Kart Racing
We've all done Concession karts at the local mini track, for a few dollars you get to wizz around with your mates on a limited power machine, great fun for about 5 minutes, then you want something faster, a lot faster.
It is a fact that virtually all of the front runners in Formula 1, Le Mans, IndyCar, etc all started as kart racers, so how can you get in on the act?
What you need is a track that runs sanctioned kart races, where guys race for honors in an Internationally recognized formula, such as the Rotax Max Challenge. Or for those looking for competitive races on a lower budget then maybe the Sodi World Series (SWS) is just what you've been looking for.
The SWS is a worldwide race series running regional qualifying races leading up to a World Finals. Drivers cannot use their own karts but have to rent a kart from the participating circuit, ensuring fair and close racing at a lower budget.
If you want to follow the World Champion greats like Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher or Sebastian Vettel and progress through the ranks to the pinnacle of single seater, Formula 1 or to the top of Prototype Sports Car racing at Le Mans, you need a background of success in kart racing. The reason are clear once you enter competitive karting. Classes are divided by age/driver weight/power to ensure there is a class for all ages and abilities.
Kart racing is fiercely competitive, equal machinery, high speed wheel to wheel racing, sticky slick tires. Its not enough to be a quick driver, you will need to know how to set up your kart to succeed. To do that you will need to master the myriad of tiny adjustments needed for any given track or conditions. Adjustment to wheel camber. caster, toe angle etc. Just moving the seat 1 inch can have a great effect.
It is a fact that virtually all of the front runners in Formula 1, Le Mans, IndyCar, etc all started as kart racers, so how can you get in on the act?
What you need is a track that runs sanctioned kart races, where guys race for honors in an Internationally recognized formula, such as the Rotax Max Challenge. Or for those looking for competitive races on a lower budget then maybe the Sodi World Series (SWS) is just what you've been looking for.
The SWS is a worldwide race series running regional qualifying races leading up to a World Finals. Drivers cannot use their own karts but have to rent a kart from the participating circuit, ensuring fair and close racing at a lower budget.
If you want to follow the World Champion greats like Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher or Sebastian Vettel and progress through the ranks to the pinnacle of single seater, Formula 1 or to the top of Prototype Sports Car racing at Le Mans, you need a background of success in kart racing. The reason are clear once you enter competitive karting. Classes are divided by age/driver weight/power to ensure there is a class for all ages and abilities.
Kart racing is fiercely competitive, equal machinery, high speed wheel to wheel racing, sticky slick tires. Its not enough to be a quick driver, you will need to know how to set up your kart to succeed. To do that you will need to master the myriad of tiny adjustments needed for any given track or conditions. Adjustment to wheel camber. caster, toe angle etc. Just moving the seat 1 inch can have a great effect.
19?? Akrotiri Kart Club, Cyprus. I Stared Karting as a teenager in the early days :-)
Karting in UK
If you are looking to get into competitive karting then Buckmore Park in Kent, would be a great place to start. This track has attracted the best and most talented drivers in the country for many years, and for good reason.
The track layout is set on the side of a slope, which gives the circuit the added attraction of elevation changes.
Also for those looking to get into racing without buying expensive machinery, Buckmore Park is one of only a handful of UK tracks that you can race in the Sodi World Series (SWS).
The SWS is a worldwide race series running regional qualifying races leading up to a World Finals. Drivers cannot use their own karts but have to rent a kart from the participating circuit, ensuring fair and close racing at a lower budget.
The track layout is set on the side of a slope, which gives the circuit the added attraction of elevation changes.
Also for those looking to get into racing without buying expensive machinery, Buckmore Park is one of only a handful of UK tracks that you can race in the Sodi World Series (SWS).
The SWS is a worldwide race series running regional qualifying races leading up to a World Finals. Drivers cannot use their own karts but have to rent a kart from the participating circuit, ensuring fair and close racing at a lower budget.
Still Karting, 2007 Buckmore Park, Kent , England.
The infamous 1 hour Iron Man Race.
Karting in New York, USA
Kart racing in USA is slightly different to Europe in that there is more variation in types of kart types.
Sprint
This is pretty much the same style of race kart that is seen around the world. Kart tracks tend to be short and very twisty with an asphalt track surface.
Endurance
Known as "Enduro" racing in the USA, events typically last 30 minutes (Sprint Enduro) or 45 minutes (Laydown Enduro) the karts used feature a lower much more streamlined body, with the driver almost laying down. Enduro events are held on full-size road racing circuits that can be up to 4 miles in length.
Speedway
Kart Speedway racing takes place on asphalt or clay oval tracks which are normally between 1/6 mile and 1/4 mile long.
Tracks primarily consist of two straights and four left-turn corners, few tracks are symmetric and often the shape parallels that of an egg or a tri-oval. 'Offset' kart chassis have been developed for precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval tracks.
Sprint
This is pretty much the same style of race kart that is seen around the world. Kart tracks tend to be short and very twisty with an asphalt track surface.
Endurance
Known as "Enduro" racing in the USA, events typically last 30 minutes (Sprint Enduro) or 45 minutes (Laydown Enduro) the karts used feature a lower much more streamlined body, with the driver almost laying down. Enduro events are held on full-size road racing circuits that can be up to 4 miles in length.
Speedway
Kart Speedway racing takes place on asphalt or clay oval tracks which are normally between 1/6 mile and 1/4 mile long.
Tracks primarily consist of two straights and four left-turn corners, few tracks are symmetric and often the shape parallels that of an egg or a tri-oval. 'Offset' kart chassis have been developed for precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval tracks.
My Son carrying on the family tradition, at Oakland Valley Race Park, New York, on a Rotax Junior Race Kart. Click the photo for more info on this great facility.
Check out some of great kart racing suppliers and supporters
- AlpineStar, Race Suit, Boots, Gloves & Rib Protector
- Bell Helmets, More Champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other
- EVS Sports, our choice for neck support
- MyChron4 the digital gauge and data logger. MyChron gauges by AiM Sports set the standard in digital data acquisition gauges for karting
- Oakland Valley Race Park, OVRP is the premier outdoor Kart and Supermoto racing facilities in Northeast USA.
- Rotax 125 Junior Max Evo, More performance and perfect for juniors with karting experience. With the 125 Junior MAX Evo engine, you can have your first international racing experience
- Tony Kart, the chassis of choice among local, regional, national and international champ
