I'm looking into buying one, as they are much cheaper than my columbian gold addiction.

Where's a good place to check out info, and a "guide to karting" type thing. I went to a local track (Moroso's karting do-hickey) and spectated at a Rotax race. I am more interested in going towards the lines of a 125cc shifter that I could run in WKA or SKUSA. Does anyone know where a good place in FL to buy a 125'er is?

Thanks so much!

 

where in Florida are you located?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dohcbag &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm looking into buying one, as they are much cheaper than my columbian gold addiction.

Where's a good place to check out info, and a "guide to karting" type thing. I went to a local track (Moroso's karting do-hickey) and spectated at a Rotax race. I am more interested in going towards the lines of a 125cc shifter that I could run in WKA or SKUSA. Does anyone know where a good place in FL to buy a 125'er is?

Thanks so much!</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you've never driven a kart before, I'd strongly suggest you consider something along the lines of a Rotax engined kart. Starting out in a shifter can potentially lead to a world of bad driving habits. Sure, it sounds sexy to have a shifter, but when you are getting smoked by everyone and their brother on the track because you didn't learn how to properly drive a kart, you aren't going to enjoy yourself all that much.

Learning to drive a kart properly is tough enough, don't mix in trying to learn to shift a kart properly at the same time.

An believe me, if you haven't driven a kart before, a Rotax engined kart is going to be more than fast enough for you. Even in the hands of a skilled karter, a tweaked 125 Shifter is only going to be a couple of seconds faster than a single gear Rotax on most sprint tracks and when comparing average or new karters, the single gear is likely to be faster.

Recommendation?

http://www.ekartingnews.com

Should have all the info you could possible want and I suspect you'll find the recommendations you get on the forum there mirror to a large extend what I've suggested here.

Above all, have fun, its a great sport and a terrific way to improve your car control skills.

 

Im pretty excited ill be racing around the track this friday in a 125cc emick(sp) shifter kart, first time ever on a kart, but what the heck its free, and i never turn down track time

 

I suggest rotax not only because I have one for sale but also for the fact that out of all the Kart series the competition and the amount of entries have steadly grown in Rotax. The fact of the engine being "touch and go" and sealed and really the only performance mods you can make are the jets, Jest cannot be changed when on the track driving simplifies the races and closes the competition. The speeds between the Shifter karts are fairly close so you will still get the speed rush. Since you have never driven a Kart before I also strongly suggest not going that route.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im pretty excited ill be racing around the track this friday in a 125cc emick(sp) shifter kart, first time ever on a kart, but what the heck its free, and i never turn down track time</TD></TR></TABLE>
if you're out of shape, start squeezing a tennis/racquet ball now. your hands will hurt the most... i'd suggest also some shoulder exercises...

have fun too! karts a friggin BLAST. shifter karts are orgasmic.

 

I have driven fast open wheel cars before but never a large shifter kart. I assume that they are along the lines of driving an Atlantic, which I have driven before.

I am located in Palm Beach County, so Moroso is very close.

Thanks to everyone for all the info, keep it coming.


Modified by dohcbag at 6:21 PM 4/12/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PorscheRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

If you've never driven a kart before, I'd strongly suggest you consider something along the lines of a Rotax engined kart. Starting out in a shifter can potentially lead to a world of bad driving habits. Sure, it sounds sexy to have a shifter, but when you are getting smoked by everyone and their brother on the track because you didn't learn how to properly drive a kart, you aren't going to enjoy yourself all that much.

Learning to drive a kart properly is tough enough, don't mix in trying to learn to shift a kart properly at the same time.

An believe me, if you haven't driven a kart before, a Rotax engined kart is going to be more than fast enough for you. Even in the hands of a skilled karter, a tweaked 125 Shifter is only going to be a couple of seconds faster than a single gear Rotax on most sprint tracks and when comparing average or new karters, the single gear is likely to be faster.

Recommendation?

http://www.ekartingnews.com

Should have all the info you could possible want and I suspect you'll find the recommendations you get on the forum there mirror to a large extend what I've suggested here.

Above all, have fun, its a great sport and a terrific way to improve your car control skills.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What he said.

 

wow, i didnt think that many people here own karts or are in to it.

 

If they run them locally you also might want to consider Enduro Karting. The "laydowns" can be a cheaper alternative and are very popular.

