An Introduction To Racing Go Carts.

Racing Go Carts is you will probably agree the coolest sport on wheels which is why you want to know more about it, after reading this article the prospect of finding racing go carts and getting started may seem a bit daunting, but if you want to race karts then you need to be competitive and face all challenges head on.

Find Your Local Go Kart Track

The first thing you should do is go to your local go kart racing tracks and watch the cart races for a few weeks, When you are there pay to go into the pits you will meet a lot of like minded people who are into cart racing and this is the perfect place to find out who has used racing go karts for sale and go karts engines for sale.

If your budget is tight to start off with and you do not have a sponsor then buying a used racing go cart would be your best option. There are several advantages to this, first ask 4 or 5 drivers what they think a good price would be for different used go karts, this will give you a ballpark figure to work on and will probably save you money. Another advantage is buying a used go cart from your local track means the kart is already optimised for the local conditions, this is very useful when you are just starting out as this kind of knowhow can only be gained from long experience of local racing.

Each year there are always used go carts and go kart engines for sale as some of these drivers either move up in class or purchase a new one. Before you purchase a new racing go cart or a used go kart you must have the determination that this is what you really want to do.

You also have to have someone that knows something about mechanics. Dad's or Mom's usually know the rudiments, or of course there is usually a grease monkey in the immediate family who would take an interest. If you are a parent who's kid has been nagging you about this then be prepared to be immersed into the karting world, you will love it and there is no greater feeling of pride than to see your kid get the chequered flag.

Go Cart Sponsors and Helpers

If you cannot find someone with good mechanical skills then i suggest you try and find a sponsor through your local mechanic workshops and caryards. Auto dealers and mechanics are great sponsors and they bring thier mechanical skills with them, 2 birds with 1 stone.

Once you start racing, everyone that races will give you advice and pointers (everyone is an expert) and that is how you learn. Even the people you race against will help you. They are a great bunch of people and you will soon find your self one of the guys, people are always friendly when you share their passion with equal verve.

This is when you will learn the local knowledge which will be the foundation of your future as a successful racer. You will learn which tires to use, tread or slicks, how many teeth on your clutch that you should use, depending on the track conditions and other essential local snippets of knowledge. Always change the oil everytime you go out on the track, even if its for warm up laps. This will make your engine last longer, I have found it doubles the life of your go cart engine.

I would suggest you have two engines and re-build one half way through the season which usually costs about two hundred. The proper set up for the first time go-carter will cost you around two thousand and then the first year you will probably have around five thousand invested by the end of the season as there is always something you will need. After the first year it gets easier as you then have most of what you need. That is why it is also important to try to get sponsers to help out with some of the costs. Each week there are entrance fees, oil, alcohol and many other small costs which do add up.

Buying A Racing Go Cart

You will soon discover that finding the right racing go kart depends highly on the local go-cart track and what it has to offer. Classes differ depending on the track, so if one class isn’t offered at one track, it may be available at another. Classes are usually broken down by the size of the engine, age, and then the combined weight. You should also get in contact with your local club before buying a go cart in order to learn the rules and be certain of what kinds of go karts can be raced on that particular track.

When you are familiar with your local track and its rules, you can begin your go kart search. You can expect to pay around one thousand for a good used racing go-cart and up to eight thousand for the best karts available. In addition, you will also need an approved helmet, a driving suit, and parts and a good tool kit.

Because of the dangerous nature of racing go carts, check your insurance policy to see if it includes racing activities. If not, clubs often offer insurance at the time of the event. Be sure to ask questions so you know exactly what your policy covers.

Some Tips On Buying Used Racing Go Carts

• Is there a dealer to give you support in your area?
  
• Is that dealer already helping others win?
  
• Can you get parts for your kart and is it still sold in the USA A kart that isn't sold here is worth far less than one that is.
  
• Does your dealer help you get the chassis setup right?
  
• How expensive are the spare parts? This can make cheap racing go carts very expensive very quickly.
  
• Has the go kart won, placed recently? Last 12 months?
  
• Are there other drivers with the same kart at your club? This can help you with setup or spare parts you may need in an emergency.
  
• What will the resale value be? Some expensive karts are hard to re-sell again. Same goes for unusual brands.
  
• Above all, ask people at your local club who they recommend.

...Remember the most important thing about racing go carts is the fun you get out of it, sure beats kicking a ball around...

Racing Go Carts