local autocrosser/shifter kart racer (and national F125 champion in '99) Dave Hyronaka invited me to go drive his shifer kart a few laps around the go-kart track at LVMS.

I have never driven a true go-kart in my life. My experience with go-karts has been limited to Mini Grand Prix (aka, public type go-karts at amusement centres) and Dromo1 in cali where they had detuned 250cc non-shifters running an indoor track.

First, I watched Dave go around the track a few times. He's getting sideways a lot, but overall very very fast. He's shifting at every possible straight. Insane.

Then... it was my turn.

I strap on the gear. Rib protection. Then my coat. Then an elbow guard (since your elbow tends to hit the engine). Then my neck brace. Then the shoei. Finally my gloves.

Dave push started the kart for me and I hop in. I pull on the handle bar clutch and push the shifter into first.

It had begun. I wait for traffic to clear and I let it rip. slowly letting the clutch out and slowly applying the gas, the kart shoots onto the track and I'm already sideways.

Oops, too much gas.

I take it slow around the course to first LEARN the track layout. There's about 4 different variations of the track and I'm following the layout the last session went.

Oops, wrong layout.

Eventually I find the proper layout and I'm good to go.

The very thing I notice is how incredibly powerful this thing is. With a claimed 42hp, it's a freaking rocket. Apply the gas in the turn and the kart gets sideways. It took me awhile to get use to this since I normally drive a CRX with FWD and is notorious for it's understeer.

In the front straight, there's about 30-40 yards. I make the turn into the front straight at maybe 10mph... at the end of this front straight, i swear I'm going close to 75mph. I pulled back on the shifter a good 4 times and scared the crap out of myself nearly every single lap.

It was so much fun.

The biggest problem i had was I was wearing basketball shoes and I kept having my canoes tap the gas cable when I didn't want to touch it. Imagine trying to brake and your clogs touch the gas.

Oops, sideways.

The next issue I had was, I'm use to very very very firm braking. The braking is strong, but it has far too much travel for me. My CRX has some travel, but not nearly as much as the kart.

After about 15 laps, I brought it in and immediately felt my forearms extremely stiff and sore. My job consists of sitting at a computer all day and I don't go to the gym. I'm extremely unathletic and unfit. This explains why there's NO overweight kart racers.

I went out again for a second session and got more aggressive but still had trouble learning the shifting and gas thing. It was just too powerful.

Overall, i had a blast. The kart is a rocket and easily out accelerates ANY car i've EVER ridden in. I've ridden in 700hp Supras to 600hp/600ft-lb vipers. This kart easily out accelerates it. I definitely need to work out more as my arms are killing me. I have soooo much respect for shifter kart racers now. There's just sooo much going on that it's hard to relax. Complete focus is necessary. My little stab at drag racers is...no matter how fast you've gone down in the quarter mile... NOTHING will prepare you for a shifter kart. It's such an incredible machine. Now I know why F1 race teams look for new racers through Karting associations.

 

Unfortunately, now every car that you drive will feel very slow. I know because the same thing happened to me after my first shifter kart experience...Shifter karts are just too badass.