True Karting – Track Time is My Therapy

Our first go-kart racing season has come to an end! Bryce received 4th place overall in his club standings and has a bright new trophy to commemorate. It was a little nerve-racking as a parent when we began, but now I have extra knowledge to give you a leg up! Competitive karting is an easy sport to begin. You will need a bit of knowledge, to attend a race (get a pit pass), official safety gear, a racing go-kart to spec, maintenance and tires for the kart, a healthy written budget, lots of practice, a record book, and, lastly, an entry to your first race! That is a long list, so let me break down what you need to start competitive karting, I'll add in some budget-friendly items as well as the items that were really helpful in our first year! Spectate a race with a pit pass When my son first mentioned he wanted to race go-karts, he had just spent a day at the track with his best friend, who had been racing for 1 season. I was skeptical, so I had him find the next local race and I planned to spectate. I wanted to know what I was going to get into and see if this would even fit our family's lifestyle. Upon entering the racetrack, I was instructed to purchase a pit pass at the concession stand. The pit pass allowed me entrance to the pits, where all of the go-kart trailers, workstations, scales, and starting grids were located. The pit pass included a liability waiver to be signed so the track owners, a non-profit club, wouldn't be held liable if I were injured. The small fee also helped the track pay for liability insurance, a requirement for high-speed sports such as this. I didn't know what I was in for! I introduced myself to everyone within sight and started absorbing information. As I'm watching the day unfold, on the hot concrete under a pop-up style tent, I asked a simple question: How much should I plan on spending? My son's friend's father began listing the regular maintenance parts (listed below) and as he was listing off, what seemed like an extraordinary amount of routine parts, his son drove off the track on the scales. I heard him yell "my axle is bent" and cursing began. Within minutes of examination, a trip to the parts trailer was in order. There was only about an hour before the first qualifying race, so it was "all hands on deck" to swap an axle. I watched, getting my own hands dirty as needed for the sake of the kart. My son was in his element, and I knew, at that moment, this was the sport for him! We did get the axle changed just in time! The knowledge gained on that first day spectating at the track was more than just helpful in determining whether or not competitive go-kart racing was for us, it also provided assurance that our local track was going to be a good fit for our family! Pit pass for 2 people- $30 Videos and books In the beginning stages of karting, while still determining how to get started, watched several videos on YouTube and read articles and books, just like this one! Videos are very helpful because the use several senses at once! My son was able to hear how karting racers talked about the karts and the parts. He also learned about the track and the rules. There are many rules, all of which are for the safety of each and every racer. There are rules about the types of clothing and the engine on your kart. Every track has a rule of which tire is allowed and what can and can't be done to the engine. There are rules about passing and when not to pass. Then, lastly, there are the flags, so many flags! Videos, as well as books and blogs, can help give the upper hand on beginning karting so you know the questions you will need to ask and what to look for to prevent malfunctions! Most videos and blogs are free on the internet, some books can be added to your library. Videos and books- $0 A healthy budget It is important to budget your hobby so you can continue to race throughout the season and for years to come. I tried to total what we spent leading up to our first local race. Though our budget was thrown out the window when we started traveling for races, we are reeling back in our efforts to budget for this year! First, determine the amount of money you are willing to spend on this sport. Next, I suggest opening a separate checking account with a debit card or to use a separate credit card to concentrate your spending. Lastly, add 25% to everything on your budget because if it hasn't broken yet, it will! You can use an old notebook or buy a fancy new one with a go-kart on the front, but I highly recommend keeping track of your budget and spending. Talk with the driver, if you are the parent, and decided when you will call it a day and go home. I have seen kids leave after the 1st heat because of 1 flat tire. If you go in with a budget and a plan, you can walk away without shame and know there's always next time! Written budget- $0 Record book I didn't get a record book right away, and I wish I did. A good record book will have places for your lap times, tire pressure- for each tire-, scale weight, weather, temperature, and more. I did end up buying one off Amazon, but you can easily use a notebook (hint- the same notebook that your budget is in!) Record keeping is essential in karting. 1/2 lb of air pressure in your right rear tire can make the difference between 1st and second place (or between staying on the pavement or racing in the grass.) If you make friends during practice or on race day, they will often give suggestions on tire pressure for that specific track or other pointers with the weather, but having your own record book will improve your consistency faster. I am in the process of creating a record book for go-karting so keep a look out on that upcoming project on Amazon! Record book- $10 Safety gear Safety gear and clothing in general is the single most important aspect of competitive karting. Many tracks won't allow you to practice without proper racing attire. At the same time as purchasing a go-kart, we also put an order in at our local go-kart supplier. The go-kart we purchased came with a helmet and rib protector, but we also purchased racing shoes, gloves, and a skid-resistance go-kart full-body suit. The helmet must be SNELL/DOT approved. While we did buy our first helmet used (with the used kart, I don't recommend it) Helmets must be discarded after 5 years or after an impact. A Rib protector is also required and helps save the racer's ribs from constant impact from the lack of shocks and the seat. Racing shoes, or shoes that cover the ankle, protect against abrasion, they also allow a better feel of the peddles. Race gloves are also required and provide abrasion resistance and a better grip on the steering wheel. Lastly, is the racing suit. A go-kart, the skid-resistant suit is required, but, if you are on a budget, you can opt to race in jeans and a leather or canvas jacket. While not specifically required, oftentimes, people with long hair will be required to cover it for safety. a Balaclava or head sock is the right piece of gear to cover long hair and keep your helmet sweat-free. After 4 races, we did upgrade to a carbon fiber rib protector. Also, the second race was a rainy day, and we purchased a clean rain suit to cover the race gear. Gear- $1000 Competition go-kart to spec It is difficult to race go-karts without a kart! Everyone I talked with concerning a kart convinced me to start with a used kart! This saved us thousands! We (mostly my son) scoured the internet and finally found a kart! We drove 350 miles for this kart at a great price! Of course, we decided to get into this sport when the US economy was busting at the seams, so prices began dropping quickly after our purchase, but you can't play the market, so we are happy with the price and our purchase! We purchase a 3-year-old kart, a 2018 model, Italkart. It was owned by an older gentleman who had records for all parts repaired or replaced. The kart came with a rolling kart stand, a 1-year-old helmet that we trusted was taken care of, and a rib protector (which we replaced after a few months). The go-kart and stand fit in our truck (thankfully) even with our toolbox! Immediately, the go-kart needed work. Apparently, this type of hobby is just that way. Tires are a revolving door and other items wear out or loosen up quickly. Before the first race, we spent only a few dollars on parts plus a set of tires. If this is way out of your budget, you can also ask a team or go-kart store in your area if you can rent a kart! Used go-kart- $3000 Practice laps Since a quality racing go-kart can't be driven on roads or through the backyard, we had to find a track immediately to get in some practice laps! Thankfully, we have a club track just 15 miles down the road! This track has been around since 1965! I contacted the track manager and decided to get a year's membership for a discount on practice and race entry fees. After signing the waivers and handing over a check, we were good to race. Thankfully, the race manager stayed with us and gave some well-received advice! The first laps were life-changing moments! If we did not have the track manager there, helping and sharing a lifetime of knowledge, it would've been difficult. You can often hire a coach or ask a competitor to come to watch and give pointers. We do not practice as often as we should, so keep in mind this estimate can increase exponentially! Practice laps and guest pass- $45 Parts and labor Go-karting is the best sport for the mechanically inclined, child (and parent)! Most parts are nuts off nuts back on, but there are some jobs that require specialized tools and a little advice from an expert. You can print off the manufacturer specs sheet and have it handy in a binder for those "what do I need to do moments." We are so glad to have assistance from many competitors, who we now call friends! There are special tools for changing tires, but we did have a team mechanic nearby that we could hire to swap out tires, although sometimes the team was busy with their own karts and Bryce would run around begging someone to help. But all-in-all, we survived our first year without most of the specialized tools needed in this sport. The tools I think are 100% required to begin are: A good set of Allen Wrenches, a basic mechanics tool set, a variety of pliers, a hammer, zip ties, cleansing rags, and a tire pressure gauge that can read below 10psi! I'll make another post for the essential list of tools! As I said above, We only purchased a few clamps and a set of tires in our first month of racing, so to get started, it was minor. We also purchased a fuel can and specialty non-ethanol fuel from our local gas station. Parts and Labor- $250 1st Race Entry Sign-up What is the point of buying a racing go-kart, getting everything set up, and practicing if you don't intend to race? Now is the time to race! Get your kart in figurative gear and get rolling! We signed up for a club race. It was the 3rd race in the season because of the research and time it took to get the kart ready. Bryce's friend had arranged for us to pit with them and we were able to use their knowledge and tools throughout the big day! We brought camp chairs and lunch and the kart, that's it! The first race is definitely one to document and take lots of photos and pictures because the kids accelerate and improve very quickly after that! Race Entry Fee plus pit passes for family- $150 Final thoughts: If I could do it all over again, I would! We have grown so much as a family and I have watched my son completely fit in with a group of people who are passion driven and want to succeed in racing and in life! The track life is something different, for sure, but it is something our family is planning on getting so much more experience with! Total cost for the first month- $4485

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