Went Kart racing last weekend...

[Djyox]

Went kart racing last weekend and saw that the took some pictures of us racing from the weekend before, the lady only let me sneek off with two of me, so I figured I would share them with ya. Anyone else into this? very find, and cheapest racing I've found that you actualy drive. PS I'm running a yamaha 100 can there, my helmet is not matching because I bought it for my bike, but kept it for racing...anyhow on with the Pics
http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/data/500/4906karting2_pics-med.JPG
http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/data/500/4906karting1_pics-med.JPG

[Djyox]

PS, I'm # 97 for anyone out there having a hard time figuring it out.....:D

[mardyn]

I tried it for a coupla' years here in the DFW area... my problem was I was there for fun and to drive my cart (Gold shifter chasis with KT100 Yamaha), but it seems that everybody else was MUCH more serious than I... they all seem to think they (or their kid) is the next Ryan Newman or Jeff Gordon.. I lost interest pretty quickly at that level of intensity.

Those Sprint style karts are a bunch of fun though... mine, set up for a half mile road course, would run about 80 to 85 mph. That's haulin' ass when you're only inches from the ground in an open vehicle..

The shifter stuff is even quicker and faster... the current level of technology in kart racing is nothing short of amazing. As you mentioned, cost/thrill factor is very reasonable and probably less than any other form of motorsport where you actually get to ride and drive. A full on, Bad Ass, 100 mph+ set up, that would scare the hell out of most drivers, can be had for less than $10K.

mardyn

[Djyox]

don't scare people away, You can buy a new shifter kart, with TM motor, ready to go out the door and onto the track for $3,500. now thats not what the total would cost to get into racing you should expect to spend around $200 for a suit, around $200 for a snell95 helmet, $20 for gloves, and $20 for a neck gaurd. pour in some 110 race fuel mixed with your fav. flavor of 2 stroke oil, and your racing, also you need$10 for a pit pass and $20 for an entry fee, some times your required to rent/buy a transponder to rent they are $5 I have no idea how much to buy...and expect to go though tires (depending on hardness) 1set every 3 racing weekends. there are some people out there who go though them in a race day...if you have the money, you can easyly spend it...if you got the room, meny of these karts will go well over 100, the one in the picture up there was clocked at 120 (geared for top end ofcorse) any questions on getting into the sport, feel free to PM/E-mail me...:D

[Raceman]

Here's mine. It's got a 125 Honda

[TB21]

You'll learn more about 2 stroke hi-performance from karts than anything else you can ever race.....there are also some of the best drivers in the world that started out in karting , Tony Stewart , Jeff Gordan , Lake Speed , Scott Pruitt , Sarah Fisher and on and on , and I've competed against most of them ......I raced karts for 25 years everything from kt100 yammi's to 160cc rotory valve unlimited komets (which will eat a shifter kart) i won several national events in WKA also won the 1992 US unlimited dirt nationals before moving up to sprint cars in 97 . Who does your engine work ? If you want the baddest yamaha availible call Kermit Buller of Buller Built , he's by far the best in the country! You saying you ran 120 mph with a yamaha can or did I read that wrong. Take Care TB

[Mark75H]

probably less than any other form of motorsport where you actually get to ride and drive. A full on, Bad Ass, 100 mph+ set up, that would scare the hell out of most drivers, can be had for less than $10K.

I can put you in a racing hydro running the same speed for le$$.

I have about $5k in my 90 mph FEH, including the trailer and saftey gear.

If you back down to CSH you can get a used Yamato 302 for $1200 or so, and a good used boat for a little under $500. Used saftey gear $250-$300. Very good prop for $250. For less than $2500 you are running 75mph against the best outboard racers in the US.


Or if you've got real big ones........you can buy 2 500cc Rossi's and stack them up for a 1100cc hydro @ $8k+ a pop for the 500cc powerheads alone and another $5 or 6K for a full capsule 1100cc hydro....you can eat up cash as quickly or slowly as you want :D

[mardyn]

Tell us more about the rotary valve comet engine and kart combo... those new generation shifter karts are pretty fast, I'd like to hear more about something that's quicker and faster...

My 10K cost estimate was based on new equipment... certainly used stuff can be had much more reasonably...

No doubt it's a fun hobby, just tough to find a place to ride those fast ones, it's not like you can take 'em out to thye mall parking lots on Sunday anymore... you just about have to go to a dedicated kart racing facility...

mardyn

[WARLOCK]

A GUY I KNOW HAS BEEN RACING SHIFTER KARTS FOR YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN DYING TO TRY. HE SAID COME OUT TO THE TRACK AND HE'LL SET ME UP FOR A RUN. I KNOW IF I DO I'LL BE IN BIG TROUBLE. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'LL HAVE TWO OR THREE KARTS IN THE GARAGE AND PROBABLY BE LIVING THERE TOO. LOOKS LIKE A GREAT TIME. LATER, DAVE

[Gerben]

While we're on the subject:
How many hours can you run a modern 125cc watercooled before needing an overhaul?

Gerben

[Mark75H]

Is the Komet engine made in Italy?

[TB21]

Yes they are from Italy , a company called Iame.....they build a 100cc piston port engine similar to the yamaha KT100s and they have 100cc-135cc reed and rotory valve engines , the last unlimited class engine was a special built by Lynn Haddock which used an Italian direct drive class bottom rotory half and a K-30 cylinder that used a 58.8mm TKM piston it was the first of its kind in the US and 160cc......i took this engine to Daytona kart speedweek in 1992 and they didnt have a unlimited class , couldnt run it in 100cc open ofcourse so i asked if i could run with the super karts since i traveled from Ohio (which were 250cc shifters back then) well the race director asked the super boys what they thought and they said ok but i had to start the tail and they wanted me to move over when they came up to lap me if i ran thier class , i said ok , on the third lap i was leading and by the time the feature race was over i'd lapped up to 2nd place , trust me they were pissed. That 160 komet in the right hands Will eat a shifters ass off , I dont know about know but there use to be only 2 importers for Iame engines in the US , Lynn Haddock and Russel specialtys. I dont think unlimited class 2 cycle karting is that popular anymore because of the cost of the top engines , last one i had built was $3000.00 for engine and 2 34mm mikuni carbs and the horstman axle clutch that it took to hold the power they made cost $1000.00 after mods. For you guys still into karting and you want the best built engine 2 0r 4 cycle $$ can buy call Kermit Buller @ BULLER BUILT he has a web site....He is hands down the very best in the karting business , I've tried em all and no one is even close to this guy. Wow this brings back some good memorys. Later TB

[EagleSST]

Hmmmm "Dirts For Racin, Asphalt is for gettin there" lol
I raced dirt for about 10 years. I stopped 2 years ago but still have alot of racing stuff laying around. I raced 4-Stroke though, i ran Stock Light, Medium, Heavy, Limited Mod. Light, Heavy. I raced mostly from DE to NC. You were talking about the cost of it being low, lol, thats why i stopped because it was gettin too darn expensive. I bought a boat and i swear this thing is cheaper.

Doug