Does anyone race Karts competitively?

[TrikkBen]

I'm looking to get into it. Applyed for Membership and AKA Licence. Just wanted to see if anyone here races so I can pick your brain.

Cheers
Ben

[CSP]

How old are you? What sort of Karts do you want to race? I've be involved with and driven Rotax... AWESOME fun. What do you want to know? Nothing like doing 120kph on a go kart track mm from other drivers and a couple of cm off the ground NOT strapped in! It's weird when you get out of a race car with harnesses and start driving karts. Feels so wrong! Oh, and contrary to popular belief you CAN roll a go kart!

Once I drop a few kgs, I plan on getting back into it. There really is no point if you're more than 80kg-90kg because you're too heavy to be in the classes with the most competition. There is a Rotax Heavy class but not many race in it. Although that is changing too because people add removable ballast to their karts and get to race in more than one class.

[TrikkBen]

I'm interested in the Senior Clubman light or heavy (don't know which I would qualify for). I'm 18, 78kg. Do you know which I would suit? Have driven karts before, but not in competition. Where did you used to race?

Ben

[CSP]

You should be able to race either class I imagine. If you aren't heavy enough, you just run ballast.

I recommend trying to find someone to let you drive theirs and see what you think of it. See if you can drive a clubman and a rotax back to back. imo, the extra money for running rotax is worth it!!! And we aren't talking about a lot of money really. $20,000 would see you with an AWESOME setup, kart, trailer, tools, spares, gear etc. You could get started for around $10,000 if that's more your budget and slowly upgrade different things. Just food for thought. That's rotax. Not sure if costs for clubmans are similar or not.

[Tree cutter]

I used to race in clubman light back in the mid 80s. I think i weighed 85Kilos back then. We ran the yamaha KT100 engine back then. I really enjoyed it, but only raced for three seasons and then tried racing a speedway car which i found boring as after racing go carts.If you are not heavy enough for your class put sheets of lead on the bottom of your seat so you have a low centre of gravity.

[vk.jonno]

I used to race Jr light jr heavy jr clubman and rotAx
I have rolled the kart and I have been pushed ontop of someone in their kart
It doesn't hurt

And I think they changed to rules.. U have to be a b-grader to do rotax I dunno if they kept the rule or not tho..

[TrikkBen]

I think you can run Rotax on C grade but It must have a restricter plate fitted during practice and competition.

[CSP]

I think you can run Rotax on C grade but It must have a restricter plate fitted during practice and competition.

Correct!

And the restrictor plate fits between the exhaust port on the engine and the exhaust. The way they check if it's fitted is that it has a tab on one side. Pretty obvious. What's funny though, is they can't check the restriction to the flow without getting you to take off the exhaust (not hard to do by the way) so you can have a restictor plate fitted, but cut the hole in it to the size of the exhaust...... Just don't get caught.

You won't be on the C grade license very long either so it may not be worth it. Learn to drive WELL rather than just going as fast as the Kart can go is more important. You know the term, "race craft".

[TrikkBen]

I wouldn't do it, Not for what its worth...

Anyways, Here's the kart I bought:



Can't wait to get started. It's an AX9 Arrow, KT100s 100cc 2 Stroke Yammy.

Ben

[vk.jonno]

Err are u sure?
Why would they run a slower kart in a class?
Pointless... You would run a rotax but in a class called restricted 125....
Kart looks good man
Where'd u apply for a membership?
What track..?

[walkahz]

I race clubman heavy. Being 78 kg you might just scrape through as a light maybe. If you need any help just let me know on here and ill see what i can do. What club have you joined? What size chassis did you get it looks like a 28-30.

[TrikkBen]

Joined Oakleigh Kart Club, it's the closest to me and the track looks good as. Yeh, Walkahz its an '09 Arrow AX9 28/30. I've been told I should be fine to run Clubman Light or Heavy.

[walkahz]

good stuff 28/30 chassis tend to be better in clubman light but while learning you wont notice it really.