are still sore three weeks later.

In March/April, I’ll be looking for some driver training. It worked great when I ran cars, and I’m assuming it will be a tremendous timesaver for learning to race karts well. If you line up any group coaching, please let me know.

Geremy

[BoulderG]

Thank you to the Welchs and all of the Shockwave group!
The information was great, the site is fantastic, and it was a fun and educational day.

Special thanks to the machinsts, who were friendly and patient with their explanations.

It was also great to meet and talk with even more Colorado karters.

See you all on track soon,
Geremy

[BoulderG]

Curt wrote: “What else is happening that weekend?”

Uh, well, the 19th is my birthday.
I am confident you all can find many suitable birthday presents at the Swap Meet! !

Could be the best birthday ever!!! :rotate:

BoulderG

[BoulderG]

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

[BoulderG]

I think the swap meet idea is a truly great idea.

I’m one of those newbies to karting. I have a kart and some stuff, but I need a ton of other stuff – not even sure what.

This community has been great with help and advice. A swap meet would be a great way to meet people, showcase the different karting options, and get the things I need. (Not to mention the really good stuff that I want but don’t need!)

It’d also probably be great for experienced karters to do some garage cleaning – helping their wallets, giving them garage space, and being a big help to newbies or folks on more limited budgets.

Having it at Action Karting could work great, too. Buyers could test drive karts, and JB should be able to create a real “win-win” by helping publicize the idea – more people at the track means more customers for him. (It should work at other tracks, too.)

Hope this happens soon!
Geremy

[BoulderG]

Wow! I’d like to say thank you to everyone who responded – the posts, PMs, and EMails offered great information, opinions, and resources. Very encouraging!

One of the things I’ve loved about car motorsports is the camaraderie and support. It sure looks like Karting in Colorado has all of that, too!

Now, to decide which class to run:
TaG Rotax? Stock moto? RMax Challenge? EasyKarts?
It seems wise to start more modestly.

Thanks everyone for the info, and I look forward to learning lots and lots more.

BoulderG

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