Continuing the kart discussion

[pdisme]

Shifter Karts are da shit. They have motorcylce engines and transmissions, 125cc and up. You talk about G forces, a kart can pull upwards of 3 G's in the turns. They are fast(125 mph top end), sound like race cars, handle like them,

Vroom, I've been reading up on these today, sounds very intense, even the injuries are like what you get in real cars. I saw some kart-racing pages talking about changes in regulations to prevent injuries such as proper heel stop for the brake pedal because there were six broken legs last year, etc. The videos of competitive kart racing look great, really high speeds in the corners. There seem to be a decent number of tracks in Florida.

It must be intimidating going 100+ on top of a frame and nothing more, better hope the brakes are up to snuff or you're going head first into something. The best thing though is the fact that there are indoor tracks! :) Can't go wrong with racing inside during the Florida summers. Looks like a lot of bumping and grinding in karting, guess it's unavoidable with the smaller tracks and difficult passing. Does karting have sealed engines, etc. like scca or just weight class / engine size type groupings?

Who all on here has gone karting before? How'd you like it?

Check out this video, some idiot driving a shifter kart around town:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2755210234584022486&hl=en

He's lucky some of those cars didn't merge right into him...

[pdisme]

OUCH, kart wrecks: :smashfreak:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1682730006381643161&hl=en

[Matt]

I miss Karting, i really do wish there was a half decent track around here. I used to race Karts with jenson Button at a track in the U.K. I've had my fair share of gnarly crashes. Also, its not in any way a cheap hobby. A good Kart can cost upwards of $8k, then you need multiple sets of tires(wets, slicks etc), spare parts, a trailer, the list goes on. Definitly a rush though.

[zzzzdoc]

Wow. These things are just a head and neck injury with wheels attached.

I'll pass. A crapload of fun, I'm sure, until things go really, really, bad.

[Mr. Vroom]

Haha, Kartvader, crazee french canadian... After watching the crash vids, I would advise not to join any kart racing leagues.... and forget the bumping and grinding too, because as soon as your wheels touch, you are airborne. I took my nephew along once, and all he wanted to do was drift his kart. He clipped me, I looked behind and saw him fly off at 45 degree angle, no bodily damage, but the kart damage added a couple of hundred bucks to the bill.

The first time I went, I got into spin mode, just had fun spinning out, and then learning how not to. Also, these things have no abs, traction control, or any other safety technology. You pump the brakes, drive smooth, you get better lap times. It is a great way to learn how to drive a track. Hitting 90mph, when you are an inch off the ground is quite a buzz; I was getting physically wiped in a few minutes. Forgot I needed to both drive and breathe!

[pdisme]

:owned:

http://www.talklambo.com/pics/data/500/owned.jpg

[pdisme]

Vroom, if some of us were to go in on a kart, this is all just conjecture of course, are there expensive parts that wear out from time to time due to use or just normal consumables like tires and brake pads? I was thinking I'd probably be the least likely to use it due to my schedule but would love to have a kart available if I were to want to have a go at it whenever the mood struck, and spending a grand or so to do that rather than $5k for something that sits in my garage most of the time would be a good deal. But, if one of our group uses it 80% of the time and the engine needs a refresh, we'd have to work out a way to make that fair for the rest. :)

Just throwing some ideas out there to see what you guys think.

[Mr. Vroom]

The best way to monitor use would be to keep a log, and also put some kind of meter on the kart, to measure time. Pro rate the wear and tear costs to time used on the kart by each owner. Two or three owners should not be a problem. The kart people in West Palm, would actually store your kart, maintain it too, that would be the easiest method of keeping it track worthy. Lets check out the track in Palmetto, see what kind of service you can get there. I would drop a few k, because I have already spent more than that renting them.... But I am not the type of guy who wants spend my spare time, changing tires, rebuilding engines etc. I am lazy, when I want something done, cash, credit card, or check is my preffered method.

[pdisme]

Me too, that's why my waverunner is six years old and has ten hours on it. :) It's so much fun when you're out on it but damn, gotta get up early, put it in the water, clean it afterward, ugh. lol

[Mr. Vroom]

Right on, lets trade in the wave runner.

[Shuey2k]

DL Racing is there every Sat and Sun and they will store the kart in their garage for $50 per month and I am sure you can arrange an arrive and drive so you can pull up, jump and and burn off laps. When your done you can walk away and they take care of the rest. Derek (Owner of DL is an ex national racer and a great guy to boot). He is coaching my son as we speak and I have been very happy with everything.

[Matt]

Cool deal, $50 a month isn't too bad.

