Hey guys, just wondering how many of you are serious karters. If words like Rotax, CRG, TopKart mean something to you speak up.

 

Killjoy, I've been looking to get into karting, especially in the Houston area.

Do you know of any local kart tracks that rent by the hour or day? I have no previous karting experience, but I do lots of simulation racing and autocross so I'm a pretty decent driver.

 

My 10 year old son races Rotax MiniMax, we just got back from a regional race in Norman OK (SWRC). He finished 3rd on Saturday and 4th on Sunday out of 11 karts in his class.
We are going to the Rotax Nationals in Indiana next month.
We will be racing at MSR Angleton latter this summer.

 

Actually I do know of a local kart track... in fact I might just happen to work at one.

see www.msrkarting.com

We do have hourly rates (broken down into 15 mins sessions x 4) and daily rates. Are you going to be running your own kart or one of ours. We've got 4 different levels to choose from.

 

Congrats! Good luck at that national event I bet the competition is fierce in that MiniMax class. If you guys want to come down and practice beforehand let me know, I will see what I can do on a daily rate for you.

 

Whoa killjoy, I didn't know yall had them to rent there! I might have to try it out one of these days when I can make it down there. I've slowly been gaining interest in it and it looks like a really fun but also really challenging type of driving. I've heard it's also great skill building for regular road racing as well (any truth to that statement?).

My main question for you guys is, how easy would it be for someone like me that does DE's at road courses to get out there and try kart? for instance should I not even think about trying it out at MSR with one of yours until I get on of my own and learn to handle one? I spend enough money on my car and DEs at it is and not really looking to get a kart of my own till I try it and see how much I like it.

 

Sounds good, we have a Facebook page if you want to watch for specials and whatnot. MSR Karting (plug plug)

I'd say it's an essential skill builder for understanding car control and methodology. That being said driving a kart is nothing like driving a car. It requires (to go fast) a finesse not always possessed by those driving bigger more powerful cars. Needless to say your going to use a bit of muscle you don't normally use in a car as well.

Karting is something many pro drivers do in the off season to keep skills up and work on maintaining a smooth fluid driving style. Little mistakes are amplified in a kart so it can be easy to pick up on a problem that a driver might be having.

 

In regards to karts we have several levels to work with. First we will start you out in a typical concession style kart. Pretty much your typical CRG chassis, 9hp Honda motor and what have you. These karts are easily capable of running you to 45 mph around the track.

One serious difference we have on many tracks is the expansive nature of the course, lots of places have 9hp karts that are capable of those speeds, but they have turns every 75-100 ft which severely cut down on speed. Our track is nearly a mile long and really allows a driver to use the apexes and stretch the legs on the kart.

Once you've gotten comfortable and are running consistent times in those karts, we can graduate you to the World Formula level kart. World Formula karts drop the bumpers, have a lighter chassis, bigger brakes and run a 17+hp engine. These karts are easily capable of 60+ mph although they don't get there quite as quickly as the next level kart. I suggest a few sessions at this level kart before taking on the Rotax. Even guys with "experience" driving tend to lose it a couple of times on a World Challenge before they get it.

The Rotax (not to be confused with Rotary) kart ups the ante a little more. The chassis becomes a bit lighter still, better components and of course more power. The Rotax kart will have around 30+hp and you will feel the difference. Take a ride with one of the KartNation guys on a Rotax at MSR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyq1t8sRHmU

Lots of guys stop at the Rotax level for a while. It's not something you can master in a day, however if you can tackle the Rotax with ease we can step you to a full-on shifter kart. 125cc engine, 6 speeds and the best components. Easily pushing 35+hp and speeds approaching 90 miles per hour on our course. On the main track at MSR we've seen them do as much as 120+.

If you've truly lots your marbles and want to experience a touch of insanity we have a TK with an Aixro XR50 motor. 32lbs ~ 48+hp ~ rotary power!!

Image courtesy of the internet:

 

Shifter kart crazyness at MSR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM10O0T9F5o

 

Aixro XR50 kart footage.

Delicious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBhJqQlQ_so

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjN9yVa3wlg


and a whole race of wankel karts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAiLpbWZCz0

 

On the weekends we do 15 min sessions for $30. You can get 4 sessions for $100 (save $20).

However during the week we are running all sorts of different specials. PM me when you wanna come down, I'll see what I can shake a stick at.

 

A buddy of mine races a Rotax and he let me take it for a spin in the couldesac. Little thing is no joke. 100% correct on the using muscles you never use driving a regular car.

 

For anyone that is interested in "testing the waters" of kart racing there is a new class that is "slow" and "cheap". It is called "Chonda" and uses a very cheap Harbor Freight "Chinese Honda clone" engine. These engines sell for $80 when on sale or $100 any other time.
These are run in older "retired" kart frames that can be picked up for about $1000 all day long or much less if you shop around. The biggest expense once you get a kart will be tires and fuel.

I know that there is a very active group that runs at the Katy TX, Gulf Coast Karters track. Don't know about MSR.

http://www.racekarts.com/