With my GT3 997 I enjoy lapping in track days with PCA DE or other local clubs events, but for driving skills improvements, I love driving my Formula 125 Kart. See the link below to have a feeling of what you can experience in this kind of fun !

http://web.me.com/belzile/ABTECHNO/K..._mai_2009.html

 

Cool vid. I've been looking to get into karting. Looks like a ton of fun.

 

That's a great idea! Minimal maintenance, FAST, CORNERS...We have a couple of them, I will snap some photo's.

 

I went to the Jim Hall Karting School in 2005 and learned A LOT about driving. Good place to start.

125 shifter karts are scary as hell though.

 

I still enjoy lapping in my GT3 at local PCA or other Clubs events, but real racing is quite something. No real sanctioned races and just for fun but with the flaggers and everything.

There is nothing like the adrenaline rush at the green flag when everyone wants to be in front for the first corner ! While in lapping you try to do the perfect lap like in a qualification, in a race you protect your line and tend to be a little more on the inside line since most passes are done at braking. I can't wait for the next race !

 

I grew up racing shifter karts...the performance is unparalleled until you get up to F1000/D-sports racers, etc and FA. I don't think there is a better activity for maintaining your reflexes, hand/eye coordination and fitness.

 

Sorry, dont mean to hijack thread. Got 07 BIREL SHIFTER AVAIL.

 

I've got a few questions. How fast where you going in the vid? Is it possible to turn these karts over or is the center of gravity so low that you just haul *** through corners? How many HP engines? How many gears? Four wheel disc brakes? What does one of these rigs cost to buy and maintain?

 

The only way you'll turn one of them over is to get off the track, or get tangled up with another kart's wheels. The advances in safety and bodywork that most of the sanctioning bodies require now makes it pretty difficult to catch wheels with another kart, but it still happens.

My Rotax 125 was on a First Kart t.01 chassis, single speed centrifugal clutch. It had 28HP, and weighed 300lb with me in it. Disc brakes are in the rear, some classes will let you run front discs as well. Mine cost about $6k new, you can find them used and already setup for around $4k. Maintenance on the Rotax motors is minimal, as long as you take care of it properly. Mine was *very* reliable.

 

Is Rotax just the engine? Who makes the Karts? Any good package deals? Where do you shop for these?

 

I use to do it, it's a great physical training.

 

check out this site

http://www.ekartingnews.com/

http://www.ekartingnews.com/beginner...nfo.php?n=8514

It has some good info on getting started.

 

I raced karts long ago. A Bug sprint kart with a Mac91. Like I said, loooong ago. Quickest way to learn how to race, drift, everything except for the gearbox. Unbelievably exciting, and it was prior to the era of the protective bodywork so there were more hazards than today.
As in all things - cars, planes, sailboats - starting with the smallest ones is the best way to get the feel of things. Karts and cars are no different.
Absolutely the most fun you can have in two dimensions.

 

Thanks for the links.

 

Karting is probably one of the funnest things I have done. Least expensive way to go fast!