[Mr. Vroom]

I forgot I made this vid a couple of years ago, featuring my neph.... The actual karting video sucks, because they wouldn't let me on the track, but the vid has "production values" and is kinda fun. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oIiXyehmYE

I also checked out the Palmetto track today, very cool operation, will post a few pics later.

[pdisme]

LOL, that's a pretty well produced kart video, I'd rather have engine sounds but you probably couldn't get good audio from far away. :) On a double apex corner like in the video it doesn't look like karts follow the same line a car would?

[Mr. Vroom]

DL Racing is there every Sat and Sun and they will store the kart in their garage for $50 per month and I am sure you can arrange an arrive and drive so you can pull up, jump and and burn off laps. When your done you can walk away and they take care of the rest. Derek (Owner of DL is an ex national racer and a great guy to boot). He is coaching my son as we speak and I have been very happy with everything.

I went on Sunday, missed the DL guy, but there were a few karts on the track. Looked really good, gonna give Derek a call.

[pdisme]

Awesome pics Vroom, if that works out well sounds like a really great setup if DL will do all the work.

[Matt]

Man, you gotta let me have a romp if you get a kart... its been waaaay to long.

[Lasombra52]

Looks like fun in those pics.

[Shuey2k]

I spoke to him this past weekend and he was up in Jacksonville at a race, hopefully he will have my karts built and ready for this weekend. I am dying to turn some laps

[pdisme]

I went on Sunday, missed the DL guy, but there were a few karts on the track. Looked really good, gonna give Derek a call.

Vroom, Greg said he talked to the DL guy and told him to get on here and tell us all about karts and their services, so we'll see what happens. :)

[Mr. Vroom]

Just heard about a kart endurance race in Punta Gorda this Sunday, starts at around noon. 1.5 hour race, three man teams, direct drive karts. I will be there, so far we have two teams, 6 guys. The organizer provides the karts, gear, you just show up and pay the fee. Should be fun.

[pdisme]

I'll be blasting around Little Talladega in the Radical hopefully. :) Greg's gonna be back, not sure if he's hitting Palmetto with his kart's this weekend or not, I can't wait to get down there and check everything out.

[Mr. Vroom]

Right on, have fun man, be safe.

[pdisme]

Thought I'd throw the addy of the kart track in here just for future reference; heading down there this morning to hang out with Greg.

10101 US Hwy 41 N, Palmetto, FL 34221

[Shuey2k]

Packing up as we speak and should be down there by 10:30 if all goes well toeing the big trailer with the wife's sclade. This should be fun.

[pdisme]

LOL, putting that trailer on the Escalade is gonna look like this:

http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Workshop/OL-Donkey-Cart.jpg

[pdisme]

Well, that was f'n smart of me today; I drive down to the kart track and take a bunch of pics, come home and turn the camera on to download them and it tells me "No CF card". Apparently Canon only lets you know this when you first turn it on for about five seconds, and I never looked at the LCD after turning it on today before shooting the pics. So I had a bunch of great kart stuff to show you guys and it's all gone now. :banghead:

[Shuey2k]

Nice!

[jrfootin]

sure you did!!

What you really are telling us is the the Escalade did not make the trip down there right???

[pdisme]

Well, I saw the trailer and the Escalade was in front of it, so I can't be certain it pulled it but it looked like it. :)

[pdisme]

Greg, how'd the new kart turn out yesterday?

[Shuey2k]

Great but I only had time for two sessions which was just enough to break the engine in. Next weekend - Next Weekend!

[pdisme]

Gonna let me drive if I come down? :)

[Matt]

We need to get a Kart day together for all us florida guys... special group rate?

[pdisme]

Maybe we should try to hook it up at the St. Pete kart track next Sunday? Me, you, zzzdoc, whoever else.

[Matt]

sounds good, where is the track?

[pdisme]

Mon-Thurs:11:00am - 10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 12:00am
Sunday: 11:00am - 8:00pm

http://www.tampabaygp.com/

[Shuey2k]

Gonna let me drive if I come down? :)

If you are really serious give me a call and I will try and see if Derek will give you a break on a half day rate with his club karts. That way you could follow me around the track. Hell, it might make sense to have a few of the guys on the forum to chip in and rent one together. You won't be able to race each other but they sure would be faster then the SPGP karts.

Let me know

[Matt]

If i'm going to race some karts i want some real karts. not any of that electric shit. I say we all chip in a rent a good kart. We may not be able to race at the same time, but we can go for track times. Maybe put a few $$ down, get the competitive spirits goin?