Me in my new(er) Kart at the weekend!! :)

[Blue_SV650S]

At Camberley (Near Farnborough) Kart Club - that bodywork is actualy carbon fibre*

http://www.nicolagavin.com/CKC/2008_09_13%20CKC%20Practice/Senior%20Novice/slides/IMG_3793.JPG

http://www.nicolagavin.com/CKC/2008_09_13%20CKC%20Practice/Senior%20Novice/slides/IMG_3752.JPG

http://www.nicolagavin.com/CKC/2008_09_13%20CKC%20Practice/Senior%20Novice/slides/IMG_2498.JPG







*look :lol:

[lukemillar]

What's the tyre around your neck? Is it a hans (sp?) device?

[Blue_SV650S]

What's the tyre around your neck? Is it a hans (sp?) device?

I like the Elizabethan look ... its my 'ruff' :D

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Yes, it is a neck brace for if/when I flip the kart and land on my noggin!! :shock:

[chris8886]

you've bought yourself a new helemet?!

[Blue_SV650S]

you've bought yourself a new helemet?!

That is actually an old helmet that I use for minimoto and karting as I deem it too old for my bikes ;)

I've probably got a dozen or so lids knocking about overall ... I tend to have different one for different purposes and a whole stack of old/damaged ones :oops:

[Dappa D]

nice...would love a go at that looks good fun!!!

[Blue_SV650S]

nice...would love a go at that looks good fun!!!

Do you like pushing?!!? ... they are direct drive (bump start) so we are always on the hunt for big strapping b1tches to push!! :D

I bet ya if you come and watch/help that you will be on eBay buying on that night ;)

Sadly its not really possible to let you have a go as you will need to sign on and pay for a full day! :( .. but I don't think you will need to drive one to get the bug ... these karts are a world apart from the honda 4-stoke ones you get at a kart track ... they are ~5hp ... these are ~20hp and weigh less, so about 5* the power to weight ratio of the sort of kart you would hire?!?!! 8)

[454697819]

even so... with me in it it would still only work at at 20bhp / tonne.. not very fast..

[gettin2dizzy]

What are yo quicker rond a track with though? ;)

[Blue_SV650S]

What are yo quicker rond a track with though? ;)

As the bikes and karts are run at totally different tracks, how can one compare?? :scratch:

[Demonz]

What are the costs involved?

[Blue_SV650S]

Like with most of these sports .. .it depends how heavy/serious you want to get ...

at the lower end of the scale (for a bit of fun at track/practice days), you can get an aircooled direct drive kart like mine for ~£300 with a few basic spares if you are lucky.

If you fancy having a go, I recommend getting a TKM BT82 engine as they are by far the most reliable/long living of the aircooled engines ... they aren't the most ultimately powerful, but that is less important than one that will actually go ;)

You don't need a licence for trackdays, so its just turn up and drive. It depends where you go, but a full day is ~£40 for non members. Like a trackday, they tend to be in sessions. Expect 6-8 10 min sessions during a day.

You'll get through about 6L of unleaded and ~£3 of caster 2-stroke oil so say another tenner all in for kart fuel/oil.

So initial setup costs ~£300, presuming it is trouble free each day out is £50 (plus travel and food obviously).

Tyres last ages and are only ~£20 a set for 2nd hand off eBay anyway .. I use about 2 sets a season .. . there are always little bits and bobs you will need to buy like spark plugs, sprockets etc. But I'd say even with ear and tear, its a fair bit cheaper than bike trackdays and just as exhilarating!! 8)

A bit like bikes for trackdays, you can obviously get serious about things and spend tens of thousands on karting ...

[Blue_SV650S]

Here is an old video I took on my first kart ... that kart cost me ~£230* ... and look how much fun can be had!! :)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D-4tnPOzIbo




*I have spent at least 10 times that now overall on my karting :oops: