shifter kart racing anyone?

[Doug]

Sure dude - just lemme know when you wanna come over.
And YES, it is a Stock Moto - it's a 125 Yamaha. The other type is an ICC motor and supposedly very expensive to get parts for - relatively speaking. I almost got a TonyKart with an ICC Vortex 125 until I researched it a bit more. Never nice kart/motor, but you have to rebuild them more often and parts are more expensive, and you cant get the parts local. Used 125 honda/suzuki/yamaha are pretty easy to come by, so you could use whatever you wanted.

how much are frames?

[Steve]

Sure dude - just lemme know when you wanna come over.
And YES, it is a Stock Moto - it's a 125 Yamaha. The other type is an ICC motor and supposedly very expensive to get parts for - relatively speaking. I almost got a TonyKart with an ICC Vortex 125 until I researched it a bit more. Never nice kart/motor, but you have to rebuild them more often and parts are more expensive, and you cant get the parts local. Used 125 honda/suzuki/yamaha are pretty easy to come by, so you could use whatever you wanted.

How was fuel usage (gas right) and tire wear after 75 laps. That's about and 60-90 minutes on track out there, right? Not bad for $50. Pm me your phone number and I'll call you this weekend

[Cobra_Kai]

How was fuel usage (gas right) and tire wear after 75 laps. That's about and 60-90 minutes on track out there, right? Not bad for $50. Pm me your phone number and I'll call you this weekend

I went through just over a tank of gas - about 3 gallons maybe - not really sure.
Nice thing about using a "stock" moto engine is that you can run 92 octane. Although I've used 98 and 110 too. I've put about 150 laps on my tires and maybe knocked them down a 1/4 of the tread, but I only started with 1/2 tread tires. You can actually see the front rubber flying off the tires every few laps - I am running a soft compound so they get sticky quick. Used tires are cheap too - I've heard anywhere from $10 - $40 for a set of used race tires with 5 qualifying laps on them - gotta go to some pro-races to get those deals though. Otherwise you can get used/new tires all over the 'net from $75 - $150 for the set. This is a very affordable sport.

[Steve]

I'll finish my car build first then contemplate the Karting situation again. So far I am $5900 deep into my car re-incarnation. I need to spend about another $1K. It'll be AI legal but a back packer.

[Cobra_Kai]

I'll finish my car build first then contemplate the Karting situation again. So far I am $5900 deep into my car re-incarnation. I need to spend about another $1K. It'll be AI legal but a back packer.

AI legal - I'm jealous. My goal is to sell my Cobra in a couple years to finance an AI car.

[ScotWithOne_t]

I'll finish my car build first then contemplate the Karting situation again. So far I am $5900 deep into my car re-incarnation. I need to spend about another $1K. It'll be AI legal but a back packer.

Who's back will you be packing? nyuk nyuk nyuk...

Karting sound fun and cheap compared to car racing/tracking. $40 for a set of tires?? wow.
Although I'm sure it's fun and all, I just can't imagine it would give me the same satisfaction as racing an actual car. It could definitely be a fun secondary hobby , but I have a hard time making time for autocrossing and open tracking as it is.

I'd be up for a group outting some Saturday or something though if you guys figure something out.

[Cobra_Kai]

Although I'm sure it's fun and all, I just can't imagine it would give me the same satisfaction as racing an actual car. It could definitely be a fun secondary hobby , but I have a hard time making time for autocrossing and open tracking as it is.

I use to think the same thing - you would be incredibly surprised at the performance of these karts - it's definitely as satisfying as running at MAM in the Mustangs. My kart has brembo front brakes, data aquisition with digital dash, 6 speed gear box and an engine capable of 130mph at 15000 RPM - it's something you have to drive to believe. It reminds me a lot of F1 because of the gear changes - you are constantly going from 6th to 2nd gear for most corners, shifting on the steering wheel, no clutch. And these things accelerate like mad. With the low center of gravity you dont need to scrub speed through wide corners and can easily sustain 3 Gs if you dont slow down - no Mustang can do that. You have more power than you know what to do with - you are spinning tires on every corner exit, grabbing gears until you run out. It really is a totally new experience.

[Darkness]

I use to think the same thing - you would be incredibly surprised at the performance of these karts - it's definitely as satisfying as running at MAM in the Mustangs. My kart has brembo front brakes, data aquisition with digital dash, 6 speed gear box and an engine capable of 130mph at 15000 RPM - it's something you have to drive to believe. It reminds me a lot of F1 because of the gear changes - you are constantly going from 6th to 2nd gear for most corners, shifting on the steering wheel, no clutch. And these things accelerate like mad. With the low center of gravity you dont need to scrub speed through wide corners and can easily sustain 3 Gs if you dont slow down - no Mustang can do that. You have more power than you know what to do with - you are spinning tires on every corner exit, grabbing gears until you run out. It really is a totally new experience.

That sounds like a ton of fun

[PHRANQUY]

So, after some friends and I rented Stockholm for a few hours on Saturday, I'm wondering if I might enjoy getting into a Kart more.... I was half looking at one of the TAG carts that were for sale there.

[Cobra_Kai]

So, after some friends and I rented Stockholm for a few hours on Saturday, I'm wondering if I might enjoy getting into a Kart more.... I was half looking at one of the TAG carts that were for sale there.

I took about 5 trips out to Stockholm to run the rental karts before I realized I needed one. That track is great cause of the elevation changes. I almost bought one of the two Leopard TaG karts out there before I found my shifter. They have a really nice TonyKart shifter out there for $2K right now. Probably a $4K kart easy, only difference is the Ital engine. I guess they're open from March to December too, depending on snow...

[Jeffescortlx]

Anyway, no matter what kind of kart you have, bring it out and pay $50 to run ALL day.

Any kart eh?


I dont think my kart will keep up with the 100mph+ top speeds or in the turns, but it will lift the front end off the ground from 0-45mph.

[PHRANQUY]

I took about 5 trips out to Stockholm to run the rental karts before I realized I needed one. That track is great cause of the elevation changes. I almost bought one of the two Leopard TaG karts out there before I found my shifter. They have a really nice TonyKart shifter out there for $2K right now. Probably a $4K kart easy, only difference is the Ital engine. I guess they're open from March to December too, depending on snow...

Yeah, I've been looking for a way to get into competitive racing.... and I think this will be cheaper and easier for me until I can really afford a Legend car.

[Maloney Racing]

Wow, I didn't know I had convinced you Dan! Email me some pics.

[Cobra_Kai]

Yeah, after I drove my neighbor's shifter I was hooked. Heading out to the track on Thursday again. I'll get some video this week and post it on YouTube.