 

GQ,

How did you do this past weekend?

 

I did O.K.. I ran friday practice getting into 1:42's. In saturdays race, I ran a 1:40.02 and finished 7th in Sportsman Medium, not sure where I finished overall. I just wanted to finish my first race with o.k. lap times. The fifth lap almost put me out when 3 of us entered turn 5 side by side. I was the the only one to make it out, so I backed off a little when it came to competing for the rest of the race. Forty five minutes is a long race in a kart. I figure that I need to knock 3-5 seconds off of my lap times to finish in top 5. I still need to learn a bunch about tuning the kart, along with gaining more track time, which will help my lap times.

Rob

 

That's awesome Rob. I was in the same situation last year. I was sticking motors left and right. It was quite frustrating. Now I have my motor built by someone reputable and it is finally reliable and extremely powerful. Now I can concentrate on driving and tuning the handling of the kart. All last year I was driving with my hand hovering over the clutch trying to determine when it would stick next. You'll lap times will definitely come down with experience.

Will you be there in May?

AJ

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Driven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
if you're out of shape, start squeezing a tennis/racquet ball now. your hands will hurt the most... i'd suggest also some shoulder exercises... .</TD></TR></TABLE>

Stop driving with white knuckles!!!

That's the first thing they teach you in kart driving school....use a loose grip and relax your hands and arms.

 

I will be at the May event. Can't wait

 

After running my first practice session I thought that there was no way I was going to make it through an entire 45 minute race. I am way out of shape and thought that my hands and arms would become too tired to steer the kart. I managed to learn to relax during the 45 minute race, and finish the race without feeling too tired. Actually my torso was the most sore part of my body from being bounced around so much. However, I still do agree than an in shape driver is going to run a better race as opposed to an outta shape driver.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Stop driving with white knuckles!!!

That's the first thing they teach you in kart driving school....use a loose grip and relax your hands and arms. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> However, I still do agree than an in shape driver is going to run a better race as opposed to an outta shape driver.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed, but more in good cardio condition, as your heart rate really gets pumping when racing. Holding your breathe in the turns and breathing hard on the straights.

Need a seat that holds you in tight, and use padding so you don't move around in it. It shouldn't take physical effort to drive it, but your body will go thru a lot of cardio exersize, and also just to counter all the g forces.

 

Don't buy something you don't want to buy. If you want a shifter, get one. In all honesty you will have a lot more fun in one. There's a few places in miami where you can go. Depending on what brand you want. If you want a good chassis that's competitive get a Birel. If you want something to last ya a hole long time, get a tonykart. Check out Advanced karting technology, or Rysa racing. PM me for more info.

 

http://www.tsracing.com/ is a good site for window shopping.

Find out what your local shops carry so parts can be had easily.

And find out what type of events are held in your area. Its no fun to race alone. Also its good to find out what organizations mandate those events so you can confom to their specs(tires,pipes, safety equipment, ect).

I just bought a Swiss Hutless, it has a kt100 motor on it and its fun to drive. But because I jumped the gun I am now wishing I went with something newer and more common. So now I am looking into a HPV set up because from what I have read they are low maintence compared to my yamaha engine. My kart is outdated(according to their marketing ) but that dosent bother me. The thing is that its hard to find parts for. Fortuantely it was cheap.

Check ebay too. Their are allot of people cleaning out their garages.

 

Swiss Hutless parts can be found through CMC karts.

http://www.cmckarts.com
http://www.cmckartseast.com

AJ

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aahj &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Swiss Hutless parts can be found through CMC karts.

http://www.cmckarts.com
http://www.cmckartseast.com

AJ</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thanks


LOL you speed freaks are going to think this is totally lame. But I kinda want to get one of these for the local parking lot races.

Got a chance to drive a stock one. It has a 30cc motor. with my light *** on it it was probably getting close to 30mph. only $500

It was pretty fun and it has allot of potential that can be had cheap. Not to mention you wont have to worry about going out of spec if you port the cylinder or like to tinker. I am all about making more from less. Its small and light too. I can lift the thing over my head with minimal effort.

With a built 60cc motor this thing would be scary. Probably still not as fast as a kart though. Maybe 45mph.

 

You want to find a kart you can get parts for. I haven't yet seen a Swiss Hutless in a WKA or SKUSA race. No one's running them anymore.