Intro to Karting

If you are interested in low-dollar, high-fun racing sport, kart racing is the answer. There's a place for you in karting whether you're interested in being a driver, a mechanic or racing official. Karting is the most competitive racing anywhere. And when you factor in the low cost compared to the great amount of track time, there is no better return on your hobby dollar. Here's a sport that allows you to be competitive from the beginning. And getting started is easy and fun.

This brochure will educate you on what karting is about, and how to get started. One-on-one assistance is available from any World Karting Association member.

Sprint karts are usually the entry-level class into Karting,, although many karters drive these little buzz bombs for years. Sprinters are divided basically into two-cycle and four-cycle classes. And you'll find more opportunities to race sprint karts more often than the other kind of kart, Enduros. Sprinters usually race on short road courses of about 1/8 to 1/2 mile in length, but Sprinters can also be found on the major Road Courses such as New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS), Summit Point , W.Va., Pocono International Raceway,PA, Charlotte Motor Speedway,NC, Daytona International Raceway,FL, Mid-Ohio,OH, Road Atlanta,GA, Road America,WI, and others.

Sprint classes, as are all classes of kart racing are divided according to age classifications (Junior classes between 12 and 16 years of age; Seniors are 16 and older), weight (so that the heavy racers can be competitive also) and according to type of engine and modifications (stock or modified). You can race engines in both two- and four-cycle classes. They range from stock engines of five horsepower up to alcohol-burning- four-strokes and hot 100cc and 135cc two-strokes.

Sprint karts have a shorter wheelbase than Enduros and are usually not quite as fast on the longer tracks. But the racing in Sprint classes couldn't be closer, as you will often see packs of Sprinters running nose-to-tail for an entire 30-minute race.

A basic starting- sprint kart outfit should cost somewhere around $1200 to get you on the track and actually racing.

Enduro karts are often known as lay-down karts. They Generally cost a little more than Sprinters but race only on sports car-type courses of 1.5 miles and longer. New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1.5-Mile 10-turn road coarse which uses most of NHIS’s 1-mile oval. Summit Point (W.Va.) Raceway is a 10-turn, two-mile sports car track.

Like Sprinters, Enduro karts also are broken into classes according to age, weight and engines. Unlimited, the fastest of all Karting, classes, use two-stroke engines up to 250cc with six- speed (gearboxes and reach speeds at some tracks of over 130 mph.)

At NHIS and Summit Point Raceway, the NHKA and Woodbridge Kart Clubs respectively race over 20 different classes spread over a race weekend. So you'll find a class to suit any interest, budget or level of experience.

The World Karting Association national schedule includes events from March through December. These races are held about every other week at tracks ranging from Daytona International Speedway to Rockincham, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., Pocono (Pa.) International Raceway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wisc.), Talledega, Ala., Summit Point, WV, New Hampshire International Speedway and many others.

In addition, there are other race series for short-track karters, and two- and four-cycle Sprint karts. You can find karting in almost every state. At New Hampshire International Speedway the NHKA sponsors five-to-six races each year, including a national points race. The national circuit will offer from 8 to 12 races per year. Contact any club official for this year's schedule.

YOU CAN BE COMPETITIVE EASILY

Whether you choose Sprint or Enduro, you will learn all the basic skills required to be competitive. Such skills as chassis and engines tuning, tire pressures, weight distribution, clutch adjustments and exhaust tuning, will all come into play as you learn more and more about this exciting sport. All karting events include a lot of practice time and at clubs like the Woodbridge Kart Club in VA, events include novice school for beginners each day. Friendly advice and expertise is no farther away than nearest karter. The NHKA offers practice time for beginners to become familiar with the track and their kart.

Kart races are usually 30 minutes to 45 minutes in length, according to the type of kart. Most karters will race two classes each weekend.

KARTING IS A FAMILY SPORT

Karting is a great family sport. At all kart races you will see a lot of participation from moms and dads, sisters and brothers as they all work to-ether to get the kart (and the racer!) on the track. Karting is not a frivolous sport. To be good, and to be safe, you have to be committed to the sport. Race or,-anizers, such as the NHKA, insist on meeting high safety standards such as pre-race instruction, equipment inspections and skilled corner workers and safety crews.

Karting attracts many professional and business people, not just because it has a low cost in relation to other kinds of racing, but because karting gives you more of a commodity more precious than money: TIME!

Between race maintenance on a racing, kart is only a matter of minutes or hours, compared to days or weeks in other forms of racing. You can be as involved in karting as you want to be; there is room for everyone from the weekend racer with one kart and one engine to the dedicated enthusiast with several karts, and a trailer-load of spare engines and parts. You can budget as much or as little money and time as you can afford. But the most important thing you'll get out of kartino is FUN.